West Area Neighbourhood News Summer 2010

The plans have been in place for six months and in this newsletter we want to share the initial outcomes and progress with you for the west of the Borough. The plans bring together wider issues that affect a neighbourhood and have an impact on residents’ quality of life, future investment and management decisions. Each plan is based on a Housing Officers’ ‘patch’. They include not only housing issues, but also the local environment, community safety, employment, and the provision of play spaces for children and young people.

The NAPs contain an overview of the ‘patch’ and also an action plan detailing who is going to do what over the next two years and what benefits it will bring. Bringing together in a single plan all

West Area Housing OfficeNeighbourhood NewsAction Plan Review

Brian BillinghamEast Area Housing Manager

Welcome to the summer issue of Neighbourhood News. During 2009, Neighbourhood Housing Officers consulted with customers, staff, Ward

Councillors and partners (for example, the police) to develop Neighbourhood Action Plans (NAPs).

Summer 2010: Issue 4

Maria LindarsWest Area Housing Manager

of the issues that affect a neighbourhood helps Stockport Homes to plan effectively and efficiently for the future management and maintenance of services for customers. In this newsletter we provide you with some key progress in delivering each of the plans for the west of the Borough. We will provide you with further updates on the plans in future newsletters. If you would like more information, please see page 19 for details.

2 West Area Housing Office Neighbourhood News Summer 2010

Action Plan Review

Contents

Shaw Heath, Cheadle, Cheadle Heath, Cheadle Hulme, Edgeley, Gatley and Heald Green

Adswood and Cheadle Hulme

Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme and Bramhall

Bridgehall, Elf Mill Estate, Cale Green, York Close and The Cloisters

South Reddish and Heaton Chapel

Edgeley and Cheadle Heath

North Reddish

Didsbury Road Estate, Heaton Norris; Hollywood Park Estate and York Street Estate, Edgeley

Contact us

Lancashire Hill

East Adswood, Davenport, Heaviley and Heaton Norris

Page 3

Page 5

Page 6

Page 11

Page 16

Page 8

Page 12

Page 18

Page 19

Page 9

Page 14

Neighbourhood issues and action taken

3West Area Housing Office Neighbourhood News Summer 2010

Shaw Heath, Cheadle, Cheadle Heath, Cheadle Hulme, Edgeley, Gatley and Heald Green

Queens Gardens

You Said We’ve DoneThere are environmental issues relating to graffiti, litter and fly-tipping

• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer has carried out regular estate inspections and monthly walkabouts.

• Graffiti has been removed from street furniture and walls in Gatley.

• Fly-tipping has been removed from alleyways in Edgeley.• Seven customers have tidied up their gardens following contact

by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer, following the last estate inspection.

There are high levels of unemployment

• Stockport Homes’ Skills for Life courses have been promoted during current tenancy visits and introductory tenancy visits and at the Area Forums, fun days and other events.

The appearance of some garage sites is poor

• A review of garage sites has been completed and funding has been secured through the Estate Improvement Budget for a programme of works at Queens Gardens, Astley House and Lyndey Avenue.

Improve the physical appearance of neighbourhoods

• Projects completed include: external communal area improvements to Queens Gardens and the provision of a storage area for gardening tools for Avon Road and Victoria Close communal gardens.

There is a lack of social housing

• A new development site at Willow Avenue on the existing garage site has been proposed. Stockport Homes plan to use this site to build eight new houses.

Planned maintenance works are required

• At Queens Gardens the communal areas are currently being decorated and new flooring has been laid. External painting including the balconies will commence shortly.

There are a lack of recycling facilities

• Consultation has been completed with customers at Randolph Place, Avon Road, Queens Gardens and Stockport Road flats regarding improving recycling facilities. Proposals have been made to implement recycling facilities at 100-110b Stockport Road flats and Queens Gardens.

Neighbourhood Housing Officer:Melinda Waterhouse


Bradshaw Hall Play Area

You Said We’ve Done

There are environmental issues relating to graffiti, litter, fly-tipping and nuisance with off road bikes

• Regular estate inspections and monthly walkabouts have been carried out by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer and partner agencies. A programme of estate clean-ups and community skips has been provided on the estates.

