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Bright future
for Granby 4 Streets
PLANS to transform housing
in the Granby 4 Streets; bringing more than 100 homes back into use; are moving forward. The Mayoral Cabinet has endorsed a
3 year vision, setting out the £14 million regeneration of the area.
It will see the City Council working in partnership with key
partners Liverpool Mutual Homes and Plus Dane Group to refurbish 95
properties; on Beaconsfield Road, Cairns Street, Ducie Street and
Jermyn Street.
Local organisations will also play a major part in the programme.
The Granby Community Land Trust (CLT), set up by local residents,
has developed proposals to refurbish 10 properties on Cairns Street
and create a community 'hub'; and the Northern Alliance Housing
Co-op, has drawn up plans to refurbish a further five properties on
Cairns Street.
The pioneering Homes for a Pound scheme will also support the work
to bring empty properties back into use, with the first £1 house
allocated on Cairns Street last October, and more expected to be
announced in the area this year.
A range of funding is now in place to deliver the refurbishment
programme, including:- 'Cluster of Empty Homes' and
'Empty Homes Round 2' grants, and funding from the Registered Housing
Providers. In addition the CLT and Co-op have secured private
finance and Nationwide Foundation funding for the delivery of their
schemes.
In total, it secures over £13.7million investment for the Granby
area and will bring at least 110 properties back into use by 2015,
including 99 vacant Council owned properties.
Assistant Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Ann
O'Byrne, said:- "Driving up the quality of housing in Granby
Four Streets is a major priority for us. We know residents have
waited too long to see the regeneration of the area, but we are now
beginning to make making significant progress. Through this vision,
we aim to deliver the good quality housing the area needs. We want
to retain and refurbish as much of the existing built fabric as
possible, and celebrate the area's character, so that we can build a
strong, sustainable and thriving future for the neighbourhood.
There's a lot of work to do, but there's a real commitment from all
partners to deliver this programme, and we can now look ahead with
optimism for the future of the Granby Four Streets. This is an
exciting time for the area, and we'll be making sure the community
is fully involved in our plans at every step of the way."
As well as the refurbishment programme, a procurement process is now
underway to appoint a private sector partner who can work with the
City Council to develop proposals for a refurbishment/new-build
scheme for cleared land on the south side of Ducie Street.
Director of Assets and Enterprise at Liverpool Mutual Homes, Maggi
Howard, said:- "We are committed to regenerating housing
across Liverpool and are keen to play our part bringing empty homes
in Granby Four Streets back into use - there is huge demand for high
quality affordable homes in the City.
It is a major and complex scheme that will involve a lot of
partnership working.
It will transform the area, build on Granby's history and not only
create a neighbourhood local residents deserve but one they can be
proud to call home once again."
The 1st phase of work the refurbishment of properties on
Beaconsfield Street West by Plus Dane Group; is expected to begin
this month. It is estimated that the refurbishment programme will be
completed in March 2015.
Granby resident Elizabeth Robinson-Ramos, who last year moved into a
home, with her husband Paul, which had been refurbished by Plus Dane
Group on Beaconsfield Street, said:- "I'm delighted to see
that plans are progressing that will help to make Granby an even
better place to live. My husband Paul has lived in Granby all his
life and I moved to the area some years ago and we both love it
here, so it's great to see plans being taken forward to develop and
regenerate the area and refurbish homes that local people need. We
moved into one of the new homes on Beaconsfield Street last year and
absolutely love it so I can't wait to see more homes being brought
back to life."
The Granby Four Streets vision supports the Mayor's aim to bring
empty 1,000 empty properties back into use by 2015. It is also
supporting his priority to create 20,000 jobs for local people, by
securing new employment and training opportunities within the
construction sector. |
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Charity calls
for registrations from Southport for sign2sing
PEOPLE from Southport are
this month (January, 2014) being called to sign up for a charity
record breaking attempt for the most people signing and singing a
song on the same day.
Children and adults from the town are being reminded to register for
SignHealth's sign2sing fundraiser on Wednesday, 5 February 2014.
Linda Petrons, Events and Corporate Fundraiser at SignHealth, which
is the national healthcare charity for deaf people, said:- "We
have estimated that so far more than 100,000 people have signed up
for sign2sing but we need another 20,000 in order to break our world
record of 116,980 and help raise awareness of British Sign Language
(BSL).
sign2sing is our annual record breaking attempt for the most people
signing and singing a song on the same day. We're hoping lots of
children and adults from Southport will sign up for the event.
We have run the fundraiser successfully for the past three years and
our aim for the 2014 event is to inspire our next generation of
healthcare professionals to learn some sign language and recognise
the importance of good communication.
Deaf people often find it more difficult than hearing people to
access healthcare and health information and because of this, deaf
men, women and children are more likely to suffer ill health. By
ensuring our next generation of healthcare professionals are aware
of deafness and BSL, we will help to break down communication
barriers and ensure equal access."
The closing date for registrations is Friday, 24 January 2014, so SignHealth is urging people to sign up as soon as possible, so they
have time to learn and rehearse the songs.
Children and adults from all over the country will learn to sign one
of the charity's songs that have been especially composed for the
event.
The songs, As One and Get Up and Sign, have been specially written,
performed and produced for sign2sing by Tom and Pippa Gearing, Sarah
Lindsey and James Hawkins from Bottle Top Music Productions.
Both songs are available to download from iTunes and cost 99p each.
As One is suitable for any choirs, older children or adults
participating in the world record breaking attempt on February 5 and
Get Up and Sign is aimed at any younger children taking part.
Earlier this year 116,980 teachers and pupils from across the
country and overseas participated in SignHealth's third sign2sing
event and broke the Guinness World Records™. The previous record,
which the charity also set was 114,277.
sign2sing is also a fundraiser for SignHealth through a suggested £1
donation from everyone taking part.
Linda continued:- "We will be asking children and adults alike
to wear a scarf like our official mascot, Olli the monkey, on the
day of sign2sing and donate their £1. Alternatively people can hold
fundraising events, such as a cake sale, coffee morning, non-uniform
or dress down day or raffle. We are hoping businesses, choirs,
community groups such as brownies, cubs and scouts as well as
schools and other organisations from Southport join in too."
The money will be used to continue the charity's work helping to
improve the mental and physical health and well being of deaf
children and adults.
Everyone who registers for sign2sing will have access to digital
resources, are available to download from:-
sign2sing.org.uk.
People who are unable to take part in the record breaking attempt
are invited to join in with the fundraising event during sign2sing
week, which takes place from Monday, 3 February 2014 until Sunday, 9
February 2014.
Those wishing to take part are invited to sign up by visiting:-
sign2sing.org.uk and clicking on the 'register
now' link. Children can nominate their school to take part via
the website too.
For more information about sign2sing, please visit the website above
or contact Linda at SignHealth on:- 01494 687600.
Alternatively, people can follow
sign2sing on
Twitter and on
Facebook. |
