EIGHT out of every 10 residents in an area once considered one of Warrington most deprived communities are now “satisfied” with it as a place to live.
In 2011, when an investment programme was launched in the Longford area, only six out of 10 residents said they were satisfied.
The remarkable turn-around has taken place since Golden Gates Housing Trust (GGHT) and its partners embarked on a five year programme designed to improve the quality of life for local residents.
The project aimed to “Close the Gap” between the area and more affluent parts of Warrington.
As well as improving the look and feel of the Longford area, the project also targeted high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour. Many residents were unwilling to report issues to either GGHT or the police so the minority of residents who were causing the problems were affecting the lives of the majority.
In consultation with residents, GGHT agreed to deliver a multi million pound investment programme including the replacement of the old “castle walls” and the installation of new driveways, dropped kerbs and security packages to GGHT homes.
The programme also included funding to transform the run down Densham Park into a community garden.
GGHT and its partners did not want to just invest in improvements to properties and green spaces but also recognised the need to tackle the minority of anti-social residents, improve employment opportunities and improve resident’s health and wellbeing.
To help address these issues they put in place more neighbourhood officers than ever before.
The officers use the latest digital technology, allowing them to spend more time in their specific patch and provide a visible presence to tenants and members of the community. It also allows them to spend more time supporting and safeguarding the Trust’s most vulnerable tenants and their families, helping them make an even bigger difference to their lives.
Additionally, GGHT part funded two Police Community Support Officers to give everyone the confidence that GGHT and its partners wanted to resolve many of the issues that affected Longford residents.
To measure progress GGHT have carried out four surveys over the last three years. In 2011 only 62 per cent of Longford residents were satisfied with their neighbourhood. This has risen each year to a high of 81 per cent at the end of 2014.
In 2011 only 37 per cent of residents felt safe when going out after dark. This rose to 69 per cent last year.
Across all the measures, resident satisfaction has improved significantly and police have seen crime and anti social behaviour reduce significantly.
GGHT’s head of inner neighbourhoods, James Bacon said. “The work we have done in Longford shows what can be done when partners work together in a focussed way to make real improvements to a neighbourhood. We are not naïve in thinking that all problems have been resolved but our resident survey shows that it is a very different place than it was in 2011. Some of the positive things we have done in Longford are now being implemented in other areas of Warrington.”
Cllr Kate Hannon, the borough council’s lead member for leisure, community and culture, said: “This is a great project as it has delivered real and tangible results for the people of Longford. To see a rise in satisfaction rates shows how important this is to people and highlights how important it is to be able to work in partnership and make changes within the community. It’s clear that by bringing in new resources such as the job club or improving the pavements we can make a real difference to people’s lives and make changes for the better.”
Pictured: From L to R: Cllr Kate Hannon, GGHT chief executive Peter Mercer, James Bacon, Longford Residents Association chairman Roy Humphries, Cllr Kerri Morris, Cllr Mike Hannon and GGHT neighbourhood manager Jane Lauchlan.
