Monthly Archives: February 2017

Miscellaneous

MKC Visit Thursday 16th February 2017

This morning Cllr Mick Allsopp, GHRA Chairperson Nyomie Flecknell and Court rep David Tavener met up with Kevin Wilson from MK Council to discuss issues relating to cleaning up the estate roads & footpaths.

We walked around a variety of courts and Kevin took photographs to illustrate concerns we raised.  We were made aware of the problems that Kevin & Serco face and have let Kevin know the Galley Hill Residents Association is keen to work with him & the Council to improve the look of the estate.

Kevin has undertaken to advise us of when Serco are scheduled to clean the courts so we can get the court reps to notify their residents to keep their areas clear of cars etc so the street sweeping machines can do their job.

Kevin will also be able to provide equipment for volunteers to engage in litter picking as a supplement to the Council’s efforts. GHRA will also be able to obtain educational material to distribute within courts to help people understand when, where and what to put in what bag for collection.

A very positive outcome thanks Mick & Kevin.

GHRA Meetings, Miscellaneous

Big Turnout For GHRA Public Meeting

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Well, that surprised us all, the meeting on 26/1/2017 was a huge success and the meeting place was packed with people who want to see a change in their local community. Once the introductions (including the court reps who have volunteered to help get the information flowing both ways) and the general association business had been taken care of, we heard of the first small step the committee made in getting something changed. Our Chairperson has addressed the Council to get the Galley Hill noticeboard  moved to a more prominent position for better access and visibility to all. It may sound trivial, but this was Nyomie’s first time representing the Residents of Galley Hill, so it was decided to start with something small to get her feet wet in the pool of local Council meetings, and she has got her first result as the sign is being moved.  Well done Nyomie!

The floor was then opened up to everybody to find out what the people of Galley Hill wish to see changed. It seems as if there are some common problems in the area which are affecting everybody, such as the overgrown bushes and grass which obstruct the pathways. Litter was also high on the list for quite a few of the people we heard from.  Leaves on the paths making them slippery are another issue we added to the list of local concerns. We also heard about drains with plants growing out of them and parking problems in the courts.

But it wasn’t all about complaints, as the GHRA committee also wanted to know if there was any appetite for social events in the area, and ways to bring the community together as a whole. With the 50th anniversary of Milton Keynes and the historical importance of Galley Hill to the foundation of the New Town it seems only fitting that we try to bring together the people of the area to commemorate the half century.
With that in mind there are the seeds of a plan to organise something for Galley Hill Residents, and we even got somebody to volunteer for the role of organising this and future events, and another kind soul who has offered to pitch in and help with the 50th anniversary celebrations.

To sum it up, the Galley Hill Residents Association has gone from the seeds of an idea to actually starting work on issues and community building. Now we really need your support and help to continue onwards and upwards to making  ours a better area to live in. With that in mind please can we ask you to fill in a feedback form and sign up for the Newsletter before you leave the site?

GHRA Member Profiles

Creslow Court Representative

Creslow Court Rep David Taverner           David Tavener

Hi, my name is David Tavener and I live in Creslow Court and have done so since September 1974. My wife Angela and I have raised a family which now includes grandchildren.

We recall those old days when all of our neighbours were as broke as we were and we all traded our skills to fix cars, appliances or furniture. Virtually nothing was new as it was very difficult to get HP or loans, everything had to be paid for with what you had earned, if you didn’t have the money you went without. We also remember interest rates getting to 15% and thinking we would lose our home. We were a genuine community helping each other out and we want to try to restore that goodwill.

We were fortunate as our wonderful new home in Milton Keynes was supported by the Milton Keynes Development Corporation (MKDC), they had vision. Go down memory lane here . Those that followed failed (for whatever reason) to maintain what they inherited. You only have to look around to see the distressed state of our estate and City.

Late in 2016 Mick Allsopp and I decided to try to get the Galley Hill Residents Association up and running to address the neglect we have witnessed. We have been very pleasantly surprised by the response. We have successfully formed an enthusiastic Committee and Court Reps. So far we have held a couple of well supported public meetings. We have a bank account and will soon be formally recognised by Milton Keynes Council.

You can find out more by visiting the Galley Hill Residents Associations Web site www.GHRA.UK generously provided by Doug Titchmarsh. On the contact us page you can find out who is who, the committee and your court rep is, if there isn’t a court rep for you please consider volunteering it won’t be that difficult.

If you support the Galley Hill Residents Association please sign up to the newsletter it will save us printing and distributing information to you. Don’t worry if you don’t have the Internet or email we will still deliver to you. 

If there is a particular issue you want addressing then please let us know or complete this simple form