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PACT Update – June 2002

Welcome

This Update covers news from the beginning of June to 9^th July. Due to staff holidays we will not be producing an Update for July and the next Update will be produced at the end of August to cover news taking place in the remainder of July and August. We hope that you enjoy reading this Update and have a good summer!

Hillfields Flats

Whitefriars Board have announced their intention to demolish eight of the twelve blocks of flats in Hillfields and refurbish the remaining ones. The blocks that are to remain and be refurbished are Hillfields House, Pioneer House, Douglas House and Paul Stacey House. These will be refurbished to a high standard aiming at achieving a thirty year life. Whitefriars are currently working on a Clearance Plan which will identify the key stages towards demolition, the sequencing of actions, timeframe etc. This will be published when it is completed. It is likely to take between 2 –3 years to implement the plan. Whitefriars will be consulting individually with tenants on their re-housing needs. Whitefriars have produced a briefing note for agencies working in Hillfields. This is available from the Area Co-ordination Office. 

Tenants of the flats are holding a public meeting on Thursday 11^th July at 6.00 p.m. at St. Peter’s Community Centre.

WATCH

The official opening of the WATCH ICT Learning Centre will take place on Friday 19^th July. The main speakers will be Jim Cunningham MP, Ursula Russell, Chair of the Learning and Skills Council, and Dave Sternberg, Head of Community Economic Development at the City Council. Following the early success of the ICT Centre WATCH is now negotiating to become a Learn Direct Centre, which will enable local people to gain access to a number of courses leading to qualifications. For information contact Bill Hall on 7655 0565.

WATCH has produced a new leaflet about the organisation and its services. Contact them on 7655 0565 for a copy.

Area Co-ordination

The City Council had a visit from the Audit Commission in June. The Council was the subject of a Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA). The inspectors chose to undertake a case study of Hillfields and spent several days visiting places and interviewing people in the neighbourhood. The formal report will be available at the end of July but informal comments suggest that our partnership work in Hillfields was well regarded.

We will be holding an important Neighbourhood Planning Event on Tuesday 10^th September. The event will be similar to the NRF “bean counting” event that we held in January. It will give local residents the opportunity to comment on the new Neighbourhood Plan for Hillfields and will also show local residents what is being done with the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and the Objective 2 Action Plan. We will also be giving local organisations the opportunity to showcase their services. All of this will be combined with lots of fun activities. To book a stall contact Jessica Pinson in the Area Co-ordination Office on 7622 5052.

NRF Decisions

A table showing the decisions made on NRF applications specific to Hillfields is included at the back of this Update. The figures should be treated with some caution, as these are being refined and renegotiated at the present time. There is more information about the NRF projects in Hillfields on the Hillfields website. 

Jobs and Training

During Hillfields Events week, WATCH invited a different employer to visit the centre each day. Employers included the NHS, McDonalds, Human Factors Limited, Coventry Sports Trust, Betterware, PC World, Excel Logistics and Capac Limited. Approximately 150 clients visited the centre each day during the week. The project is currently developing plans to set up a Jobshop in the Flats. WATCH’s Employment Outreach worker, Christina Austin, is currently doing outreach work with Norton House. In total 40 clients of the WATCH Centre gained employment in May.

Environment

WATCH Ltd. and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust have been successful in attracting £47,333 New Opportunities Fund “SEED” money for an “Interaction” project in Hillfields. The grant, which is payable over 2 years, will enable the development of the East Street ‘pocket park’ and also fund development work at Leigh Street Allotments. Carmelina Lazzara has been appointed as project worker and is based at WATCH. She can be contacted on 7655 0563.

The Freehold Street Residents Group has made considerable progress with its plans for the establishment of Weaver’s Green on Freehold Street. The group has secured £3500 from the Doorstep Green initiative and £30,000 from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. In August they will be applying for support from the Countryside Agency for a 3-year programme of creating and maintaining the green. There is a copy of a drawing and plan of the scheme on the Hillfields website. 

