Engineering Services Information Bulletin — Issue No. 25, September 2005
Quad bikes advice
They may be the latest craze and the kids may love them but when it comes to mini-quad bikes and motorised scooters the message is stay away!
With the accident rate among young riders on the increase, the Road Safety Team says that petrol powered scooters and quads are not toys and using them inappropriately can be against the law. Road Safety Manager Julie Dagnall says:
"These vehicles come under the same legislation as motorbikes, and under the road traffic regulations, you need to be at least 16, with at least a provisional licence, proper insurance and an MOT to ride on the roads."
Crash helmets are also required before riding on the roads. Riders can use these vehicles off-road, but only on private land, not parks and open spaces.
"If you use them on public land then you’re breaking the law and if you’re stopped by the police your bike could be seized," says Julie.
Accidents involving inexperienced riders are on the rise and the team is also concerned about the safety of pedestrians. Road safety officers across Greater Manchester have issued a joint statement reminding the public that electric and petrol powered scooters, mini-quads and mini motorbikes are subject to strict legal guidelines.
The Road Safety Team says riders are breaking the law if they use their bike:
- On the footpath
- On the road and they are under 16
- On the road without a licence, insurance, MOT, tax and a helmet
Julie and the team are currently gearing up to spread the safety message in schools at the start of the new school year.
"We will be reminding school pupils that if they have such vehicles, they can only use them on private land," says Julie "and this rules out parks and public play areas."
Julie adds:
"Parents must understand the legal requirements for these vehicles when letting their children have them, so we are keen to keep everyone informed before they find out the hard way."
Milestone for muckspreaders
Eco-friendly householders around the borough helped us reach a major milestone last month - the collection of the 1,000th tonne of garden waste for use as compost on a local farm.
The council's trial green waste collection covers a third of all households borough-wide - that's a potential 40,000 properties - with new green bin wagons collecting grass, leaves and small branches from green-fingered residents.
Green guru Dr Gail Schofield says:
"A big thank you to everyone in the borough who is recycling their garden waste. It’s amazing to think that what you have collected in your lawnmower or trimmed from the hedge is now helping to grow the crops that may one day become the loaf of bread in your very own kitchen!
"We’re looking forward to seeing how the trial progresses over the next year - who knows, we may soon be 'toasting' its success using toast made from bread originating on a Wigan farm!"
The 'green team' is delighted with the response to the new service, but wants to remind everyone that the green bins are strictly for garden waste and brown cardboard. Gail adds:
"Be careful not to include items such as wrappers, bottles or plastics. The green waste is composted and used to help crops grow, so please keep it free from contamination."
Wigan Council began a trial green bin service this spring following the successful introduction of kerbside paper recycling last year. The material collected is not of a quality where it can be sold to residents, but some farms can use it as a low-grade soil enhancer.
Playtime is perfect thanks to Atherton’s SRB cash
Play Time: Street Scene Steering Group member Sandra Stewart (left) and Chair of the SRB5 Board Sue Wilson joins the kids at Meadowbank Primary in their new look playground.
Playtime for youngsters at an Atherton primary school has just become even more enjoyable thanks to cash from a successful regeneration scheme.
Meadowbank primary school has had £5,000 to improve its playground from the SRB5 programme… and children and teachers are delighted.
The money has paid for benches, trees and new equipment to break up a previously flat playground. Jim Fisher, headteacher of Meadowbank, said:
"The new facilities make the world of difference to the playground landscape and offer the pupils a more stimulating environment.
"There are improvements taking place all across the estate and we’re glad that our school has been included as part of the process."
Sue Wilson, Chair of the SRB 5 Partnership Board, said:
"SRB 5 money is for the benefit of all residents living on the Hag Fold estate. This project has enabled local children to have innovative facilities for creative play in the school environment."
People and Places Manager Nick Burdekin added:
"The Hag Fold Community Committee, in partnership with the council’s street scene team, set up Hag Fold as a Street Scene Action Area back in October 2003. "They identified many elements of the environment that needed improvement. A successful bid to the SRB 5 Partnership Board received £400,000, to which Wigan Council contributed a further £350,000.
"This money has been spent on things like new street lighting columns, new dropped kerbs and resurfaced pavements. However, each of the three primary schools on the estate were included in the bid because schools are a vital part of any community."
Keep on recycling
The green team’s Phil Lamb collects a sack of old catalogues from Kath and Eileen at the Galleries’ store.
When your local high street catalogue shop gets its new season lines in, it’s only natural to rush down there for a great deal.
But our waste management team are reminding shoppers what to do with their old catalogues — and binning them is so last season! They say old catalogues can be easily recycled in the fortnightly collection service.
