New residents' group bids to improve community spirit

Spirita residents have formed a new Residents Forum to help improve community spirit in their community.

The Forum comprises residents from Spirita properties at Elm Park Court, Birch View Court and Parker Street in Derby and the inaugural meeting was held this month to agree what they wanted to achieve in the forthcoming year.

A number of staff from Spirita, which has supported the Forum from the outset, had been invited to attend and they answered questions on the Decent Homes programme, repairs and neighbourhood queries.

Resident Margaret Parker said after the meeting: “It was certainly a productive meeting. Any concerns that we had were heard by Spirita and we received positive responses. We all came away with realistic expectations of what the Decent Homes programme means to us and how Spirita plans to deliver these improvements to our homes.

“With a formal group now in place we have a platform from which we can raise any issues that we have with the knowledge that something will be done, which is excellent for all of us.”

PCSO Croft and PCSO Aytemiz, who are members of Derbyshire Constabulary’s Neighbourhood Policing team for the area, also attended the meeting as they too are keen to be involved with the residents’ work.

Spirita’s Community Involvement Officer, Jo McHugh, who helped the group set up, said: “We all felt that the forum would help the residents, giving them a united voice and formal aims. They are keen to improve the quality of life for all the residents in their community. The Forum will help them achieve this.”

The next meeting of the Forum takes place on 28 January, 2009 at 2.00 pm. At this meeting the residents are keen to start looking at security aspects in the area.

Media Enquiries: Sallie Blair, 01283 821012 / 07702 54140.