Neighbourhood Energy Action (NEA) has moved close to Hillfields. They have moved into the newly opened Energy House in Harnall Lane West. The address is:

The Energy House

22 Harnall Lane West

Coventry

CV1 4EZ

Tel 024 7655 9191

Fax 024 7652 0012

The Hillfields Environment Action Group has lodged an objection to the plan to fence off part of the Wellington Street Car Park as private parking for the staff of Harry Salt House. A meeting was held on 28^th June with staff from the Healthcare Trust and the planning officer to try to resolve differences.

Community Safety

Area Co-ordination has supported the shopkeepers in Stoney Stanton Road to make an application under the Home Office’s Capital Modernisation Fund to improve the security of shops on the street. If the application is successful, approximately 12 shops in the street will benefit from security improvements. For further information contact Karen Buttle on 7622 5028.

In a “blast from the past”, officers from the Hillfields Police Sector will be using bicycles to patrol in Hillfields. Inspector Steve Graham has explained that officers on bicycles are able to follow criminals in places that cars cannot drive. The bicycles were donated by Halfords.

The Hillfields Police Liaison Committee held its AGM on Monday 8^th July. Mike Parker was elected as Chairman, Pat Walsh as Vice Chair and Sylvia Wileman as Secretary. The group meets monthly on the second Monday of the month at St. Peter’s Community Centre and would welcome new members.

The Hillfields Neighbourhood Warden Project has exceeded all of its targets for 2001/2. The warden has patrolled 568 km of street, visited 434 local residents, given out 39 welcome packs, reported 1275 environmental and safety incidents and organised 112 supplementary cleaning services. NRF funding has now been secured to extend the project with a further 3 wardens patrolling the streets and a Team Leader to co-ordinate their work. The extended project will start in October and run for 18 months. It will enable more frequent patrolling of every street in Hillfields and patrols during the evening, as well as more pro-active work with local groups.

Events

Another successful Hillfields Events Week took place from 22^nd to 29^th June with a wide range of activities.

On Saturday 22^nd June we had Multi-cultural mask making. Hillfields Events Week joined forces with Positive Images and Refugee Week to brighten up the city centre. Hundreds of children took the opportunity to get to grips with wobbly eyes and lots of pipe cleaners to make small masks with Arts Exchange. All those people who took part also made a contribution to the giant African mask that decorated the Village Square on Gala Day.

Minorities of Europe held a Community Picnic on Sunday 23^rd June at Coombe Abbey Country Park. More than 30 people enjoyed good picnic food, conversation and played football in the park.

On Monday 24^th June we had a new event called “The Wheel Deal”. Following from National Bike Week the event gave the opportunity for people to have their cycles made safe for the summer. More than a dozen people took advantage of this free offer. Those who attended were offered free safety gear, a bicycle health check, bike property code marking and advice leaflets.

On Tuesday 25^th June WATCH put on a very successful Lottery Event at St. Peter’s Community Centre. Representatives from the Community Fund and the City Council’s Lottery Officer were on hand to talk to groups about what funding is available and to offer tips on completing Awards for All application forms. There were two information sessions - one in the afternoon and one in the early evening and a total of 36 people attended these sessions. Staff from the Community Fund were very impressed by the event and have agreed to support further similar events in the future.

About 30 older people attended the Older People’s Tea Party at City Farm on Wednesday 26^th June. There was a free lunch and entertainment from the Nostaligics.

Over 200 ladies attended the Ladies Asian Event held at St. Peter’s Community Centre on Friday 28^th June. After the food was eaten young and old hit the dance floor and danced the night away.

The Hillfields Gala Day, on Saturday 29^th June was a tremendous success. Lots of groups got involved doing stalls or activities on the day and many local performers came out to entertain. The weather was kind and thousands came out to support and enjoy the festivities. There was good coverage in the Coventry Evening Telegraph and some very positive feedback. A special thanks to Jessica Pinson and her team and to everyone else who helped plan and run the event.

