WS3 Matters Summer 2015 - Walsall - whg

KEEPING YOU UP-TO-DATE WITH BUILDING IN BLAKENALL
JULY 2015
MATTERS
Jim Brown, aged 18, has turned his life around after becoming an apprentice carpenter on the Waters Keep development.
For Jim’s full story and details of how you can take up an apprenticeship see page 11 of Round Your Way.
A BRIGHT NEW FUTURE Inside...
Improving
your
FOR BLAKENALL
environment
The diggers are on site and
work is now well underway on
our ambitious regeneration
scheme in Blakenall.
Your area will be totally transformed over
the next six years thanks to £87 million
of investment from whg and our building
partners. More than 700 homes for sale
and rent will be built in three phases to
breathe new life into your community.
Customers have already moved into 29
new homes off Turnstone Road (formerly
Shakespeare Crescent) and are settling
in well.
The second phase of 412 homes is now
being built by developer Keepmoat.
Work is progressing well and the first will
be let to customers by the Autumn. The
whole development is due to be finished
by March 2018.
We are also currently making plans for
another 300 homes on the site of the
former Goscote Estate.
As well as building great new homes, we
also want to build a stronger community.
We will be offering a wide range of
support if you want to get back into
employment, tackling fuel and child
poverty and running schemes to help
you improve your health and wellbeing.
Over the coming months we will also
improve your local environment to make
it a better place to live, work and play
in. We have already consulted with the
local community on plans for The Lea
and Swannies Field (see page 2 for more
details) and we will be continuing to work
with you to make sure you are happy
with what we are doing.
Carole Wildman Corporate Director –
Growth at whg said: “This is the biggest
regeneration project we have ever
undertaken and over the next six years
you will see your area transformed.”
Page 2
Have your
say!
Page 3
Becoming a
community
champion
Page 4
Community
noticeboard
Page 4
WE ARE RECRUITING COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS IN YOUR AREA SEE PAGE 4
You may recently have been
asked for your views on possible
improvements to Blakenall’s
open spaces including The Lea,
Swannies Field and the canal
towpath.
She said: “People are beginning to believe
that things are going to change. A large
number of residents wanted CCTV to
protect the area and keep it nice into the
future. We are currently looking at ways
to fund a CCTV programme and meet
residents’ wishes.”
Thanks to the Black Country Growth Deal
we have £1.5million to spend on improving
these areas over the next 12 months.
The most popular choices for Swannies
Field include a green gym, skate park, play
park, games area and new paths.
On the Lea, residents would like to see
new football pitches, benches, new paths,
fencing and flowers.
During April, Blakenall Community Action
Group (CAG) volunteers, whg Community
Champions, Councillors and other residents
talked to over 250 local people about
the planned improvements. A number of
choices were suggested and residents
were asked to score them.
Connie Jennings, whg’s Social Inclusion
Manager, said it was great to see the
passion that local people have for their
area.
On the new Waters Keep development, the
most popular choice was for a safe, secure
play park. Residents also asked for towpath
improvements, new access to the canal
and new fishing spots.
We would like to thank everyone who took
the time to complete the survey. A full report
is available if you are interested. Contact
the Regeneration Team on 0300 555 6666.
As part of the ongoing consultation
we are inviting CAG members and
other local residents to visit Castle
Vale, a large regenerated estate in
North Birmingham.
Castle Vale has a community park
in the heart of the estate which
has stayed in great condition over
the last 10 years, ensuring local
families benefit.
WE BELIEVE WE COULD
LEARN FROM THIS
SUCCESSFUL PROJECT.
If you would like to join us on this
free trip please contact Shazia
Parveen on 0300 555 6666.
We will provide transport and
refreshments.
SUMMER 2015 WS3 MATTERS 3
Have your say!
Do you want to have a say on the changes
that will be happening in Blakenall over
the coming years?
The group is made up of local residents,
councillors and representatives from whg
and Walsall Council.
If the answer is yes, then join our Community
Action Group (CAG) and make sure your
voice is heard!
It will meet every two months to give its
feedback on the latest developments and
plans as the regeneration work progresses.
Meet the Chair
Bob Thomas is Chair of the CAG. He grew
up in Hardy Road and lived there until he
was 21, when he moved to nearby Leamore.
He has worked voluntarily in the area for many
years and is currently a School Governor at
Edgar Stammers and a volunteer within the
FATL group.
He said he really wants local residents to get
involved in the group.
“We really don’t just want the usual faces in
this group - we want to make sure we are
representing everyone’s views to whg and the
developers.
