MKCCM e-newsletter                                                                                 JULY 2010                      

___________________________________________________________________________________

Over the past few weeks the Council has been working across CMK to re-instate the granite kerbs which have been displaced from traffic impacts.  Where new developments provide an opportunity, the fixing of the kerbs is being improved to respond to the weight and speed of modern traffic. Please report any new instances you see to help with future re-instatements. If these are in the carriageway they’re addressed as an emergency and interim measures to make safe are carried out until full re-instatement can be undertaken in batches utilising the correct heavy lifting and mechanical equipment required.

 

The large granite blocks on the planters in some parking areas which have been displaced through traffic impacts have also been re-instated. The weight, size and existing fixing arrangements raise the same issues and solutions as above.

 

Portes Cochere (Covered Walkways)

A programme to replace ceilings and drainage on a number of portes cochere, mainly on Midsummer Boulevard will be completed this financial year. Survey work to assess the extent of the works and the costs is due to start in July. Please report damages and information to us for passing to the Council to assist in this.

 

The extent of the pothole damage during the extreme winter weather across the Borough has been huge and the programme of repairs continues. Many of the worst damage in CMK has already been addressed, any further problems can still be reported and added to the schedule, so please advise us.

 

A recent night-time walking audit of the IF: International Festival event sites in the city centre was carried out by us with the Council and Festival management. Lighting outages were noted and reported, these should be picked up through night-time scouting but some persistent problems are being investigated with the electricity supplier. If you are aware of on-going outages please advise us. Following our reports many of the underpass entrance lamps have now been repaired.

 

The councils lighting pilot at the rear of Saxon Court has demonstrated big savings in electricity for the same level of illumination. Further information is still awaited regarding replacement of the pilot columns to fit with other columns in CMK.

 

In support of the IF: International Festival, the night audit raised the request to enhance the large underpass between the Theatre & Gallery and Campbell Park. The ceiling covers an enormous 1/10^th of a hectare and is now being repaired and painted by the council in readiness for the festival activities on 16 July.

 

Another underpass which has received attention recently is under Secklow Gate adjoining Lloyds Court. The railings originally installed to protect the entrance to the now defunct public toilets have been removed as they were no longer needed and potentially an obstruction.   At the same time a small area of paving nearby disrupted by tree roots was repaired and the surface made good.

 

After8 Pee Pod
The After8 research carried out in November 2009 highlighted the negative perceptions of those interviewed to the lack of public toilet facilities around CMK after 8pm. From Saturday 12 June revellers were able to freely use the ‘After8 Pee Pod – the Place to Wee’ – an outdoor urinal located initially on the outskirts of the Theatre District and then located at Xscape between the main building and Airkix. The trial ran every Friday and Saturday until the beginning of July. We are awaiting final results but during the first three weeks of the trial over 12 gallons of urine was collected. The After8 Group will use the evidence gathered to identify solutions in the future through cross agency working with Milton Keynes Council.

Whilst we’re on the subject, we’re investigating how many urinals there are in Central Milton Keynes as part of a project to reduce the amount of water required to flush them – do you know the average urinal flushes over 90 times a day and calcification of pipes is the biggest maintenance and cost issue?

If there was a way to reduce to 1 flush and avoid calcification as part of a city centre wide green and award winning initiative would you be interested? How would this fit with your CSR agenda - please contact Kay - kay.greenhalgh@mkccm.org for more information.  

CONSULTATIONS & STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
You decide who holds the power: Mayor or Leader
Milton Keynes Council must change following the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 and now needs residents of Milton Keynes to have a say on what should happen.  Milton Keynes could have a mayor with executive powers or a council leader elected every four years following changes to the way the borough is governed at the top. For more information see Milton Keynes Councilor email: executivearrangements@milton-keynes.gov.uk . Consultation began on 28 May closing date is 08 July.

