West Area Neighbourhood News Winter 2010-11

Brian BillinghamEast Area Housing Manager

Maria LindarsWest Area Housing Manager

We have placed additional resources into managing multi-storey blocks in Stockport, since this is where we have the biggest concentration of tenants and the highest turnover of tenancies. We are setting up specialist teams to specifically manage the blocks at:

• Lancashire Hill;• Brinnington;• Hollywood Towers and York Street; • Heaton and Norris Towers;• Lincoln, Millbrook and Ratcliffe Towers; and• Beaver and Voewood House.

Our new teams will intensively manage these areas to make an impact to improve the services and environment for residents.

This initiative will free up some time for other Housing Officers to spend more time on the remaining properties that we manage.

A key feature of the initiative is to provide a framework to work together with other teams and partners e.g. with a dedicated Anti-Social Behaviour Officer for the blocks, and at Lancashire Hill PCSOs are assigned to specific blocks and will work closely with housing staff.

West Area Housing OfficeNeighbourhood NewsAction Plan Review

Welcome to the winter edition of Stockport Homes’ Neighbourhood News. In this addition we give an update on Neighbourhood Plans and explain how

we aim to improve how we manage blocks of properties.

Winter 2010/11: Issue 6

Some of the key things that we want to achieve from this initiative are:

• An action plan for each block that has been developed with customers and partners.

• Reduce the number of reports of Anti-Social Behaviour.

• Reduce the number of vacant properties.• Reduce rent and water rates arrears.• Where there is no concierge service, consult

with residents about providing the service to increase security on the blocks.

• Improve the environment in and around the blocks.

• Create more positive publicity in relation to the blocks.

The initiative started at the beginning of November 2010 and to facilitate this, it may mean that some customers will have a new Housing Officer from that date. Please see page 19 of this newsletter for the areas which Neighbourhood Housing Officers will manage from November 2010.

Continued on page 2

2 West Area Housing Office Neighbourhood News Winter 2010/11

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 4

Page 6

Page 10

Page 15

Page 7

Page 12

Page 16

Page 19

Page 8

Page 13

Neighbourhood issues and action taken

Neighbourhood Action Plans have been developed by each Neighbourhood Housing Officer in consultation with partners and customers. They include not only housing issues, but also the local environment, community safety, employment, access to funding and the availability of safe play areas. Bringing together in a single plan all of the issues that affect a neighbourhood helps Stockport Homes to plan

effectively and efficiently the future management and maintenance of services for customers. We hope that you find the information interesting and informative.

More information about the Neighbourhood Action Plans can be found on our website www.stockporthomes.org under ‘Our Services / Sustainable Neighbourhood / Neighbourhood Regeneration’ or contact your Area Housing Office (see contact details on page 19).

3West Area Housing Office Neighbourhood News Winter 2010/11


Queens Gardens - communal painting

You Said We’ve DoneThe wooded area at Bradshaw Hall is overgrown.

• The wooded area on Bradshaw Hall Lane will be tidied up using the new partnership with the Social Enterprise Scheme. A programme of work started in November 2010.

There are high levels of unemployment. • Stockport Homes Skills for life courses have been promoted during tenancy visits and at the Area Housing Forums and fun days etc.

• Referrals to Employment Support Officer and debt management advice provided during tenancy visits. Two of these referrals have gone onto voluntary and further education.

Some garage sites look poor, particularly at Queens Gardens, Astley House and Lyndey Avenue and some garages need refurbishment.

• A review of garage sites has been completed and sites are being prioritised for a programme of work. Capital Programme works are due to be completed by March 2011.

Lydney Avenue garage site is not secure and youths are gathering to the side and rear of houses.

• A gate at the side of the garages on Lydney Avenue to prevent access will be in place by March 2011.

Gate does not shut between Oakside Close and Sycamore Walk.

• A self closing mechanism has been fitted to the gate.

