Derbyshire estate walkabouts

Belper

• Meeting where and when: Car park on Rookery Close, Belper, DE56 0LD.
• What streets: Rookery Close and around this area.
• We last did a walkabout here on 18 October. We’ll be adding more walkabouts in the future, so please check back again for new dates or click here to send us your feedback and thoughts about where you live now.

What happened

We found this area to be clean and tidy, and there was nothing we needed to raise. We'll still return to this area regularly in case there's anything we can help with.

Codnor

• Meeting where and when: Highfields community centre, DE5 9SB. 19 November at 10am -12pm.
• What streets: Field Street, Highfields, Thomson Walk, Jessop Street.
• We last did a walkabout here on 4 July 2024. Read how it went below.

What happened

Customers were concerned about the communal car park and who's using it and how people were parking. To resolve this we've ordered some signs to ensure it's clear who the car park is for and we'll also be marking out clear parking bays too. We'll update here again to show you the changes when this has been completed.

Gladstone Avenue

• Meeting where and when: Gladstone Avenue community centre, DE75 7PU. 
• What streets: Gladstone Avenue, Lowlands Lea, Bearle Ave.
• We last did a walkabout here on 16 August 2024. We’ll be adding more walkabouts in the future, so please check back again for new dates or click here to send us your feedback and thoughts about where you live now.

What happened

We’ve had lots of engagement from the local community in this area. They wanted to increase the use of the community centre and make it a hub for the community to come together, so we've supported them to make this happen. The inside of the centre has had a re-fresh, and outside there's now a new bench and raised beds and planters, making it a much more inviting space. It's been great to see the community centre now being used as a space for people to come together, with regular events including coffee mornings, craft fairs, bus trips and more. We have seen friendships form, and a reduction in people feeling isolated. 

If you'd like to join the community group, they meet every Tuesday at Gladstone Avenue community centre. Check out their Facebook page 'Maggies den community group' for all their latest updates, as they often host other events at the centre, including meal nights and trips out.

Park Court

• Meeting where and when: Park Court community centre, DE75 7DS. 16 August 2024 at 11am.
• What streets: Park Court.
• We last did a walkabout here on 16 August 2024. We’ll be adding more walkabouts in the future, so please check back again for new dates or click here to send us your feedback and thoughts about where you live now.

What happened

Lots of people came along to this walkabout which was great to see, including the local policing team and volunteers from the community. The volunteers had planted lots of colourful flowers in the walled raised beds and areas at the front of their homes.

There was a wide range of issues found here, including grounds maintenance issues, uneven footpaths and deteriorating walls. We've raised all of them to the relevant teams and we'll be back to visit again to make sure everything has been sorted.

Holme Close

• Meeting where and when: Holme Close flats car park, DE4 5BE. 
• What streets: Holme Close and surrounding areas.
• We last did a walkabout here on 10 September. We’ll be adding more walkabouts in the future, so please check back again for new dates or click here to send us your feedback and thoughts about where you live now.

What happened

Customers raised issues with the communal green areas. We're working with our grounds maintenance team to survey the area and produce a plan of works to improve it. We'll be in touch with customers to update them on the proposed improvements.

King William Centre

• Meeting where and when: King William centre. 
• What streets: Adelaide Walk, Openacre, King William Street, Regent Court, Waterside and Deepdale.
• We last did a walkabout here on 25 July. We’ll be adding more walkabouts in the future, so please check back again for new dates or click here to send us your feedback and thoughts about where you live now.

What happened

We're now planning to create a community garden on the small, grassed area in the middle of King William Centre, in front of the old pantry. As an outcome of the doorstep surveys on the last walkabout, the feedback from residents was that they’d like a community garden to be built, including some raised flower beds and vegetable plots, and to also improve the current seating area. We're aiming to start the works during October half term, so more details will follow!

