What do Manor Farm residents get for their Council Tax? Nothing!

bristol | local government | news report Tuesday May 27, 2008 14:45 by Tony Gosling

While politicians squabble Bristol City Council officers obstruct provision of a Community Centre

Credit where it's due - once every few years the Evening Post does a decent exposee about how little of Council Tax payers money BCC can be bothered to spend on community facilities and what an appauling service Avon and Somerset police provide. Most of our Council Tax goes on mysterious secret 'service contracts' arranged between officers and their mates behind closed doors.

WE STILL FEEL LIKE A FORGOTTEN COMMUNITY
Evening Post 21 May 2008
(I post the full text of this article because controversial articles such as this do get removed from the ThisIsBristol website)

In 2005 the Evening Post reported that residents on one Bristol estate felt they were a forgotten community, missing out while money was poured into the rest of the city. Three years on EMILY KOCH visited Manor Farm - and found out that people feel not much has changed
It's a frustrating story - "we work so hard, day to day, to make things change, but all we see is things happening in other areas. That is why we still feel like a forgotten community."
Cheryl Ann has lived on Manor Farm for the last 12 years and her frustration is echoed by many of her neighbours.
Until recently, the estate, which lies between Henleaze and Horfield, had three residents' groups pushing for change.
Despite their combined effort, hopes for improvement have had little success.
One group - Manor Farm Community Association - has now folded but there is still Manor Farm Action Group and the Manor Farm Project organisation.
The latter was set up for one purpose, as reported last week in the Evening Post.
It is demanding an unused vegetable shop on Bishopthorpe Road should be turned into a community centre.
In 2005, St John's Hall in Tilling Road was used for community activities such as coffee mornings, but residents were asked to stop.
Kay Armstrong is forced to stay at home most of the time because she suffers from back problems.
She is one of the project's leaders, and said St John's had stopped the coffee mornings because time for its own activities was needed.
Sitting in her living room, surrounded by jumble sale leftovers that could be kept in a community centre, if there was one, she said: "The biggest problem is that there is nowhere for us to meet.
"There's just nothing. Nothing here at all."
Close to tears, she struggled to get her words out. She said: "The elderly and disabled people who live here just get stuck in their homes."
One such elderly resident is Kathleen Kent, 87, who has lived on the estate for 54 years. She has lived alone since the death of her husband, and would like to see an afternoon club started to give her more chances to socialise.
Over a cup of tea, she said: "There's not a lot around here that I can get to on my own. It makes you feel isolated.
"It was all right when my husband was alive because we had a car to go out, but now it is very hard for me."
Young people on the estate would also like somewhere to go. Nemo Farquharson, 25, said a youth club would be welcomed.
He said: "There are no facilities for young people to use so all the younger kids have to go to a different area."
Bristol City Council spokesman Mark Nicholson said detailed proposals from the group had not been received.
He said: "Once we have these, their bid will be seriously considered alongside those of other prospective tenants."
Three years ago, plans for the area included the development of a Home Zone scheme, the installation of bus shelters and the putting up of "Welcome to Manor Farm" signs to get the area back on the map.
Tony Lewis, chairman of Manor Farm Action Group, said: "The Home Zone scheme failed due to lack of funding.
"We weren't allowed to put the signs up, but we have put up community notice boards instead - so people do now know where Manor Farm is."
He said they were told by the council that it was bus company First's job to put up bus shelters, but Mr Nicholson said: "Some residents approached the council about this two to three years ago.
"They were advised they needed to submit details of proposed locations for bus shelters and why they were needed, so the proposal can be assessed against criteria which apply to all such applications.
"No plan was ever submitted, but we will be pleased to take a look at it when an application is made."
There is still a lack of services - only one post box on the estate and no phone boxes.
The only shops are a chip shop and a convenience store.
Miss Ann sunk into her sofa, seeming weary with the ongoing battle. She said: "Local provision is virtually non-existent. If there is anything you want to do, you have to leave Manor Farm to do it."
Plans to build 330 new homes in the Dorian Road area of the estate won approval last month, but residents are concerned as there are no plans to include any shops.
Mr Lewis said: "There is not enough provision for what there is at the moment. It will be even worse with so many new homes."
But Mr Nicholson said residents had been involved in the planning process.
Miss Ann said she was sad that, compared to the years when she first she lived on Manor Farm in the 1980s, there was limited community spirit, and little community pride.
"Gardens are not what they used to be, and homes are not looked after so well," she said.
"People are not as neighbourly and there is much more suspicion."
Michael Thatcher, 65, of Rodbourne Road, said: "I do like living here but I feel that there is not a lot for people to do, especially the older people or people with disabilities.
"If there was something like a community centre, or something along those lines, people could go and meet each other."
Mandy Swash, 40, also of Rodbourne Road, said: "I have been really happy since I have lived here.
"The only let-down personally is not having somewhere for the community to go to. There are places in other areas, but we somehow get forgotten about."
Other residents reported fly-tipping and graffiti.
Mrs Armstrong said: "Nobody cares because there is nothing to care about here."
Maribel Harrington, 36, has lived in Francombe Grove for five years.
She said: "There are not enough shops here - it is difficult to go to the post office because you need to walk quite far, so I think it would be good to have another shop nearby.
"A community centre is a good idea - I would use it if there was one.
"It would be good to socialise and meet new people."
Mr Lewis's frustration was clear when he claimed the estate was promised £130,000 for a park nearly three years ago but said there had not been any apparent progress.
There was some good news on this from the council.
Mr Nicholson said: "We acknowledge there have been some delays, but are pleased to say that a contract was signed last week which means that work on a multi-use games area can start shortly."
There are some success stories.
Six months ago a tenant management organisation (TMO) was set up, taking on the responsibility for the day-to-day management of the estate.
After the Manor Farm TMO completes two years of training, the council will still own the homes and remain the landlord but the TMO will be a partner in providing services to the community.
Miss Ann and Mr Lewis both seemed very excited at the changes this might bring about.
Mr Lewis said: "It will have an unbelievable effect on the estate."
Other achievements include the introduction of more street lighting and a "No Cold Calling Zone".
Residents said this had cut down on the number of distraction burglaries and bogus callers.
Miss Ann said: "It got to the point where people would not open their doors after 4pm. There was a huge fear of crime."
Three years ago, Manor Farm was hoping for improvement. In spite of the struggle, residents still are, and remain determined to press on.
Mr Lewis said: "Many weaker people would have given up by now but it has just made us more determined to get things done for the community.
"We are going to continue campaigning until we get suitable facilities for Manor Farm."
The residents are appealing for donations to help repair the vegetable shop, if a lease is obtained.
To help, contact Mrs Armstrong on 0117 330 9579.

To listen to people in Manor Farm talking about their community click here.
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/manorfarm

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