by Nicola Bayliss 58 Ethelburt Avenue

After reading the winter newsletter, my partner and I fully agreed with the comments made by Helen Jarvis. I myself have been subject to almost being run over by cars travelling down Ethelburt Avenue.

On Sunday I was on my way out with my family for the afternoon and spotted a car speeding down the road from the top end. I stepped out into the road and waved my arms shouting ’slow down’ only to be given a one finger salute and soaked from head to foot by the tyres splashing in puddles. I was shocked to say the least and watched the car continuing down Ethelburt to see where this person lived. They continued to the end of the road and out onto Stoneham Lane.
I’m just glad that it wasn’t my three year old who had stepped just a little too far from the car.

In short, I feel that installing bollards half way down Ethelbert Avenue would certainly help the situation.

A conference was held at the Hilton Hotel on Saturday 22nd March attended by about a hundred people. It opened with a talk by Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. The voluntary sector makes a very significant contribution with an income of 18 billion pounds, 40% coming from voluntary donations. Over the last 5 years the biggest feature has been partnership agreements to deliver services on behalf of the Government. In the last year there have been two major reviews, one by the Treasury and the other to look at the legal and regulation framework.

Trevor Pickup gave a local perspective. Two years ago the Government announced new thinking on community development. There would be no more big capital developments such as we see in St Mary=s. The new approach is to work through Local Strategic Partnerships. The Southampton Community and Voluntary Sector Network is part of the new arrangement.

Henry Pavey, Local Strategic Partnership Coordinator, spoke of the successes and the problems of the City, such as 63% of people in Bargate Ward living in means-tested households. A strategy for the Southampton Partnership is being written. It will be out for consultation in July and the final version will be published in time to influence business plans for the Financial Year 2004.

The Conference ended with a light hearted exercise in writing headlines for AThe Daily News@ in 2015: ASaints Top the League for the Fifth Year! Ethelburt Avenue Made Up at Last!
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Tree surgeons residents have used, both Council recommended and both did excellent work:

Fosters Tree Surgeons 023 8039 6018
Mellor Tree Surgeons 023 8033 8831

Pilgrim Electrical and Property Services who carried out electrical work for me very efficiently. They specialise in electrical work but do general property repairs also. Contact : Peter Drew IEng, MIIE Tel 023 8036 0349 Mobile 07919 597397

Quality building work, heating and plumbing, John O=Sullivan, Tel: 023 8070 1531, Mobile: 07787 122634.

If you can add to this list, please let us have your recommendations.
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Have had some work well done? Then please tell us about it. The Association would like to maintain a database of contractors who have been recommended by residents. Residents quite often contact the Association when seeking a contractor. Without a supply of recommendations we are unable to help them. Please give the details of recommended contractors to your street rep or send us an email.
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The Southampton Association of Residents’ Associations held its AGM on the 5th December. The formal business was followed by two presentations.
The first by John Martin, the City Cleansing Officer, was on the work of his department regarding the problem of graffiti in the City. The main message was the need for a partnership of the community, the Cleansing Team and police to halt the unsightly and expensive vandalism caused by graffiti.*
Then followed a talk by Andrew Nurmahi, Manager of the Wessex Youth Offending Team. The work of the team is aimed primarily at prevention of crime and family support. When the courts find young people, aged 10 to 17, guilty of crime, they will refer them to new Youth Offender Panels. Here a small group of people will use their local knowledge to plan solutions for young offenders which enable them to change their behaviour for good. If you want to take part and would like to know more ring 023 8046 3336.

* If you would like to borrow the Association’s
Sparkling Southampton Anti-Graffiti Kit please ring 023 8055 6056

by Helen Jarvis, 111 Ethelburt Avenue

A suggestion to solve the current problem of the Avenue being used as a cut-through would be to install bollards half-way alone, thus making a short cut impossible. I feel sure residents would not be opposed to using just one entrance and exit to their property.

Perhaps bollards and also a width constriction at either end of the road would deter speeding traffic and ’short cutters’ alike.

This issue is a major concern to us being residents at the end of the road with young children. We are terrified of speeding traffic entering the Avenue and also using it as a turning point from Bassett Green Road. I do feel that I will never allow my boys to play in the front garden let alone participate in community life.

