What is Community Cohesion?

It is no secret that just having a roof over your head doesn’t always mean you have a nice environment to live in. There are many more factors which make a house a home: family, friends, local play areas, clean and tidy surroundings, good local facilities and community spirit.

We all know that tensions can sometimes arise from unemployment, discrimination, low levels of education, boredom, low self esteem, low incomes, poor housing, high crime or family breakdown.
But it is our aim to work in partnership with communities to overcome as many of these issues as possible and create positive places to live.

That’s why we have created a project called ‘Community Cohesion’ to make sure all our customers live in a place they are proud to call home.

What is Coastline doing?

Since the start of the Community Cohesion project in 2007, the team has worked in 11 different communities. Here are some examples of our work.

2007 Projects

Collins Parc (Stithians)
Residents of Collins Parc identified the need for a Residents Association, action for tackling rubbish dumping and vandalism, recycling facilities, and more established community groups.
Through the Community Cohesion project they now have recycling facilities, a village that offers an excellent play area, resource centre and a mass of community groups for the whole village to benefit.
To date, there has not been enough support for a Residents Association, but we will be happy to support any residents interested in setting up such a group in future.

Trenance Road (Camborne)
Residents of Trenance Road identified the need for a Residents Association, action for rubbish dumping and vandalism, targeting tenants with untidy gardens, more play facilities, and sleepers in communal areas.  They now have Access Control on the main entry and exit point, with a communal cleaning contract in place, regular litter picking, recycling bins, Residents Association, more involved customers and reduced vandalism.

Grenville Gardens (Troon)
Residents of Grenville Gardens identified the need for a Residents Association, recycling bins, tidying up of electric sub stations, action for poor parking and speeding around the estate, and action to tackle rent arrears.  They now have allotments, recycling bins, a freshly painted and tidy electric sub station, speed humps around the estate, lower rent arrears and the opportunity to be involved with the village groups.  There has not been enough support for a Residents Association, but Grenville is now a part of Troon Village Association and Pengegon Neighbourhood Office where funding will support some of the needs within the community.

Montague Avenue (Redruth)
Residents of Montague Avenue identified that shed doors in the area needed repairing or replacing, there were a high number of gardens not maintained, there was a need for more play facilities, action was needed to tackle residents parking on grass verges, rent arrears were high, and there was a lack of work opportunities.  They now have bollards to prevent parking on the grass, an enclosed play (football) area, partnership working with Cornwall Neighbourhoods 4 Change with job opportunities, shed doors repaired or replaced, and improved gardens through working with the Green Fingers Project. Rent arrears have also been reduced.

 

2008 Projects

Euny Close (Redruth)
Residents of Euny Close identified a lack of maintenance to hedging and foot paths, a need for bench replacements and a play area, Neighbourhood Inspection enforcement, a need for a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, a need for dog litter bins, and some road maintenance issues.  They now have good partnership communication with Cornwall Council, Police, Coastline and funding groups, a play area under construction (the fencing for which has already been erected thanks to a Coastline project grant).
There is also, a Neighbourhood Watch scheme with a very active Residents Association, and strong Neighbourhood Inspection enforcement.

Manor Road (Camborne)
Residents of Manor Road identified parking issues, rubbish dumping, untidy rear gardens, lack of a Residents Association and a need to upgrade the King George VI Memorial. They now have tidier properties with regular inspections to identify/rectify problems, a Residents Association (Camborne West RA) and work carried out on Memorial with planting and general tidying. There is now an action group to raise funds for a plaque on the Memorial.

Trenant (St Day)
Residents of Trenant identified inconsiderate parking by residents, dirty communal areas, a lack of notice boards and dog litter bins, lighting repairs needed, litter problems, unsightly electric sub station, a need for levelling of the playing field, benches in need of repair, a need for an intercom facility and overgrown brambles on footpaths.  They now have a Communal Cleaning Contract in place, lighting has been repaired and upgraded, litter bins are in place, the electrical sub-station has been painted, benches repaired, and brambles cleared. The intercom system contract is in negotiation for 2009/10, notice boards are awaiting planning permission and funding is being sought for the playing field levelling.

 

Other projects - starting now...

Park Bottom (Illogan)

Coronation Avenue (Illogan)

Wheal Rose/Matela (Porthleven)

Gibson Way/Bickford Crescent (Porthleven)

Community Partners

We are very grateful for the support of our community partners, which include:

Cornwall Council

Cornwall Cullet

The Sports and Arts Outreach Project

Local MPs

Local Resident Associations / community groups

Local businesses

The Police and Police Community Support Officers

Green Fingers (Redruth North Partnership)

CN4C

Cornwall Works

Community Assisted Projects

The Duchy College

Cornwall College

Community Energy Plus

The Combined Universities of Cornwall

If you would like more information, or would like to put your area forward for a Community Cohesion project please contact Jackie Thomson, Neighbourhood and Involvement Facilitator (jackie.thomson@coastlinehousing.co.uk)