Welcome to the Trees Estate Residents’ Assn website!
The Residents’ Assn was set up in June 1999 after years of the Trees Estate being in the local news for all the wrong reasons. The estate was rife with crime, looked unwelcoming, and people wouldn’t venture onto the estate unless they had to.
The many residents who attended the inaugural meeting of the Trees Estate Residents’ Assn had first-hand experience of the problems facing the new committee, so they were listened to and their concerns taken on board for action. Most of the problems centered on a small group of older youths who deemed themselves ‘untouchable’, but who made life quite unbearable for people who wanted to live a peaceful life. There were disturbances almost every night, with the youths revving cars & driving them around the estate with no regard for anyone else – nor for their vehicles. There was drinking, drug-taking and dealing, burglaries, vandalism on a large scale, and there were 49 abandoned cars on the estate, which needed to be removed as a priority so the new Residents’ Assn knew it would have its work cut out.
The Trees Estate Residents’ Association was formed in June 1999 with the aim of uniting the residents, irrespective of whether they were householders, leaseholders or tenants – we wanted to promote good community spirit on the Estate by giving every householder a voice to be heard by the councils, the Police and individuals who wanted to help us make life better for us all. All residents aged over 18 years are automatically members of the Residents’ Association, but need to register with us if they want to have a say about the decisions we make that affect them, and registration is free!
Our first achievement was to set up an active Neighbourhood Watch system, which quickly spread throughout the Estate as an ‘umbrella’ scheme, with the Residents’ Assn co-ordinating the exchange of information to and from each street. The system is quite simple: concerned residents contact their nearest committee member (see contacts), who will either take action or notify the police, depending on what the problem is. We have two Police Community Support Officers, PCSO’s Julie Jones and Michelle Davies, who are regularly seen on the Estate, often with PC Andrea Beard patrolling with them. Many residents have said how reassuring it is to see a friendly and approachable Police presence on the Estate. In the early days the Trees Estate, nicknamed ‘Legoland’ because of the white plastic cladding and huge grey briezeblock construction, had quite a bad reputation. But, with a lot of hard work by the Residents’ Association Assn committee and the people it works with, the Estate is now one of the more crime-free areas of Bognor Regis. However, AT ANY TIME there is a genuine emergency, please phone 999 yourself, as this will save time and possibly lives!
The Residents’ Association works closely with Arun District Council, West Sussex County Council, Bersted Parish Council and other agencies that have an influence on the Estate or are able to help with the problems that naturally occur within a mixed community such as ours. We try hard to ensure all of our street lights work properly so, if you notice one is out, please let us know which one it is – they are all numbered. We always try to listen to, and if possible act on, the concerns of the residents so please contact us if you are bothered by something or have neighbour problems – we will do our best to solve the problem and will be as discreet as possible.
The Residents’ Assn has been actively involved in various projects, always first consulting with you, the residents, for your input. More recent projects include the setting up of a community garden in the grounds of Laburnum Grove School, where adults and children can help grow their own fruit and vegetables for use at home; a new piece of play equipment – chosen by the children – being installed in the main playground; and a consultation with all residents about building a ‘street gym’ on the Estate. This has proved to be a very popular idea and we are delighted that it will be installed behind Tamarisk Close very soon, with people able to use the equipment free of charge 365 days a year. This, together with the Residents’ Assn securing funding for gentle keep fit classes for the less fit, less mobile and older people entitled “Fitness, Fun and Friendship”, shows how conscious we are of improving the overall health and fitness of local residents.
We strive to involve the residents in all we try to do on the Estate and produce a periodic Newsletter, which includes current Neighbourhood Watch reminders and warnings, as well as newsy bits and pieces. Contributions are always welcome, whether ‘clean’ jokes, anecdotes, photos or puzzles, but we can’t promise to publish everything you submit, but will do our best.
So, as you can see, you can have quite an effect on how the Estate is run and we look forward to seeing you around the Trees Estate!