Gate at Park Mount keeps banging in the wind and is now damaged.

• A self closing mechanism was fitted to the gate in the perimeter fencing at Park Mount Gatley.

Requested additional seating at Cheadle Heath Park.

• Another bench has been installed at Cheadle Heath Park.

Communal area looks poor plus additional drying facilities are required at 14a-18b Avon Road.

• Thinned out shrubs and erected low black metal fencing with a gate around flats 14a-18b Avon Road.

• Improved the drying area.

The internal decoration and flooring needs replacing at Queens Gardens.

• The communal areas have been redecorated and the flooring replaced. External painting has also been carried out.

Continued


You Said We’ve Done


Youths were cutting through the communal area on bikes at Hathaway Close on Outwood Road, Heald Green.

• Installed a locking gate with a gate closure at the entrance to Hathaway Close on Outwood Road, Heald Green.

Requested an additional disabled parking bay at Randolph Place.

• Marked out a disabled parking bay in the car park nearest the flats 40-46 Randolph Place.

There are not enough rotary driers. • Made a drying area by removing the overgrown shrub bed behind the gate between 20 and 21 Sycamore Walk and supplied new rotary dryers.

The signage at Sycamore Walk, Queens Gardens and Stockport Road flats, Cheadle needs updating and replacing.

• The signage was updated and replaced.

There is insufficient social housing in the area.

• Planning permission has now been agreed for the building of eight new houses on the Willow Avenue garage site and the process to empty the garages has commenced.

Adswood and Cheadle Hulme


Litter is a problem on our estate.

• Regular estate inspections and monthly walkabouts by Neighbourhood Housing Officer and partner agencies. Also a programme of estate clean-ups and community skips provided on the estate.

• Clean-up of old compound area on Barnfield Road West, Adswood to be arranged together with the Community Safety Unit using people doing Community Payback Service. This is due to commence by December 2010.

There are high levels of unemployment.

• Promoting Skills for Life courses at home visits.• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer promotes the

Employment Support Service and makes referrals to the newly appointed Debt Advice Officer, based within the Customer Finance Team, during home visits to customers.

Neighbourhood Housing Officer: Melinda Waterhouse





There are not enough facilities for children and young people.

• An improved play park has opened on Bradshaw Hall Estate, with funding from Stockport Homes, Stockport Council and Play England.

• A 5-a-side football tournament for under 11’s was held in June on Adswood.

• A mini Olympics event was held for under 11’s on Adswood and Bridgehall for the second year running in August. The event was jointly organised by Stockport Homes and the Council’s Neighbourhood Renewal Team with more than 40 children attending the event.

• Adswood and Bridgehall fun day was held on 17 July 2010.

Our properties and the environment need to be improved.

• Kitchens and bathrooms are currently being updated on Bradshaw Hall Estate.

• A programme of providing new front fencing and gates to properties on the Larkhill Estate in Cheadle Hulme is currently in progress.

• Proposals for new signage at Adswood Road flats, paving at Dorset Avenue (so we can provide recycling facilities) and shrubbery at Calver Walk and a small area on Hall Meadow in Cheadle Hulme to be removed and replaced with turf was all agreed at the Area Forum which was held in July 2010. Works at these sites are due to be complete by April 2011.

• Joint working with Environmental Services to deal with drainage issue on Larkhill Estate. A block culvert was identified which is currently being investigated by environmental services. Residents will be updated once the outcome is known.

New fencing at Larkhill Estate Mini Olympics, Adswood

Adswood and Cheadle Hulme (continued)

Neighbourhood Housing Officer: Gill Thompson


New fencing at Brookfield Road


Litter is a problem on the estates.

• An estate walkabout was conducted on 4 August 2010 at Chestnut / Ash Avenue, the issues highlighted included fly-tipping between Oakfield Avenue and Bulkerley Road which has now been removed.

There are not enough facilities for children and young people.