• An off road motorbike crushing exercise was held in April 2010 in conjunction with Greater Manchester Police. This exercise reduced the amount of off road bikes and nuisance on the Adswood Estate.

• A litter pick took place with children from Adswood Primary School.

Improve play opportunities for children

• An improved play park has opened on Bradshaw Hall Estate, with funding from Stockport Homes, Procure Plus (formerly GM Procure), Stockport Council and the Playbuilder programme.

• A five-a-side football tournament for under 11s took place on 10 June 2010, for children in Adswood and Bridgehall.

• A santa dash was held on the Bridgehall Estate where children from the local schools were invited to take part. All proceeds were donated to the Beechwood cancer care centre.

• A mini-Olympics is planned for Adswood and Bridgehall in August 2010.

• The Adswood and Bridgehall fun day is planned for 17 July 2010.


• Promoted Skills for Life courses at home visits.• Referred customers to Stockport Homes’ Employment Support

Officer.

Improvements are required as part of the Decent Homes Programme

• Kitchens and bathrooms are due to be updated on the Bradshaw Hall Estate. Work will be starting in June or July 2010.

Adswood and Cheadle Hulme



• A small programme providing new front fencing and gates to properties in Cheadle Hulme has been completed.

• A fencing programme has been completed to five blocks of flats on Hall Meadow in Cheadle Hulme to increase security.

• Proposals will be considered by customers at the July Area Forum for projects to be funded through the Estate Improvement Budget. These include new signage at Adswood Road flats, paving an area at Dorset Avenue so that recycling facilities and improvements to the shrubbery at Calver Walk can be completed.

• Work has taken place with Environmental Services at Stockport Council to clear a blocked drain to the rear of Dorset Avenue on the Larkhill Estate.

Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme and Bramhall

Estate Walkabouts


There are environmental issues relating to graffiti, litter and fly-tipping

• Monthly estate inspections and walkabouts by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer which also included a programme of clean-ups and community skips.


• Worked with local Tenants’ and Residents’ association to provide a new multi-use games area which has been constructed on the Oak Road Estate. This was jointly funded by Stockport Homes and several partners including Stockport Council, Manchester Airport Community Fund and the local tenants’ group.

Adswood and Cheadle Hulme (Continued)

Continued

Neighbourhood Housing Officer:Gill Thompson




• A number of estate improvements have been identified and implemented. This has included the completion of improvements to the external communal area at Windsor Walk. At Warwick and Grange Avenue Flats, shrubs were removed so there is easy access to the bin stores. The stores have been paved and gated so they can be kept tidy.

Garage sites need improving • A review of garage sites was completed in December 2010. Funding has been secured to improve the sites at Hilda Avenue, Brookfield Road and Kenilworth Avenue as part of the 2010/11 Capital Programme.


• Skills for Life courses have been promoted at Area Forums, the Adswood fun day, current and existing tenant visits and in newsletters.

Youths were causing nuisance and a tenant was regularly causing disturbance

• Resolved the issue of youth nuisance by agreeing a contract for “acceptable behaviour” with the youth and evicted a tenant due to their Anti-Social Behaviour.

Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme and Bramhall (Continued)

Neighbourhood Housing Officer:Ken Higgins




• Regular estate inspections and monthly walkabouts by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer.

• A programme of clean-ups and community skips have been arranged.

• Joint action with Stockport Council and Morrisons supermarket to remove abandoned shopping trolleys from the estate and publicise enforcement action against residents who dump them has been taken.

Improve play opportunities for children on the Walnut Tree Estate

• Weekly play development sessions have been held during the school holidays by the Play Development Team.

• Following consultation with children and residents a new play area was opened on 23 May 2010. This was funded by the Big Lottery Fund, Playbuilder Programme, Stockport Council, Stockport Homes and Procure Plus (formerly GM Procure).

