SNAP is back in Ordsall!

SNAP week took place in Ordsall and Islington from 14 to 18 December 2009 and provided a great way of bringing people together to focus on local problems - aiming to clean up areas and target criminal activity over a week of action.

The week was led by Salford City Council in partnership with Salix Homes, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue and the Probation Service's community payback team. During SNAP we worked hard with our partners dealing with the problems you asked us to tackle - cleaning graffiti, cutting back overgrown shrubs and trees or cleaning up rubbish.

The council offered a free bulky waste collection and ran lots of free activities during the week. Fun things to do for children and young people included having a kick about, going to a pantomime, and our own youth bus with all the latest gadgets and loads more. There was lots of help on hand with issues such as safety, anti-social behaviour, advice on drugs and alcohol, and benefits advice.

Throughout the week Salix Homes officers engaged in the following activities within the Ordsall and Islington area:

A Hate Crime Awareness session was held at Ordsall Service Point. The event included stalls from our Safer Neighbourhoods, Better Neighbourhoods, Rent Income, Cleaner Greener Neighbourhoods, and Empty Properties & Supporting Neighbourhoods Teams. There were also information stalls from Salford College and Skills & Work offering local residents the opportunity to sign up to training schemes and job seeking opportunities.

The Salix Homes to You Trailer hit the road and visited Howard Street, Coronation/Gloucester Street, Ordsall District Centre and Barrow Street in Islington. Salix Homes Officers braved the cold weather conditions to be on hand, offering advice on a whole host of issues!

A fantastic three Win Days were carried out! Two of which were as a result of requests from local residents.

Nine Acre Court WIN Day
We installed chicken mesh fencing along the parameters of the car park fencing to prevent litter being blown into the car park, not only making the area cleaner but also freeing up time of staff who clean and regularly have to litter pick the area.

Islington WIN Day
We planted four separate areas of flower beds which previously were bare, patchy and unsightly bits of land which surrounded Canon Hussey Court and Arthur Millwood Court. Canon Hussey Court had previously benefited from a greening scheme and a communal garden. This WIN Day has not only improved the appearance of the block but also provided the first steps for the residents group TIETARA to begin investigating the interest in a gardening club for the local residents.

Canon Hussey Court, Arthur Millwood Court and Cornwall House Recycling WIN Day
Working in partnership with the Recycling and Environmental Education department at Salford City Council we ensured the delivery of two recycling bags to each property and an information leaflet outlining how to recycle using the delivered bags.In addition, communal recycling bins were then also delivered to the area so that residents may take their own bags to the communal bins to empty. The communal bins are sited on the three gated car parks for the blocks. The hope for the future is to assist Salford City Council in reducing the amount of waste we send to land fill sites each year and to continue to keep the area cleaner and environmentally friendly into the future. In total over 300 properties benefited from this event!

We carried out a 'door knocking' event in one of the most prolific areas for fly-tipping in a communal alleyway within Ordsall, Gloucester Street/Rudman Drive. Staff knocked on over 60 doors to advise local residents of the free bulk collections in their area, the need to reduce fly-tipping and to advise residents that should the problems continue that we would seek to install CCTV within the area to source identities of fly-tippers within the neighbourhood.

We liased with the Community Payback scheme (Probation) and asked if they would paint all fencing, gates and entrances to Islington Park which were in a poor state and which was again a resident led request. They also assisted in cutting back of all bushes and trees within the park which had been identified as a potential problem of visibility and crime raised via the Police Community Support Officers for the area via the Co -located team meetings. The team also cleared and enhanced the walkways and paths throughout the park making access for local residents easier and safer.

The Community payback team also assisted us on other sites by clearing identified fly-tipping, waste and litter picking several areas in Islington and painting the feature brick work to the entrance to the Islington Estate and Tower Blocks which has improved the identity of the estate and enhanced the appearance making it stand out as far back as from Chapel Street!

Finally throughout the week we carried out two multi agency walkabouts including attendance from Environmental Services, Highways, Salix Homes Officers from all teams within services in Neighbourhoods, Greater Manchester Police, Skills & Work and on one walkabout we were joined by Councilor Ray Mashiter. During the walkabouts over 40 environmental issues were picked up on and staff on the walkabout took the opportunity to speak to local residents about the estate.

Local residents were immensely pleased with the work carried out by all agencies throughout the SNAP week. Two of whom said,

"I didn't recognise the estate when I came home from work today, what a difference" Local resident, Islington.

"I am dropping you a line to say thanks for all the hard work applied to Islington Park. Our committee members, residents and visitors all commented on how fresh it was looking. The children liked the park also-some of them visiting for the first time. The Carol concert was a great success (despite a bit of damp weather!) and I would like you to pass on our gratitude to your staff members involved in the clean-up." Kevin O'Neill, Vice Secretary, TIETARA the Islington Estate Tenants and Residents Association.

website Find out more! Visit the SNAP blog at www.salford.gov.uk/ordsallsnapblog.htm