A few weeks ago I posted about concerns I was hearing from local residents that Hexham Road estate was not getting sufficient attention from RBC. Historically, the Labour-run Council has shamefully neglected this area and allowed it to become run-down. Residents have repaid Reading's Labour bosses by electing three hardworking Lib Dem councillors.
Over the past couple of years we've spent a lot of time highlighting issues of concern to the Council brought to our attention by local residents living on the estate, including problems with alley gate security; mini-motos around the estate, flytipping and graffiti vandalism.
I'm pleased to say our regular dialogue with senior officers from RBC's Housing department is paying off in getting a greater focus on the need to improve quality of life for residents living on the estate, beyond the bricks and mortar stuff. The fact that at a Hexham Road Improvement Plan now exists is fantastic.
Following our meeting earlier in the month about parking problems on the estate, highways officers have been to visit the area and identified places where potential additional parking bays can be added.
This evening I discussed with officers draft plans to consult all local residents living on the estate this autumn about what improvements they would like to see in their neighourhood. This consultation will be followed by a process of collating comments from residents, working out local priorities and identifying areas where real improvements can be made, both internally to flat blocks, as well as to the external environment.
It's good to see the Council consulting residents at a neighbourhood level like this rather than making assumptions about what people want in a particular area. As part of our regular campaigning, we carry out annual residents surveys of residents in the ward to ensure we find out what local people are concerned about and what action they would like to see happening.
I am very excited about the potential of this project to improve the quality of life for local people and am hopeful that residents of Hexham Road estate will finally get to see some real change, after years of neglect by Labour.
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