A couple of days ago it was discovered that military bases in conflict zones have been compromised by serving soldiers uploading fitness training information to running apps. A serious matter but also a force that can be used for good. I use the endomondo app on my phone to keep track of how far and fast I go each time. One of the features of the app is that it keeps a map of where I’ve been.

On Sunday evening I went for a 5k run around the Deepings as I often do. The map above illustrates where I went and I’ve labelled some of the ‘points of interest’ along the way.

A – Cherry Tree Park

This is a little playpark with a swing and a slide which is hidden between Church St and the Woodlands cul-de-sac. It looks a bit neglected partly because of a large chunk of graffiti  which has reported repeatedly to SKDC by me and others since before last summer. During the autumn of 2017, SKDC spent half-million pounds on the Big Clean project which was supposed to clean up the whole SKDC area. There are many examples of Big Clean improvements to our street scene in the Deepings. Unfortunately, it hasn’t yet got as far as Cherry Tree Park.

A small group of users of the park is beginning to coalesce and to plan for improvements to the facility including a bin and perhaps more play equipment. If you would like more information about this group please let me know and I will put you in touch.

B – Burnside Avenue

At the end of Burnside Avenue is a small collection of garages and greenspace. This is owned by SKDC and is earmarked as one of a handful of sites which may be suitable for new social housing (aka Council houses). Another of the sites is North of the Scout Hut on Wellington Way. The Deepings has a shortage of affordable and social housing and plenty of people on the waiting list. SKDC is right to look at opportunities to build more housing and to weigh each on its merits.

C – Persimmon Estate

Where to start with this one? The roads are not complete, even out onto Godsey Lane; the footpaths are not what was promised; the allotments are not finished; the list goes on, and so does the correspondence between me, other people, LCC, SKDC, Anglian Water and of course Persimmon who must be laughing all the way to the bank. If you have particular issues with this development please let me know and I’ll add them to my list.

Here’s a snapshot from one of the original planning documents promising cycleways which never happened.

D – Godsey Crescent

I ran past here to see whether the graffiti on the electricity sub-station which I reported via the SK Big Clean website back in September has been removed. I am pleased to say that it has. Here’s are ‘before and after’ photos. It goes to show it is worth reporting grotspots via the SK website https://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/?service=BIGCLEAN

I’m not intending to write a blogpost every time I go out of my front door but I thought you might like to know that I am making an effort to keep on top of local issues and also to keep myself fit!