• Worked with the local Tenants’ and Residents’ Association to provide a new multi-use games area which has been constructed on the estate. This was jointly funded by Stockport Homes and several partners including Stockport Council, Manchester Airport and the Lottery Fund.


• Free Skills for Life training has been promoted at several of our events: Area Forums, Adswood Fun Day and on visits to tenants.

• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer has made referrals to the Employment Support Officer for advice and information on job and training opportunities and for debt advice during tenancy visits.

• One of these referrals has gone onto work solutions training, a course that helps people get back into work.

We would like our properties and estates improved.

• We have recently completed a fencing and gate programme at Brookfield Road, Cheadle.

• Consultation with residents has begun prior to a new fencing and gates programme at Chestnut Avenue, Cheadle and Grange Avenue and Buckingham Road, Cheadle Hulme. This work will be complete by March 2011.

• Planned Maintenance Programme completed, including renewal of roofs to properties in Bramhall.

Entrance to cottage flats on Oak Road are poorly lit.

• New security lights have been fitted to ground floor properties.• Further to the new lighting we are in the process of consulting with

customers to identify if further security improvements are required to the communal area of the block.

The garage sites in the area are in poor condition.

• A review of garage sites has been completed and work is being prioritised for a programme of works to be completed by March 2011 to improve sites at Hilda Avenue, Brookfield Road and Kenilworth Avenue.

Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme and Bramhall

Neighbourhood Housing Officer: Ken Higgins



Litter on the Walnut Tree Estate is a problem.

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

• Programme of clean-ups and community skips arranged.• The Council’s Environmental Health Department launched Enviro

Watch. This scheme rewards people who take an active part in reducing litter on the estate and also takes steps to improve the appearance of the estate.

The Walnut Tree Estate is lacking in social activities for children and young people.

• Weekly play development sessions held over the year on Tuesdays.• Following the launch of a new play area in May, a fun day

was held on 24 August 2010 with approximately 50 children attending. Agencies attending were the Council’s Area Conditions Officer, Community Recycling, Play Development staff and Pure Radio. Activities included a Bucking Bronco, balloon and badge making, face painting and penalty shoot out. Stockport Homes’ Employment Support Officer attended the fun day to give information on job and training opportunities.

Planters to the front of the properties are overgrown and in disrepair making the estate look untidy.

• The brick planters to the front of the properties have been removed and the areas flagged.

• Railings provided to define the property boundary at the front.

There were concerns of Loan Sharks operating in the area.

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

Residents asked for regular updates by Newsletter / Surveys to give feedback.

• Three newsletters specifically relating to the Walnut Tree Estate have been delivered over the last year.

• Following the fun day a questionnaire was delivered to the residents of Walnut Tree Estate to gather feedback on the event and issues relating to the environment. The survey indicated the fun day was well received and a repeat event next year will be arranged.

Walnut Tree Fun Day

Edgeley and Cheadle Heath

Continued



Fencing to the rear gardens at Walnut Tree requires replacing.

• Replacement fencing to rear gardens on the Walnut Tree Estate is proposed for 2010 / 2011. This is to improve the security and appearance on the estate. We will contact residents when we have detailed timescales for the work.


There is too much litter on the estate.

• Problem areas are targeted by a team litter pick which housing staff and the caretaking team carry out together to resolve the issues.

• Enforcement action taken against tenants responsible for fly-tipping.

• Litter and cigarette bins have been installed to reduce the amount of litter on the estate.

There is a low presence of PSCO and GMP across the area.

• There is close joint working between Stockport Homes and the police to make more of an impact in resolving Anti-Social Behaviour:– Introduced weekly housing drop in sessions for tenants at the

local housing office on Tuesday afternoons which the police attend.

– Introduced multi-agency meetings on the estate as well as attending regular Neighbourhood Policing Team meetings with the police to address any issues on the estate.

– Police also attend the Tenant Association meetings to address any local issues.