St. Peter’s Community Centre held a Community Events and Information Day on 5^th July. Activities included a tea and cakes afternoon for older people, aerobics, live music, a Musical Instrument workshop, story telling by Lady Godiva and balloon modeling. There were also information and advice sessions throughout the day and a bouncy castle. Unfortunately this event was not very well attended.

Carnival Week in Hillfields was put together by the Hillfields Events Planning Group. The group is seeking to recruit new members who want to get involved in putting on multi-cultural events during the year in Hillfields. For more information contact Jessica Pinson at the Area Co-ordination Office on 7622 5052.

Forthcoming Events

There will be Music in Swanswell Park on Saturday 28^th July from 3.00 – 4.30 p.m. The City Parks Team have organised an event for Hillfields as part of a summer season of musical extravaganzas in parks around the city. There will be performances by the Meridians. This extremely popular band plays big band dance tunes.

Coventry Asian Arts and Multi-cultural Forum are organising a multi cultural dance and music event on the Village Square on Saturday 31^st August. There will be dance and music performances from around the World and lots to entertainment for the kids.

St. Peters Community Centre will be celebrating its first anniversary with an event on weekend of 14^th /15^th September. There will be more details in the next Update or contact Balraj Somal for more information on 7663 2877.

The Coventry Urban Ranger Service is putting on a full programme of events relating to the Coventry Canal between July and December. Events in Hillfields over the summer include:

·         Friday 19^th July – Curry by Candlelight from 7.00 – 10.00 p.m. on the Coventrian narrow boat, leaving from Swan Lane Wharf. The cost is £10.

·         Sunday 18^th August and Sunday 29^th September from 1.00 – 3.00 p.m. from Swan Lane Wharf.  Jazztastic Boat Trip. A lively cruise with the Mercia Dixie-land Band. £3.

·         Friday 27^th September - Curry on the Canal 7.00 – 10.00 p.m. from Swan Lane Wharf. £6.

·         Sunday 13^th October Wildlife Supermarket 11.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. from Swan Lane Wharf.  Join the “food for free” expert Ian Tanner on a wildlife discovery walk and cruise. £3.

Booking is essential for all of these activities.  To book a place or to receive a leaflet with the full programme, contact the Ranger Service on 7623 1306 

Health

Coventry Sports Trust has been successful in attracting £741,900 from the New Opportunities Fund for a “Healthy Living Centre” project. The grant will enable the partner organisations to deliver the Coventry Health Equality Leisure Plan (H.E.L.P), a programme designed to reduce the incidence of Coronary Heart Disease amongst vulnerable groups through the use of personalised lifestyle plans and club based physical activities. Residents of St. Michael’s Ward will benefit from the project. For more information contact Liz Cooper at the Sports Trust on 7625 2520.

The defibrillator campaign was boosted by £416 as result of the raffle, which was drawn by Councillor Nellist at Gala Day. Thanks to everyone who donated gifts or bought or sold tickets.

Housing

The Hillfields Housing Strategy Group has been analysing some of the data that has come out of the recently published 2002 House Conditions survey. The survey reveals that St. Michael’s Ward has the poorest housing conditions in the city. The Survey indicates that 17.9% of houses in St. Michael’s ward are unfit for human habitation. A further 19% are borderline unfit and 6.4% are in need of £2500 of repairs. The total cost of bringing the stock up to a good condition would be £28 million.

An interim review of Hillfields Homechoice has been issued. A copy of the review document is available to download from the Hillfields website. The report shows good progress with the scheme and a buoyant market in social housing in Hillfields. Work has now started on planning the roll out of the choice based letting scheme city-wide. A seminar was held on Friday 21^st June and further piloting will take place before a final decision is made.

Residents of Jacquard House organised a meeting with Whitefriars on Tuesday 25^th June to raise a number of concerns about the block. Cllr Windsor and the Area Co-ordinator attended the meeting and the residents are now considering whether to set up a Tenants Association. 

The Singer Residents Group are holding their AGM on Wednesday 7^th August at 6.30 p.m. at St. Peter’s Community Centre. A light buffet will be provided.

