West Area Neighbourhood News Spring 2010

1West Area Housing Office Neighbourhood News Spring 2010

Welcome to the spring issue of Neighbourhood News. Each of the Neighbourhood Housing Officers in the West Area have provided

information on improvement works to properties and the local environment. They have also given some feedback on the issues that they have picked up when inspecting the areas you live in and attending walkabouts or clean-up events with customers.

Housing Officers have also been proactive in working with the Council and the Police to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB). In North Reddish, a Closure Order was obtained following on-going ASB. This has had a major impact on local residents’ quality of life.

We also made the most of the snow in December with a ‘Santa Dash’ for local children on the Bridgehall Estate the week before Christmas. Many thanks to all the children that joined in and the adults that helped out on the day. It was well attended by children who dressed up as Santas with other special outfits including a reindeer, penguin and elves! £175 was raised for Beechwood Cancer Care.

Neighbourhood Housing Officers have also been busy consulting resident groups and working with partners such as the Police and the Council to develop Neighbourhood Action Plans (NAPs). These are strategic plans that bring together wider issues that affect a neighbourhood and have an impact on residents’ quality of life, future investment and management decisions. Eachplan is based on a Housing Officer’s ‘patch’.

West Area Housing OfficeNeighbourhood NewsSpring 2010: Issue 3

They include not only housing issues, but also the local environment, community safety, employment, access to funding and the availability of safe play areas. All of which affect the long-term viability of an area. 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. The NAPs are available to download on our websitewww.stockporthomes.org or you can ask your Neighbourhood Housing Officer for details. We will update you on the NAP progress in the next issue of Neighbourhood News.

Meanwhile, if you want to attend a walkabout to point out an estate issue; or join in on a clean-up event, we want to hear from you. Please do not hesitate to contact your Neighbourhood Housing Officer using the contact details onpage 11.

West Area Housing Manager

Maria Lindars

2 West Area Housing Office Neighbourhood News Spring 2010

Improvement works and other initiatives:

• Due to customer feedback we have introduced new opening hours at the Lancashire Hill Housing Office. These times are Monday 9.00am -10.30am, Tuesday 3.30pm – 5.00pm (including a police drop-in service) and Wednesday 9.00am -10.30am.

• We are at the final phase of the kitchen and bathroom replacements within Hanover Towers and all work is due to be completed February 2010.

• Disability access works are still on-going around the estate. These works include improvement to the lifts and disable parking bays marked out around the estate.

Estate Improvement works planned for the coming months:

• The removal of shrubbery on the estate is underway and is due to be completed by February 2010. There are several areas that this will affect including the raised area outside The Bentleys and at the back of Stonemill Terrace. Areas that are affected will be replaced with either bonded gravel or turf.• Cigarette bins have been installed outside the blocks and we are waiting for additional rubbish bins to be placed outside the blocks to minimise litter on the estate.• Re-turf and provide a garden at the back of Pendlebury Towers to enable residents to use this area. This is due to be completed by March 2010.

Kimberley Harrison: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

AREA COVERED:Lancashire Hill

EstAtE WAlKAbOuts

We saw... We did...

All blocks need to be cleaned of algae and other dirt.

Blocks have been externally cleaned from February 2010. Work is expected to be completed by May 2010.

Rubbish at the rear of the Lancashire Hill shops on Penny Lane.

Contacted leaseholders and had rubbish removed from the back of the shops.

Bushes overgrown at the front of Clarkethorne Terrace obstructing the pedestrian walkway.

Contacted Glendale (grounds maintenance contractor) and had bushes at the front of Clarkethorne Terrace cut back.

Rubbish at the back of The Longsons. Rubbish was removed and shrubbery is due to be removed making it more accessible for the Caretaker to clean.

Bushes overgrown at the front of The Bentleys with branches reaching into customers properties and causing an eyesore on the estate.

Bushes are to be removed and replaced with bonded gravel work by February 2010.

Railing outside Hanover Towers was damaged. Railing outside Hanover Towers was replaced.

The cream and green high rise flats on the estate are a local landmark close to the town centre.


• New rear and side fencing is due to be installed at two blocks of flats on Adswood Road, Adswood.

• A large estate clean-up took place on Adswood with the provision of skips. Several gardens, which elderly residents were struggling to maintain, had a tidy up thanks to Age Concern.

