Wirral TV to make programme(s) about St Cath's Development

A working group of local residents in Tranmere and Rock Ferry together with staff from NHS Wirral are working with Wirral TV to commission a series of short films about the redevelopment of St Catherine's Hospital site.  Plans are still developing but at the moment the current thinking is to have short films produced – maybe in 3 parts - to cover the demolition phase; the interim phase and the completed project. This would enable the public to see each element at specific times throughout the development period.  All 3 parts can then go onto a dvd at the end.  Here are some of the first thoughts on content for these ideas but the working group members would love to hear from local residents and NHS users with other ideas.

First stage/pre and post demolition phase
St Catherine’s as it is now and to capture the start of the building process, to introduce the public to the contractors, the apprentices, design team etc. Wirral TV will interview members of:

• Birkenhead History Society,
• Chair & members of St Catherine’s Resident working group,
• PCT pre-selected interviewees (limited to 2/3 people)
• a rep from NHS Wirral who can explain the plans for redevelopment and the patient need for the redevelopment (Dr Mantgani).

The objective is to clearly demonstrate to everyone how the project is developing as well as why.

Second stage
Capturing particular stages in the development and initiatives such as Tranmere Show, snippets of arts/photography/history initiatives (to be confirmed).

Final stage
On completion of the build, Wirral TV will capture the new facilities, carry out some vox pops with local residents, interview those interviewed in the first film (see above).

So, what do you think?
You can make comments here or email responses to jameslkay@ntlworld.com who will pass them on.

Wirral MIND have an article with memories of St Caths at http://wmindarticles.blogspot.com/2007/06/memories-of-st-catherines-hospital.html

New draft terms for Together Living Environmnet Group

These draft terms of reference will be considered by this together group at their next meeting.

Draft terms of reference – Living Environment Thematic Group

Background
The group has been operating for over four years and has some notable achievements:

• Introduction of the NET team and sustaining environmental improvement in the area
• Reconfiguring the Wardens Service
• Sustaining resident involvement within the group
• Parks improvement and development
• Securing the Green Together lottery programme
• Delivering the Graffiti service across Wirral

 With the recent merger of LCT, next year’s closure of Neighbourhood Management Funding and in view of the work already carried out the focus of the group and future role needs to be clarified. In addition the development of Environmental Services as part of the business stream within the current plans for LCT removes some of the emphasis on previous key work areas from the group (this is now business development rather than ‘Neighbourhood Management’ ). The group have expressed the view that there remains a fundamental need to provide a level of input of environmental services in the area in order to sustain or respond to local needs. This has also been expressed at board level and has been factored into Environmental Services plans for LCT.

 Terms of reference – items/role:  The following items have been proposed as key terms of reference for the group.  

• A resident and partner forum monitoring ‘the state of the environment’ and so informing and referring wider issues affecting Tranmere and Rock Ferry to service providers, the board and others
• To continue as a partnership which includes all relevant service providers (chiefly social landlords and Streetscene service)
• To act as a supporter and critical friend to mainstream services regarding service delivery, performance and future plans
• The group will report to the LCT board as required to do so, and also advise the board on any emerging or significant environmental issues.
• The group should identify and pursue opportunities for funding where they may benefit either the company and/or the quality of the local environment.
• The group may be tasked to investigate and /or develop ideas or initiatives by the LCT board or its executives.

  

Following discussion, amendment and comment by the group, a complete terms of reference will be drawn up and circulated for agreement by the ahead of the next LETG meeting

 

 

Check out Church Road NRC on Twitter

Tranmere's Neighbourhood Resource Centre on Church Road now has its own Twitter account.  Find it at http://twitter.com/churchroadnrc

You can tweet to the NRC, check out its tweets and see who it is following (other Twitter sites) on the Wirral.

The next edition of the Together News

Can you please send any articles for the next edition of the Together News. The deadline for submission of articles is Friday May 7th.
Many Thanks,
Kim Harvey
Neighbourhood Information Officer
Lairdside Communities Together (LCT)
Royal Standard House,

334 New Chester Road,
Birkenhead,
Wirral,
CH42 1LE
Tel: 0151 644 4830
Fax: 0151 643 9445

The International Journal of Neighbourhood Renewal

May and June Training Sessions in London / Belfast and Manchester

Holden Publishing publish the Journals of Neighbourhood Renewal and Culture & Urban Development and we are launching a dedicated training programme for practitioners in these fields. Training sessions in 2010 are to be held across a range of UK locations on the following topics:

(a) How to effectively evaluate neighbourhood renewal and sustainable communities projects and programmes – please visit http://www.neighbourhoodjournal.com/page_1255424228058.html
 for further details.

(b) How to appraise neighbourhood and sustainable communities projects – please visit http://www.neighbourhoodjournal.com/page_1255424240689.html
 for further details.

(c) How to develop effective programme management systems for neighbourhood renewal and sustainable communities programmes – please visit http://www.neighbourhoodjournal.com/page_1255424252071.html
 for further details.

At these day long events a range of practitioners and trainers will give useful advice on the subject at hand. The day will start at 9.15 and finish at 16.15. Lunch will be provided to all attendees. In order to ensure that the events are not too crowded the sessions are limited to the first 50 people.

The cost per person for sessions is £150 plus VAT. All attendees receive a full training pack to support the training provided on the day. If you wish to attend any of these events, please just email neighbourhoodjournal@googlemail.com and we will make the necessary arrangements.

HMR update

Just (1.00 pm on Thursday 8th April 2010) been to a meeting of the group that brings together resident's representatives and Wirral Council employees around the Housing Market Renewal (HMR) programme in Tranmere. Minutes will follow - here are some of the key points raised.

Shops
The commercial development on the former Abakan site is now underway. All the legal agreements have been signed and the developer (Lovell) are now clearing the Japanese Knotweed infestation on the site before laying power cables to and from the substation they will arrange to be built on the site.

They will then need the next nine months to complete this site. At the end of this process there will be one biggish local supermarket - about the size of the Co-op now on Church Road - probably it wuill be the Co-op -and another six or seven smaller shop units. There are detailed plans for this on view at the Tranmere Neighbourhood Resource Centre.

St Cath's Car Park Extension
Titan's Gym - former site - will now be used as part of the development of the St Cath's site by their site developers. The site will be handed over by the Council for the works to get the car park established on the 19th of April 2010. The wall between the existing St Cath's car park and the former Gym site will be opened up so that there should be no new traffic on Church Road because of this use.

Local jobs for local workers
After interventions by local residents there is to be a meeting on the 20th of April at Royal Standard House for over 100 local builders to explore opportunities for local workers to be involved in the HMR and St Cath's site developments.

Whitford Road
56 two or three bedroomed houses to be built by Lovell for private owners - 32 are direct sale in the open market and the other 24 will have a 30% investment using Government Homebuy Direct funds meaning owners only need to find the other 70%. These houses should be completed by December 2010.

It is likely that Lovell will monitor sales of these and if they go well - use this as evidence to justify building the later phases of the Church Road developments.

Demolitions
The block of 21, 23, 28, 36 Church Road (with "Yvonnes" - the former pound shop) is to come down next as will Merrimans at the back of Seymour Street. The disconnection of power and water services will come first then demolition - probably over the next three months.

More minutes to follow later.