‘Halton Together Panel’

 

Themed meeting – Safe & Attractive Neighbourhoods

 

Wednesday 9th June 2004

At Sefton House, Runcorn

 

Present

A Bowen – North West Division Girlguiding, B Miller – Halton Crossroads, Anne Patchett – Kings Cross Project, Wendy Price - Pre-School Learning Alliance, Beth Edwards – Windmill Hill Residents Association, B Edwards - Windmill Hill Forum, Louise Tanner – Groundwork Mersey Valley, Grant Adern – Cheshire Police

 

In Attendance

K Parkes – HVA,  K Marcroft – LSP, Matt Atherton – LSP, Nick Calland – Kings Cross Project

 

General background

 

Karen Marcroft did not repeat the general background as this had been done in the W&E meeting.

 

Grant Adern explained that there are currently approximately 40 initiatives that the partnership are working on.  All these initiatives are new (in addition to mainstream activity) and would not have happened without the extra regeneration money.

 

Although the statistics show Cheshire to be the 2nd safest county in the country and Halton to be the safest in Cheshire, there is a fear of crime in the borough.  One of the initiatives is tackling this problem:

 

Blue Lamp – 50 additional officers (community support) have been employed and are now visible on the streets, reassuring the public.

 

Neighbourhood pride – This is a project being undertaken by Groundwork Mersey Valley and Kings Cross Project in the Stewards Ave, Kingsway and Dukesfield estates.  Two members of staff have been appointed and are working full time in these areas.  The aim is for the community to identify issues themselves and bring about the changes.  The project is running out of a mobile base in Kingsway, Kipley House in Stewards Ave and the Waterloo Centre in Dukesfield. 

 

Dukesfield – to install a ball court and to conduct a mural project with local year 5/6 students to address the graffiti problem.

 

Kingsway – create a community garden and a ball court

 

Stewards Ave – bicycle recycling project – engage children and young people in building and repairing bicycles

 

Grant explained that the task groups have been established to cover areas such as anti-social behaviour, youth, drugs and other topics and they are looking for volunteers from the voluntary/community sector to join these groups.

 

Questions

 

w         All PAD meetings are on Monday evenings.  It was explained that this excludes lots of people from attending who regularly run clubs/associations on Mondays.  Grant explained the reasons for choosing Mondays but confirmed that this is not cast in stone and could be changed.  He suggested writing to the relevant PAD area.

 

w         It was asked if a link could be created from Halton Watch to Halton Together website.  Kath will contact Dave Potts to arrange this.

 

w         Are the 3 estates chosen for Neighbourhood Pride council estates?  Two are but Dukesfield is mixed.

 

w         How were the estates chosen?  The partnership decided on the estates.  A discussion continued around the selection process and how individuals could feel alienated.  If we are to empower people and encourage involvement, the public should feel that they can influence decisions.

 

w         People do not know what work is being done.  How is this being addressed?  Grant explained that due to expense the partnership has not considered high level promotion before now.  He recognizes now the importance of this to encourage more involvement and the partnership is looking at possible tv advertising in local GP surgeries and other places.