Throughout the Summer and into Autumn we have continued our ward surgeries at the Middle Herrington Methodist Church Hall, Crow Lane, The Jubilee Centre, Allendale Road, Farringdon and The Amalfi Tower Community Room, Lakeside. The last surgery was held was on Saturday 4th October, with Robert, Alan and myself all busy discussing issues raised by residents who called.

Our regular newsletters, too, are a continued, very important way of contact between ourselves and residents. The feedback from them, including many e-mails, are gratefully received and with the three of us working closely together since May when Alan was elected, we try to respond as quickly as possible to any issues raised. We are very grateful to our team of regular deliverers, plus the kind comments and encouragement we receive from ward residents during the distribution of the newsletters.
 
Michael

We have continued to hold our Herrington Ward Surgery at the Middle Herrington Methodist Church, Crow Lane. This has proved to be very convenient for ward residents and we are grateful for use of this ideal venue. Our regular Lakeside Ward Surgery is held at the Amalfi Tower Community Room, again an excellent venue, while our next surgery will be at the impressive Jubilee Centre, Allendale Road, Farringdon.

Robert

Twice in the last few months both myself and Robert have been out with the local Police-team covering our ward. These occur in the evenings and we are taken around Herrington, Farringdon and Lakeside in a police van. This is very helpful in that we can specifically mention to the Police the issues that have concerned residents who have made contact with us and then we make a visit to each of these locations. In addition we attend the regular Community Police Forums when all issues relating to our ward and those adjoining, are fully discussed with the Police and other groups in the Community.

Michael

Both Robert Oliver and myself are regularly contacted by ward residents, either by telephone, e-mail, through our website or in response to our newsletters. Now that Alan Wright has been elected as the third Conservative Councillor, we now have three people who will all be aiming to do their very best when asked to become involved in a ward issue.

On a recent Saturday afternoon we spent a good two hours walking around Herrington looking at some concerns raised by residents. These included objection to a planning application, the condition of the grassed area at the Board Inn Roundabout, car parking on grass verges, left litter at the Herrington Road/ Crow Lane junction, the installation, (at last), of a litter bin in Balmoral Terrace, progress of the play area in the Park, the Bridle Path at Foxcover Lane, plus several others.

During this period we met quite a few people and had a pleasant exchange of views. We intend to repeat this on a regular basis. In addition to attending to any specific issue, I also drive down to the Park Lea/West Park area most week-days to monitor the car parking issue, while Robert is in the ward every day.

We have in mind some ideas on making even greater, personal contact with residents in the months ahead and when finalised will mention them in our regular newsletters. During the recent election campaign, Alan, Robert and myself met hundreds of people. We were all grateful for the kind, friendly response we received.

Michael

We both have been very pleased with the venue of our last two Ward Surgeries at the Middle Herrington Methodist Church in Crow Lane and with their agreement hope to use it in the future. On both occasions we have received a continuous number of people and thanks are due to Colin Orr from the Church in giving ourselves and visiting residents alike, a most friendly welcome.

Robert 

Both Robert and myself recently met the new Station Manager at the Northmoor Community Fire Station and he gave us some background as to his work, with some very interesting statistics about the ward. We have added his number on the website. In addition, we shall soon both be accepting another invitation to join the local police officers on their night beat around the whole ward.

Michael

It has been a great pleasure, since my election as ward Councillor, to find out more about the Herrington Heritage Society and become, along with Robert, a regular at their monthly meetings. The talks, which are the main part of the evening, have so far been on subjects as varied as Carlisle Cathedral, the twin resorts, (Roker and Seaburn), with another just last week on cigarette cards from Colin Orr. The meetings are held in Middle Herrington Methodist Church, Crow Lane and are very well supported.

The talk on the twin resorts was particularly significant as it gave a detailed history of our coastal area. Indeed on viewing the slides many people were left with the sad conclusion that facilities, especially at Seaburn, were so much better and varied in the 1960's than they are now.
 
Michael

One of the most important roles a councillor plays is liaison with the Police and both Michael and I were pleased to accompany officers from Farringdon Police on a tour of the South area in an unmarked Police car a few weeks ago. During the two hours we spent driving round Herrington, Farringdon the Lakeside Village and onwards into the surrounding area we gained a valuable insight into the challenges of modern policing.

So often the causes of crime can be found in drug and alcohol misuse so we were pleased to hear of the firm line being taken against under-age youths caught with alcohol. It does seem that sometimes parents either buy or allow their children to take alcohol from home and they, not just licensees, must act responsibly. People often comment to me how much they like to see ‘Bobbies on the beat’ as much for reassurance as vigilance. Clearly resources are best spent sending officers to crime scenes as fast as is reasonable but the presence of Police on the streets, especially these known to the community, is a practice we always support.

If the Police could be freed from the tyranny of paperwork and email their time would be spent more efficiently. Email really is a double-edged sword with easier communication too often becoming unnecessary work tying officers to desks. More officers would clearly help but we need to think carefully about the powers of Community Support Officers as people find out quickly what they can and cannot do and will respect them accordingly. Better to give them the power they need to deal with the issues they face.

Robert

I have always been interested in the cinema so after a ridiculously long period without one, which was a disgrace, Sunderland finally got its own just a few years ago. The first film I saw there was Downfall, an excellent German film about the the last few months of Hitler's life in the bunker in Berlin. Looking back I was very naive but I thought that with a new cinema there would be much demand so I booked two seats over the phone. The actual number of people watching that film including ourselves, (my wife and I) was five!

Subsequently members of my family have been on many occasions to the Empire Cinema, Lambton Street and for some films there has been a decent number in the audience. Perhaps I am just unlucky but at the recent showing of a film called Breach there were only seven people including ourselves and when I recommended it to my Conservative colleague, Councillor Peter Wood, he and his wife had only one other person for company to watch what was an excellent film.

So I do hope that these examples are exceptions to the rule. I would be very interested to know what you think of the Empire Cinema in Sunderland and share your experiences. Do you like the new cinema or do you still go to Boldon or elsewhere and if so perhaps you could say why?

Michael

Councillors Oliver and Dixon attended the annual show at the Scout Hut in Herrington to view the many wonderful entries, among them: leeks, flowers, craft and a children’s section containing mini gardens. This year’s show had more entries and more visitors than ever and prizes were awarded by Marion Foster from the BBC. Councillor Oliver won first prize in the photography section for his picture of a thistle taken near Cordoba in Southern Spain.

Robert