Improve the physical appearance of the garden areas on Walnut Tree Estate

• Some untidy brick build planters to the front of properties have been removed and these areas have been flagged.

• Railings have been provided to define property boundaries to improve the appearance to the front of properties.

• Stockport Homes and its partners have been working together on a Keep Britain Tidy Project with residents. An independent survey of residents was completed by Keep Britain Tidy in May 2009. The survey was carried out to gain peoples’ perception of the estate. An action plan was developed and as a result litter picks have been carried out and the amount of shopping trolleys dumped on the estate has reduced.

There is an issue with loan sharks on the estate

• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer has promoted Stockport Credit Union when visiting new and current tenants and distributed leaflets.

Walnut Tree Park opening

Edgeley and Cheadle Heath

Continued



The physical appearance of the Walnut Tree Estate is poor

• The Planned Maintenance Programme has been completed, including works to fencing on Brookfield Road and Oak Road in Cheadle.

You prefer to be contacted by Stockport Homes through newsletters.

• Regular newsletters have been delivered to residents on the Walnut Tree Estate, providing information on services, initiatives and forthcoming events.

There is Anti-Social Behaviour from youths riding mini motorbikes across the park

• There has been an increased presence from the police and motorbikes have been confiscated and crushed. This has resolved the issue on the estate.

Lancashire Hill Easter Egg Hunt


There are environmental issues relating to litter and fly-tipping

• Regular estate inspections and monthly Walkabouts.• Monthly clean-ups and a community skip have been arranged.• Enforcement action has been taken against customers responsible

for fly-tipping.

Lancashire Hill

Edgeley and Cheadle Heath (Continued)

Neighbourhood Housing Officer:Val Percy


There is a low presence of Police Community Support Officers (PSCOs) and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) across the area

• Weekly drop-in sessions for customers at the Area Housing Office introduced.

• Multi-agency meetings on the estate take place as well as attending regular Neighbourhood Policing Team meetings with the police to address any issues.

• Police also attend the Tenants’ Association Meetings to address any local issues.

• Communication with the police and Stockport Homes has increased enabling enforcement action against problem customers. For example, two injunctions have been obtained, two tenants have been prevented from obtaining secure tenancies, and five tenants have been evicted.

You have a lack of confidence with tackling Anti-Social Behaviour

• Included regular articles in newsletters to promote positive action taken.

• Given out Good Neighbourhood Agreement statistics each month at Tenants’ Association Meetings. These are also advertised on the notice boards within the blocks.

Can you have more recycling facilities

• A pilot project to provide recycling pods inside blocks is being developed.

Improvements are required as part of the Decent Homes Programme

• The kitchen and bathroom improvement programme was completed for the estate in February 2010.


• Installed litter and cigarette bins to reduce the amount of litter on the estate.

• Removed overgrown bushes in several areas on the estate, including the back of Stonemill Terrace and the front of The Bentleys.

• Improved the communal garden at Pendlebury Towers.

Improve play opportunities for children during school holidays

• Weekly play activities have been held by Stockport Council’s Play Development Team.

• Stockport Homes held an Easter Egg Hunt on 30 April 2010 in the centre of the estate.

You would like more community activities

• A fun day has been arranged for 15 June 2010.• Funding for an adult photography club, family group outings and

for the SK Café in the Community Centre has been provided by Stockport Homes and Stockport Council.

Lancashire Hill (Continued)

Neighbourhood Housing Officer:Mark Topping


Bridgehall Fun Day


There is limited reporting of crime and Anti-Social Behaviour

• In Bridgehall, the Neighbourhood Housing Officer has developed a partnership approach to dealing with Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) with the police, Housing Associations and the Investment Team. There are two Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) pending against perpetrators of Anti-Social Behaviour on the estate.

• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer attends a monthly ward level police meeting to discuss individual complaints.

• In September 2009, a Stockport Intensive Partnership Sweep was carried out. This was a multi-agency approach to tackle a range of issues including abandoned vehicles, ASB hot spot areas, and environmental crime.


• A programme of monthly estate walkabouts has been carried out by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer, including clean-ups and skip drops.