Bown Close

• Meeting where and when: Bown Close, DE56 0NJ. 
• What streets: Bown Close flats and communal spaces.
• We last did a walkabout here on 4 July. We’ll be adding more walkabouts in the future, so please check back again for new dates or click here to send us your feedback and thoughts about where you live now.

What happened

Overall the area was in good condition, however we found some of the communal signs were out of date. We've ordered new signs and will return once they've been installed.

Lovatt Drive picnic and litter picks

At one of our recent walkabouts we spoke with customers about various issues, including littering, anti-social behaviour involving young people, abandoned vehicles (which we reported and have since been removed) and their desire to get to know more neighbours and grow their community.

To support with their concerns about antisocial behaviour and littering, we held 'picnic and litter pick' events and were joined by Derbyshire Police, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service, Derby County Community Trust and Sporting Communities, to all work together to signpost and work with the young people to deter them from ASB.

Look out for more opportunities to join estate walkabouts and other events in Langley Mill! 

Booth Street

• Meeting where and when: Outside Booth Street flats, DE5 3DP.
• What streets: Booth Street.
• We last did a walkabout here on 12 July. We’ll be adding more walkabouts in the future, so please check back again for new dates or click here to send us your feedback and thoughts about where you live now.

What happened

We found the door entry system wasn't working properly and the rear door lock was also faulty, so both of these have now been repaired. Customers told us they felt the communal areas were looking a little tired and in need of freshening up, so we've put in a request with our decorating team to help with this.

Oak Tree Close

• Meeting where and when: Oak Tree Close, DE5 3WH.
• What streets: Oak Tree Close.
• We last did a walkabout here on 28 June. We’ll be adding more walkabouts in the future, so please check back again for new dates or click here to send us your feedback and thoughts about where you live now.

What happened

Most residents reported that they have ongoing problems with children on the street causing antisocial behaviour. We've spoken with the police and other agencies to see whether we can arrange some education around the impact of antisocial behaviour.

We also identified some areas of communal gardens which need improving, and we're looking into the possibility of making better use of the green space.

Peveril Court community centre

• Meeting where and when: Peveril Court community centre, DE5 3NR. 21 November at 2pm.
• What streets: Just around the community centre.

Smalley

• Meeting where and when: We last visited here on 12 June and 13 August.
• What streets: Station Drive, Meadow Drive and Smalley Hill Drive. 
• We last did a walkabout here on 13 August. We’ll be adding more walkabouts in the future, so please check back again for new dates or click here to send us your feedback and thoughts about where you live now.

What happened

During our walkabout we found the estate to be well maintained, clean and tidy with only a small number of individual neighbour related concerns. We addressed these concerns on the day and have since been working for a long term resolution. It's really great to see our communities looking after their local areas and gardens, with a great community feel. 

Abbott Court and Stringer Drive

• Meeting where and when: Car park at Abbott Court and Stringer Drive. 20 June 2024 at 1pm.
• What streets: Abbott Court and Stringer Drive.
• We last did a walkabout here on 20 June. We’ll be adding more walkabouts in the future, so please check back again for new dates or click here to send us your feedback and thoughts about where you live now.

What happened

We'd received reports of antisocial behaviour (ASB) in this area which is why we carried out the walkabout. Through working with local people, the ASB has now stopped following our intervention.

We found some fly-tipping and the perpetrator was spoken to on the day, as they were identified by local residents. Signs have also been put up in the area to discourage further fly-tipping.

We've also requested for some painting and decorating in the internal communal areas within the flats. 

Thurston Avenue

• Meeting where and when: Seating area opposite Haston Drive, DE55 4TJ.
• What streets: Thurston Avenue, Haston Drive, Everest Drive, Scott Drive, Burke Drive, Bonnington Drive.
• We last did a walkabout here on 23 July. We’ll be adding more walkabouts in the future, so please check back again for new dates or click here to send us your feedback and thoughts about where you live now.

What happened

During our walkabout we found the estate to be well maintained, clean and tidy with only a small number of issues which we addressed with individual customers on the day. It's really great to see our communities looking after their local areas and gardens!