• Funding of a new play area on Bradshaw Hall Area.

Gill thompson: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

AREA COVERED:Adswood, Larkhill Estate, Bradshaw Hall Estate and Cheadle Hulme.


• The car park has been resurfaced at Swann Court in Cheadle Hulme.

• New fencing has been installed at The Beeches in Cheadle Hulme to improve security.

• New communal doors are due to be fitted at the flats on Dorset Avenue, Cheadle Hulme and the car park is also due to be resurfaced.

• Work is due to commence shortly for new rear fencing and gating to flats on Hall Meadow in Cheadle Hulme.

• On 6 November 2009, children from Adswood Primary School took part in a litter pick on Adder Park and around the school. Over 10 bags of litter were collected by the children.

• On 21 December 2009, together with Neighbourhood Renewal and Greater Manchester Police, we arranged a Santa Dash for children of Adswood and Bridgehall. Children and adults wore Santa suits and raised £175 for Beechwood Cancer care. All runners received medals and selection boxes which were kindly presented by Councillor Smith. We are looking to hold the event again this year.

EstAtE WAlKAbOuts

We saw... We did...

An accumulation of litter in the street on Larkhill Road.

Reported the litter to Stockport Direct to remove.

New recycling bins have been provided at flats on Dorset Avenue in Cheadle Hulme but are placed on a grassed area.

Arranged for flags to be provided to make it easier to access the bins.

Noticed rubbish had been dumped on the old compound on Barnfield Road West.

Arranged for the rubbish to be removed.

Numerous tyres had been dumped on Athlone Avenue in Cheadle Hulme.

Passed the details to the Area Conditions Officer as this is fly-tipping and will be dealt with accordingly.


Melinda Waterhouse: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

• The new fencing and gate has now been installed between Oakside Close and Sycamore Walk, Cheadle and has reduced the youth problems in this area.

• The roof replacement at Queens Gardens, Cheadle has now been completed.

• The communal areas at the flats on Stockport Road, Cheadle have been decorated, new flooring has been laid and new fencing will be erected in the near future.

• Phase three of the environmental improvements at Shaw Heath have now started and will be completed by February 2010. The facelift for the communal garden at the back of Victoria Close flats has now been agreed and work will commence in February 2010.


AREA COVERED:Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle Heath, Edgeley, Heald Green, Shaw Heath and Gatley.

EstAtE WAlKAbOuts

We saw... We did...

Rubbish dumped on the side of the railway embankment.

Reported the rubbish to the Area Conditions Officer.

Graffiti on the gable end of a property. Reported the graffiti to the Area Conditions Officer.

Identified problems with the grounds maintenance contractor including the removal of leaves.

Liaised with our grounds maintenance contractors Glendale to rectify issues.

Moss on the footpaths. Arranged to have the footpaths power washed to remove the moss.


Mike Fitzsimmons: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

AREA COVERED:Bridgehall, Elf Mill Estate, Cale Green, York Close and The Cloisters.


• The Estate Improvement Budget will be used to renew dilapidated wooden fencing to the rear of 34-36 Handley Close, Bridgehall.

• Hard landscaping work to the rear of communal grounds at flats 18-48 Siddington Avenue, Bridgehall was completed in November 2009.

• Kitchen and bathroom improvements completed in Cale Green and Bridgehall.

EstAtE WAlKAbOuts

We saw... We did...

Side gate to Handley Close flats on Bridgehall insecure.

Reported insecure gate to Housing Repairs service for repair.

Uneven footpaths around flats at York Close, Cheadle.

Reported problem of uneven footpaths on York Close to Streetscene (Highways) and local Councillors for inspection.

Litter / rubbish to shrub areas at Alvanley Crescent, Bridgehall.

Requested that Estate Caretaker Service complete a litter pick of shrub areas at Alvanley Crescent.

Shrubs to corners of Parsonage Way / Priory Road, Cheadle were overgrown.

Glendale (grounds maintenance contractor) requested to prune and tidy shrub areas to corners of Parsonage Way / Priory Road.


Emma Perkins: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

AREA COVERED:Heaton Chapel and South Reddish.


• A tree survey has been undertaken and the recommended work has been completed at Scott Close, Reddish.

