What's Happening In Your Area?

Why has the area been chosen for development?

In recent years the Peel/Knowsley Road neighbourhood has began to suffer from issues associated with housing market decline. Although the area remains popular, issues such as anti-social behaviour, abandoned properties and crime have started to impact upon the lives of those that live here. It is for these reasons that Housing Market Renewal funding will be used to stop this decline before it becomes more serious.

What is happening?

Sefton Council recognises that in order to achieve long-term change, a robust and thoroughly researched strategy needs to be developed. In order to come up with this strategy, the Housing Market Renewal Team has be working with consultants and the local community in the development of a masterplan for the area. The next steps will be a public consultation which will take place in the early part of 2007, with the masterplan exercise expected to be complete by late spring 2007.

Neighbourhood Management

Each HMR area has been assigned a Registered Social Landlord (RSL) to manage the neighbourhood and provide advice, support and services for all whether they rent or own their property.

The RSL for the Peel/Knowsley area are Riverside and they are based at:

51 Merton Road
Bootle
L20 7AP
0151 955 6432

Living through Change

Whilst we await the final masterplan for the area, Riverside are still pursuing improvements within the Peel/Knowsley area, through a programme of 'living through change', which is funded by Housing Market Renewal. This aims to support people living in the area by making the environment as pleasant as possible. Initiatives in the Peel/Knowsley neighbourhood include:

• Handy person scheme - where residents can access a handy person to do odd jobs, for free. For more information contact Becky Henstock on 0151 920 2248.
• Clean and Safe team - a project to improve the environment by responding to requests from the community on issues such as graffiti, grot spots and fly tipping.
• Football coaching - a 10 week course delivered in partnership with Merseyside police, with coaches from Liverpool and Everton football clubs.

How long will it take?

Housing Market Renewal is a10-15 year programme. The target area covers most of south Sefton and presently resources are being focussed on the areas in most need. The Housing Market Renewal programme in Peel/Knowsley is designed to help address some of the issues being experienced by residents. Over the course of the Housing Market Renewal programme, we will work with partners to identify further resources to deliver the masterplan.

How will I be kept informed about what's happening?

Housing Market Renewal distribute a newsletter to every home in the area on a quarterly basis. The newsletter will keep you informed of what's happening in your area and can also be found in the library and local community centres.

Riverside produce quarterly newsletters and copies are delivered to all households in the neighbourhood.

What other improvements will I see?

Housing Market Renewal is about creating places where people want to live, where they have access to good transport, health facilities, good shops, a safe and clean environment and good community facilities.

The Housing Market Renewal team has been working with a range of services and organisations to make this happen. This has included funding projects such as:

• Reassurance Policing - This is a dedicated police officer for the Peel/Knowsley area.
• Environmental Hit Squad - Environmental and security initiative to improve the physical appearance of the neighbourhood.
  

There are also a range of community facilities available in the area.