Environment
At Community Counts, we realise how important it is that residents feel good about their local area. We understand the need to deliver street care services and develop good quality open spaces that help create a cleaner, greener, safer environment. We also realise the importance of involving local people in the decision making process and providing 'joined-up' services that, working together, can really make a difference.
Key Priorities 2008 - 2009
Here are some of our priorities for the coming 12 months...
- Continue to support the Street Rep scheme
- Development of Parry Field
- Enforcement project to raise the profile of enviro-crime, specifically street littering
- Communication campaign to raise awareness of the work happening in the neighbourhood
- St James Park Management Plan
- Development of a safe, clean, green charter pilot
Parry Field Gets a Makeover
There is some good news for residents living in Parry! In the next few months they'll be seeing some radical new developments taking place in the field, from brand new play equipment and facilities for children and young people, to new seating and lighting. The makeover is part of a massive four-part project involving residents, several local organisations and agencies.
Firstly, there will be a new play area. Consultation began last summer with local families and residents being asked for their views on where the new play area should be and what it should contain. Community Counts are now working with schools, children's centres and residents to put together an outline of what the play area will look like and where in the field it will go.
The second part of the developments in Parry Field involves improved facilities for young people. A consultant has worked with young people in the area and the two favourite options considered are a multi-use games area and a youth shelter.
Community Counts is also making a financial contribution towards the cost of bringing other facilities up to scratch, such as installing new lighting and repairing boundary fences. The final part of the developments in Parry Field will involve activities and events for young people, which will be overseen by Parry Youth Activities Group.
If all goes to plan, installation of the new equipment will hopefully start this summer.
St James Park: Now and in the Future
The refurbishment of St James Park was completed in 2006 and its improvements are now enjoyed by many local residents.
Do you use St James Park? Do you have ideas about how the Park could be used? Community Counts are now working with Gloucester City Council, local community groups and local residents to produce a 5-year Park Management Plan. The aim of this work is to ensure that local people are both informing and involved with what's happening in the Park in the future to ensure it continues the good progress achieved over the past 2 years.
In preparation for the Park Management Plan, throughout November and December 2007 five short term working groups focused on the following themes: children & young people, safety & security, events & usage, maintenance, and environment & 'things'. These groups looked in more detail at these issues in relation to the park and their ideas will feed into the Park Management Plan, which should be finished early in 2008. Watch this space!
Street Reps keep an eye on their street!
Do you like to see your street looking clean and tidy? Do you have a few hours to spare every month? If so, think about becoming a Street Rep!
Street Reps are the eyes and ears of their street and one of their key roles is to report any work that needs doing in the street to the Street Care Team, for example, litter or graffiti that needs removing.
The Street Rep scheme has been running for a couple of years and there are currently over 20 Street Reps in Barton, Tredworth and White City.
In addition to reporting for their street, Street Reps can be involved in monitoring the cleanliness of their street and have an opportunity to join the Street Care Steering Group. This group of residents meet every other month with representatives from Gloucester City Council and Enterprise (the Street Care company) to oversee the work of the Street Care Team.