Money runs out for the revamp of Rose Hill - with poll
HOMEOWNERS in line to get repairs to their homes through a regeneration scheme have now been told funding has run out.
Derby City Council was awarded £11.5 million by the Government, in 2006, to improve the run-down area of Rose Hill.
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It was a pilot scheme to see how investing money in private properties could improve areas through raising property values, boost the rental market and preventing homes being abandoned.
The money also helped produce a master plan for the area for the next 10 to 12 years, which would have cost about £160 million to complete.
The council had started talks with other organisations and the Government about providing funding for that plan but said the financial crisis in 2008 had "changed the landscape" and meant the project had now been put on hold.
Residents who were expecting improvements to their homes this year have been told they will not happen. Ibrar Ali owns a house in Norfolk Street. His father, Kafait Ali, said they were told the house would get a new roof under the project.
"We were told a few weeks ago that the work wouldn't go ahead," he said.
"We were meant to get a roof costing nearly £4,000. We can't afford that work but it is so badly needed. It leaks and is about 100 years old."
Arboretum ward councillor Fareed Hussain said other residents had been informed they would also not be receiving improvements.
He said: "The plan was to regenerate the most rundown area around the old Baseball Ground. But the spending has only done quick-fix solutions in Rosehill Street.
"Some of the worst areas, such as Holcombe Street, Princes Street and Reeves Road, haven't been done.
"Now the council is saying it's run out of money and there are 400 properties in desperate need."
A council spokesman said some of the initial £11.5 million was used to improve properties to get residents on board with the scheme and make them more positive about the area.
Streets were picked where the council thought the improvements would be most valuable with other roads turned to afterwards.
But the council spokesman said: "This hasn't proved possible because of the current economic climate."
Councillor Phil Ingall, cabinet member for housing and advice at the city council, confirmed money had run out.
He said: "Unfortunately some people have not benefited. As soon as more money becomes available they will but there is no money at the moment. You can blame the Labour government for spending it all."
Martin Gadsby, the council's private-sector housing manager, said the authority was mindful there was still "unfinished business" in Rose Hill.
He said with Government funding so tight, the council was prioritising which housing schemes were most needed and other projects, mainly the Osmaston Regeneration Scheme, were being put to the top of the list in bids for funding.
But he added: "We have reflected in our Local Investment Plan the fact that there is unfinished business in Rose Hill. The plan identifies our priorities and we can come back to it."
The Rosehill Market Renewal Project has seen improvements to 800 properties, including renewing roofs, windows and doors.
In addition, around 300 private properties have been brought up to the Decent Homes Standard through improvements inside.
Twenty
properties were acquired and renovated with social landlords for shared
ownership to increase the levels of owner-occupation and give people a
greater stake in the area.
Improvements were also made to the junction of Douglas Street, Osmaston Road and to Arboretum Park.
22 Comments
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by Keith, Derby
Wednesday, July 14 2010, 9:11PM
“David, Oakwood - as I said earlier (and removed for some reason) the area is NOT poor, just look at the big cars outside the houses on Rosehill Street”
by Beth, Mackworth
Wednesday, July 14 2010, 8:58PM
“If you actually read the article, the money was a grant awarded from Central Government and the EU. It had set terms and conditions of how it had to be spent. Council Tax does not fund central government grants. The Council took advantage of the money that was offered to them and spent it how they were told to spend it. How can the Council be to blame for the scheme?”
by Beth, Mackworth
Wednesday, July 14 2010, 8:58PM
“If you actually read the article, the money was a grant awarded from Central Government and the EU. It had set terms and conditions of how it had to be spent. Council Tax does not fund central government grants. The Council took advantage of the money that was offered to them and spent it how they were told to spend it. How can the Council be to blame for the scheme?”
by David, oakwood
Wednesday, July 14 2010, 5:30PM
“To Terry , Derby ,The area was never a slum, it was a smart neighbourhood until the shift in population brought about its down fall , and the re- population by a poorer type of people caused it to fall into decline”
by Michael, Derby
Wednesday, July 14 2010, 3:10PM
“I agree with most of the letters. How much urban renewal and various other grants have been paid to this area over the years? I was driving down Peartree Road some time ago and noticed that all the houses were fitted with the same burglar alarm. I made enquiries and was told that they had been done by crime prevention at no cost to the owners because it is a high crime area
I had previously been talking to the daughter of an 82 year old woman who lives in Stockbrook area. She had been burgled and all she was offered was a door chain.
Something is very wrong here. When you buy a house you take on the responsibility of keeping it in good repair but people have bought up houses in this area at rock bottom prices and crammed them full of people who have absolutely no interest in the area.
They should not receive a penny and should be given a timescale to bring them up to scratch or lose them. The money is there but as long as public money is available they will sit back and wait for it.
We have a government and a council who are supposed to be promoting personal responsibility; let's see them do something about this situation and make people take responsibility for themselves and their environment.”
by peter, spondon
Wednesday, July 14 2010, 2:10PM
“I HOPE MORE PEOPLE JOIN FACEBOOK GROUP /STOP WASTING OUR MONEY/ WE HAVE 150 NEW MEMBERS IN .1 WEEK PLEASE JOIN AND LET THE COUNCILLORS KNOW HOW WE FEEL THEY SPEND SPEND . .ONLINE PETITION TO SIGN AS WELL . THEY DO AS THEY PLEASE .CAMERON VOWED LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE .BUT THEY DONT ..THE COUNCIL HAS REFURB HAS DROPPED BY £6M IN ONE WEEK ,SINCE THE FACEBOOK SITE STARTED .THEY ARE SEEING .RATEPAYERS ARE FED UP”
by Frank, Derby
Wednesday, July 14 2010, 2:04PM
“Just recently a local professional beggar named Darren Walker appeared in court in breach of a city-ban ASBO. These homeowners expecting the State and demanding from the State to offer financial help with various building repairs to properties registered in their names are no better than Mr Walker. They are beggars scrounging off the State. And so are many on various forms of State benefits and handouts. They are Beggars. I for one am extremely pleased that Housing Benefits under The Coalition Government are being curtailed. Well done.
There is one glaring omission from the above article which could easily have been obtained under The Freedom of Information Act, being, how much money in recent years has this Council spent on this unwholesome and vile Benefit. We have the right to know for it is Our hard-earned money after all being used and abused by these Parasites and Leeches.”
by burtonftw, derby
Wednesday, July 14 2010, 1:31PM
“£4trn of debt.
a good 50% (at least) of it in the housing market.
self cert stopped.
well on the way to 3rd world status when the only 'economy' the country has left collapses.”
by the Owd 'Un, Long Eaton
Wednesday, July 14 2010, 1:26PM
“Wait a minute though..............
Wasn't Chris Williamson the council member for Normanton??????”
by Hazel, derby
Wednesday, July 14 2010, 12:08PM
“Why should we pay for people's own houses to be repaired just because of the area they are in!! If these people cared about the area they live in they would have repaired their own & not let them fall into the mess they are now, if we spent this money they would then just go back to living as they did before & turn them back into dumps! What a waste glad it's stopped!”