Latest news with #communityconcerns
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Baltimore residents frustrated with weeds covering sidewalks, fire hydrant
Residents on Baltimore's Pascal Avenue are frustrated that trees, brush, and shrubs are taking over part of their neighborhood. "We've had cars that have gotten bugs, trails of bugs from out of the brush into their cars," said resident Michelle Martin. "There are thorns, so if you step out, you might get scratched." Residents on Baltimore's Pascal Avenue are frustrated that trees, brush, and shrubs are taking over part of their neighborhood. CBS News Baltimore This has become the reality for residents of Pascal Avenue in Baltimore City. "If there was an actual fire, we didn't know where the fire hydrant was because it's completely covered with brush," Martin said. No response from the city Martin says when she moved to the neighborhood eight years ago, she used to walk the sidewalks all the time, but over the last three years, the sidewalk has become overgrown with shrubs. She says several calls to the city to maintain it have gone largely unanswered. "Last year, I made three calls, and only one of them got a service request," Martin said. "When I called to check on them, they told me they only saw one in the system and that it probably wouldn't be handled this year." Rodent infestation fuels frustration Now, following a rodent infestation, she and her neighbors have had enough and took their frustrations to City Councilwoman Phylicia Porter. In a statement to WJZ, Porter says she is aware of these concerns, writing in part, "My staff informed her that there is no sidewalk on the street abutting West Bay Park. Additionally, staff informed her in the June 12, 2025, 4:48 PM email that Forestry, under City Recreation and Parks, had been notified and that our office is tracking the issue for resolution." Hoping for a solution Martin says she is hopeful Councilwoman Porter will bring them a long-awaited solution, but she is frustrated that it had to come to this. "I don't think this is a big issue, I think it's something that could easily be taken care of. I don't think we have to, as a taxpayer, that I have to call a councilman and a state senator to get someone to respond and get an answer to get this taken care of, but that's what I've had to do," said Martin. Martin told WJZ that an inspector came out Wednesday, and he, too, denied that a sidewalk was ever present there, which Martin says is not true. She said the inspector told neighbors they are working to have this addressed by the end of the summer.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'My late wife's hearse was blocked by idiot's bad parking' in nightmare road
A widower has described how his late wife's hearse could not get through a busy road and had to reverse because of bad parking. Angry residents in Spetchley Road in Worcester have slammed 'bullying' parents for blocking their driveways and verbally abusing them during the school-run. Cllr Elaine Willmore, a Labour city councillor for Nunnery, has been speaking to people about their concerns and pushing for Worcestershire County Council to find a solution. CONGESTED: Spetchley Road in Worcester where one man says his wife's hearse got stuck (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS) Resident Michael Harding, 79, said the hearse carrying his late wife was forced to reverse down the street after being blocked by double-parked cars. He said: 'My wife had terminal cancer for two years and she sadly died in April this year. 'The hearse picked her up from the family home. It got around the corner but it couldn't get through as some idiot was parked on double yellow lines. 'We had to turn back, it made us late for the service. Both cars had to reverse back down the road and turn around. 'He was parked on double yellow lines on a bend with another car parked across from it. Sometimes I cannot get my car off the drive, they park way over the drive. SIGN: A sign from a resident in Spetchley Road in Worcester (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS) 'I virtually have to park onto my neighbour's drive to get off, fortunately he's kind enough to let me. 'As well as the school-run parents it's the students leaving their cars on the road all day while they are at college. 'If you say anything to them, they swear at you. The language is foul, you get some really horrible responses. 'It's really everyone who is suffering here, it's not just me. They park across drives. You try to drive up Spetchley Road at 3pm and it's dangerous. We've had enough.' Arguments have broken out and signs erected begging parents to leave their cars elsewhere during the morning and afternoon rush. RECOMMENDED READING: 'Brazen parents park on our driveways - and some give us death stares' RECOMMENDED READING: Moment bungling burglar realises he is caught on camera before stealing laptops Retired Royal Navy engineer Royston Roberts, 82, said: 'People have parked on my drive which is never a good scenario. 'You can ask them to move but it's a civil matter. The police can't do anything. 'The problem for us is that I can't get access to the highway or get in or out of home a lot of the time. It's tight, too. It can be very inconvenient." Mr Roberts, who has lived on the street with his wife Maureen since 1983, said a suitable parking solution lies just 100 yards across the road in the form of the disused County Hall space. He added: 'The County Hall has a huge car park 100 yards away. There's no resolution - zigzag lines and warning people doesn't work. "If someone has arrived late, they'll park their car halfway across the drive. They'll dump their cars, but it's on both sides of the road – it's chaos.' A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: 'We would need to consider the wider effects of adding more restrictions. 'As with all traffic management measures, parking restrictions involve a balance of benefits and drawbacks, and it is important to approach any change with this in mind.'
