West Area Neighbourhood News Spring 2011

1West Area Housing Office Neighbourhood News Spring 2011

The aim of visiting existing customers is to assist them with support and advice to make their tenancy successful. Over the last year Neighbourhood Housing Officers have given over 330 customers information, advice or referred them to another department or agency. This included giving people information and advice on downsizing for those who were finding it difficult to maintain their homes and 16 customers were helped to move via the scheme.

Lots of others were also helped with assistance with their gardening or for those who were finding it difficult to make ends meet they were referred to a debt advisor. Stockport Homes’ aim is to visit everyone over a four year period. By systematically doing this and carrying out a property inspection during the visit we have also picked up a small number of properties where there have been major repairs issues or the tenant has left.

West Area Housing OfficeNeighbourhood NewsSpring 2011: Issue 7

We have received feedback that some tenants have been worried about the visit. Please do not be! We are here to help you. In order to set people’s minds at rest we will be reviewing the letter that is sent out in advance of the visit.

If you have had a visit and want to give us some feedback to help us improve the service

further please do not hesitate to contact June Roberts on 0161 474 4371 or email [email protected]

Maria LindarsWest Area Housing Manager

Welcome to the spring edition of Neighbourhood News. Over the last year Neighbourhood Housing Officers have visited over 1,500

existing customers as well as doing welcome visits to over 500 new tenants who have just moved in.

2 West Area Housing Office Neighbourhood News Spring 2011

Ian Creveul: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

AreA Covered:Heaton Norris, Davenport and part of Adswood.

Improvement works and other initiatives

• A Santa Dash around the play area on Bridgehall took place in December 2010 attended by local school children from Adswood and Bridgehall schools.


Ian Creveul: Neighbourhood Housing Officer


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We saw... We did...

Untidy gardens in Adswood. Wrote to customers about their condition. Skips have been provided for customers to utilise.

Pot holes and damaged street furniture in Adswood.

Reported these to Streetscene. The work will be completed by the end of March 2011.

Overgrown bushes at Stanbridge Court. Reported to grounds maintenance contractor and these have now been pruned.

Broken gate to drying area at Windsor Walk. Reported to repairs and the gate has now been fixed.


• Construction of seven houses and two bungalows at Mendip Court is now well under way and these properties will be ready for customers to move in by March 2011.

• New fencing has been erected at Peel Court and Cambridge Terrace.

• Diversionary activities which included a football tournament in the Adswood and Bridgehall area for young children have been provided in partnership with Stockport Sports Trust.

estate improvement works

• New fencing is due to be erected to properties at Ince Close by the end of March 2011.

• Proposals to install new flooring in Cresgarth House and Bramhall Mount and to improve the security lighting at Carlingford Close will be submitted at the next Area Forum in March 2011 for Customers to approve.

• A landscaping scheme to the rear of the blocks at Quantock Close has been completed this financial year.

• The play area at Ince Close is also due to be refurbished. This will be completed by the end of April 2011.


at York Street Estate and Hollywood Towers with customers on a monthly basis. This will give customers a chance to walk around their block with their Housing Officer and address issues including repairs and cleanliness. The times and dates of these inspections will be displayed on the block notice boards.


• New litter bins are due to be installed outside Durham House, Pembroke House, Bowdon and Lancaster House to tackle issues with litter on the estate. This is to be complete by March 2011.

• A project is being developed to tidy the area next to the recycling bins at Durham House and the shrub bed next to Radnor House. This is subject to agreement by customers at the next Area Forum in March 2011.

• The plaza area next to Bowdon House is currently being re-surfaced and fencing is also going to be installed. This will be completed by March 2011.

• The external walls to Chatham House are to be rendered by the end of March 2012 and new hand rails will be fitted at the front of the balconies.

• New kitchen and bathrooms are going to be installed within all properties at Radnor House within the next 12 months.

linda brooks: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

AreA Covered:Hollywood Towers and York Street.

We saw... We did...

Planter at Bowdon House was unsightly and a trip hazard.

Removed and replaced with bonded gravel and planted a tree.

The car park next to Bowdon House was poorly lit. A new external light at the side of Bowdon House was fitted to improve the lighting in this area.

Water pipe protruding from an internal wall at Lancaster House.

Water pipe removed.

Railings at the rear of Hollywood Towers required painting.

Railings were painted in September 2010.

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• Kitchens and bathrooms are currently being replaced within all properties at Hollywood Towers. This is due to be completed by March 2011.

• A Concierge Service is currently being installed at Hollywood Towers to give customers more security within the block. This will be complete by March 2011.