Waste management officer, Philip Lamb says:
"Our message to local residents is ‘once you’ve finished with your catalogue, please recycle it. We’ll take magazines, newspapers, computer paper, travel brochures… and your catalogue store books as well!"
And David Jones, manager of Argos in Wigan Galleries is backing the council’s recycling project. He says:
"I know our customers will welcome the chance to help the environment. It’s good that we can all do our bit really easily to go green."
The photocall helped to remind the public that there’s lots of ways to fill that sack, and even possibly win the department’s monthly competition. We have had some happy winners who have made it into the local press this summer.
In July, a Golborne High School examiner who retired thinking financial rewards for mountains of paperwork were a thing of the past was made to think again just a week later.
Enthusiastic recycler Eddie Whitehead, of Barton Street, Golborne, was a monthly £500 winner of our ‘Sack Race’ prize draw for residents who stockpile paper for the fortnightly recycling collection sack.
Mr Whitehead laughed that this was welcome paperwork for him. He said:
"I’d heard that residents had been winning cash for recycling their old magazines and papers, but I never expected it’d be my turn. I hope my win helps to spread the message that recycling saves everyone money as well as resources."
Each month, following the Mayor of Wigan’s random selection of a recycling household, the council’s ‘green team’ makes a surprise visit to an unsuspecting recycler to reward them with shopping vouchers. It’s funded by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme).
Ruth Halpin of the recycling team went to congratulate Mr Whitehead. She said:
"There are still chances to win — so please give us your old catalogues and magazines! If you’re missing a sack, ring (01942) 404364 to get one, or you can even fill a plastic bag and leave it out every second week on bin day."
And a Leigh pensioner so dedicated to recycling that he took the same shirt on holiday for 30 years became our next monthly prize winner.
Terry Jones, of Dorothy Grove, "thought it was a wind-up" when Ruth Halpin arrived with his £500 of shopping vouchers.
"I always remember to put my sack out," says Terry, "but I didn’t expect anything for it!"
In his younger days, Terry worked at the famous Vulcan works in Newton-le-Willows, where he managed legendary local boxer Peter Kane.
"He was a nice chap," Terry recalls, "not such a fan of the other sports, but devoted to his boxing of course."
Since collections began, over 180,000 trees have been saved as residents have recycled their magazines and papers, but the green team wants to reach out to all those who are not yet participating.
Traffic Management Unit
The TMU is attended by representatives of various council departments (Engineering Services, Legal and Property Services and Planning and Regeneration), as well as the police and GMPTE. The meeting on 12th July was also attended by Councillor Paul Prescott.
Proposed prohibition of waiting – Newlands Drive and Stonecross Lane, Lowton
A report was presented on behalf of the Director of Engineering Services about this scheme and discussions took place regarding laying waiting restrictions on Newlands Drive and Stonecross Lane. The TMU recommended that the Director proceed with the advertisement of the Order.
Proposed revocation of existing waiting and loading restrictions – Church Street, Hindley
A report was presented on behalf of the Director of Engineering Services. Discussions took place regarding the amendment to the current Traffic Regulation Orders with the removal of existing waiting and loading restrictions on Church Street in the vicinity of Atherton Road, Hindley. It was recommended that the Director proceed with the advertisement of the Order.
Proposed prohibition of waiting – Redford Close, Leigh
A report was presented on behalf of the Director of Engineering Services. Discussions took place regarding introducing restrictions on Redford Close. The TMU recommended that the Director proceed with the advertisement of the Order.
Proposed prohibition of waiting – Clyde Street, Leigh
A report was presented to the meeting. The Unit discussed the revocation of part of the waiting restrictions on Clyde Street and recommended that the Order is advertised.
Proposed prohibition of waiting – Norley Hall Avenue
Discussions took place regarding extending existing waiting restrictions on Norley Hall Avenue and the unit recommended that the Director proceed with the advertisement of the Order.
Proposed controlled parking zone and prohibition of waiting - Barton Avenue / Rivington Avenue and Queensway
Discussions took place regarding the introduction of a Controlled Parking
Zone on Barton Avenue, Rivington Avenue and part of Queensway between Walkden
Avenue and Rivington Avenue.
The results from the consultation showed 75% of residents from Rivington Avenue
were in favour and 100% of residents from Barton Avenue were in favour of the proposals.
It was recommended that the Order is advertised.
Proposed limited waiting - Bradshawgate, Leigh
The Unit discussed the implementation of limited waiting bays in Bradshawgate as the existing restrictions were causing confusion to some drivers. TMU recommended that the Director proceed with the advertisement of the Order.