Community Involvement Week 9-14 March
Monday 9 March marked the start of the Community Involvement Week for the My North Town regeneration Project. Residents directly affected and those in the surrounding community have been invited to a series of drop-in sessions at the North Town Base over the next six days. They will see a public exhibition of the Design Team’s initial thoughts for the area and residents will be asked to complete a questionnaire designed to record as many of their ideas and views as possible – what works on the estate, what concerns people have, security, design ideas etc. To encourage residents to return their questionnaire there is a prize draw which will be drawn on 17 March to win one of three £50 shopping vouchers.
Since the launch of My North Town Renewal Project just over a fortnight ago, First Wessex Housing Group has been very pleased with the initial response from residents, local community groups and other stakeholders in the area in support of the project.
Already the Association has had individual meetings with 103 affected residents, 147 further appointments have been made with only around 100 more affected residents yet to be contacted. Residents in Alma House have also started their individual meetings with First Wessex Housing Group. It is hoped that the individual meetings will be complete within the next four weeks.
A Community Stakeholders meeting also took place on 2 March where the Community Policing team, Councillors, local residents groups and community members were invited to participate in a direct question and answer session with members of First Wessex Housing Group, the Design Team and Rushmoor Borough Council. First Wessex Housing Group is committed to keeping as many people as possible involved and informed on the project so that the Design Team can gain direct feedback from many different sources.
Following the Community Involvement Week, a full analysis will then be made of the questionnaires and information collected from the individual meetings will also be fed into the design process.
Towards the end of April, the Design Team hope to be able to present the findings from the Community Involvement Week and other meetings back to the residents in the form of a Draft MasterPlan. There will also be a Community Design Day where residents of the estate, the wider community and community groups can study the Draft MasterPlan in detail and begin work on specific areas of their individual interest such as open spaces, facilities and security.
Residents are encouraged to come along to one of this week’s sessions which are detailed below. Everyone is welcome. They can join the session at any time and members of the Housing and Design Team will be on hand to explain the exhibition and take them through the questionnaire.
The Community Involvement Week is 9-14 March
At The North Town Community Base
Monday 9 March 12 noon – 3pm
Tuesday 10 March 1 pm-4 pm and 5 pm – 8 pm
Wednesday 11 March 9 am – 12 noon
Thursday 12 March 1 pm – 4 pm
Friday 13 March 9 am – 4 pm
Saturday 14 March 9 am – 12 noon
A Freephone Enquiry line has also been set up and the number is 0800 358 0459. Those residents who have not yet been in touch with First Wessex Housing Group are encouraged to do so at their earliest convenience. In addition there is a My North Town Renewal Project website www.mynorthtown.net for further information on the project.
