Maria Caulfield is the Conservative Moulsecoomb & Bevendean Councillor.

CYCLES

Conservative Councillor Maria Caulfield is addressing the Environment Committee on 20^th March to ask them to enforce the cycle lanes on the A270 Lewes Rd, especially at the junction of Coombe Terrace.

Cllr Caulfield highlights the problem by saying, “I have had a number of complaints from cyclists who use the busy Coombe Terrace cycle lane. This cycle lane, which is a major route to and from the Universities and the proposed Falmer Community Stadium, is always blocked by cars picking up and dropping off. This is very dangerous as it causes cyclists to weave in and out of the fast flowing traffic along the A270.

Students tell me it is too dangerous to cycle on the Lewes Road, but surely we should be encouraging this generation to use bikes? Action must be taken to stop car parking on the cycle lane at Coombe Terrace and to avoid the distinct possibility of a fatality.”

 Latest

13^th March 2008

Conservative Councillor Maria Caulfield has submitted a petition to Brighton and Hove City Council on behalf of the residents of Moulsecoomb to urgently ask for a pelican crossing to be placed on the A270 between Barcombe Rd shops and the Wild Park.

This area desperately needs a crossing as it is highly residential yet has a 40 mile an hour dual carriageway running through it which residents have to cross on a daily basis to either use the Wild Park or to catch the bus in or out of town,

Cllr Caulfield said, “The main concern is for the children of Falmer School who have to cross this dual carriageway twice a day to get to and from school. The existing underpass further down the road is inadequate as it is no where near the bus stops and residents feel very unsafe using it. There have been several accidents involving school children in the past and it is only a matter of luck that no one has been killed so far.”

Conservative Councillor Maria Caulfield is campaigning to improve the facilities in the Wild Park in Moulsecoomb. She has written two letters to the Environment Committee which will be discussed on 24^th January 2008. The first asks for the toilets in the Wild Park to be re installed after they were burnt down over a year ago and the second asks for the neglect of the ancient grassland slopes to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

The Wild Park covers a huge area and is widely used by residents and children from the local schools and visitors to the area. The fact that there are no toilet provisions for people who may want to use the park for a few hours at a time seems unacceptable. Parents especially are concerned for their children’s safety if there is no where appropriate for them to use.

The Wild Park is also visited by the local schools for environmental visits and projects but increasingly access to these areas have been blocked for the children and other members of the public as the slopes are becoming overgrown with vegetation blocking the commonly used routes. In addition there is concern that this vegetation is not only blocking the routes but is also overtaking the rare grassland and wildflower that currently exists.

There is concern among residents that resources are being given to create new wildflower meadows in the city while existing areas that have rare and threatened species are declining rapidly.  Examples of some of the rich, high quality relict chalk grassland wildlife found in the Wild Park are the Chalkhill Blue and Marbled White butterflies, Silver Spotted Skipper, Burnet moths, Pyramidal Orchis and Common Lizards.

Here are some other things that Maria's been up to recently:

What’s happening in M&B?????

1)    Campaign for toilets in the Wild Park – these were burnt down nearly a year ago and the council has been reluctant to re-build them. Even though this park is well used by locals, visitors, local schools and families there is no where for any one to go to the toilet. The park itself extends over a large area and there is no where nearby for people to use. This is being brought up at the next environment committee by me as there was insurance money available to help with the rebuilding!!!

2)    Campaign to protect the chalk grasslands of the Wild Park – The wild park in Moulsecoomb has some of the richest chalk grasslands in the south east and as a result some of the country’s rarest wild life can be found there for example Chalkhill Blue and Marbled White butterflies. However due to neglect and lack of investment the area is being taken over by scrub land and again I have asked for this to be discussed at the next environment committee.

3)    Cleaning up M&B. Since May I have

a.     Started to ensure hedges on the roads are cut back to ensure those who are partially sighted, or using a wheelchair or pushchair can safely

b.     Had City Clean out to clean street drains in the area

c.     Been working with city clean to target fly tipping in the area by ensuring that residents have the recycling boxes and correct bins they need to dispose of their rubbish correctly and that fly tipping in the area is cleared quickly to discourage more rubbish dumping.

4)    Helped the parents whose children were attending Buffer bear nursery find alternative placements when the nursery unexpectedly had to close

5)    Helping Moulsecoomb boxing club raise its profile as an excellent facility for the young people in the area.

6)    Have a petition going to improve the crossing on the Lewes Road at the junction of Coldean Lane so that the children going to Falmer School can cross the main road safely