• Recycling sites and / or bins have been installed at Siddington Avenue flats and York Close.

• Highway verges and pavement issues have been identified at York Close. Work is on-going with the Council’s Highways Department to repair the pavements.

Bridgehall, Elf Mill Estate, Cale Green, York Close and The Cloisters (Continued)


Bridgehall, Elf Mill Estate, Cale Green, York Close and The Cloisters (Continued)


• In December 2009 there was a santa dash at Bridgehall and all proceeds were donated to the Beechwood Cancer Care Centre.

• Skills for Life courses were promoted by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer during visits to new tenant and current tenancy visits.

• The Adswood and Bridgehall Community fun day is scheduled to take place on Saturday 18 July, involving members of the community in a themed “Recycling” event.

You would like more rent and debt advice

• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer promotes the Home Contents Insurance Scheme and Stockport Credit Union at visits to new tenants and current tenancy visits.

You would like more funding to be available for community projects

• A total of £21,500 was made available from partner agencies including the police, Housing Associations and Stockport Homes for groups within the area to bid for money for community based projects and activities. Successful bids were received by 13 groups including Bridgehall Kids Club and Junior Rangers, Adswood and Bridgehall Youth Forum and the Saturday Dad’s Club.

You would like Stockport Homes to look at the long-term sustainability of garage sites

• Initial consultation with customers regarding the demolition of garages and provision of secure fencing at Cuddington Crescent has been carried out.


• As part of Decent Homes a programme to provide new kitchen and bathrooms at Bridgehall, York Close and Cale Green has been completed.

• The Estate Improvement Budget is being used to provide fencing to some front gardens and to the rear of Handley Close. Also new anti-vandal doors to low rise blocks.

Neighbourhood Housing Officer:Mike Fitzsimmons


North Reddish

Unity Park, Reddish

You Said We’ve DoneThere are environmental issues relating to graffiti, litter and fly-tipping

• Monthly estate inspections are carried out by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer.

• Four estate clear-ups with community skips have been completed.

There are high unemployment levels

• An employment support event was held at the Bridgehall Community Centre.

• Skills for Life courses are promoted by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer at visits to new tenants and at current tenancy visits.


• Specialist advice has been provided on debt management at the fortnightly surgery held at the Information and Advice Office at The Houldsworth Centre. This was promoted by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer during visits and engagement with customers.

You would like more support for existing Tenants’ and Residents’ Associations

• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer attends monthly meetings at Poets Corner Tenants’ and Residents’ Group and Spa Close Homewatch.

You would like more recycling sites

• Recycling facilities have now been provided at Spa Close.

Address Anti-Social Behaviour caused by a customer on the Poets Corner Estate

• A Closure Order was secured against a customer on the Poets Corner Estate who was causing Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB). The tenant was unable to occupy the property and terminated the tenancy, resolving the issue of ASB.


• Consultation is being carried out with customers to consider the future of the Broomfield Road garage site.

Improve the physical appearance of the neighbourhoods

• A programme of works is ongoing including kitchen and bathroom improvements to the Poets Corner Estate.

• A fencing programme has been completed on the Poets Corner Estate.

Neighbourhood Housing Officer:Ferri Jebelli


East Adswood, Davenport, Heaviley and Heaton Norris

Heaton Norris Park New Play Area



• Monthly Estate Walkabouts are carried out by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer including estate clean-ups and skip drops.

• Key partner agencies regularly attend Stockport Homes meetings to deal with issues raised.

This is limited provision for car parking

• A programme to improve car parking at Heaton and Norris Towers is in progress.


• In Adswood, new play equipment has been installed at Adder Park.

• At Heaton Norris Park, a new childrens’ play area has been built with funding secured through the Playbuilder Programme, Stockport Homes and Stockport Council.

• A new play area is to be built at Grafton Street / Lloyd Street and improvements made to the play area at Ince Close this financial year (April 2010 – March 2011).

Continued


East Adswood, Davenport, Heaviley and Heaton Norris (Continued)


There are high unemployment levels

• An employment support event was held at Bridgehall Community Centre.

