Action Line: Enforcement of regulations in Liberty Village
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --
COMPLAINT:
I am a recent recipient of the a new home in Liberty Village and am very impressed with the design and thought that was put into the homes and community.
With that being said I am also upset and hope that you can assist. The housing office provided a very thorough and easy to understand handbook to all residents upon entering base housing. However, there are some issues that are causing me concern.
The first is animal control. In the two weeks I have been in housing not a single day has passed when I have not found dog feces on the sidewalks and paths through our neighborhood. I have also twice cleaned it from the slide in the playground that is clearly marked as a no-pet area. While it is great that there are refuse boxes provided in the neighborhood we still have many that lack the common courtesy to clean up after their pets. I have also had situations in which I have politely informed individuals of the no-pet policy in the playground area who continue to ignore the rules and make the playground unsafe and unsuitable for my and other children in the neighborhood. I would like to ask that there be a clear penalty system set up that would have a hefty fine for first violation and removal of animal or loss of quarters for subsequent violations.
The second issue is the disregard for facilities and grounds that individuals continue to show when they park vehicles in grass and common areas . This is clearly prohibited because it hinders the passage of emergency vehicles.
It seems that this would be easily remedied with significant consequences being handed down. I would like to ask on behalf of myself and others in the housing area that the SFS begin ticketing any and all vehicles that are not in clearly provided parking spots. All homes in this housing area are provided a garage for parking that American vehicles will fit in as well as one outside parking spot. This is more than sufficient and I would like the neighborhoods to look as they should and not like a used car lot. It is disheartening to walk my son to school and see a car in the front lawn on a home that was clearly there all night as the dew had iced the windshield over.
I know the SFS patrols the neighborhood regularly and I appreciate this as a parent and neighborhood resident. However, they seem to turn a blind eye to such violations as there was no citation on the windshield. The rules are clear and I am simply asking if you will put more stringent enforcement and penalties in place.
The neighborhood is for all to enjoy and we need to ensure that the thoughtless acts of some are not allowed to degrade the neighborhood for those who choose to show professionalism and pride in their environment.
Part of our core values is 'excellence in all we do' and protecting and preserving Air Force resources, such as the housing we are provided, clearly falls within our core values.
I appreciate you taking my concerns into consideration. I only want us to project a proper AF image in our neighborhood not just for our host nation but for our families, our most precious resource.
RESPONSE:
Thank you for bringing these matters to my attention. The courtesy and professionalism of our base residents is certainly a major concern in ensuring the safety and comfort of all who live, work, and play on the installation. I commend you for encouraging your fellow residents to change their ways and adhere to the rules.
You raise two distinct and separate concerns, the first being animal control. In accordance with U.K. law and base policy, dogs should be on a leash and/or under control at all times while in public places. There are several locations in base housing with pet waste bins. These are clearly posted and are conveniently located so that mindful pet owners can use them to discard pet waste. Signs are also clearly posted in areas where dogs are not allowed. Our Security Forces personnel can and will enforce dogs being on leads and in areas closed to pets. However, the most effective way to enforce animal control is as you've already alluded to: community members, like you, helping to enforce standards. We count on conscientious community members to act courteously and be mindful of their impact on each other and their environment.
Additionally, you addressed access for emergency vehicles, which is a very legitimate and serious concern. The community plan for Liberty Village, including parking, was designed to meet stringent Forest Heath District Council requirements. One of those requirements is 1.5 parking spaces per housing unit. Although we worked very closed with Council whereby we were allowed 2 parking spaces per unit - 1 being the garage - we realize there are still some limiting factors when it comes to parking in Liberty Village. As such, our Security Forces primarily focuses their efforts on parking violations which impede emergency vehicle access. We are currently working on way to mitigate the parking issue, but this is not an overnight fix and will likely take some time to be fully resolved.
Again, I commend you for taking pride in your home and for doing your part in helping others understand how fortunate they are to live in a fantastic place like Liberty Village and how important it is to treat their home with respect. While I am disappointed to hear you have not received the response I would expect, please continue to politely hold people accountable for violating the rules and help them to understand the consequences of their actions. I am confident people will get the message and that you will inspire others to speak up as well.
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