• The front communal area at Pembroke House will be re-flagged to replace the uneven and unsightly paving. Work started in January 2011 and will be completed before March 2011.

• We have introduced a Housing Surgery which is held at Hollywood Tower’s reception on a fortnightly basis from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. The next dates will be published on the notice board within the block.

• A “drop in” surgery has been introduced on York Street. This will be held within all blocks on a monthly basis and will enable customers to speak to their Housing Officer and get advice from different agencies. The dates and times for each surgery will be displayed on the block notice boards.

• Customers have requested a bi-monthly estate walkabout to inspect the external environment on York Street which commenced in January 2011.

• We have developed a new initiative to inspect the internal communal areas of the blocks


Pendlebury Towers requested a gate to restrict access and reduce Anti-Social Behaviour on

the ramped area at the front of the block. We have subsequently installed a gate which has prevented youths congregating and playing football in the area.

• Stockport Homes have liaised with the Council’s Community Payback Team who completed some grounds maintenance work at Lancashire Hill and Heaton and Norris Towers. This work included the cutting back of overgrown grass and weeds surrounding the multi-use games area and the clearing of snow / gritting of pathways during the winter weather.


• The wall to the entrance of Kings Court has been rebuilt and is due to have a mural put on it before March 2011.

• Shrubs are due to be removed to the front of The Longsons and replaced with bonded gravel. This work should be completed by the end of March 2011.

• Two new cigarette bins are to be provided to replace the damaged ones at the front of The Bentleys and the rear entrance of Stonemill Terrace. These will be installed by March 2011.

• All residents at Hanover and Pendlebury Towers will have new front doors fitted which will comply with current fire regulations and

AreA Covered:Lancashire Hill.

Gill thompson: Neighbourhood Housing Officer – Stonemill Terrace, The Bentleys, The Longsons and Clarkethorne Terrace. Mark topping: Neighbourhood Housing Officer – Pendlebury, Hanover, Heaton and Norris Towers.


• On Tuesday 21 December 2010 there was a Santa’s Grotto on the piazza area outside the Community Centre. Mince pies, mulled wine and other treats were available and Santa gave presents to around 35 children. The Council’s Play Development staff helped with the ‘make your own Christmas card’ competition for both children and adults with prizes given to the winners. Children also made Christmas tree decorations.

The Community Centre was decorated by the young family group which added to the Christmas cheer and the Council’s Neighbourhood Renewal Team, the local PCSOs, Neighbourhood Rangers, Stockport Homes’ Debt Advisor and the Community Safety Unit were all on hand to offer any seasonal advice.

• The external steps around the estate, which were mossy in places, have been jet washed and we plan to re-paint the white markings by the end of September 2011.

• A “drop in” surgery has been introduced on Lancashire Hill. This will be held within all blocks over a monthly basis and will enable customers to speak to their Housing Officer and get advice from different agencies. The times / dates of these surgeries will be displayed on the block notice boards.

• We have developed a new initiative to inspect blocks with customers on a monthly basis. This will give customers a chance to walk around their block with their Housing Officer and to address issues including repairs and cleanliness. Look out for dates on the notice board in your block.

• We arranged for two skips for residents to clear out their Christmas clutter on Friday 7 January 2011. Paul the caretaker from Stonemill Terrace and Neighbourhood Housing Officers Mark Topping and Gill Thompson helped residents to clear their clutter into the skips.

• During an estate walkabout, residents of


AreA Covered:Lancashire Hill.

Gill thompson: Neighbourhood Housing Officer – Stonemill Terrace, The Bentleys, The Longsons and Clarkethorne Terrace. Mark topping: Neighbourhood Housing Officer – Pendlebury and Hanover Towers and Heaton and Norris Towers

provide enhanced security to their flats. These will be installed by March 2012.

• All residents at Hanover and Pendlebury Towers are currently receiving an upgrade to the heating systems which will include thermostatic radiator valves and pipes being lagged and boxed in. This will reduce heat loss to the properties and give residents control over the level of their heating. Works will be completed by April 2011.

• Residents have successfully bid for Stockport Homes’ Community Fund monies for a ‘launch event’ of the children’s play area between Stonemill Terrace and The Bentleys. Residents voted in favour of the proposals at an Area Forum meeting, the event will take place in April 2011 once the upgrade is completed.

• We have secured £250 in funding to provide new plants for the empty planters at the entrance of Heaton and Norris Towers. We are aiming to plant these during March 2011.

• Customers have submitted a proposal to revamp the unused area at the back of Norris Towers using the Neighbourhood Investment Fund. If approved by customers, this area will be landscaped to improve its appearance and provide a seating area for residents. This will be presented at the next Area Forum in March 2011 and if successful, work will be completed by March 2012.