 

MKC are refreshing the Arts & Public Art Strategy (adopted in 2008 and 2006 respectively). Their objective has been to review performance and bring the content up-to-date in response to the following:
• The slow-down in growth and changes to the economy
• Successes and lessons learned from the delivery of the first years of each strategy
• The need to plan further into the future National and local changes in priorities and policies
• New opportunities and initiatives. 

For more information see Milton Keynes Council or contact the Arts Team on 01908 253884. Consultation began on 14 July closing date is 09 July 2010.  

---

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY  

The 2010 Events Calendar details events being held in and around Milton Keynes. If you would like to include your city centre event please email carmel.blyth@mkccm.org .  For more information see:MKCCM: Events Calendar 2010

FRINGEMK – Exhibitions in Midsummer Place and thecentre:mk
The first FRINGEMK Pavement and Street Art Festival is taking place from 6 – 23 July in Milton Keynes and will be arriving at Midsummer Place.  The Festival includes a high profile £8000 painting competition, a week-long pavement art festival showcasing international graffiti artists and three-dimensional experts, four commissions by Mexican artist Juandres Vera and an award ceremony on 16 July held at Middleton Hall, thecentre:mk 7pm till 8pm.  Fringe MK have been listed for this year’s Arts & Business South East Awards on 14 July - we wish them luck! For more information please go to www.fringemk.com 
 

IF: Milton Keynes International Festival 16 – 25 July 10 extraordinary days in 2010
With just over a week to wait until central Milton Keynes is set alight with some of the world's most exciting artists. To see the full festival programme of events go to: IF Milton Keynes - Festival Brochure , if you would like copies of the brochure for staff or customers please contact 01908 398135.  Please take a look and plan what you will see for free or book tickets for the many wonderful ticketed premier events. 

If you are interested in how it all works behind the scenes, check out the free discussions and talks from the producers and artists taking place at University Centre Milton Keynes and make sure you register with www.subtlemob.com/miltonkeynes  if you would like to participate in the free audio events.

For any further information go to - www.ifmiltonkeynes.org

Arriva Buses - £1 Festival Special CMK Fare
For the duration of the IF: International Festival Arriva will be operating a special fare of £1.00 to get you around the city centre easily from the 16 to 25 July.

 

Bygone fun fair rides will operate from the grassed area from 16 July through into August.

Diverse MK – Open Art Space – for 10 days as part of the International Festival

Based in the old Rodizios building at the Theatre District, Diverse MK will present a selection of professional and grassroots level performers and artists, all are based locally in Milton Keynes. Live music on Saturdays will feature local bands including Sweet Felicity Arkwright featuring Nicky Prince, Cathy Cook Quintet, Cosmic Marmalade to name a few. For more information join them on Facebook Diverse MK or contact info@diversemk.co.uk

The Hub:MK
As part of the IF: International Festival the following events will take place at thehub:mk:
16 July 12pm – 1.30pm Axial Dance: Lance & Brenda

17 July 11am – 5pm - National Pavement Artists Competition

19 July 6:30pm – 7:30pm – Roger Bernat: The Biggest Play in the World

21 July 5pm – 7pm – Dancing Brick: Spinning

25 July 1pm – 4pm – Stop Gap Dance Company: Tracking

For more information see: the hub – milton keynes

Midnight Moo – 17 July
Following, the success of 2009, on the 17 July 2010 join in the 10 mile walk around Milton Keynes starting from Midsummer Place Shopping Centre in CMK. Registration costs £15 to find out more go to www.mkmidnightmoo.com  

thecentre:mk - Middleton Hall (by John Lewis) 

McCain Track & Field Event – 11 July – young people have the opportunity to try out athletics – run, jumping and throwing from 11am till 4pm.

The Beach is Back – 24 July – 31 August children of all ages will be able to enjoy life at the beach whatever the weather. Also throughout the period there will be weekly children's discos and sports events coordinated by MK Dons and Sports Leaders.

29 July and 12 August – MK Dons Beach Footfall Evening – a special beach football master class focusing on ball control and shooting.

5August – Miccoli, Twin brothers and band members Alessandro and Adriano will perform from 6:30pm till 8pm raising money for the British Heart Foundation.

