It was great to see so many residents at last night’s Langworthy Forum meeting at the British Legion on Langworthy Road. The Forum is always well attended and gives local people the chance to learn about events happening in the area and ask questions on a wide variety of subjects.

We were fortunate to have council officers on hand from Salix Homes and the regeneration department who briefed us about the current HMR (Housing Market Renewal) programme going on in Seedley South. While the answers were a little vague, it was at least appreciated that officers were open and honest with us about the future development of our area.

Ros Munro (Headteacher of the new Glendinning Primary School currently being built) was on hand to introduce herself and explain that she was already in-post and working from the Cornerstone on Langworthy Road. Should prospective parents have any questions for Ros, she is available most days at the Cornerstone. Quite a few questions and comments related to the over-subscribed position of the new school, which has not exactly come as a shock to many people such as myself. While Ros herself is not directly involved in admissions criteria, she did confirm that no temporary classrooms or portakabins would be located on the school site – as there were exciting ideas for developing the school grounds into planted gardens and allotments etc.

This left a huge hole of unanswered questions with the room demanding to know why ward councillor (and Lead Member for Children’s Services) John Warmisham was not in attendance. As the Forum meeting date is planned months in advance, I do feel that Councillor Warmisham should have made time in his schedule for this important meeting with his constituents.

Lastly it was exciting to learn that Langworthy in Bloom has won another award this year – but we don’t know what yet! Jenny Sowerby who I have seen many a time on Langworthy Road tending to the flowers revealed that the Mayor has been invited to the awards ceremony, so we’re hopeful it’s another win for Langworthy in Bloom. Watch this space!

During the Open Forum at the end of the agenda, my favourite topic of potholes was raised. Regular readers of my blog will know I have been campaigning for years to get a proper, scheduled maintenance plan in place for the roads and footpaths in our ward. A resident particularly complained about the dire state of Derby Road – and how his whole house shakes due to the heavy traffic driving over the deep potholes. Derby Road and Seedley Park Road have been the subject of numerous letters and emails between me and Urban Vision over the last year.

It is therefore fantastic news to report that today and yesterday, Urban Vision have been doing a great job of cutting out the damaged sections of Derby Road and re-laying large portions of the road – a far more professional job than we have seen in the past. I spoke with the workers this morning and they confirmed they were scheduled to work on the entirety of Derby Road for the rest of the day.