HMRI Consultation Minutes

Church Road Residents Consultation Planning Meeting
Royal Standard House - Wednesday 4th October 2006

Present:

Hazel Roberts UCG / Together - Chair
James Kay TRACE
Ann Keggin Tranmere Community Project
Rob Walsh Together
Bruce Lister Lovell
Steph Reid Tranmere Alliance
James Hurley Wirral MBC
John Steele Together
Terry Neill Whitfield St Residents Association
Andrew Wilson Whitfield St Residents Association
Janet Monday Whitfield St Residents Association
Pat Hynes Whitfield St Residents Association
Cllr Phil Davies Wirral MBC
Chris Bowen Wirral MBC
Emma Foley Wirral MBC

Apologies:

Graham Williamson - Together



Matters Arising from previous minutes

JK asked if there was any further response to the CABE feedback. BL said it was the collective view of the project team that the proposals for Church Road were fairly robust and that there was no need to amend the plans significantly in light of the CABE feedback. He said that Lovell did not foresee any major problems with the planning application.

BL said that an outline planning application is likely to be submitted in October, with detailed planning applications likely to be determined by March. Lovell are still hoping to be on site in spring 2007.

SR asked whether the parking standards would be consistent with the emerging Local Development Framework (LDF). BL said that representatives from the planning department had been involved in the development of the design to ensure synergy with local and national planning guidance.

JK asked if there was any news on improvement grants for properties within the original NRA area which are now to be retained. EF said that the Grants team were finalising some of he detail of the grant scheme with the Council’s Legal Services, but if all went well, the Home Improvement Team would be looking to send out a letter and visit all potential applicants before Christmas 2006.

JH has drafted a letter advising all businesses in Church Road who had been affected by the traffic lights that they may have grounds to appeal. He will send the letter out shortly with the appropriate contact details.


Development Update

BL said that Lovell had now received an underwriting letter from the council, which gave them the necessary assurances to proceed while the legal agreement is being finalised.

BL said that a planning application is likely to be submitted at the end of October.

An important next step will be a scoping meeting between the retail developers Atmore and the Council which is BL will organise as soon as possible.

HMRI Programme

CB said that the acquisitions were progressing very quickly with many acquisitions already lined up for the new financial year in April 2007. In the meantime the Council have had to prioritise acquisitions to those, which are needed for the first phase of development in Fiveways and Church Road. This has meant that some owners may have to wait until 1st April to complete the sale of their property to the Council.

This slow down may be short term if the Council is able to find funding from other sources including the NWDA, NewHeartlands or the Council releasing some of next years funding early.

Wirral’s HMRI Team have a new Marketing and Communications Manager, Nicky Rigby who’s role is to publicise and promote NewHeartlands funded schemes in the Wirral and to make sure that Tranmere and Rock Ferry are marketed as places where people chose to come and live. Nicky will be invited to the next meeting to explain about her role further.

HR asked if there was any further news about what shops would be going into the new development. BL said that they would like to offer as many of the existing successful businesses a place the new development including the Co-op which would be an ideal anchor store. Detailed discussions with businesses are scheduled for the next few months.

TN asked if we have any idea of the cost of the new units. BL said that the design work needs to be progressed further before detailed figures can be worked out. There is the potential for some of the units to be customised for individual businesses so the individual cost of units may vary depending on requirements.

CB described the first phase of the new housing development, which would be on site in the Spring. This includes Lovell’s developments on the Whitford Road and Hillside Court sites which is all open market housing and a scheme by Venture and Family Housing on the now cleared Leighton Road / Thompson Street site which will include ten, three bedroom family houses and four two bedroom bungalows for rent.

Audit Inspection

CB reported on the recent Audit Commission Inspection of the HMRI Programme in Tranmere and thanked the residents who took part in the focus group with the inspector Tony Earnshaw.

The feedback was good with no recommendations, although there are comments in the report which will be taken on board with a view to continually improving the service offered to local residents.


30 – 32 Seymour Street

EF gave an update on the two properties, which are piloting the new Perspex boards after a resident request that the tin sheets were preventing him from selling his property.
Steve Eaves from the Empty Property Team will be looking after these properties in the short term.

Long term, it is proposed that a Housing Association renovates them to let as large family units. One housing association has expressed an interest in renovating them. EF to report back when there is further news.


Youth Provision

RW had expected discussions with local community groups and service providers to have been further progressed, but he offered to report back at the next meeting.

Together have recently appointed a Youth Co-ordinator, Margaret, to engage with young people.

RW reminded the group that the Youth Advocates were now in post for Tranmere. CB mentioned a successful schools project which he had been involved in at Wallasey High school for Girls which he would like to replicate in Tranmere / Rock Ferry. It would be an ideal project for the Youth Advocates to get involved with.

Tranmere Parks

PD reported on the recent meetings regarding the two Tranmere parks, which has focused on community safety and anti-social behaviour issues. Options currently include CCTV, an alcohol ban in the parks and a clamp down on local off-licences and a Section 30 Order. Residents have requested a further public meeting towards the end of the year. HR asked for invites to be extended to Seymour Street residents.

It is also hoped that long term improvements to the infrastructure of the parks will be brought forward subject to funding becoming available.

In the meantime the HMRI team have recently consulted residents on a lighting scheme for Mersey Park which will be installed by the Parks and Countryside Service in the new year.

It was agreed that parks improvements would complement the new housing in the Church Road Regeneration area.

AOB

JS asked if there was anything that could be done about the weeds in Seymour Street. EF to refer to the Environmental Wardens

JH gave an update on 42 Church Road. He explained that the hoardings had gone up because kids were climbing on the scaffolding. He was hopeful that building control powers could be used to repair the damage to the buildings so that the scaffolding could be taken down. JH to report the fault with the traffic lights and to circulate a direct number for reporting faults in future.


JK suggested that a notice board be provided for residents. EF said that NR was looking into it. He asked about advertising / displaying information via the hoardings around Tranmere. EF said that this had been explored by NR but it had proved to be too expensive.

PH said that a Council street cleanser was actually walking past dropped litter and failing to pick it up. PD to report to Streetscene.

RW requested articles for the next Together newsletter. The deadline will be 6-8 weeks.

RW reported that Together will be piloting the re-opening of the Together office on Church Road for limited times during the week (Wed, Thurs and Fri 1-4pm). A member of the HMRI Team will be available between 1-4pm every Wednesday until further notice.

The Bag a Bargain Scheme will start on Tuesday next week

BL said that site investigations will be starting on three sites in Tranmere next month.

The Art Regeneration Project will be launched at the former Hutton’s Off Licence at 35/37 Church Road on 19th October @ 6.15pm

Date of Next Meeting
2.00pm Wednesday 8th November 2006 - Royal Standard House