Early Years

Hillfields Early Years Centre has had an Artist in Residence over the past few months. The creative work of children and parents is to be displayed at the Herbert Art Gallery from 10^th – 17^th July at an exhibition entitled “I’ve Got Five Fingers”.  The exhibition is held jointly with “The Art of Craft” a display of Adult OCN work in conjunction with Arts Exchange. Why not drop down in during the week.

Children and Young People

The Playing for Success Partnership Centre at the City Football Ground was official opened by Cabinet Member George Duggins and Coventry FC Chairman Mike McGinnity on Friday 5^th July 2002. The Centre provides supplementary education with a football theme for children at risk of under-achieving. There are some photos of the opening ceremony on the Hillfields website.

Hillfields Young People’s Centre and its partners are organising a full programme of free summer activities for young people under the name of “Summer Lafta”. The programme runs for three weeks from 22^nd July to 9^th August. The programme includes sporting sport activities at Sidney Stringer CTC, music workshops, arts and crafts at Hillfields Young People’s Centre and trips out each Friday. For more information contact Sheila Bidmead on 7625 7031.

The Children and Family Education Service is putting on a programme of summer holiday activities for Primary School children across the Central District. Activities in Hillfields include play schemes at Hillfields Play Centre from 22^nd July to 1^st August. There will a general play scheme on weekdays mornings and a special programme for children from asylum seeker families in the afternoons. For a copy of the programme or more information contact Caroline Blockley on 7663 4647.

Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Refugee Week ran from 17^th – 23^rd June. A full programme of activities took place during the week in Hillfields, Foleshill and the City Centre. The week started with a launch event on Monday 17^th hosted by the Lord Mayor. This included the launch of “Home” poetry written by refugees. On Tuesday there was a wonderful opportunity to taste food from around the world at an event at St. Peter’s Community Centre. On Wednesday there was the final of a chess tournament at St. Peter’s and on Thursday a Multi-faith celebration at the Multi Faith Centre at Priory Row, although some people had difficulty finding the venue. The week culminated in a party on Saturday at St. Paul’s Church on Foleshill Road. This included fun, food, music and a great deal of creativity.

We had a good response to the request for the donation of radios for asylum seekers in the city.  Over the next couple of weeks we will be collecting up the radios donated. Coventry Sports Trust has kindly agreed to undertake electrical checks on the radios and Coventry Refugee Centre will be distributing them for us. Our thanks to everyone who donated a radio or supported the collection of them.

The updated “Myth busting leaflet” has now been published. It was launched by the Lord Mayor at a reception for refugees and asylum seekers held in the Council House at the start of Refugee Week. Copies of the leaflet are available from the Area Co-ordination Office and it can also be viewed on the Hillfields website.

The Coventry Refugee Centre were granted two of the three NRF bids they submitted and are therefore advertising for two new posts on 18-month contracts. The first is as an ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) co-ordinator. The post does not involve teaching ESOL but keeping information on all the courses across the city, identifying gaps in provision, encouraging asylum seekers and refugees to attend etc. The second is a co-ordinator for the Car Sense project. This project aims to help refugees with cars to be safe on the roads through helping them access lessons to enable them to pass their driving test and by creating the opportunity for those who are mechanics to mend cars to get them though the MOT, get insurance etc. It is an exciting challenge for someone with a sound knowledge of cars and a commitment to safety. They are also looking for people interested in being members of a Steering Group for the project. If you are able to help, contact Penny Walker at the Refugee Centre for more information on 7622 7254 or 07960 552040.

The Foleshill and Hillfields Asylum Seekers Co-ordinating Group has decided to “de-merge”. The group has been meeting since November 2001 but has found it difficult to engage local organisations in the Foleshill area. Separate meetings will now be held in the two communities with the possibility of re-combining the groups in the future. Contact the PACT Office if you would like to get involved in the Hillfields meetings or Area Co-ordination North if you would like to get involved in the Foleshill meetings.