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We saw... We did...

An overgrown willow tree to the rear of the Bentleys.

The tree was cut back in January 2011.

Paint had been spilt over the piazza area. Arranged for the area to be jet washed. This was carried out January 2011.

Accumulations of leaves over the whole estate. Leaves were removed by caretakers, Housing Officers and Glendale (grounds maintenance contractor).

Several street lights not working. Reported lights on Kings Court to the Repairs Team and those on Penny Lane and Cymbal Court to Streetscene. These have now been repaired.

Overgrown trees which obscured street lighting and CCTV coverage at Lancashire Hill.

We arranged for several trees to be cut back across the estate.

Fire doors do not fully close into their recess. Arranged for these doors to be planed down to fit.

The ventilation fans at Norris Towers are noisy and keep residents awake at night.

We arranged for Dodds to lubricate the fans to reduce the noise.

The fire exit door at Heaton Towers was allowing water into the block.

A rain deflector was fitted to resolve this issue.

syeda Ali: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

AreA Covered:Didsbury Road Estate, Coronation Street Estate, Woodhall Road, Willow Avenue area and Montague House.

• Proposals for Neighbourhood Investment Funding to improve the internal communal areas at Garston Close and Chestnut Villas.

• To provide fencing at Cabot Place and Morgan Place by the end of March 2012 following consultation with customers.

We saw... We did...

Dumped sofa and broken wooden tables at the rear of Stanton Gardens.

Caretaking Team have removed these items.

Dumped rubbish on highways on Didsbury Road. The Area Conditions Officer was notified of the dumped rubbish and it has now been removed.

Three untaxed cars on Haston Close, Bangor Street and Ann Street in Reddish.

The vehicles were reported to Stockport Direct and have now been removed.

Missing communal floor tiles at Montague House. Reported to repairs as an emergency and have now been replaced.

Untidy and overgrown hedges at Haston Close. Arranged for the hedges to be cut back by the Grounds Maintenance Team.

Bins left out on incorrect days on Didsbury Road Estate and bin bags dumped at Woodhall Crescent.

Liaised with Area Conditions Officer to identify perpetrators and take appropriate action. Caretakers have removed bin bags.

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• New fencing has been installed to the rear of Scott Close to define the area and improve security.

• Utilising the Community Safety Budget, fencing has been installed to stop youths using gardens as a cut-through at Branksome Road.

• Kitchen and bathrooms are being updated through the Investment Programme on Bramley Crescent and Furness Grove. These will be completed by the end of March 2011.

• Shrub areas to Coronation Street Estate will be pruned and tidied by the Social Enterprise Initiative by the end of March 2011.

the following proposals will be submitted to the March Area Forum for approval by customers:

• To upgrade the rear communal area including landscaping and seating following consultation with residents at Barnaby House. If agreed, this should be completed by March 2012.


Catherine Pownall: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

AreA Covered:Heaton Chapel and South Reddish.


• Leamington Court - landscaping to the communal area and painting of all the handrails and woodwork to the balconies is due to be completed by September 2011 following consultation with customers.

• The play area at Liverpool Close is being refurbished and consultation with customers has been completed. Work is due to start by the end of March 2011.

We saw... We did...

Excessive rubbish at Heaton Chapel and Priory Lane.

We have worked with Stockport Council’s Recycling Team to improve facilities at Greenbank and the blocks at Marbury Road. Residents at Priory Lane have also been made aware of collection days for each of the bins.

Overgrown trees at Blackbrook Road. We have worked with Stockport Council’s Arboricultural Officer to arrange for trees to be pruned. This work has now been completed.

Untidy gardens at Heaton Chapel. We spoke with the residents about the condition of their gardens and provided community skips to assist customers clear any unwanted items.

We recognised a dog fouling issue at Greenbank. We worked closely with the Council’s Dog Warden Service including leafleting residents regarding the dog fouling issue and provided advice about their responsibilities of being a responsible dog owner, where to get dog bags and educate them on the dangers to your health from dog faeces.

Fly-tipping at the garage site at Marbury Road. We worked with Stockport Council’s Streetscene Team and arranged for the rubbish to be removed.

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• New kitchen and bathrooms to be installed to properties at Heaton Chapel by the end of March 2011.

• A programme to provide fencing to properties at Blackbrook Road and Carnforth Road. Heaton Chapel is on-going and will be completed by the end of March 2011.

• The rear communal area at Greenbank Flats has benefited from landscaping including a new drying area and recycling facilities.