• Funding has been secured through the sustainability budget to redesign and landscape the open square between Morgan and Cabot Place. Consultation has been carried out with the Coronation Street Estate and works are expected to start in March 2010.

• Kitchen and Bathroom improvements are on-going on the Coronation Street Estate.

• A hanging basket event was held for the residents of Priory Court in November 2009 where residents and Stockport Homes’ representatives made hanging baskets on-site with the help of Alan Wilson from parks and recreation.

Estate Improvement works planned for the coming months:

• Meadows Road handrails where completed in January 2010.• Fencing to Woodhall Crescent is due to start February 2010.• Notice board for Woodhall and Willow is due to be erected by

the end of January 2010.

EstAtE WAlKAbOuts

We saw... We did...

Litter on Morgan Place, Cabot Place and Drake Court, South Reddish.

Carried out an estate clean-up and litter pick.

Damaged and sinking grid / pot holes. Reported to Highways.

Fly-tipping on Marbury Road playing fields. Arranged for the Caretaking Team to remove rubbish.

Rubbish and litter in the communal areas of Woodhall Crescent and Willow Avenue.

Arranged for contractor to litter pick and remove rubbish.

Graffiti to sub-station doors on willow Avenue. Reported to the Area Conditions Officer.

Yellow paint on green NTL box on Knutsford Avenue, Heaton Chapel.

Reported to the Area Conditions Officer.


linda brooks: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

AREA COVERED:Didsbury Road Estate, Heaton Norris, Hollywood Park Estate and York Street Estate, Edgeley.


• Bowdon House lift now completed. • Completion of consultation regarding the provision of a Concierge Service on York Street Estate

and Hollywood Towers. The majority of residents want the service and are prepared to pay a charge for it. We are currently exploring funding for the service and will contact residents again with more information before any further action is taken.

• Improvement works to hard landscaped area and shrub beds at Hollywood Towers now complete.• Hard landscaping works to the communal garden area to Langham House and Elizabeth House have

been completed.

• Block Contact scheme has been launched at Hollywood Towers. This gives residents within the block a local contact regarding any

block management or Stockport Homes’ issues. The aim is to improve customer involvement with Stockport Homes within this specific location, empowering residents on issues such as block condition inspections.

• Completion of hard landscaping to the rear communal garden at Branksome House and resurfacing to the front entrance.

• Front parking area to Stanton Gardens, this involved resurfacing and creating parking bays.• Created new recycling and refuse area to Stanton Gardens.• Re-flagged rear communal area to blocks of flats at Stanton Gardens.• Overcladding to Pembroke House has been completed.• Hard landscaping to communal garden area at Pembroke House.• New roof to Montague House.• Completion of landscaping to rear communal garden area at Barnaby House and renewal of fencing.

EstAtE WAlKAbOuts

We saw... We did...

Loose / cracked flags outside Palatine House. Replace loose / cracked flags to external of Palatine House.

Graffiti at the side of the Newsagents. Removed all graffiti on the estate.

Kerb not dropped to allow access to side of Hollywood Towers.

Arranged to have kerb lowered.

Rubbish left outside bin store areas in Hollywood Towers.

Rubbish was removed and all tenants were informed that this is a breach of tenancy.

Bushes overgrown on Didsbury Road. Bushes overhanging the walkway on Didsbury Road removed.

Large items of Rubbish dumped to rear of Stanton Gardens.

All items removed and reported to the Area Conditions Officer for fly-tipping.


Catherine Pownall: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

AREA COVERED:North Reddish including Poets Corner Estate, Somers Road, Betley Road and Ambleside Road Estate.


• Recycling to be improved for Spa Close residents. Blue And Brown bins to be provided for each block before April 2010.

• Fencing programme to be continued on Poets Corner and other neighbouring streets before the end of March 2010.

• Kitchen and bathroom improvements on-going in North Reddish, Macauley Road, Coleridge Road, Matlock Road, Keats House, Farley Way and Browning Road. Work will be completed during 2010/2011.

Anti-social behaviour (Asb)

EstAtE WAlKAbOuts

We saw... We did...

Graffiti. Reported to Streetscene to remove.

Excessive rubbish accumulation around Poets Corner area in passageways.

Worked with the Area Conditions Officer to address the accumulation of litter andfly-tipping. Local Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) to organise local school children to do litter pick on Poets Corner.