The Coventry Evening Telegraph is running a series of features about the reality of asylum seekers during the week commencing 8^th July.

Publicity and Promotion

There were 2676 visitor sessions on the Hillfields website during June 2002. The average stay on the site was a remarkable 20 minutes. There have now been over 50,000 visits to the Hillfields website since it was established in its current form.

Area Forum

The Area Forum held a public meeting about land and planning issues in the Charterhouse area on 17^th June. The meeting was held in the new library of Blue Coat School and was attended by Planning Officer Lesley Wroe and Regeneration Manager Trevor Howard. Issues discussed included the loss of land needed for community facilities, the increase in the number of student houses in the neighbourhood and the problems of car parking. A note of the meeting has been prepared for the Area Forum and is available from the Area Co-ordination Office. 

The June meeting of the South Central Area Forum was cancelled due to the ill health of the Chair. The next meeting is due to take place on 26^th September and will receive the draft neighbourhood plans for Hillfields and Charterhouse.

Older People

As part of the City Council’s Older People’s Strategy the Citizens Advice Bureau has appointed a caseworker to develop an Attendance Allowance Take Up Campaign. Help is available for people over 65 who need help with personal care or supervision. The allowance is payable even if recipients have savings or own their own home. Balwant Nahal would welcome referrals from local agencies. She would also like to meet partners in the city to discuss joint working on the campaign. Contact her on 7622 3284.

New Deal 50+ is a programme aimed at people over 50 who have been claiming benefits for over 6 months. To find out more contact Chris Gibbons on 7681 5103 or Jittender Kaur on 7681 5114 at Cheylesmore Job Centre.

Employment Issues

The May Unemployment data has now been published. Information for St. Michael’s and Cheylesmore Wards is shown below. The unemployment rate in St. Michael’s Ward has improved significantly over the past three months but remains above the 10% Community Plan target.

Far Gosford Street

A public meeting about the future of Far Gosford Street took place at the Hertford Arms on Thursday 20^th June. At a very well attended meeting local residents and traders agreed about the need to work together to campaign for the renewal of the street. City Development Director John McGuigan attended the meeting and agreed to work with local groups to bring about improvements to this important part of the city’s heritage. A further public meeting has been arranged for Thursday 11^th July at 7.15 p.m. at the Hertford Arms.

Charterhouse

Following the success of last year’s event, the community in the Charterhouse area is again coming together to organise “Festival on the Fields”. The event is planned to be held on the Charterhouse Fields on Saturday 7^th September from 1p.m. – 4p.m. Charterhouse Residents are planning a fun event including music, food and stalls. If you would like to get involved contact Helen Wesson on 7688 2710.

Children

All Coventry Schoolchildren aged between 4 and 6 years are beneficiaries of NOF’s programme to reduce the burden of coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer through the provision of fresh fruit. The project was launched in Coventry on 19^th June at Frederick Bird School, and will see each child receiving a free piece of fruit each day over the next 3 years.

The Children and Family Education Service is putting on a programme of summer holiday activities for Primary School children across the Central District. Activities in the extended Area Co-ordination area are as follows:

·         Arts workshops at St. Anne and All Saints Church, from 29^th July – 7^th August on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1.30 – 3.30 p.m.

·         A holiday scheme at Cheylesmore Community Centre between 29^th July – 15^th August from Mondays to Thursdays from 10.00 a.m. until noon.

·         A holiday scheme at Whitley Abbey Primary School from 22^nd July to 8^th August from Mondays to Thursdays from 10.00 a.m. to noon.

All centres charge 30p per child or 60p per family for each session. For a copy of the full programme or more information contact Caroline Blockley on 7663 4647.

Volunteering

The city’s two Millennium Volunteers Schemes have now both finished. The Coventry University MV scheme, which included Area Co-ordination as one of the partners, is planned to continue in a different form with funding from the Higher Education Funding Council’s Active Communities Fund. The change in funding will allow all students and staff to get involved in accredited volunteering.  Corinne Gordon has been appointed as the Project Leader of the new scheme and can be contacted on 7657 1250.

