JERICHO ECHO ARTICLE

City Council News

Community Center, open spaces and pollution

April 1985

At the end of February the City Council fixed its budget for the next financial year. Due to careful management the Council was able to freeze both rates and council house rents for the second year running, and to maintain and increase its spending on services, such as house building and repair, recreation facilities and community centres, and concessionary bus fares for the elderly.

In Jericho, the St. Barnabas Institute is flourishing, and Jenny the community worker funded by the City Council is doing a fantastic job in getting new activities going. A creche will be started soon, and a Girls' Club.

The shortage of open space In Jericho has often meant that children play in the street, despite the obvious danger from traffic. The School Governors, after representations from Councillor Starkey, have been considering ways in which the school field could be made available for community use, without interfering with its use by the school during school time. Problems which need to be sorted out include how to exclude dogs and bikes, how to deal with litter, and how to prevent over-use.

The Community Association, the City and County Councils are all involved in these discussions, and when clear proposals come forward, they will be discussed at a public meeting here in Jericho. Port Meadow Inquiry

Both John Power and Phyllis Starkey gave evidence at the public inquiry considering the City Council's plans to regularize the activities of Medley Boat Station on Port Meadow. Both opposed the plans jointly put forward by the Council and the proprietor of the Boat Station. The dispute between Mr. Crittenden and the Council is very long-standing. When the Council took planning enforcement action against Mr. Crittenden, this was overruled by an inspector from the Department of the Environment. As a result the Council had no choice but to try to negotiate a settlement which limited the operation of the boat station within a defined area, which controlled the access of vehicles to the boat station, and which was legally enforceable. It was this settlement which was the subject of the recent inquiry.

If the inspector vetoes the settlement, then West Ward councillors will be urging the City Council to negotiate a new agreement which will more effectively limit commercial exploitation and expansion on common land.

Pollution from Lucy's Ironworks City Council Environmental Health Officers are monitoring dust levels in the area, and samples of dust have been sent for public analysis. Discussions have been held with Lucy's management about complaints of noise, unsocial working hours etc. The Council Officers will be reporting back to the Pollution Control Subcommittee which John Power chairs. Any resident who has further complaints of pollution incidents, should contact either John Power or Phyllis Starkey.


This article appeared in Jericho Echo No 26, April 1985.