• Skills for Life courses are promoted by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer at visits to new tenants and current tenancy visits.

• Referrals made to relevant agencies following discussions with customers at tenancy visits.

You would like more funding available for community projects

• At a participatory budget event for customers on the Adswood Estate a total of £21,500 was made available from partner agencies including the police, Housing Associations and Stockport Homes for local groups to bid for money towards community based projects. 13 groups received a share of the money which will be spent on the installation of a cycle track at Bridgehall Green, outdoor equipment for ABACUS Children’s Centre and weekly tea dances for local residents.

You would like the Tenants’ and Residents’ Association to be more involved

• A Community Forum at Heaton and Norris Towers is being developed.

There is a lack of social housing

• A development of nine properties has started at Mendip Court. This is programmed to be completed in February / March 2011.


• Consultation with customers has been carried out regarding Dodge Hill garage site at Heaton and Norris Towers completed and additional parking to be provided. Existing garages are due for demolition in spring / summer 2010.


• Blocks at Quantock Close and Windsor Walk have had communal areas redecorated and mats provided to the foyers.

• Disability Discrimination Act work to Heaton and Norris Towers which includes more visible signage to the front of both blocks, high-visibility stairwell nosings and improvements to the internal signage has been completed.

Neighbourhood Housing Officer:Ian Creveul


South Reddish and Heaton Chapel

Marbury Road Play Area opening event


There are Anti-Social Behaviour issues relating to youths and environmental crime

• An action plan is in place with the police, Stockport Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team and Stockport Homes Anti-Social Behaviour Officer to tackle on-going Anti-Social Behaviour in South Reddish. This has included the police and Stockport Rangers monitoring the estate and contracts to agree “acceptable behaviour” being issued to five youths who have been identified as causing Anti-Social Behaviour.

There are environmental issues relating to graffiti, litter and fly-tipping.

• A programme of monthly estate inspections is in place which are carried out by Neighbourhood Housing Officers and attended by key partners including the Area Conditions Officer and Glendale Manager.

• Four clean-ups have been conducted including skip drops for customers.


• At Marbury Road play area and Unity Park, new equipment has been provided, funded by the Playbuilder Programme, Procure Plus (formerly GM Procure), Stockport Council and Stockport Homes.

• Weekly play activities have been held by Stockport Council’s Play Development Team at Unity and Marbury Parks.

There is high unemployment • Skills for Life courses are promoted by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer at visits to new tenants and current tenants.

• Referrals are made to relevant agencies and advice given during tenancy visits by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer.

You would like more support to existing Tenants’ and Residents’ Groups

• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer attends the monthly residents meetings at Woodhall Crescent and Willow Avenue providing a performance report and dealing with any issues raised.

Continued


South Reddish and Heaton Chapel (Continued)



• A surgery is held at Reddish Information and Advice, promoted by Neighbourhood Housing Officer during visits and engagement with customers.

• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer promotes Stockport Credit Union during regular contact with customers at visits to tenants.

Improve the physical appearance of the neighbourhood

• A programme of Decent Homes work is on-going including kitchen and bathroom improvements.

• The Environmental Improvement Budget has been utilised to provide the following schemes: community notice board at Woodhall Crescent and Willow Avenue, handrails and landscaping to rear of Meadows Road, fencing to rear of Woodhall Crescent and improvement work to the external communal areas will be funded during 2010 at Leamington Court.

Didsbury Road Estate, Heaton Norris; Hollywood Park Estate and York Street Estate, Edgeley

Hollywood Park, Edgeley new play area opening


There are Anti-Social Behaviour issues with youths

• Encourage residents to provide information by carrying out a leaflet drop at Hollywood Towers. The aim was also to gather information to take enforcement action.

• Partnership work with the police regarding drug use at Hollywood Towers, which resulted in one prosecution.

• Introduced the Block Contact Scheme at Hollywood Towers. Two newsletters have also been issued to customers detailing action initiated by the Block Contact.

