Kev Lawrence: on living in Hampton
It may not have any history, and yes all the houses are pretty much the same, but Hampton as a place to live suits us just fine.
It may not have any history, and yes all the houses are pretty much the same, but Hampton as a place to live suits us just fine.It is a clean and safe environment. The people overall are friendly and neighbourly, and you get the sense that mostly people round here feel proud of where they live. Then there's the fantastic cycle paths and dog walking routes, which are well planned and a joy to use. The schools are modern and well equipped, and I am sure in time will start to show up well in terms of results.
There is an Indian restaurant and a Chinese takeaway within five minutes of my house, and both establishments, in terms of choice, ingredients, price and service, are faultless. We also now have a pub, and although it's a little "chainy" for my liking, the landlady is lovely and the place always seems busy.
And just recently, we have discovered the 'free to use' BMX track, just over the bridge into Orton. After two family visits so far, I'm not sure who loves it most, my kids, or us!
But, and it's quite a big but actually, I am feeling a little peeved at the moment.
And here's why.
The roads along which we live are still not "adopted" by the council, despite the developers finishing in November 2007. We have streetlamps with no bulbs, and nobody wanting to take responsibility. We have a small park and kids play area round the corner that has un-cut grass and un-emptied bins, and again nobody seems to be responsible.
Dog walkers have been (understandably) putting their soiled pooh bags into these bins, that are now overflowing, and the place is becoming a health hazard. On hot days the smell is foul. If some poor child got seriously ill playing near here, which could very easily happen, I just wonder what the consequences would be for those ultimately responsible?
And who is that? I presume it's not the council. Or O + H, which sold the land to the housebuilder. So I guess it might be the builder then, who by the way we have called several times, but so far to no avail.
I think it's disgusting, and for me all parties should take a much bigger responsibility here. Everyone close to where we live pays top whack council tax, and yet our street lights don't work, the litter bins are overflowing with dog mess and the grass needs cutting.
Someone, somewhere isn't doing their job properly, and as of this moment they are getting away with it.
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Weather for Peterborough
Monday 15 March 2010
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Wind direction: North west
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