Welcomes and Goodbyes

Our thanks and best wishes to Sandra Maudlin who has left City Farm with the end of National Lottery funding. Sandra sends her thanks to everyone she has worked with in Hillfields and we will miss her.

Welcome to Carmelina Lazzara who is employed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust based at the WATCH Centre. Carmelina will be working on the East Street Pocket Park and the Leigh Street allotments. To contact her please telephone 7655 0563.

Our thanks and best wishes go to Inspector Steve Graham who is leaving the Hillfields Police Sector in July after twenty months dedication and commitment to Hillfields and our partnership working. Steve will be moving to Force HQ at Lloyd House in Birmingham. His replacement will be Inspector Nick Clark and we look forward to working with him.

Another change at the Hillfields Police Sector is the departure of Sergeant Andy Bannister who is becoming a Detective Sergeant with the City Centre team. Our thanks go to Andy for his support of our work in Hillfields. In his place we welcome Sergeant Andy Houston who previously worked in the team covering the Canal Basin.

Our thanks and best wishes also go to Anne Cranston, Community Development Worker, who is leaving WATCH at the end of July to take up the post of Capacity Building Officer at Area Co-ordination South East.

Planning Applications

City Development Directorate produce a list of all planning applications received. The list is mailed weekly and is a good way of finding out about proposed developments in your area. If your community or residents group would like to be included on the mailing list please complete and return the form attached to this update. The list is available by post or by email. Please note that due to cost limitations this service is only available to community and voluntary groups (not private companies or individuals).

A leaflet about how you can comment on planning applications and the full details of all planning applications are available at City Development reception – call 7683 1212 for more details.

The following lists some of the key planning applications in Hillfields, Charterhouse and Cheylesmore Ward received in over the past month. It is not a comprehensive list. All planning applications can be inspected in the reception of the City Development Directorate, Tower Block, Much Park Street, during normal office hours.

·        46438/E Land at Mile Lane, Parkside Street and Quarryfield Lane. Construction of two four-storey apartment blocks.

·        L/21457/E 72 Far Gosford Street. Listed building consent for installation of security shutter and internal alterations.

·        21457/D 72 Far Gosford Street. Change of use from electrical wholesalers to hair dressing studio and installation of security shutters.

The following decisions have been made recently on significant planning applications:

·        30538/G Plot 1 Siskin Drive, Land between London Road, adjacent to A45/A46 roundabout, Siskin Drive. Whitehall Green Trading Ltd. Construction of 3-storey Hotel with access, car parking and landscaping. (Outline application – siting and means of access being discharged). Standard withdrawn letter (i.e. not approved).

·        43853/Y Jaguar Cars Ltd. Abbey Road. Single storey extension to extend existing mileage accumulations facility and increase in height/cladding of existing building. Approved with conditions.

·        25673/F Coventry University. Gosford Street. Five-storey link block between Armstrong Siddeley Building and Sir William Lyons Building. Approved with conditions.

·        28043/B 8 Adelaide Street. Change of use from shop and bakery to hot food takeaway (use class A3) and alterations to rear elevation on ground floor. Approved with conditions.

·        43838/A 1 Burlington Road. Accord Housing Association Ltd. Change of use from retail shop to single dwelling house with associated external alterations to building and new boundary treatment. Approved with conditions.

·        37043/C 98-101 Far Gosford Street. Coventry Cyrenians. Installation of anti-vandal screens to ground floor windows. Approved with conditions.

·        49964 116 Gosford Street. Demolition of single storey rear extension and erection of replacement single and two-storey rear extension to ground floor retail shop and first floor flat, rear external staircase and front dormer window. Approved with conditions.

·        AD/6687 Advertising Express Consent. Erection of 20 metre high monopole with 2 no 96 sheet “Tri-wonder” illuminated display panels together with 1 no 96 sheet  “Tri-wonder” illuminated display panel and 1 no 48 sheet “Tri-wonder” illuminated display panel. Advertising consent REFUSED.