• The rear communal areas at Lambs Fold have had landscaping works including drying facilities. The work should be completed by the end of March 2011.


Ferri Jebelli: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

AreA Covered:North Reddish

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We saw... We did...

Untidy gardens, litter and fly-tipping on Poets Corner Estate.

Arranged a Post-Christmas Clear Up with the provision of five skips and a litter pick

Litter on Betley Road, Somers Road and Lindfield Road.

Organised a litter-pick with the Police, North Reddish Primary School and Junior PCSOs.

Fly-tipping to Wilton Street and Somerford Road. Reported to Caretakers and Area Conditions Officer who arranged for removal.

Poor decoration to the communal areas at Coleridge Close and Coleridge Way.

We have consulted with customers and arranged for the blocks to be decorated. New flooring is due to be fitted by the end of March 2011.

Untidy gardens at various sites. Liaised with customers and arranged for an initial tidy up by the Social Enterprise Scheme following which tenants will maintain gardens. This is due to be completed by April / May 2011.

Non-offensive graffiti to Spa Close. Reported to the Council’s Area Conditions Officer who arranged for the removal.

Overgrown grass verges at Ruskin Road. Reported to the Council’s Highways Department who have arranged for the grass verges to be cut back.


• Integrated fire retardant mats were fitted to the foyer at Spa Close in October 2010.

• Communal gardens at Keats House and Wilton Street are to be landscaped by the end of April 2011 following consultation with customers.

• Railings and gates are due to be fitted to properties on Shelley Road by the end of April 2011.


• Junior PCSOs have been developed in partnership with Reddish Police and Fir Tree School to raise awareness of parking and traffic congestion around the school and promote and encourage children, parents and guardians to become more involved.

• A spring bulb planting event with children from Fir Tree School took place in November 2010. Children planted bulbs around the estate and potted bulbs that they can look after and watch grow at home.

• Don’t Rubbish Reddish campaign – this initiative has been developed to assist customers to remove unwanted items after the Christmas period. Skips have been provided and a litter pick conducted to improve the appearance on the estate.


Paul Hine: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

AreA Covered:Adswood, Lark Hill and Cheadle Hulme

We saw... We did...

Accumulation of rubbish / bin bags all over the Adswood Estate following the Christmas period.

Reported to Environmental Services and Area Conditions Officer as this is fly-tipping. The rubbish has now been removed. Also arranged litter pick and additional skips in January 2011.

Offensive Graffiti around the Adswood Estate. Passed to the Area Conditions Officer who will liaise with the Police to identify possible perpetrators. The graffiti has also now been removed.

Litter in the bushes on the Bradshaw Hall Estate. Arranged litter pick with the Area Conditions Officer and Area Caretakers.

Residents of Ashburton Road Flats reported they have not received enough recycling bins.

Reported to the Area Conditions Officer and Environmental Services. Additional recycling bins have been ordered and are due to be installed by the end of March 2011.

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estate Improvement Works • Bushes / shrubs have been removed on

areas of Calver Walk and Hall Meadow and have been replaced with turf improving the appearance of the estate.

• New signage at Adswood Road flats has now been completed.

• New fencing, recycling and drying areas installed to the rear of Gillbent Road flats.

• Fire retardant mats were fitted to the flats on Hall Meadow in October 2010.


• Ramps providing wheelchair access and a recycling area have been completed at Dorset Avenue flats.

• A Social Enterprise Scheme will provide ‘one off’ garden clearances to assist tenants with untidy / overgrown gardens. Tenants benefitting from this scheme have to commit to keep the area clean and tidy.

• The blocked culvert to the rear of Dorset Avenue has now been cleared.

• A Community Payback Initiative has been developed involving low risk offenders who are supervised via the Probation Service. A large scale litter pick was carried out on the Adswood Estate on Thursday 20 January 2011.

• A litter pick was completed with the area caretakers and Area Conditions Officer on Bradshaw Hall on Thursday 20 January 2011.


Mike Fitzsimmons: Neighbourhood Housing Officers

AreA Covered:Bridgehall and part of Cheadle Hulme.

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We saw... We did...

Household refuse bags left outside the communal area at Siddington Avenue.

Reported to Caretakers and have now been removed. Also reported refuse issues to Environmental Services Department.

Litter and broken glass found behind the shops at Cuddington Crescent.

Reported to Area Caretakers who have attended and swept the area.

Fallen tree to the side of the footpath at Adswood Road.

Reported to the Council’s Arboricultural Officer and work has been ordered to remove the tree. This will be completed by the end of March 2011.

Fly-tipping at Adswood Terrace Reported to the Area Conditions Officer to investigate. The rubbish has now been removed.

