Opportunity knocks for residents in Wapping

Archive News Story: January 2011
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RESIDENTS keen to see their local area improve were given the opportunity to share their ideas with housing officers face-to-face as part of a new door knocking initiative launched by Tower Hamlets Homes.

The pilot, which took place in Wapping last week (14/1/11), is aimed at giving a greater number of local people more say over improvement schemes in their own area.

Thirty housing staff from Tower Hamlets Homes’ - including managers who act as 'Neighbourhood Champions' for each of our 27 neighbourhoods - spent a whole day on the Berner and Royal Mint neighbourhood knocking on 650 doors and speaking to over 200 residents.  

Barbara Brownlee, Housing and Customer Services Director, said: “We understand that it’s not always easy for residents to find the time to phone or come along to one of our neighbourhood action days to tell us their ideas - so we set about making it easier for them.”

She went on: “Knocking on doors has paid off. I was impressed with how many residents were so keen to talk to us and tell us their ideas. The pilot has shown that we’re on the right track.”

Better off-street parking, improved security and more play areas for younger residents were amongst residents’ top priorities.

“We'll use what residents have told us to come up with the first draft of a 'to-do' list for the local area; we'll then go back to residents to check that we're along the right lines.”

Tower Hamlets Homes is planning more similar days in other neighbourhoods across the borough throughout February and March.