For more information on all events in Middleton Hall see: thecentre:mk 

Discover Milton Keynes – thecentre:mk, 672 Silbury Boulevard
2 July – 12 August the Amazing MK! exhibition will run supporting the launch of the new brand for Milton Keynes. 

13 August – 30 September – Heritage Hunters 1 exhibition shows work of young heritage enthusiasts from local schools as part of the Milton Keynes Heritage Association’s recent projects.

For more information see: Discover Milton Keynes  (open 10am – 6pm Monday – Saturday).

 

Milton Keynes Gallery 
Exhibition 9 July – 12 September - THE THE THINGS IS (FOR 3)

Preview Thursday 8 July 6pm - 10pm, with BBQ, drinks and music.

Milton Keynes Gallery presents a major solo exhibition of work by a London-based artist who emerged in the early 1990s. Working with sound, performance, collage and photography, the artist creates systems that playfully experiment with language, identity, geometry and chance.

The Thursday evening events programme has been exceptionally expanded to coincide with IF - Milton Keynes International Festival.  All events begin at 6.30pm and are free of charge with no booking required, unless otherwise specified.

1 July Film Club - Jean-Luc Godard, Le Mépris (1963)

15 July Film Club - Michelangelo Antonioni, La Notte (1962)

16 July Sound Installation - Caroline Devine Phishing

17 July Live Music - Acoustic Sessions

22 July In Conversation - The artist and writer Matt Hale

23 July Live Music - Peter J Taylor

24 (1pm-8.30pm) & 25 July (10am-5pm) - Performances, lectures and seminars Parallax Venice

29 July Film Club - Michelangelo Antonioni, L'Eclisse (1963) – book your place!

For more information see: Milton Keynes Gallery  opening times: Tuesday – Friday 12pm till 8pm, Saturday 11am-8pm, Sunday 11am-5pm, closed Mondays.  Also see information on their education programmes which includes Art Trolley every Saturday.

MK Theatre – Currently showing Strictly Come Dancing ‘The Professionals’, Bedroom Farce, Peppa Pig’s Party and Diversity to find out more or book tickets call Milton Keynes Theatre Box Office on 0844 871 7652 or visit www.ambassadortickets.com/miltonkeynes

Parks Trust Programme – Campbell Park
25 July – World Picnic, 1pm till 6pm with the IF: International Festival
30 July – Shakespeare in the Park
21 / 22 August – Open Film Festival
For more information on what events’ are on in the park visit: www.theparkstrust.comCelebr8MK is a celebration of everything Milton Keynes, a street parade - ALL are welcome to celebrate who you are, what you do, where you are - on Sunday 29 August. Over 20 groups with 1000 different people have signed up so far, so register at www.celebr8mk.co.uk ; it is a short walk suitable for young and old in celebration, it is free to enter but if you are bringing a float or vehicle and you are a registered company a £500 donation is requested as it is a not for profit organisation, but if you want to join in wearing your Sunday ‘5 a side kit’ or your corporate jacket you’re welcome.  Please note road closures will be in place for this event, details will be forwarded once confirmed by Milton Keynes Council.

 

 

Carluccio’s, YO! Sushi and Café Rouge are all open for business with Nando’s due to open on 14 July.  Queens Court is open from 8am until 11pm daily, please check each restaurants individual trading hours.

To access Destination Dining up until midnight daily please use either Door 5, located on the Silbury Boulevard side between Starbucks and Waterstone’s or Door 6, located on Midsummer Boulevard between McDonalds and Fraser Hart Jewellers : www.destinationdiningmk.co.uk 

On 14 July, MK Forum is holding a public meeting on ‘Creating living places and new communities - How will our children Live?’ at Milton Keynes Gallery starting at 7:30pm, with registration from 7pm. To reserve your place please contact the Gallery on 01908 676900 or for further details on the lecture please see: www.fredrochefoundation.org.uk