Former playground at Elf Mill Close was untidy. Arranged for the site to be included in the Social Enterprise Scheme to be cleared and tidied. This should be completed by the end of March 2011.


• Garages at Cuddington Crescent are due to be demolished subject to the Council’s approval by December 2012. Customers affected will be consulted on fencing etc. to secure the boundary to the site.

• Flats at Siddington Avenue have benefited from new internal doors which are fire resistant and designed to reduce noise transmission.

estate Improvement Works

• Installation of metal railings and a gate will be completed at Chelford House, Bridgehall by the end of March 2011.

• Land at Parsonage Way and Bishops Close will be landscaped via the Environmental Improvement Budget by the end of April 2011.


val Percy: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

AreA Covered:Cheadle Heath

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We saw... We did...

Footpaths disturbed by tree roots making them uneven.

Arranged for root pruning work to be carried out and footpaths made safe.

Identified large items of rubbish in rear gardens. Arranged for skips to be placed on the estates to assist residents in their removal.

• The programme for new kitchens and bathrooms on Walnut Tree Estate will be completed by September 2011.


• Following positive feedback from the fun day in August 2010 we are looking to repeat the event in June this year.

• Walnut Tree Estate – the first phase of the programme to replace rear fencing and gates has now been completed. This has improved security and the appearance on the estate, and increases the privacy to the rear gardens.

• Following the completion of the removal of planters on the estate further funding was obtained to provide fencing to properties with a shared front garden. This also included the removal of shrubbery.


• The electrical rewire programme is still continuing on the Walnut Tree Estate providing customers with the benefit of an upgraded system and additional plug sockets. This will be completed by September 2011.


Contact us

ken Higgins: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

AreA Covered:Cheadle

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We saw... We did...

Graffiti on road sign at Whitegates Road, Cheadle. Reported to Streetscene to remove graffiti. This has now been completed.

Rubbish dumped to side of flats on Warwick Close.

Arranged for items to be cleared by area caretakers. Completed during January 2011.

Abandoned vehicle on Warwick Close, Cheadle Hulme.

This was reported to the Area Conditions Officer to investigate who the vehicle belonged to. The car has now been removed.

Litter on various roads around Cheadle. Arranged for streets to be cleaned via Streetscene. This has now been completed.

Items left in communal areas of Grange and Warwick Close.

Written to residents to clear items. The items have now been removed.


Work to provide new fencing and gates to Grange Avenue and Oak Road, Cheadle Hulme will be completed by the end of May 2011.


Provision of new fencing and gates at Chestnut Avenue, Cheadle will be completed the end of February 2011.


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We saw... We did...

Lights not working in blocks of flats at Hathaway Close.

We arranged for the lights to be repaired, improving security to the blocks. This has been completed.

Cement crumbled around a grid at Hathaway Close.

Ordered repairs for the grid to be re-cemented which has now been completed.

Two fencing panels have been dumped on Willow Avenue.

Arranged for the area caretakers to remove.

Paving stones dumped at the communal gardenat Randolph Place.

Resident responsible has been identified and has now removed them.

Randolph Place communal area covered in leaves. Requested Glendale (grounds maintenance contractor) to remove. This has been completed.

Melinda Waterhouse: Neighbourhood Housing Officer



• The garages have now been demolished at Willow Avenue, Cheadle Hulme and we are ready to start building eight three bedroomed houses, subject to obtaining development funds from the Homes and Communities Agency.

• Following a request from a resident, the willow trees at Willow Avenue, Cheadle Hulme have been pruned.

• Lumb House, Bramhall – residents requested a window cleaning service and following consultation, this has now been implemented. A grit bin has been supplied at the request of the residents.

• Sycamore Walk Cheadle - the work to extend the drying area by removing a shrub bed and supply new rotary dryers, has now been completed.

• Astley House Edgeley - recycling bins have now been supplied to encourage recycling at the flats.


• Bramhall - the properties that have been identified as requiring new kitchens and bathrooms were started in January 2011 and will be completed by September 2011.

• Queens Gardens, Cheadle - a recycling site is being considered and once plans have been drawn up, all residents will be consulted.


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) please go to our website www.stockporthomes.org under ‘Our Services / Sustainable Neighbourhoods / Neighbourhood regeneration’.

West Area Housing OfficeBridgehall Community Centre,Siddington Avenue,Stockport SK3 8NR

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

Contact Us

West Area OfficeSiddington Avenue

Cuddington Crescent


Accessing Our Services

This newsletter gives you information about the work of the West AreaHousing 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.

www.stockporthomes.org

West Area Neighbourhood News Spring 2011

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