Untidy gardens on various streets. Contacted local residents to address breach of tenancy conditions regarding untidy gardens.

Large amount of tall trees which were affecting local resident’s enjoyment of their property.

Ordered tree inspection and carried out the recommended tree work.

Electrical appliances dumped outside our properties.

We got our Caretakers to move accumulated rubbish.

• In December 2009, a Closure Order was obtained for a property on Goldsmith Road. This was a fantastic result following dedicated and on-going work by Stockport Homes and Greater Manchester Police. The surrounding residents had been experiencing severe ASB. The tenant ultimately terminated their tenancy and so will not be returning to the property.


Ken Higgins / Val Percy: Neighbourhood Housing Officers

AREA COVERED:Walnut Tree Road Estate and School Street Estate.

fencing to the front of the affected properties is also included. Stockport Homes is also jointly funding, with Stockport Council, a new play area on the Walnut Tree Estate. Shrub beds will also be removed and will be turfed over on Meerbrook, Swythamley Road and Bosley Road before April 2010. This work is all being completed as part of the ENCAMs action plan, a plan which was drawn up by Stockport Homes to address the main issues listed by residents surveyed by the Keep Britain Tidy group. Streets included in the survey were Walnut Tree Road, Bosley Road, Meerbrook Road, Sywthamley Road, Algreave Road, Cricceth Avenue and Dane Road.


• Improved warden call system to be installed at Lumb House this year.

• Improved warden call system and rewire of communal lighting areas at Birch House to begin this year.

• Estate Improvement Budget work to landscape the bin areas to Warwick Close flats now complete.

• Landscaping to Grange Avenue flats due to start shortly.

• Fencing programme started at Brookfield Road, Cheadle.

• New bin area installed at Birch House.• Power washed drying area to Alder Grove,

Northgate Road, Laburnum Way and Bow Street flats.

• New kitchens and bathrooms have been provided to flats at Alder Grove, Northgate Road, Laburnum Way and Bow Street flats.

• Following a doorstep survey carried out by the Keep Britain Tidy group on behalf of Stockport Homes on the Walnut Tree estate in May 2009, a number of outcomes are now in place.

This includes the removal of old planters and renewal of the flagged area to the front of properties on Walnut Tree Road, Bosley Road, Meerbrook Road and Sywthamley Road. New

EstAtE WAlKAbOuts

We saw... We did...

Weeds in gutters at Brookfield Road area. Arranged for Stockport Direct to spray weeds.

Litter between Oak Road and Ash Avenue. Arranged for Stockport Direct to remove the litter.

Trees overgrown and blocking light to residents at Bramhall.

Ordered tree inspection and carried out recommended tree work.

Untidy gardens at various sites. Contacted residents to address breach of tenancy over untidy gardens.


Ian Creveul: Neighbourhood Housing Officer

AREA COVERED:East Adswood, Davenport, Heaviley and Heaton Norris.

EstAtE WAlKAbOuts


• Improvements to car parking area between Heaton and Norris Towers well under way with

an estimated completion for early March 2010.• New flooring to the communal areas of

Quantock Close has now been provided.• Landscaping in the communal garden area at

Peel Street will also be carried out this year.

Anti-social behaviour (Asb)

• A long running perpetrator of ASB has been evicted in the Heaton Norris area. This has been the result following

on-going work between the Neighbourhood Housing Officer, ASB Team and other partner agencies. Residents within the local area had been intimidated within their homes and neighbourhood due to on-going ASB caused by unruly visitors to a local property. The outcome for customers is a welcome relief and the opportunity for them to enjoy peace within their homes.

We saw... We did...

Untidy gardens on Culver Road and Douglas Road.

Contacted all tenants enforcing tenancy agreement regarding maintenance of gardens.

Large pot hole on Eccleston Road. Reported pot hole to Streetscene.

Loose bollard on Neston Grove. Reported loose bollard to Streetscene.

Fallen down fence on Rostherne Road. Reported fencing to Repairs contact centre.

Overgrown bushes in the Heaviley area. Successfully liaised with Glendale (grounds maintenance contractor) to carry out some extensive hedge / bush maintenance.


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) 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


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.

www.stockporthomes.org

Documents

West Area Neighbourhood News Spring 2010