Action week cleans up Patchway estate
19 Mar 2008
A Patchway estate has undergone a spring clean as part of ongoing work to make the area a nicer place to live.
The area around Willow Close has experienced a range of problems in recent times including fly tipping, vandalism, drug use and other anti-social behaviour. But Merlin Housing Society has been working with residents and other organisations to improve the area and earlier this month teamed up with Avon and Somerset Police, South Gloucestershire Council, Patchway Town Council and SITA for a dedicated action week to clean up the estate.
Graffiti was scrubbed off walls, more than 30 shopping trolleys were removed, and a lorry provided by South Gloucestershire Council was filled with furniture such as beds, wardrobes, sofas and storage heaters which had been dumped round the estate.
As well as tidying up the area Merlin and the police held a joint street briefing to update residents on the work the two organisations are doing in the area.
Patchway area housing manager Tim Rennell said: “We were delighted with the interest in the street briefing. More than 30 people turned out and were really keen to find out what was happening in the area.
“The whole week went really well and I think we achieved a lot. We want to help the residents make Willow Close a better place to live and think that removing the rubbish, clearing graffiti and making the area look nicer will be the first step to achieving that.
“There is a real desire on the part of residents to improve the area and with everyone working together hopefully Willow Close can gain an improved reputation and provide its residents with pride in where they live.”
Avon and Somerset Police also used the week to roll out its adopt-a-block scheme at the flats. Under the scheme each block is designated its own Police Community Support Officer who residents can contact with any concerns. The scheme is designed to increase residents’ day-to-day contact with police and build closer relationships within the community.
PC Clare Ball, said: “The Patchway Neighbourhood team is delighted to have the support of our partners Merlin Housing Society and Patchway Town Council to make events like this happen. This makes such a difference to a community and will play a big part in helping us make the neighbourhood safer and stronger.
"The new Adopt-a-Block scheme is part of our ongoing efforts to get closer to the local community, making it easier for people to contact us with any issues and work together to find solution. I hope everyone in Willow Close will be happy to approach myself or PCSOs Andrew Pound or Thomas James."