Dear Eleanore Turkington:

I am a taxpayer and live on Bassett Street. The Hilltop Terrace Apartments located on 11 Bassett and 5 Bassett Street is getting to be an eye sore. Some of the porches are piled with boxes and people’s junk. The outside of the buildings needs better landscaping. There are papers and trash thrown in the area woods there. The town should be there cleaning that up because that’s city property.

Please see what you can do for us residents who are homeowners and have to look at this eye sore of a building.

Dear Bassett Street Residents:

City officials have been notified of your gripe. Please let me know if you see changes here.

Gripe Vine Readers: Following publication of a Sawmill Road traffic light gripe last week, I’ve received other criticisms from motorists who have experienced hazardous experiences here.

Mary Bloom wrote: “I agree with “Almost Hit Again” on both points! (Readers are complaining that the No Turn on Red Light is ignored quite often as well as disregarding the white line on the road.) I travel that direction at least once each day and have the same problem every day with drivers crossing the solid white line and making a right turn on red despite the “No Turn On Red” sign. It is indeed a problem that needs to be addressed before someone gets hurt.

Bob writes: es, I had several similar experiences at the same intersection. People drive over the white line and make a right turn as if there was a green arrow just for them. I try to follow the rules, don’t cross the white line and find I’m in trouble when I try to make the turn only to find a car at my right in the lane where there is not supposed to be any vehicles. hey should either block the area with cones or open it for traffic. But, they should make up their mind what they want that area for.

I realize the police can’t be everywhere and it’s up to the individual to practice defensive driving all the time.

Dear Bob and Mary:

Gripe Vine has notified Capt. John Serra of the WHPD of the safety hazards at this site. Please let me know if you see police surveillance here and any other signs of improvement.

Gripe Vine Readers: Following last week’s snowstorm, Gripe Vine heard from many of you, expressing your displeasure with the plowing on some of the streets. I have notified the Public Works Department of your complaints. s a reminder, under the normal snow conditions, the city will issue a no-arking ban on the even-numbered side of most roadways, unless one is posted with a no parking sign on the odd side.

The ban, I’m told, will remain in effect for 36 hours after a snowstorm. If the mayor declares an official snow emergency, a no parking ban will run from 11 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on both sides of the following roads: Campbell and Savin Avenues, Morgan Lane, Elm Street, Meloy Road, Second Avenue from Elm to Beach Streets and Main Street from Savin to Washington Avenues.

 In regards to the opening of Voss Road. (Voss Road has been repaved but not reopened yet. Gripe Vine has been in contact with the police department concerning the reopening of this street)

I have been in constant contact with the West Haven Police about the dangers of Voss Road.

A few times I have noticed cars passing by the “Dead End” of Voss Road and I have informed the police. I know who is moving the blockade and I hope someone doesn’t injure an innocent person who doesn’t expect a car to exit the dark end of this road into traffic. All the police do is put the blockade back in place. It’s lucky so far, that there hasn’t been an accident there.

Twice I called the police as I watched cars drive by the barrier and the police have responded very quickly. I often wonder why the governor cannot obtain any funds to pay the contractors so the work can be finished as scheduled.

A dark intersection without a traffic light or stop sign is a sure spot for a future disaster to happen. I hope some action will be in place soon.

The road was scheduled to open the first of the year, 2007 of January. Once a motorcycle driver was killed at this intersection from a driver on Sawmill Road who ran the traffic light. It is worse now with no lights and access to this danger zone. If, God help us, someone is killed there; I wonder who will be responsible.