Council housing: latest news

Urban fit, we did it!

We've all heard how important it is to keep fit. Well Urban Fit recently took this to a whole new meaning. On Saturday 01 June they ran up and down the stairs of four of our tower blocks, an amazing 1833 steps. Thanks to some amazing sponsors they raised over £800. Please see a photo of the Urban Fit group (pdf, 242 KB) (opens new window) before they did their fitness challenge.

Set up by staff from Safer Bristol, the group provides free fitness training and personal development courses to young women aged between 14 and 26 from Easton and St Pauls. If you'd like to find out more please email emma.martinez@bristol.gov.uk

The event was ably assisted by Brett Maule, Michelle Casabyo and Paul Bayford from Caretaking Services who provided access to the blocks and ensured everything was safe. As well as Emma Wilkinson from Estate Management, who acted as one of the events marshalls.

If you've got an idea for an event why not contact our Tenant Participation Team on 0117 352 1444 or email tpu@bristol.gov.uk

Letting standard consultation: First impressions count

On average we let around 1,700 homes every year. Each of which we inspect and repair, to ensure they meet our letting standard. However, from talking to new tenants we know that many are not happy with the standard and feel that it is too low. 

We want tenants to have the best start when they move into one of our homes. So thanks to a recent change in the way we are funded we now have the chance to improve the letting standard.  We'd therefore love to hear what improvements you'd like to see. To find out what the current standard is please see our letting standard factsheet (pdf, 318 KB) (opens new window).

How can I have my say?

Please email landlord.policy@bristol.gov.uk or write to Myriam Selfe, Landlord Policy and Projects Team, St Anne's House, St Anne's Road, St Anne's, Bristol, BS4 4AB by the 17 June. Please do get in touch as we'd love to hear what you have to say.

CCTV helps stop anti-social behaviour

Whilst graffiti has been made famous by Banksy, it can be a real problem for some communities. CCTV is an invaluable weapon, acting not only as a deterrent but helping us to gather evidence. Recently thanks to an eagle eyed operator, who spotted a graffiti artist at work at Rawnsley House, a quick call to the Police led to his arrest. If you see anything please report it either to the Police or to the Estate Management Service on 0117 922 2200 (Option four). Only by working together can we put a stop to anti-social behaviour.

Tenant evicted due to anti-social behaviour

We take anti-social behaviour very seriously and we do evict people who cause it. The latest being a man in his 40's who was evicted from his home in Withywood. Despite being served with an Anti-Social Behaviour Injunction in October 2012 he continued to cause problems, including noise nuisance, threatening behaviour and causing criminal damage to his home. As a result our Estate Management Service working with the councils Anti-Social Behaviour Team, the Police and tenants obtained a possession order. This was granted by Bristol County Court on 05 March and the man was evicted on 24 April. If you witness or are a victim of anti-social behaviour please don't suffer in silence. Get in contact with the Police or our Estate Management Service on 0117 922 2200 (Option four).

Tackling dog fouling in Redcliffe

Whilst the majority of dog owners are responsible and clear up after their dogs, some do not. Tenants in Redliffe recently told us that dog fouling was becoming a problem. We took action! Our Estate Management Service working with Caretaking Services, Tenant Participation Team, the Police and the RSPCA:

• Visited 592 properties.
• Spoke to 144 households about dogs and other environmental or community safety issues.
• Gave out 2000 dog mess bags.
• Gave an informal warning to a dog owner who we were told was throwing dog mess out of a window.
• Gave out 450 dogs in Bristol leaflets, which explain who to contact to report dog fouling.
• Put posters up in blocks and stickers on lamp posts.
• Microchipped eight dogs.

If dog fouling is a problem where you live please contact the Dog Warden Service on 0117 922 2500 (Option one).

Composting at Hillsborough Flats

Following requests from tenants at Hillsborough Flats in Hotwells we recently:

• Fitted compost bins for tenants to compost any food or garden waste.
• Fitted bike loops for tenants to chain up their bikes.
• Repaired and improved fencing that was broken.