– PCSO’s have designated blocks and conduct frequent patrols reporting any incidents to Police and Neighbourhood Housing Officers for appropriate action to be taken.

• Regular articles in newsletters to highlight positive action taken and encourage residents to report incidents.

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

• An additional Housing Officer has been working on the estate since November 2010. This allows more intensive management of the estate.

Lancashire Hill

Edgeley and Cheadle Heath (Continued)

Neighbourhood Housing Officer: Val Percy


Recycling at Stonemill Terrace

Lancashire Hill (Continued)


We want increased recycling facilities.

• Recycling pods have been located in the chute rooms at Stonemill Terrace to improve facilities for customers.

We want kitchens and bathrooms refurbished.

• Kitchen and Bathroom improvement programme was completed for the estate in February 2010. The remaining properties are currently having the work undertaken which will complete the programme.

The shrubbery blocks light from the windows and looks untidy with litter.

• To improve the appearance of the estate overgrown bushes have been removed in several areas including the back of Stonemill Terrace and the front of The Bentleys. They have been replaced with bonded gravel, which looks tidy and is easy to maintain.

The boundary wall to the entrance is incomplete adjacent to The Longsons.

• A wall is currently under construction to complete the boundary of the entrance into the car park from Penny Lane.

The lifts in the high rise blocks often break down.

• In 2011 we will be replacing the lifts within blocks at Hanover and Pendlebury Towers. The new lifts will have access to every floor. Further details will be posted to residents in the near future.

There are no opportunities for the community to come together.

• SWAGGA (Stockport Women And Girls Getting Altogether) a women’s group from the Belmont and Lancashire Hill area received funding from the Stockport Homes Community Fund to pay for two trips during the school summer holidays.

There are not enough activities for children during school holidays.

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

• The play area is being developed and consultation is underway with residents. The play area is due to be complete by March 2011.

Neighbourhood Housing Officer: Mark Topping


Credit Union - For details of local collection points or for more information contact 0161 430 5808


There are high levels of Anti-Social Behaviour.

• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer has worked closely with Stockport Homes’ Anti-Social Behaviour Team and the Police and has secured five ex-parte injunctions on estates in Bridgehall, Cheadle and Cale Green between April 2010 and September 2010 against perpetrators of threatening and abusive behaviour.

• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer has used the Family Intervention Project Team to work closely with customers facing legal action to provide intensive support to resolve disputes.

• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer attends monthly Policing Team meetings to discuss emerging Anti-Social Behaviour issues, specifically relating to problem individuals, and a multi-agency approach has been agreed.

Litter is a problem on the estate.

• A programme of monthly estate walkabouts, including the provision of skips and clean-ups, are carried out by the Neighbourhood Housing Officer.

• We have developed a programme of environmental works to “grot spots” to improve the landscaped corners at Alvanley, Rainow, and Wrenbury Crescent, Bridgehall and where appropriate work to untidy gardens on the Bridgehall Estate. This work was started in November 2010 by a Social Enterprise Scheme.

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


Junior Rangers and Kids Club outing

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


• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer promotes the Employment Support Service and makes referrals to the newly appointed Debt Advice Officer based within the Customer Finance Team during home visits to customers.

• Presentation provided by representatives from Stockport Credit Union to customers at West Area Forum.

There are no opportunities for the community to get together.

• Numerous applications have been received from local residents for a share of the Stockport Homes’ Community Fund, agreed at the West Area Forum. These have included submissions from Bridgehall and Adswood 13th Stockport Cubs, who purchased a tent and equipment for the cubs to go on camping expeditions.

• Customers gave approval for the Junior Rangers to receive funding for two trips following the excellent work they have achieved carrying out litter picks and improving the environment. Bridgehall Golden Circle over 60’s club has received funding for trips. The majority of their members have disabilities and find it difficult to get out and attend social activities.

We want our estates improving.