What do other residents think about this proposal?
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by Camilla Wydenbach

Having read the last newsletter, I feel compelled to respond on the above subject. I need to explain to residents that I have no vested interest as our children are grown up and have long left home. However as a parent, grandparent and a headteacher of a Hampshire primary school I feel I must add my view to the ‘contrary view’ on the subject of ‘Damage to trees’ reported from the recent AGM.
It is often a view expressed in the media that today’s children are not able to enjoy the freedoms of a previous generation.
I believe that children who are fortunate enough to live in Ethelburt Avenue have inherited, along with the garden city ideals of Herbert Collins, the bonuses that children of that era enjoyed. They are able to play in the planned green spaces adjacent to their homes, easily supervised by parents, as were children of what has become a bygone age. I believe, this should include climbing and erecting swings in the larger, more mature trees. It is unlikely that such mature trees will suffer irreparable damage from swings and there are many other less mature trees in the road (or in gardens) that could have bulbs planted beneath them.

Just as living in Ethelburt Avenue continues to be a ‘journey back in time’ as it must be for all residents, it gives me great delight to see Ethelburt Avenue children enjoying life as it was for us older residents when we were children. Ethelburt Avenue children can play in green spaces, are (relatively) safe from traffic, can climb trees, can swing in trees, can play close to home where family can watch over them… in short, can do all the things that the majority of city children can=t do.

Residents are understandably very keen to preserve historical aspects of Ethelburt Avenue, I would ask them to also preserve a way of life for children that prevailed when Herbert Collins established Ethelburt Avenue.

This is one of two letters received. The other letter expressed similar views.

Go down Bassett Green Road and under the railway arch. At the roundabout go along Mansbridge Road, over the old bridge and past the White Swan. Just after Haskins Garden Centre, you come to Cutbush Lane on the right. Go along Cutbush Lane until you come to the West End Parish Playing Fields. If you have never seen Townhill Park House which now houses the Gregg School, you might like to continue a bit further along the lane to have a look and then return to the playing fields. Cross the playing fields, go up the slope in the southwest corner and along the path between some brambles. Once through the brambles follow the path to your left which leads towards the largest Scots pine tree. You will then see the boundary fence of the Townhill Park House grounds on your left. The undergrowth will become too thick to walk beside the fence. So from the pine tree go straight ahead and after about 30 yards the path descends to a boggy track through a clump of bamboo. By careful stepping, you can avoid getting your feet wet. Go straight ahead and then follow the feint track which climbs up to the drive leading to the now closed entrance to the house grounds. Go down the drive until you come to the top end of River Walk, then turn right into Riverside Park. Walk along the path until you come to the River Itchen. Proceed north along the path by the river to Man=s Bridge. From this point retrace your steps back home.
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Whilst our grass courts are undergoing their winter maintenance, members have been playing on other surfaces. Saturday lunchtimes see us indoors at Fleming Park and on Friday evenings a few hardy souls have played whenever possible (i.e. when it is not raining!) under floodlights on the University courts at Wellington sportsground. Coats, scarves, gloves and even hats are worn and it is all very different from a sunny afternoon in Ethelburt Avenue but we hope that playing all year round will improve our game.
Our A.G.M. will be held in March and we shall then be planning coaching and events for the summer 2003 season. Meanwhile, any enquiries to me, Claire Buckley (80553448) are welcome.
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The Coordinating Group of the Southampton North Neighbourhoods Partnership has met and agreed a >Draft Vision=. They have also started to develop a Draft Improvement Plan based on the priorities established at the launch meetings held last July. The top three priorities are:
(1) Housing and the Living Environment
(2) Community Safety and
(3) Transport.

The Draft Vision is: AThe Southampton North Neighbourhoods Partnership area will include harmonious communities where people accept each other and feel safe. These will be communities where everyone is included and are aware of the political process and feel involved and included in decision making. This will be a community where all service providers relate to each other and deliver services appropriate to people’s needs.

On Thursday, 13th February between 2pm and 7pm at the Swaythling Neighbourhood Centre, Burgess Road (behind Alldays) there will be a >Drop-In=. This will provide an opportunity to exchange information with community and other service providers. In addition this event will be used to seek views on the Draft Improvement Plan and Vision.
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