Signing up for a clean, safe future

A RUBBISH and graffiti-strewn area that was once a hotspot for anti-social behaviour has been cleaned up.

The work in Hathershaw and Fitton Hill has been made possible through the New Deal for Communities’ neighbourhood agreements.

Reporter USMA RAJA went to meet an award-winning group who helped achieve this transformation.

RESIDENTS in Hathershaw and Fitton Hill have welcomed a wind of change thanks to the launch of three neighbourhood agreements.

The documents — Green and Clean, Peace and Quiet, and Home Sweet Home — are contracts between local residents and service providers pledging to make the area cleaner, greener and safer.

One team delivering the work on the ground is The Neighbourhood Team (TNT), made up of more than 50 members, including Sylvia Patterson (secretary), David Patterson (vice-chairman and chairman of Medlock Vale Area Committee) and Abid Jaweed (Chair).

The group, winners of the NDC Achievers’ Award, say figures reveal the vast improvements in the area since the agreements were launched.

Mr Jaweed explained: “The council do their side of the work and monitor events, the police does the same and we as a group also monitor progress.”

Mrs Patterson, said: “Residents at first used to be frightened to deal with fly-tipping and dog fouling issues, but now they have a document giving them help as to what to do in these circumstances. There’s definitely been an improvement in all areas and we are receiving positive feedback.

“The Colliers Arms Pub was a total disgrace, but we worked with the new owner and teamed up with Groundwork to clean it up.

“It has been transformed from an eyesore to a pleasant pub. The manager of the pub was the first to sign up to the retailers’ agreement, which made it her responsibility to keep the area clean.”

Mr Patterson highlighted a drop in vehicle and burglary crimes since the Peace and Quiet agreement was launched.

He said: “We feel there has been a reduction in these areas. If we go into a shop people will thank us for the work we’ve done. We are also looking at having street representatives so that people know who to contact.”

Maxine Moar, community participation co-ordinator, said: “Since the agreements have been formed more people have started to report dog fouling incidents.

“People are becoming more aware about what we do. They have said that the service has grown in the area and they feel safer. Some of the issues are still there but these agreements give solutions and ways of dealing with it, where as before they didn’t know what to do.

“The Home Sweet Home agreement contains information about the responsibility of a tenant and a landlord.”

Three more agreements are expected to be rolled out across Hathershaw and Fitton Hill over the next 12 months, with one dealing with community issues, and a further one , tackling health issues.


GREEN AND CLEAN

THE Green and Clean document was launched in February covering issues such as refuse and recycling, litter and dog fouling, fly-tipping, graffiti and abandoned vehicles.

According to council figures from March to August, 2008, 77 instances of fly-tipping were dealt with in the ward, and 16 abatement notices were served in respect of removing harmful waste from private land.

Thirty warning letters were sent to residents requiring them to remove rubbish from their land, and 56 incidents of fly-tipping were also investigated.


PEACE AND QUIET

THIS forms a written contract between agencies such as Greater Manchester Police, Trading Standards, the Community Safety Unit, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Services and residents.

Through this residents suffering at the hands of nuisance neighbours receive help to address their issues.

In the document, Greater Manchester Police promise to respond to calls for help where there is an immediate threat to life or serious risk of injury or damage to property as quickly as possible and certainly within 10 minutes.

Residents agree to report crime and anti-social behaviour in all circumstances that did not involve an immediate risk to life or property, and ask for a response time.

West Oldham area Police Inspector Alan Humphreys said: “This provides an understanding of what the community can expect from the police and other agencies — but also clearly states what the responsibilities of the community are.”

Since its launch, officers have answered 100 per cent of calls for help where there has been an immediate threat to life or serious risk of injury or damage to property within 10 minutes.


HOME SWEET HOME

The third agreement is Home Sweet Home. This outlines what residents should do and where to go if they are unhappy about where they live, and want to know more about their rights. It also asks residents questions about the role of their Registered Social Landlord and whether nuisance neighbours are a problem.

The agreement has been developed by agencies providing housing services in the Medlock Vale area, who are working together with The Neighbourhood Team (TNT) residents’ group.