North West Area Committee

With Councillor Albert Grant, Chair

The new Chairman of the North West Area Committee is Councillor Albert Grant (Whitehouse Ward). He replaces Councillor Chris Stewart (Whitton).

North West Area Update

Three Walkabouts took place in the North West area last year. They involved door knocking by the Councillors, armed with a short survey to ask local residents how they feel about the area they live in and if they have any issues. 143 people were engaged with and most were happy with where they lived and had no problems. The biggest issues raised were parking and speeding, which the police and Parking Services are looking in to.

The North West Area Committee has been allocated a budget and is currently looking at three projects. One is a Community Activity Project looking at providing a new play facility. This is at a very early stage in its development. Other projects involve developing new activities for people in the local area and helping to prevent people falling in to debt.

A week of action is being planned for early summer 2013 to highlight loan sharks and offering alternatives, such as Credit Union.

Each of these projects is being led by a local Councillor with support from council officers and partners.

At the North West Area Committee on January 22nd, a presentation was given on the Northern Fringe Consultation. The Police came along to discuss the three priorities and the crime in the area.

The committee has agreed to fund a request from residents for the provision of a grit bin including installation and full load of sand/salt mix at a cost of £225. They have also agreed to fund up to £1,810 from the planting of trees on the grass verge in June Avenue.

The Castle Hill Community Centre has started a trial run of a Pop Up Café. This will be open on Thursdays from 10.30am to 12.30pm. The idea came from some residents looking for somewhere to meet locally over a cuppa, which came from a discussion on Streetlife.com.

The Centre is for community use and has set up many interest groups including a popular Knit & Natter group and Live Well Suffolk are running a six-week course called Cook and Eat.

The Communities team have been along to support the venture together with some local Councillors.

For more information about Castle Hill Community Centre and the activities they offer please visit http://www.castlehillcommunitycentre.co.uk/welcome-to-castle-hill-community-centre/

The next North West Area Committee meeting takes place Thursday 16th May 2013, 19:00 at the Castle Hill Community Centre, Highfield Road, IP1 6DG. All welcome.

About the North West Area Committee

Further information, including access to the North West Area Committee papers, can be found on the Committee details page.