• Cuddington Crescent garages – consultation with customers regarding demolition of the garage site is complete. This work should be completed by the end of March 2011.

• Landscaping improvements to the corner of Parsonage Way / Priory Road.

• Landscaping to Bishops Close to be completed before the end of March 2011.


Neighbourhood Housing Officer: Mike Fitzsimmons

North Reddish

Reddish bulb planting Junior PCSOs

You Said We’ve DoneThere is a problem with litter, untidy gardens and overgrown shrubs in North and South Reddish.

• A regular programme of estate walkabouts is in place attended by relevant agencies and customers. Recent walkabouts at Poets Corner and Somerford Road have highlighted issues including uneven pavements at Coleridge Road. Grass verges at Macauley Road are untidy, these have now been cut. Graffiti on the “keep off the grass” sign at Somerford Road has now been removed.

• Community clean-up events including provision of skips are provided for customers at Poets Corner, Spa Close, Somers Road and Somerford Road to improve the appearance of the estates.


• Stockport Homes Skills for Life courses and the work of the Employment Support Officer are promoted by Neighbourhood Housing Officers at visits to new tenants and current tenancy visits.

We would like to be able to see our Neighbourhood Housing Officer in the local vicinity rather than travel to Bridgehall.

• Monthly surgery held at the Houldsworth Centre in Reddish.• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer carries out current tenancy visits

and visits to new customers to provide advice and assistance and where appropriate makes referrals to relevant agencies.

• Information provided by representatives from Stockport Credit Union at the West Area Forum.

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

We would like more community events for children.

• A bulb planting event took place in partnership with Fir Tree Primary school in November 2010.

• Junior PCSOs developed from November 2010 in conjunction with GMP.• The Reddish Vale Youth Club received Community Fund money to pay

for sports equipment and indoor games for the youth club.

We would like more support for problematic families.

• Involvement of the Family Intervention Project to support families to amend their behaviour who are facing legal action as a result of Anti-Social Behaviour.

We would like increased recycling provisions.

• Recycling facilities to be incorporated into sites at Wilton Street and Keats House, work will be completed by March 2011.

We would like improved play areas for our children.

• Improvements to equipment at Unity Park completed August 2010.

12 West Area Housing Office Neighbourhood News Winter 2010


We would like improved parking provisions at Warbeck Close.

• Improvement to car parking at Warbeck Close planned to be complete before the end of March 2011.

We would like improvements to our communal gardens.

• Improvements to the rear communal areas at Wilton Street and Keats House to be complete before end of March 2011.

We would like more secure fencing and benches in our communal gardens.

• Replacement fencing and gates including provision of benches to communal garden at Ambleside Road due to be complete before the end of March 2011.

We would like better security to our blocks.

• Renewal of communal entrance doors at Keats House, completed August 2010.

We would like integrated fire retardant mats to our communal areas.

• Improvements to the standard of communal areas at Spa Close including provision of mats completed in September 2010.

Continued

North Reddish (continued)

East Adswood, Davenport, Heavily and Heaton Norris

New build site at Mendip Close


Litter is a problem on the estate.

• Monthly estate walkabouts conducted including key partner agencies and customers highlighting issues and actions taken.

There is only limited car parking.

• Sustainability programme to improve car parking at Heaton and Norris Towers complete.

There is no provision for cigarette litter causing a mess outside the block.

• New cigarette bins installed at Heaton and Norris Towers.


Neighbourhood Housing Officer: Ferri Jebelli


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


We want improved play facilities for children.

• Consultation with customers regarding improvements to Ince Close play area complete. Designs approved and project to be complete before end of March 2011.

There are no recycling facilities at Quantock Close.

• New recycling facilities installed at Quantock Close in conjunction with the Environmental Improvement Project to improve the rear communal area.


• Referrals to Employment Support Officer for information and advice regarding training and employment opportunities and debt management advice are discussed at new and current tenancy visits.

