It was reported that there was a great deal of progress on the Links Play Area in the days before 31st March 2010. Everything had been installed and the area for the older children had its post installation check by ROSPA which would allow it to be opened. The other side for the younger age group still had some issues especially with the surface and the fence. It was proposed to protect the area for a further month to allow the grass seed to start growing. It would be necessary to re-seed later in the season as it was likely to be difficult to establish the grassed area if there were children playing there. The new sign was installed on 30th March but it was to be replaced as it was damaged in transit. The Clerk was trying to find ways of encouraging the use of the play area for families with disabled children to fulfil the requirements of the Aiming High grant. She would welcome hearing from families with children with disabilities so that she can involve them in any ideas.
There seemed to be an increase in complaints about dogs fouling of the pavements especially near the school in The Avenue, Poplar Grove and St Swithuns Road. The Clerk had arranged for the installation of the dog waste bin by the alley near 101 The Avenue. She had had an email from the Estate Manager of Egrove Park. He was having problems with dog fouling at the Upper Road entrance to the college with people throwing plastic bags full of dog faeces into the hedges. He had removed over 20 bags in March. It was agreed to move the dog waste bin from the corner of Upper Road and Kennington Road to the Upper Road entrance of the college. Members of the Parish Council were very concerned about the health risks and inconvenience of dog fouling and wanted to remind inconsiderate dog owners that they could be fined. There was also the possibility that the informal use of the grounds of Egrove Park to exercise dogs might be stopped if the situation did not get better.
A letter had been received from Alan Pope and John Mastroddi about the work to prevent flooding which had been completed recently by the contractors for Network Rail and the Environment Agency. A new bridge had been erected at Hinksey sidings. Hinksey Drain has been cleared and the wall had been removed at the end of the garden of No 3 Kennington Road. The culverts by the Red Bridge and Go Outdoors sites and under the railway bridge (Black Bridge) had been cleared of silt. A cement wall to stop water coming onto Kennington Road had been put up along the edge of the pond near the slip road to the bypass. The farm crossing bridge across the railway had been removed. The Environment Agency hoped next year to widen the Hinksey Drain along the railway if finances permit.
The Clerk contacted Royal Mail, again, and they assured her the work to repaint the post boxes was scheduled. This problem was first reported in August 2009.