If your a resident of Hillsborough please see composting for information about what you can and can't compost. If you've got an idea for an environmental or security improvement why not get in touch. You can call our Estate Management Service on 0117 922 2200 (Option four).

Be the first to know

Do you want to be kept in the loop?

Let us have your name and email address and we'll keep you informed about what's happening in Tenant Participation.

Guarantee: No obligation, no meetings (unless you want them, no pressure!!

If you would also like to help us improve how we communicate with tenants, we want to hear from you! Free training will be available.

Email: tpu@bristol.gov.uk or telephone: 0117 352 1444.

Crack den closure in Knowle West

We don't believe anyone should have to put up with anti-social behaviour. So when tenants and local residents complained that a home was being used as a crack den we took action. Working with police we successfully gained a closure order against the tenant of 97 Connaught Road.The order prevents anyone, including the tenant, from accessing the home for three months and brings an end to the anti-social behaviour. Our message is clear, we won't tolerate anti-social behaviour.

For full information on how you can report anti-social behaviour and what we can do to help please see anti-social behaviour and nuisance.

Delivering a better environment in South Bristol

We are committed to improving the environment and security of where you live. In response to issues raised by tenants, over £300,000 has been spent on three major environmental improvement projects.

111 to 141 Four Acres: Withywood

As a result of unwelcome visitors causing anti-social behaviour, including vandalism, nuisance and using the communal stairway as a toilet, action was needed. After talking with tenants about what they wanted, we've:

• Fitted a new entrance with an entry phone.
• Improved the perimeter.
• Installed a new patio with benches.
• Refurbished the drying area.

Resident Gail Elvidge said "Contractors were very friendly and polite and they did an excellent job with the brickwork and we feel much safer. It's brought the residents together and it feels like our own little patch. The work adds value to the area, there is no more rubbish tipping and people don't use the stairs as a toilet". Please see our photos of improvements at Four Acres (pdf, 123 KB) (opens new window).

Borleyton Walk, Queens Road, Four Acres Close, Four Acres Flats: Withywood

Following requests from tenants we've started replacing old fencing and clearing overgrown shrubs and plants. We hope that not only does the new fencing look better, but that it will last much longer. Please see our photo of new fencing at Borleyton Walk (pdf, 3.9 MB) (opens new window).

Hills Barton: Bedminster Down

Over a period of time tenants at Hills Barton raised concerns about people gaining unauthorised access to the site, due to it being very open. Following talking to tenants we've installed a new perimeter wall and fence. We hope that not only will this improve the look of the site, but provide better security for tenants. Please see our photos of improvements at Hills Barton (pdf, 129 KB) (opens new window).

Additional improvements

We've also carried out a number of smaller environmental improvement projects following suggestions from tenants.

• Catherine Mead Street, Bedminster: We've fitted new signs to identify the disabled parking bays.
• Gaywood House, Ashton: We've fitted a new automatic front entrance door to assist elderly tenants.
• Latchmoor House, Bedminster Down: We've made the fencing better to improve security.
  
• Stillingleet Road, Hartcliffe: We've fitted new railings to replace old wooden fencing. Please see our photos of new fencing at Stillingfleet Road (pdf, 154 KB) (opens new window).
• Bishport Avenue Multi Storey Flats, Hartcliffe: We've replaced outdated signs.
• Willow House, Bishport Avenue, Hartcliffe: We've installed a new picnic table, bench and planters. Please see our photo of new bench at Willow House (pdf, 3.6 MB) (opens new window).
  
• Tynte Avenue, Hartcliffe: We've converted an isolated, overgrown and unused garden into a tidy communal green space.
• Lynde Close, Hartcliffe: We've installed new signage advising cyclists to dismount and resurfaced part of the lane.
• Geoffrey Close, Highridge: We've installed new fencing at the rear of the site to provide better security for tenants.

Have you an idea for a project or improvement?

If you've got an idea that will make the environment or security better where you live, contact us on 0117 922 2200 (Option four). One of our Senior Housing Advisers will then contact you to discuss your suggestion.