Background
Recognising that The Trees Estate, in the otherwise affluent parish of Bersted, was suffering from acute deprivation, Bersted Care Network was set up as a part of the Blueprint for the Community project, funded by the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB). Uppermost on their list of priorities was reducing the isolation of some of the more vulnerable residents and their fear of crime. The SRB project was due to end in 1999, with the key outcome for the Trees Estate being the formation of a Residents’ Association, and the inaugural AGM was held in June that year, with a newly-elected committee formed and officers elected.
During the summer of 1999 the first “Trees News” was distributed to every household on the Estate, telling them about their new Residents’ Association and who to contact if and when problems arose. That October, with the Residents’ Association up and running, Bersted Care Network was wound-up as a charity and their remaining funds deposited into the new Residents’ Association account.
The first tidy up of Estate, in conjunction with the Cleaner Britain campaign, happened in January 2000, with dozens of residents keen to improve the area. Then, in June, the first AGM of Trees Estate Residents’ Association was held, with adoption of a Constitution, meaning we could apply for future funding to further improve the Estate. That same September a Management Group was formed with representatives from all parties involved with the Trees Estate. This led to a survey, with the residents encouraged to tell us what problems they perceived on the Estate, especially crime and housing.
The survey led to us setting up our ‘umbrella’ Neighbourhood Watch scheme the following February; and that spring the Residents’ Association became responsible for monitoring the performance of ADC’s gardening contractors.
During the summer bollards were erected in Tamarisk Close and Maple Gardens to prevent the joy-riding that had become a nightly nuisance, causing distress and mayhem in those areas. We next became involved with a problem-solving group because of an increase of criminal damage on Durban Road industrial estate, which borders the Trees Estate. In turn, this led to a consultation process on first phase of Alleygater, a crime prevention initiative for the Estate to identify and block off any unnecessary alleyways used solely by criminals, with the work starting a couple of months later.
In June 2002 Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Golden Jubilee, so we joined in by holding a very successful sports and community fun day. But, shortly after this, crime rates started to soar after the Community Beat Officers were withdrawn from service. Residents asked for, and got, a recycling bin for waste paper, which was installed in Oak Close garage compound, but it was vandalised so badly that it had to be removed just a few weeks later.
In the autumn of 2003, by popular request, we successfully persuaded the council to let all street lights remain on throughout the night– some on just a low level – to eliminate dark spots around the Estate. Then, just a few months later, in the spring of 2004, PCSO’s started patrolling the Estate, and made a very good impression because people felt safe to once again see someone in uniform on foot! That summer two of the maisonette blocks were painted cream during the external renovations, which had another hugely uplifting effect on the residents. A Local Action Team (LAT) was formed that October, and residents were given the opportunity to report crimes on a confidential telephone system, which got immediate results.
In March of 2005 the first and, to date, only case of racial abuse was reported to the Residents’ Assn, and Police and ADC Housing immediately became involved. That summer the whole estate was on ‘red alert’ after reports were received of man watching children playing and later chasing them. The residents formed a rota to watch over the children to keep them safe. The man had been hiding in the copse behind Sycamore Road, so the undergrowth was cleared and this seemed to deter the prowler.
At the beginning of 2006, youngsters form YEW – the Young Estate Watchers – because they are fed up with the untidy look of the Estate and want to do something to help. They organise their first litter-pick, targeting the Oak Close garage compound, and collect 8 bags of litter, a whole bag of recyclables and several items that needed collecting in the caretakers’ van.
A couple of months later, after months of asking, the tenanted car ports are cleared of rubbish. However, there is a problem with getting the owned car ports cleared of the huge amount of combustibles stored in them. Fire officers are drafted in to speak to residents, but can only advise the owners.
Gez Watson, the Residents’ Assn Chairman, was recognised by the Home Office in April 2006 for her commitment to fighting crime and improving the Estate and was presented with a Respect Award in London. This was followed by one of the YEW Group youngsters winning an Arun Community Youth Award for their work on the Estate.
Sadly vandalism by a small group of youngsters from the Estate draws huge media and police attention, with several arsons and a chemical ‘spill’ on the industrial estates attributed to them, which rather takes the shine off the awards.
Reports were received that the prowler was back in the copse that June, so ADC were urged to clear the undergrowth as soon as possible and patrols of responsible residents were organised to protect the children. Realising how pro-active we are, residents at last seem to be recognise the Residents’ Assn, because, in June the number of calls, enquiries and reports of vandalism etc start to soar. Crime seems to be on the increase again, and with the PCSOs solely targeting the youngsters causing the vandalism at the factories, the rest of the Estate is being neglected and police response times are poor. A meeting with Inspector Merrick gets things into perspective again;
During the school holidays the YEW Group are rewarded for their work and desire to improve the Estate with a trip to another estate – Longleat! It was an eye-opening experience for the adults who accompanied the children because several of them had never been out of Bognor! A Trees Fun Day is held on the Laburnum rec. It is primarily aimed at ‘diverting’ the above youngsters, but seems to have the opposite effect when reports of vandalism that same night are the worst ever!
The prowler returns and threatens to ‘kill’ one of the children. It is discovered that the man lives on the Estate and has mental health problems. The Police visit him, but cannot gain entry, and decide they will only use a ‘soft’ approach with the man because of his illness. The man moves away from the Estate shortly after this.
Since then there have been several reports of men watching the children, which are always taken very seriously and the play areas patrolled. The Residents’ Assn committee have since decided to wear polo shirts with the Assn logo on them so they are easily recognised by all.
The Residents’ Assn continues to listen to, and act on, the requests of the residents. A few years ago a community garden was set up in the grounds of Laburnum Grove School, enabling adults and children to grow their own fruit and vegetables for use at home. Last summer a new piece of play equipment, chosen by the children themselves, was installed in the main playground. A house-to-house consultation with all residents about building a ‘street gym’ on the Estate proved to be a very popular idea, so we are delighted that it will be installed behind Tamarisk Close at the end of March or beginning of April, with people able to use the equipment free of charge 365 days a year. More recently we have secured funding for gentle keep fit classes at the Bersted Green Learning Centre, aimed at the less fit, less mobile and older people. It is entitled “Fitness, Fun and Friendship” and has been set up following requests by residents who enjoyed free ‘taster sessions’ some months ago, but who found the full fee too much to find. It shows how conscious we are of improving the overall health and fitness of local residents and the one-hour classes start on Friday 9th April at 10.30am. As ever, more details are available from Gez Watson on 860034.
