Agbrigg & Belle Vue Community Association

The Neighbourhood Management pilot scheme, commenced in April 2007, will complete in April 2010. We have had over 60 main projects – that's one every two weeks so far, including some ongoing projects.

During the last 2½ years, more than 300 residents raised over 2,500 issues or concerns which were dealt with among 25 different partner agencies. Some residents comments are: “I love the banners they make the area look bright and cheerful” and “I noticed some empty cans on Regent Street today what I also noticed is that it's very obvious now the area is cleaner where as before I would not have noticed because all the streets looked messy” and “What are we going to do when you go, who will help us?” The editors view is that “Nothing has been more effective in improving the community for more people than Neighbourhood Management” – and this despite the great work done by the Community Association and others in the past. But what has been the cost? And what will be the future when the pilot scheme ends?

Here is a list of some of the significant projects undertaken with service providers in our area

• 2007
• March Deep Cleanse
• March Launch Event/ Family Fun Day
• April Household Survey Undertaken
• May Community Centre Hanging Baskets Planted
• May Community Information Day
• May Increased Bin Provision in Area
• June Small Grants Fund Introduced
• up to £1000 for community groups or projects
• June PCSO’s Log Book Set Up
• July Improvement to Wesley Street Play Area
• July Agbrigg Youth Club Started
• August Community Recycling Facility
• August Week of Action
• Sept Community Centre Car Park Signage
• Sept Recruitment of NMT Board Members
• Oct Anti Flyposting Project
• Nov Resurfacing of Montague Street Ginnel
• Nov Tree Trimming St. Catherine St/Maybush Road
• Nov Graffiti Removal - Lord Street Garage
• Nov Improvements to Community Centre Garden
• Nov Community Garden Development
• Nov Improvements to Agbrigg Park
• Nov Improvements to Wesley Street Park
• Nov Re-located Recycling Point
• Nov Community Celebration Event
• Nov Anti Dog Fouling Signs (pick up or pay up)
• Nov Dog Fouling Bags available at Community Centre
• Dec Dog Chipping Event
• Dec First Neighbourhood Management Board Meeting
• Jan 2008 Further Tree Trimming in St Catherine ginnel
• Jan White Line Painting – Agbrigg Road`
• Ongoing Voluntary/Unpaid Work with Probation Service
• March Support Transition to Fortnightly Collections
• March Improve Street Scene Agbrigg Road
• March Improve Street Scene Elm Tree St/Doncaster Rd
• March Sustainable Planting added to 12 planters around the area
• April Resurface Trinity St ginnel
• April Remove tree stump and resurface ginnel in Maybush Road
• April Resurface footpath in Agbrigg Park
• April Resurface ginnel in St Catherine Street
• April Partnership working with Environmental Health
• April Resurface ginnels in Elizabeth & Hudswell Street
• May Production and distribution of mini Blue Print
• July Week of Action
• July Improvements to Fencing in Catherine St ginnel
• Ongoing School Sport Work
• Ongoing School Holiday Sports Provision
• Sept Website Launched
• Ongoing Addressing Hot Spots
• Oct Big Tidy Up
• Oct School Arts Project
• Ongoing Joint Working with A & BV Community Assoc.
• Ongoing Relocate Zebra Crossing on Agbrigg Road
• 2009
• March Refurbish William Prince Grove Play Area
• April Community Art
• May Welcome Structures
• June Week of Action 2009
• July Summer Picnic
• November Doncaster Road/Dunbar Street Planting

The daily running of the scheme has cost around 8p per household in the area; so the question is: is it worth 8p/day for the benefits? Is it worth 8p per day to have the Neighbourhood Management Team in the Community Centre, so that residents can walk in at nearly any time and talk about community issues? Would you pay 8p per day (about 56p per week, less than £30 per year) to maintain this service?

Whether your answer is yes or no, let me know what you think: email editor@abv.org (or use the webform on our contacts page) or comment on our website www.abv.org.uk or write to me at:

Sam Liddicott (Chairman),
Neighbourhood Management Board
Agbrigg & Belle Vue Community Centre,
Montague Street, Wakefield

Now the pilot is ending, what will happen? The Neighbourhood Management Board will continue as part of the Agbrigg & Belle Vue Community Association, however the Neighbourhood Management Team will no longer be here – so as Eileen Worton explains, we need you to take a bigger role in your community as volunteers.