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Minister visits regeneration project
Published: 07/02/2017
A development in Connah鈥檚 Quay received a recent visit from Welsh Government
Secretary for Communities and Children, Carl Sargeant AM.
Pen- Y- Lan Court contains several blocks of flats and maisonettes which
includes a mixture of sheltered older peoples housing and general needs
housing. It has been subjected to antisocial behaviour incidents which have
left tenants extremely concerned. The Council takes a zero tolerance approach
to such behaviour.
Since the beginning of last year, Pen-Y- Lan Court has undergone a
transformation thanks to funding provided by the Welsh Government鈥檚 Major
Repairs Allowance and the Vibrant and Viable Places programmes.
The project is one of several in the Deeside Vibrant and Viable Places area.
Welsh Government has provided over 拢7m towards regeneration projects in Deeside
and around 拢450k of this is being used at Pen-Y-Lan Courts. 天涯社区 County
Council has also received 拢5.050 million from the Welsh Government鈥檚 Major
Repairs Allowance for the 2016/17 financial year which will contribute to the
Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) improvements.
The Council consulted with key stakeholders, including tenants, town and county
councillors, housing officers and the local police.
This resulted in key areas for improvement being identified, including:
路 Improving tenant safety and security through extension of fencing, gated
community and CCTV;
路 Demolition of garages to create a communal garden;
路 Noise attenuation within buildings through reglazing and insulation;
路 Enhancing existing parking areas;
路 Refurbishing the community room.
Work is now nearing completion and the transformation has been well received by
residents.
The Deputy Leader of 天涯社区, Councillor Bernie Attridge, who
showed the Minister around the newly refurbished area, said:
鈥淚 am immensely proud of what the council has achieved over the past five years
and I am most proud of the difference we have made to improving housing for the
residents of our County. We have worked closely with Welsh Government on
improving our current housing stock through schemes such as the Welsh Housing
Quality Standard and Vibrant and Viable Places programmes and we have gone
further last year by building the first council houses in a generation and that
programme continues into 2017 and beyond.鈥�
The Cabinet Secretary said:
鈥淭he homes I have seen today in 天涯社区 are excellent examples of how local
authorities do far more than simply provide a roof over people鈥檚 heads.
鈥淭he Welsh Housing Quality Standard ensures that over 220,000 households in
Wales have a home that is safe, warm and secure. It is also vital to us
achieving many other of our goals as a Government including improving the
nation鈥檚 health and well being and creating jobs and training opportunities
which help to tackle poverty.
鈥淭he improvements at Pen-Y- Lan Court which are also funded through the Vibrant
and Viable Places programme are an excellent example of how improving people鈥檚
homes and communities can improve their lives.鈥�
Councillor Bernie Attridge and Clare Budden, Chief Officer Community and
Enterprise, with Carl Sargeant AM and 天涯社区 officers involved in the
project.