Our campaign to make Hexham Road a better place to live in took another step forward this week with the launch of the launch of the Council's estate improvement plan consultation. The consultation being carried out by the Council includes a range of questions about what issues residents think need to be tackled on the estate from improving the environment, to quality of housing and anti-social behaviour.
In accordance with Labour government policy, the Council in Reading has spent millions of pounds on improving the condition of the housing stock in Reading, including Hexham Road, to bring it up to Decent Homes standard. However, there is more to our neighbourhoods than bricks and mortar - the local environment of our estates must also be improved and crime reduced so people feel safe walking around. As I've said before, we need decent homes and decent communities!
This consultation which focusses on quality of life is at last recognition of this fact.
This afternoon, we went knocking on doors to encourage people to take part in the consultation and to listen to local people's views.
Loads of issues came up including concerns about road safety, lack of parking for residents, lack of facilities for young people and fear of crime. We have been pressing the Council to do something about parking issues on the estate for ages. It will be very useful if this issue comes up as part of the consultation process as it will help get the Council to acknowledge there is a problem.
A few days ago a young girl was knocked down and injured by a car travelling at speed down Hexham Road. The Post recently ran an article about this tragedy. We will be taking up this issue strongly with the Council and pressing for action to reduce speeding and improve road safety.
One of the most telling comments that came up as we went round was (from a resident living on Hadrians Walk West): "My family has lived in this house since 1967 and this is the first time the Council has ever asked me my view about the estate and what I would like to see improved". We believe strongly in community empowerment: working with people to improve our communities, doing things with people instead of to people.
This is just the beginning of the first real attempt by the Council to engage local people to find out what the issues on the estate are that need to be tackled. Whatever changes go forward as a result of this survey must have the support and consent of the community. In short they need to be in response to issues that local people have raised with the Council.
We will post regular updates about this process as it progresses.
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