Some People Really Get my nerves

Sometimes things really get you down. This week parents parking dangerously where I lollipop at Alfred Sutton school combined with the rain to really get me down.

Everyday I was on duty it honked down with rain, never nice and then on Monday, the owner of this car had the gaul to simply lock his car and walk away when I asked him to move his car so that I could man the crossing point safely.

To say I was cross was an understatement. I was furious. The driver looked so smug when he walked away.

So what do you do when you only have a lollipop stick to defend yourself with? My other main weapon of defence is my mobile phone. Not only was I able to take this piccy for posterity but I was able to ring my supervisor to moan about the problems. Last week a cyclist, with child on the seat at the back, road through the crossing while I was standing in the middle of the road.

My supervisor was on the case really quickly and on Wednesday I had visitors, a PC, 2 PCSO's and a couple of parking wardens. I felt very special and in general parents, drivers and cyclists behaved themselves. Believe it or not though there were still enough people parking illegally or cycling through the crossing to keep the forces of law and order busy.

I was pleased to see the support and a lot of parents told me how happy they were to see the Police and others taking the problem seriously. What the people who were spoken to by the Police say, unfortunately this wasn't recorded........

Clean the streets, talk to the man with the broom

It was crappy and wet in the morning yesterday. I had noticed on the junction of bumpy Bulmershe and Crescent Rd someone had dumped a load of rubbish all over the grass.

I'd reported it to the Council, but noticed it hadn't been cleared up and the foxes were having a field day. Then who should hove in to view? Our regular street cleaner, bravely battling the rain and keep the streets around the shops on the Woky Rd clean.. I though I'd have a word and see if he would be able to pick up the rubbish and put it in his cart. I was amazed when he said no problem and thanks for pointing out the rubbish to him.

Next time I cycled past the rubbish was gone and the grass was as good as new.  So the moral of the story, to get the streets clean, talk to the man with the broom.

Taking Up Residents Concerns with the Union

Spent a good day talking to the Students' Union and the University's Community Relations Manager about residents concerns about Anti Social Behaviour caused by students.

It was a series of really good meetings, where we all sat down with a spirit of trying to work on the problem, we could see that pressure brought by residents, myself and others has caused some success in one road. There appears to be a growing problem in another road. I made some suggestions based on the successes elsewhere and the Uni are following up the suggestions.

Richard McKenzie backs the PCSO's

Had a quieter week last week as it was half term. Still found time to work on the petition for the PCSO's.

This is a very important campaign and the University has now been presented with the petition that we gathered from around Park, Redlands and Church. I was amazed at how many people were happy to sign.

Strangely enough I bumped in to the Green who said that he wouldn't sign our petition on campus the other day. I mentioned to him that we were a bit surprised at his stance, but he didn't really have a good answer as to why a Green wouldn't want to sign a petition to support the PCSO's. Shame really.

Following the work we did in the Ward, we are still getting positive comments about our campaign and I hope that there will be further follow ups soon.

Enjoyed half term with the family, although I still had to work and study, I had almost every evening free during the week and it was really, really nice to spend time with Kath and chat round the things in our lives. Trying to get elected and having a family is a strain on all, however I does help to keep you grounded and in touch with real life.