• Presentation delivered by representatives from Stockport Credit Union to customers at the West Area Forum.

There is not enough social housing in the area.

• Development of a new build scheme at Mendip Court is nearing completion.

There are no opportunities for the community to get together.

• Community Kids, a group who attend Heaton and Norris pavillon, have received funding for street dances classes throughout the summer holidays for 8 to 14 year olds.

• We have developed a Community Forum for customers at Heaton and Norris Towers. The first meeting in February 2010 was attended by approximately 30 residents and issues relating to proposals for a concierge service were discussed. A further meeting is planned to take place on 4 November 2010.

We want our properties and environment improved.

• Demolition of Dodge Hill Garage Site – complete September 2010.• Car park at Heaton and Norris Towers – complete September

2010.• Kitchens and bathroom works in Heaton Norris to be started early

2011.• Lift replacement at Heaton and Norris Towers to start early 2011.• Additional fencing at Ince Close to be completed before end of

March 2011.

There’s a lack of play facilities for children.

• Works to improve the children’s play area at Ince Close are to be carried out before the end of March 2011 following consultation with customers.

Neighbourhood Housing Officer: Ian Creveul


South Reddish and Heaton Chapel

Public area improvement at Frobisher Place


There are high levels of serious Anti-Social Behaviour.

• Closure Order enforced in July 2010 in conjunction with Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Team and Police to remove a family committing ASB from the estate.

• Family Intervention Project working in the area to support tenants to amend their behaviour, who are facing legal action for ASB.

• Eviction of persistent perpetrator of ASB.

There is too much litter on the play area at Marbury Road and on our estates generally.

• Additional refuse collections in place to resolve litter problem at Holcombe Walk / Marbury Road Park.

• Regular clean-up events and skip drops have improved the appearance of the estates generally.

There are a lack of facilities for children.

• Holcombe Walk / Marbury Road play area completed July 2010.• Proposals to improve the Liverpool Close play area underway.

Consultation with local residents conducted in November 2010.

There is a lack of recycling facilities.

• Recycling facilities to be incorporated into environmental improvement project at Greenbank flats. Contractors are on site and work is due to be completed by the beginning of December 2010.

We want to be able to access advice and assistance on a range of issues locally.

• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer carries out current tenancy visits and visits to new customers to provide advice and assistance and where appropriate makes referrals to relevant agencies.

• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer attends monthly meetings of the Woodhall and Willow Tenants’ and Residents’ Association.

• A Community Forum for the Coronation Street Estate took place in November 2010.

Continued



• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer provides customers with advice and assistance at current tenancy visits about a range of housing services including the promotion of Stockport Credit Union. Where appropriate, referrals are made to relevant agencies, including the recently appointed Debt Advice Officer and Worklessness Officer.

We want our properties and environment to be improved.

• Environmental Improvement Programme 2010-11 will include fencing to flats at Scott Close, Reddish and improvements to the rear communal area at Lambs Fold and Greenbank, Heaton Chapel.

• A project has been completed to improve the open space between Frobisher and Cabot Place, Reddish this has included bonded gravel pathways, soft landscaping and the planting of shrubs and bushes.

• Consultation with customers at Leamington Court is proposed to take place in 2010-11 to explore design options to improve the communal courtyard area.

• Works to improve the external grassed area at Liverpool Close, Reddish will be carried out by March 2011.

South Reddish and Heaton Chapel (continued)


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


There is Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) at Hollywood Towers.

• A leaflet drop was carried out at Hollywood Towers aimed at gathering information from residents to identify issues and perpetrators of ASB.

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

• Block Contact Scheme introduced and two newsletters have been issued to customers.

• Consultation has been conducted with residents at Hollywood Towers regarding proposals to install a concierge service with cameras in communal areas. This will make the block more secure by controlling access to the block and monitoring internal and external communal areas. It is anticipated that the system will be at Hollywood Towers by February 2011. Consultation with residents at York Street started in October 2010.

