£15m injection of pride for city housing estates
Better lights, blitz on litter and curbs on boy racers in five-year project

£15m injection of pride for city housing estates

Better lights, blitz on litter and curbs on boy racers in five-year project

BY SARAH WHELAN

COUNCIL tenants have welcomed the news that £15m is to be spent on improving the area around their homes.

The scheme, called Estates Pride, is a five-year programme of improvements and community projects to enhance the quality of life for residents in city-wide council housing, which is managed by Derby Homes.

As part of the scheme, residents in Normanton have already seen new fencing put up to stop boy-racers driving around the estates at night. Other improvements over the next five years include landscaping, more fencing, better lighting and pathways as well as keeping the area clean and free from litter. In some areas, youth inclusion projects will also be developed to give young people something to do in the evenings.

Margaret Haynes lives at Roe Walk, Normanton, the first area to see benefits from the money.
She said: “We’ve already had new fencing put up and it looks wonderful. It’s stopped all the young boys from coming and driving their cars late at night, they used to use it as a race track. “It was very disturbing for residents but now it’s much better.

“I can’t praise Derby Homes highly enough. In the past, we’ve had problems but now they’re listening to what the residents want and using the money in the right way.” During the course of the programme, Estates Pride will focus initially on 1970s estates, including flats, followed by 1950s estates and finally pre-war estates.

The next stage of environmental work under the Estates Pride programme will be in the Stockbrook area.

The planned work includes block paving to areas including Churchside Walk and Edensor Square, re-surfacing footpaths including Churchside Walk and Arbor Close, black metal bow top fencing to areas including Abbey Street, Kinder Walk, Parliament Street and Stockbrook Street.

However, not all residents think the improvements will last. Hilda Roberts (85) is a Derby Homes resident in the Stockbrook area, she said: “It’s all a very good idea but the problem is people won’t respect it.

“It will all get vandalised which is a real shame. We’re given some lovely things but people don’t appreciate it and don’t respect what they have so it gets ruined.”

Derby Homes is meeting with residents to find out how best to spend the rest of the money. The conference will take place on Friday, at theRiverside Centre, Pride Park, between 10am and 3pm.
Dennis Rees, chairman of Derby Homes said: “It’s important for us to make sure that we find out what improvements our customers want to see where they live – all of the work that’s carried out will involve consultation with community panels, local councillors and residents.”

If any Derby Homes tenants or leaseholders would like to attend the conference, call Julie Wren on Derby 711064.

Source: Derby Evening Telegraph
swyatt@derbytelegraph.co.uk