“I know lots of people will think this kind of
group is not for them but it really is – this is
your community and the decisions that are
being taken now will affect your life and your
children’s lives well into the future.”
A wide range of people have already joined
but we want more whg customers of all
ages and from all backgrounds to make
sure the whole community is represented.
If you are interested, contact Connie
Jennings at whg on 0300 555 6666.
Meet the
Vice Chair
Stella Pettifer is a Blakenall
resident who works at the
Harden Road Community
Centre.
She said: “I got involved
with the Community Action
Group because I work with
the people who are going to
be affected by the changes
around here,
“I don’t want the community
to be left out or left behind by
the regeneration of the area
so I think it is really important
that if you are local you join
and have your say.”
Stella Pettifer and Bob Thomas
MAINTAINING YOUR COMMUNITY
Our Waters Keep development
will provide 412 great new
homes for sale and let by 2018.
Making sure the area stays in great
condition is a top priority for us and
whg will be taking responsibility for
maintaining the estate – whether you buy
or rent your home.
Anyone who buys a home at Waters
Keep will pay an annual estate charge
which will contribute to services including
grounds maintenance, cleaning and play
area maintenance.whg customers will of
course receive these services within their
rent.
Lyndon Parkes from whg said: “Waters
Keep is the single largest development
whg has undertaken and we are going
to deliver estate and neighbourhood
services that will benefit homeowners as
well as whg customers.
We are working with
community representatives
and local organisations
to make sure we find the
stewardship approach that
works best for both us and
local people.
“You should feel really confident that
we have a long-term commitment to
maintaining the area.”
The first homes at Waters Keep will be
available in Autumn of this year and
there will be a mixture of one bedroom
apartments and two, three and four
bedroom houses available during the
three year development programme.
We will be marketing the sale homes
over the coming months.
If you would like to rent a home
from whg, use our choose&move
service at www.whg.uk.com or call
0300 555 6666.
4 WS3 MATTERS SUMMER 2015
BECOMING A
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
JOB BOARD
gave me back my confidence
Goscote Community Champions x 2 posts
Fixed-term contract ending March 2016
Maximum of 24 hours per week.
Do you:
• Like talking to people?
• Want a varied working day?
• Enjoy being out and about?
• Live or have a strong connection to the WS3 area?
If the answer is yes and you have previous experience as a
volunteer, a carer or life experience which has required you to help
and support others, then a job as a Community Champion might
be for you.
We are looking for two new Community Champions to work in
Walsall, particularly the Blakenall area. You will be part of our
Employment and Training Team and will be involved in all activities
within the ongoing Goscote Regeneration Programme.
If you are:
• Flexible and able to respond to change
• Passionate about your community
• Able to work well in a team and use your own initiative
• Committed to undertake training to improve your skills
• Ready for a new challenge
Then we want to hear from you!
To apply for this job you don’t need formal qualifications but a
genuine willingness to help other people. For an informal chat
please contact Aaron Lawrence at whg on 0300 555 6666.
Katie Powell and son Liam
Katie Powell is a Community Champion in Blakenall.
She said: “I first got involved with whg when I took the
Regeneration Team’s ‘Be Who You Can Be course’. I had
four children, I had been living in a hostel and I hadn’t
worked in ten years so my confidence was at rock bottom.
“After I had taken the course I was offered a volunteer
position with the Community Champions and after nine
months I was a made a permanent, paid member of the
team.
“I was so nervous on my first day I cried but I was
supported every step of the way. I love working in my
local community and helping people – I have been in their
shoes, so I understand the challenges people are facing.
“It feels good to be making a positive difference to the
area my children will grow up in.”
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Blakenall Community Centre
Ryecroft Community Hub
Ryecroft Hub was set up in 2000 to offer
a range of support to the community.
It now hosts groups including Walsall
Coronets Marching Band, Satori mixed
martial arts, church groups, fostering
care groups, training organisations and
boxing and wellbeing clubs.
Address
28 and 40 New Forest Road
Walsall, West Midlands
WS3 1TR
Tel: 01922 234 080
The centre provides general community facilities,
sports facilities and youth activities for local people.
Address
Blakenall Row, Blakenall, WS3 1LW
Tel: 07590 463 453
Harden R oad
Community
Centre
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Goscote
Tel: 0759
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Stan Ball Centre
Electric Palace
The Centre provides training, support and leisure
activities for young people.
Address
Elmore Row, Bloxwich, WS3 2HR
Tel: 01922 477 499
A centre for older adults which
offers day care, recreational and
physical activities and room hire.
Address
Stan Ball Centre, Abbotts Street
Bloxwich, Walsall
WS3 3AZ
Tel: 01922 403351