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Solihull home extensions 'rip guts out of community'
Residents are being driven to tears by oversized home extensions that rip the guts out of a community, a councillor has Feeney has appealed for planning applications to be put on hold for a review "before Solihull becomes another faceless, soulless extension of Birmingham".The councillor for Castle Bromwich made a formal deputation during Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council's climate change and planning decision session on response, the authority's head of planning said each application would be determined on its merits. "Residents come to me in tears because they feel powerless to stop the area they have lived in all their lives having the guts ripped out of it," Feeney told the meeting."We are seeing three-bedroom homes turned into five-, six-, seven-bedroom homes."We see a hodgepodge of roof lines, a patchwork quilt of materials – overall a jumble sale of developments not future proof."He said the authority's guidelines on home extensions were 15-years-old and permitted development rights were being "manipulated by unscrupulous developers"."We are finding ourselves inundated with retrospective developments by those who know they only have to wait the council out, essentially holding a staring contest with us to see who will give up first," he added. Head of planning Mark Andrews said he understood Feeney's concerns and added there had been "a step change" in lost appeal decisions in recent said the department had looked at updating household extension guidance and allowed appeals had to be treated as "a material consideration in planning applications, especially where we have similar applications that come forward".But the officer urged caution on a moratorium on applications."That could be quite a difficult route to explore and go down," he said."Certainly we are happy to take a look at the timetable for reviewing the guidelines." This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Children's home in residential Northampton cul-de-sac approved
A five-bedroom home in a cul-de-sac will be turned into a small children's home despite objections from Northamptonshire Council approved the proposal to transform a home in Blossac Court, Duston, Northampton, into a residence that would care for three vulnerable children aged five to conversion, put forward by applicant Neil Verlander, received 76 objections from members of the public and there were calls at the planning meeting for its planning papers, the applicant Mr Verlander said the new home would be a "nurturing, warm and welcoming" environment for vulnerable young people. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, many objections have arisen from the perceived threat to the noise levels, parking issues and disturbances to other homes' on behalf of the applicant, social worker Kelly McFayden said: "I do understand, having looked at all of the feedback, that people are frightened about who's going to live next door- if they're going to be young offenders, if they're going to bring antisocial behaviour."We get to choose the young people and children that we offer opportunity to."The council's highways team also did not raise any objections to the number of parking spaces provided, stating that the four driveway spaces would be able to accommodate all staff members and would not have a significant impact on the local highway committee unanimously voted to approve the application last week, in line with the officer's recommendation. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Kalihi Valley crime called a ‘disaster,' more community tips needed
KALIHI VALLEY, Hawaii (KHON2) — Community concerns are high in Kalihi after two violent incidents overnight. Police investigating apparent shooting in Kalihi Valley A shooting at Kalihi Valley Homes left one victim in critical condition, then three officers were almost struck by a suspect in a stolen vehicle early Tuesday morning. The victim of Monday night's Kalihi Valley Homes shooting managed to make it to the Kalihi Police Station before he was brought to the hospital in critical condition. Community leaders said there is concern for keiki with school out of session. 'Kids are, you know, running around and having fun. We don't want our kids to be worried that someone's going to walk up to them and potentially have a weapon,' said Leialoha Tumbaga, Kalihi Valley Neighborhood Board chair. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news The shooting took place just after 9 p.m. Monday and two suspects were still on the loose as of Tuesday afternoon. Then just after 12:30 Tuesday morning — also in Kalihi — three officers were nearly struck by a 33-year-old man who revved the engine and drove toward them in a stolen suspect was arrested, but more information from residents never hurts investigations. 'HPD are doing their best, and, you know, they're not here to see everything,' said Kalihi Valley Neighborhood Watch organizer Simeon Rojas. 'You know, it's okay to say something because if we don't, we are asking for disaster and that's what's happening at this point.' Rojas organizes the Kalihi Valley Neighborhood Watch and hopes the latest incidents encourage the community to join up. A 16-year-old teen was shot while the bus he was riding was idling at a Kalihi bus stop in August 2024. 'Just look at it this way. If that person was, or anyone of your family members was in that bus or around that area, you know,' Rojas said, 'It will be a thought where, you know, it's like I wish I put in more time and concerns to the community.' 'So they can only draw from what people are willing to speak out. I'm hoping there are other people who know even more can report anonymously,' Tumbaga with information about the Kalihi Valley Homes shooting is asked to contact Honolulu police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