Neighbourhood Housing Officer:Linda Brooks


Didsbury Road Estate, Heaton Norris; Hollywood Park Estate and York Street Estate, Edgeley (Continued)

Improve CCTV to external and internal areas

• Consultation has been conducted with residents regarding CCTV links to the Concierge Service at York Street and Hollywood Towers.

There is a problem with underage drinking

• Partnership work with Greater Manchester Police Licensing Office has been carried out, including test purchasing at Hollywood Stores to deter the sale of alcohol to underage customers and reduce Anti-Social Behaviour around Hollywood Towers.

There is a problem with customers littering out of windows in multi-storey accommodation

• Letters have been sent to residents at Hollywood Towers regarding litter being thrown out of the windows.

• An injunction has been secured against a customer for throwing things out of windows and Anti-Social Behaviour.


• A monthly programme of walkabouts is in place including clean-ups and skip drops.

• Recycling facilities are now available at York Street Estate, Stanton Gardens, Garston Close and Hollywood Towers.


• Skills for Life courses are promoted by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer at new tenant and current tenancy visits.

Improve play opportunities • At Hollywood park new equipment to improve the park has been installed. This was funded by the Big Lottery Fund, the Playbuilder Programme, Stockport Council and Stockport Homes.

You would like more support for the Didsbury Road and York Street Tenants’ and Residents’ Association

• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer attends bi-monthly meetings and deals with issues raised.

• The Gardening Club at York Street has been launched, in partnership with Stockport Homes, the Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, Jackson and Jackson and Glendale.

You would like future applicants for properties to be vetted.

• A review of the age restricted properties at York Street has been completed. Applicants aged 25 and over can now bid for properties on York Street. It was previously restricted to those aged 40 plus. As agreed with residents, all offers of accommodation are subject to two satisfactory references being provided.

Continued


Didsbury Road Estate, Heaton Norris; Hollywood Park Estate and York Street Estate, Edgeley (Continued)


• As part of the Decent Homes Programme, kitchen and bathroom improvements to Hollywood Towers, Didsbury Road estate and York Street have been completed or are in progress.

• Cladding to Pembroke and Durham House has been completed.• Work to provide new roofs at Montague House has been

completed.• Russell Gardens Sheltered scheme has been re-roofed.• Resurfacing of walkways at Montague House has been

completed.• At Chatham House new anti-vandal doors to low rise blocks and

new railings have been provided. The communal area has been painted.

• Stanton Gardens, Branksome House and Elizabeth House have had the internal communal areas redecorated and the exterior landscaped.

• Barnaby House has had the communal garden to the rear revamped.

• New recycling facilities at Hollywood Towers have been provided and the area around the block has been landscaped to increase car parking.

• Disability Discrimination Act work has been completed at Hollywood Towers and blocks at York Street which included high-visibility nosings to stairwells and improved signage both internally and externally.

Hollywood Park, Edgeley new play area opening

Neighbourhood Housing Officer:Linda Brooks


West Area OfficeSiddington Avenue

Cuddington Crescent

Contact us

For more information about what is happening in your area, please contact your Neighbourhood Housing Officer using the contact details below.

To view the Neighbourhood Action Plans (NAPs) in full please go to our website www.stockporthomes.org under ‘Our Services / Sustainable Neighbourhoods / Neighbourhood regeneration’.

West Area Housing OfficeBridgehall Community CentreSiddington AvenueStockportSK3 8NR

Tel: 0161 474 4371Fax: 0161 477 4879Text: 07624 808315Email: [email protected]: www.stockporthomes.org

www.stockporthomes.org

Accessing Our Services

This newsletter gives you information about the work of the West Area Housing Office. If you would like a copy of this document in large print, Braille, on audio tape or CD, or in another language, please contact the Social Inclusion Team on 0161 474 2860,email: [email protected], text: 07624 808 315 or fax: 0161 474 2869.

West Area Neighbourhood News Summer 2010

Documents

cheadle hulme cheadle

housing issues

neighbourhood issues

neighbourhood housing

housing officers patch

york street estate

area forums

single plan