Massive Boost to Quality of Environments
News Feature by Bernard Claptrap March 2005
Things are looking up around here. I know what you're all saying - it simply doesn't get any better than living in Northenden; how could it be improved? We're cosmopolitan, multicultural, eclectic and contemporary. We're proud participants in high profile local heritage projects. Our range of ameneties is second to none. Our local cuisine is exemplary. Our proximity to Mersey Bank is unfortunate, but Mersey Bank's proximity to Northenden is envied. Well, incredible as it seems, last week we were presented with a document suggesting that not only is it possible, but the council are working on it right now. Yes, It's the spring 2005 edition of Northenden Matters. It's a twice-yearly update on how the Council and its partners are working to improve services in Northenden. It gives you an update on the issues which are important to you. It's full colour, glossy, and just like the future for our village, it smells great.
The end of Kenworthy Lane.
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Motorbiking: It's Frightening.
It has come to our attention that there is at least one moaning old git living on Kenworthy Lane who's not so pleased about the popularity of his street with the younger members of the community, some of whom have an entirely natural liking for stealing motorbikes and racing them up and down the road. Kids will be kids though Vern. Ask your grandson. And Yew Tree Lane bridge is ideal for racing bikes over. Who can blame the young scallywags? I certainly can't - they've threatened to do my windows again if I do.
Manchester City council however, has an inexhaustible supply of windows and is working with the police and residents to tackle the existing problem of motorbikes being ridden in open spaces, local parks and footpaths. As part of this work, a motorcycle barrier has now been installed at Kenworthy Lane, Northenden Matters reveals.
Our picture shows the end of Kenworthy near the motorway flyover, which is particularly popular with motorcyclists. Due to technical difficulties however, we were unable to bring you a picture of the new barrier.
A bit of regeneration in Wythenshawe
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The Wythenshawe Strategic Regeneration Framework
In December, Manchester City Council approved the Wythenshawe Regeneration Framework, which "will guide services, improvements and investment in the area over the next ten to fifteen years". The vision for Wythenshawe is as Manchester's Garden City building on Wythenshawe's assets, such as its green spaces and parks, while also "looking to develop it as the vibrant economy associated with City living".
It's important that we remember, Wythenshawe's history as "Manchester's Garden City" Stretches back to 1926. After a false start, the first attempt at Wythenshawe becoming a "Garden City" did not in fact take place until 1933. Wythenshawe's success as "Manchester's Garden City" alongside Manchester's other "Garden Cities" such as Middleton, can only be gauged by asking the inhabitants. There's plenty of comment about it on the excellent Wythenshawe Website www.wythit.com in the forum section. Additionally, there is an excellent news feature on Northenden.Net detailing how Wythenshawe's green spaces can be developed "as the vibrant economy associated with city living" - click here for Herbert Nesquick's article about redevelopment in Wythenshawe.
The Regeneration Framework looks at physical improvements that can be made to the area, transport, employment and economic development, people and neighbourhoods, and quality-of-life issues. There is a strong emphasis on improved public services, which will underpin the regeneration of the area in the long term. For those who are wondering, examples of public services include Libraries, Post Offices and Public Transport Infrastructure.
F*** Up Da Police. Nice work, kids.
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The 100 Days Challenge 2005
This year the 100 Days Challenge scheme is going to be bigger and better than ever! There will be a big push to deal with environmental and nuisance issues such as graffiti, abandoned vehicle, dogs, litter and fly tipping. In other words, it will aim to teach kids not to steal cars and motorbikes and not to spray graffiti all over the wall of the flyover near the park. 100 days to achieve this is definitely a challenge. As much of a challenge, in fact, as getting people to stop their dogs from running riot and crapping all over the pavement on Kingsley Road, and curiously enough, this is also one of the aims of the 100 day challenge. A panel of exemplary local luminaries famous for their social consciences will be present to evaluate the action plans. Here are some suggestions put forward which will be considered:
- Give the kids their own graffiti wall to spray on. It is proposed to test the viability of this scheme using one of the walls on the end of the main parade of shops on the corner of Lingard Road and Palatine Road. This scheme has already been successfully piloted under the motorway flyover at the end of Kenworthy Lane, This experiment spawned the extremely highly regarded work "F*** To Da Police" (pictured) which is much admired, albeit still only attributed to an anonymous artist.
- Provide second hand cars and motorbikes for kids to race up and down Kenworthy Lane. This may involve removal of the recently installed motorbike barrier. More on this next month.
- Awarding Kids with ASBO's for nicking motorbikes and spraying obscenities on shop walls. This is hotly tipped to be the most popular choice with the kids themselves.
- Providing time during the school day for the kids to pursue the above activities without being interrupted by community police officers etc.
Some suggestions which will NOT be considered include:
- Fining parents for letting their kids spray obscenities all over the wall and putting peoples' lives at risk racing stolen vehicles up and down Kenworthy Lane whilst wagging it off school.
- Holding parents responsible for the actions of their kids.
- Making parents accountable for having kids with no intention of bringing them up properly and treating them as a meal ticket for free housing.
That's not all - there's much more in Northenden Matters, however much of the material has already been dealt with on Northenden.Net due to our more frequent publishing schedule. If you would like a copy of Northenden Matters you can get one by calling 277 5972. It's available in 4 different languages, on audio tape and in Braille.