Sustainable Routes is offering Milton Keynes businesses with 5 to 250 employees the opportunity to apply for a match funded grant of up to £1,000 to help cut business travel costs. The idea is to focus on smarter travel choices, but the grant can be spent on all sorts of innovations – for example upgrading IT systems to enable remote working, teleconferencing facilities, fuel conversion and bicycle storage. The MKC local transport team will also offer you a free staff travel survey to help get your scheme up and running. For more information or to apply online, please visit www.sustainableroutes.co.uk

 

Robert Goodman, Centre Director for thecentre:mk has been awarded Manager of the Year (Large Centre) at the 2010 Sceptre Awards. Head of Marketing and Communication, Melanie Beck, was also shortlisted coming runner up in the category of ‘Marketing Manager of the Year’.  The awards were judged by a panel of industry experts and for the manager of the year awards they took into account performance in terms of footfall, dwell time, customer spend, voids and service charge.

 

The next meeting of Milton Keynes Council’s Cabinet will take place on the 27 July at 7:00pm in the Council Chambers. For more information see: Milton Keynes Council

 

Thames Valley Police
Are running a series of discussion surgeries, you are invited to go and talk about any issues or concerns that you have within Milton Keynes. The first surgery takes place on the 06 July until 14 July, for more information on timings and locations see:   Thames Valley Police Surgeries

 

Invest Milton Keynes (IMK)
Following last year’s record total of 98, Invest Milton Keynes (IMK) has so far recorded 27 investment successes for the city, as of 30 June.  These have safeguarded 432 jobs and created 73 new jobs.  Enquiries for commercial property and land are 4% ahead of this time last year.  Milton Keynes continues to attract international interest in its ‘Low Carbon Living’ projects. For more information see: www.investmiltonkeynes.com

 

ROAD WORKS & PARKING CHANGES
Pay by Phone Parking – over 17,000 people have signed up to use the scheme with 97% using the facility by phone and 3% using the internet. It is available across CMK on all red premium and blue long stay bays.  To register - call 01908 918918 or go to www.verrus.com . Once you have registered you can either pay by calling 01908 918918 or by sending a text to 65565  Milton Keynes Council - Transport . Charges for the service when parking in one of the premium bays are an additional 10p when you park for up to 90 minutes, over 90 minutes the charge is 20p. Long stay bays incur a 20p charge. Any text receipts or confirmations are charged at 10p per text should you want them.

Arriva Buses
For the duration of the IF: International Festival Arriva will be operating a special fare of £1.00 to get you around the city centre easily from the 16 to 25 July.
Pre-purchase your Arriva Day Saver Bus Ticket – you are able to use you mobile phone to purchase your bus ticket at £3.20 per day (which will cover all your journeys). Set it up by registering at arrivabus.co.uk/mticket or text ‘Reg’ to 82500. You simply show the driver your pre-purchased m-ticket on your mobile phone screen.  

---

INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN MILTON KEYNES 
Milton Keynes Plugged in Places
Milton Keynes Council and Renault-Nissan Alliance have signed an agreement which sets out a road map for the roll-out of electric vehicles and infrastructure in the borough. More than 250 charging points across the city are anticipated to be in place by Autumn 2010 with car makers undertaking to prioritise UK sales of electric vehicles to people in Milton Keynes. For more information see: Business MK 

---

If there is information that you would like to hear about that we currently do not cover either in our e-newsletter, website or on our four Development Information Sites, please advise us. If you see anything operational within CMK that you feel needs addressing let us know and our City Centre Manager and Operations Group can look into it. For more information on our Operations Group and Centre Management role please see:  www.mkccm.co.uk .  

 

Whilst every care has been taken in putting together this e-newsletter any errors of fact or omissions are the author’s.   Please forward any corrections, suggestions and additional names and e-mail addresses to me for anyone interested in receiving a copy.
Carmel Blyth
Communications Officer 
Milton Keynes City Centre Management -MKCCM
carmel.blyth@mkccm.org            
Direct Line: 01908 398124