There is low presence of PSCO and GMP across the area.

• Partnership work with GMP including a door knocking exercise to raise awareness of crime prevention and ASB at Hollywood Towers has been untaken.

Neighbourhood Housing Officer: Catherine Pownall



Cladding at Bowdon House

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

Litter is a problem on our estates.

• 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 littering out of windows in multi-storey accommodation.

• Letters sent to Hollywood Towers regarding litter being thrown out of windows.

• Injunction secured against customer for throwing things out of windows and Anti-Social Behaviour.

• Mesh gate and side screen to be fitted before end of March 2011 to deter youths congregating at the back of Hollywood Towers.

There are high levels of unemployment on the estates.

• Stockport Skills for Life courses promoted by Neighbourhood Housing Officer during tenancy visits and presentation delivered by representatives from the Stockport Credit Union to customers attending the Area Forum.

• Employment Support Service is provided on tenancy visits.

We want regular feedback about issues relating to our estate / block.

• The block representative at Hollywood Towers attends regular walkabouts highlighting issues. Block representative “You Said, We Did” newsletter provided to customers including actions and outcomes.

• The Neighbourhood Housing Officer attends regular monthly meetings of the York Street Tenants’ and Residents’ Association.

• Coffee mornings are proposed to be set up in the Didsbury Road area to engage with the local community in November / December 2010.

Continued


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


We struggle to pay rent and service charges.

• Drop in session at Hollywood Towers held in September 2010 which involved promotion of the services of Stockport Homes’ Debt Advice Officer.

There is not enough social housing accommodation for younger people.

• Applicants aged 25 years and over can now bid for properties on York Street. It was previously restricted to only those of 40 years and over. As agreed with residents, all offers of accommodation are subjected to two satisfactory references being provided.

Our properties and the environment need to be improved.

• Kitchen and bathroom improvements to Hollywood Towers and York Street – commenced September 2010.

• Cladding to Pembroke and Durham House – commenced September 2010.

• External painting and signage to be completed at Hollywood Towers before March 2011.

• Railings to car park at Hollywood Towers and Montague House have been painted.

• Renewal of hard landscaped area to the rear of Garstone Close to be completed before end of March 2011. This project will also include paving, raised planters and renewal of rotary dryers.

There’s a lack of play facilities for children.

• Stockport Homes is supporting work to provide additional play equipment at Hollywood Park by March 2011. Funding was secured through Aiming High.

Neighbourhood Housing Officer: Linda Brooks

Partners and Staff on Hollywood Towers walkabout


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 CentreSiddington AvenueStockportSK3 8NR

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


Contact us

Specialist teams have been set-up to specifically manage blocks. This may mean that your Neighbourhood Housing Officer has changed. Please see below to find out who is your Neighbourhood Housing Officer.

Neighbourhood Housing Officer

Area Covered

Linda Brooks Hollywood Towers and York StreetGill Thompson Lancashire Hill – Clarkethorne Terrace, Stonemill Terrace, The Bentleys

and The Longsons Mark Topping Lancashire Hill ( Pendlebury Towers and Hanover Towers), Heaton

Towers and Norris TowersSyeda Ali Didsbury Road Estate, Woodhall Road and Willow Avenue areaCatherine Pownall South Reddish and Heaton ChapelFerri Jebelli North ReddishPaul Hines Adswood, Lark Hill and Cheadle Hulme Mike Fitzsimmons Bridgehall and part of Cheadle HulmeVal Percy Cheadle HeathKen Higgins CheadleIan Creveul Heaton Norris, Davenport and part of AdswoodMelinda Waterhouse Edgeley, Gately, Shaw Heath, Bramhall, Heald Green and various

isolated properties elsewhere

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 Winter 2010-11

Documents

Transcript of West Area Neighbourhood News Winter 2010-11