The Royal Estate Newsletter
April 03

Meden Valley Making Places, the not-for-profit company has been set up to run the project and has appointed Leicester Housing Association and South Yorkshire Housing Association to be responsible for rented housing in each of the eleven communities being dealt with by the Company.The company has a management board, which represents all the organisations, which will be involved in the redevelopment.

A local man, Dr Frank Barrat,
has been appointed the company's comunity director

Local man, Dr Frank Barrat, has been appointed the company's community director - an unpaid post one which ensures that residents' views are represented on the board. Following a short introduction by Jonh Mann, the panel answerd a range of questions from the floor. Many residents were anxious that the estate will still suffer from "anti social elements", even when it has been renovated, and more were concerned that they will be made to move against their will from either their homes or the estate. John Mann reassured residents that their views are paramount, that every resident's case will be paid to people who are either re-housed permanently or moved temproarily while their homes are renovated. He is confident that everyone will benifit both individualy and as a community as a result if the redevelopment of the estate.

John Mann MP and the Making Places Ltd.management board see there development as part of the goverment's continued commitment to the former coalfield areas and as an exciting opportunity to make Warsop a place where people will want to live and which offers thier children a home for the future.

meden valley making places
Please call: Don Smith Direct Line: Tel.01623.463126 e-mail:donsmith@mansfield-dc.gov.uk

15th april
(Addressed to residents in the ("Royal Estate")

Dear resident

The Old Part of Warsop

At the public meeting held on Thursday 10th April the Executive Team of Meden Valley Making Places Ltd promised to write to you confirming some of the details and action points that flowed from the discussion the meeting.

I am pleased to confirm you that the Meden Valley SPV ("Special Purpose Vehicle") has now been set up as Meden Valley Making Places Ltd and as such rgus publicity accountable company will be in a position to progress the uplifting of yourneighbourhood as swiftly as possible.

The founders and partners making up the regeneration company are English Partnership (The National Regeneration agency), The East Midlands Regional Development Agency (emda), Mansfield and Bolsover District Councils.Central Goverment finally approved the setting up of the company last July and as a result Making Places Ltd is in a position to finalise plans for the Royal Estate. To do so a firm Urban Designers, Lathams of Derby (planners, architects, transport experts etc) have been appointed recently to come up with a masterplan. I must emphasise that there are no already determined plans in place so what happens to the remaining houses will be decided only when the Masterplanning has been completed and not beforehand. We will be in a position to write to you again, outlining the Masterplanning timetable at the end of April.

Initialy the work will comprise of individual consultations with all residents to determine what aspirations local people have. The draft Masterplan will then be shared with the community and everyone affected will be consulted and their views sought .Possibilites include financial assistance for renovating dwelling that are to remain in the area, details of enviromental improvements, rehousing opportunities and terms of compensation where appropriate.

Leicester Housing Association (LHA), along with South Yorkshire Housing Association (SYHA), have now been appointed by the SPV after a detailed and thorough selection process .They will ultimately become the new landlords for the rented properties in the area. You will all have the opportunity to find out more about the involvement of LHA and SYHA at the subsequent meetings and through newsletters such as this.

The goverment has required the SPV to operate on a commercial basis so that any surpluses from land sales can be recycled back into the regeneration scheme. This could result in scales of land to selected private sector developers who would build new homes under a licence agreement.

Meden Valley Making Places Limited registered in England and Wales Registration number 04706913.Registerd office 34 Sherwood Street, Market Warsop, Nottinghamshire, NG20 0JW

Mansfield District Council has provided most of the investment made in the Royal Estate so far. The council has spent £722,250 on purchases, £75,263 in other compensation and 30 properties have been allocated to rehouse those owners and tennats who have wished to be relocated. In addition, emda has contributed £350,000 towards the purchases.

The council has given an assurance that in no instance has anyone been forced to leave their homes and in fact some owners have been left alone for the time whilst the Council continues on their behalf, negotiating with mortgage lenders. The council will also continue to provide maximum support for owners with financial difficulties through their money advisory.

So far, the only properties that have been targeted were the ones on Alexandra Street and Victoria Street that majority of people told the council they wanted demolishing.You might recall that early plan was formulated at a Planning for Real type event at the British Legion Club in March 2001.

As agreed during the meeting if any other home owners wish to sell their property please get in touch with me on the above telephone number when I will be pleased to discuss what options are available to you.

Public accessability to SPV plans will be improved locally by a full-time Executive Team for Making Places Ltd currently being set up at 34 Sherwood Street, Warsop (the Area Housing Office is moving downstairs). Recruitment of theTeam is currently underway and at least some team members will move in the office as soon as it has been adapted to make it suitable for interviewing residents and forming headquarters building for the whole Meden Valley project.

I sincerely hope that this information helps to clear up a lot of apparent misunderstandings and speculation about plans by the SPV and how it might affect householders and landlords once the Masterplanning is finished.

In the meantime, so that you are aware of everything happening in the area, Mansfield District Council have taken three firm proposals to the Warsop Neighbourhood Management Team meeting which took place last monday evening (7th april) These include projects to:

(1)provide extra security to the rear of Edward Street which faces the demolition site by fixing fencing on the demolition site side of the existing boundary walls,
(2)plans for new pedestrian footbridge over the River Meden at the bottom of Wood Street and
(3)steel fabricated fencing has been in storage for some time awaiting the current demolitions - this will soon be replacing the unsightly corrogating iron which bounds the allotments by the river.

The Council's Housing Department through the Warsop Neighbourhood Management Team is already managing the instalation of burglar alarms, the distribution of Smart Water and other security measures through Safe and Secure Homes Project.

Your sincerely

Don Smith
MakingPlaces Executive Team

**********

Some useful contact numbers
(all prefix 01623 unless stated)

Mansfield District Council
Main number ------ 463463
Local Police(non emergency)----- 999
Citizens Advice Breau------------ 627163
Warsop Town Hall --------------- 845858
Warsop Health Centre
Dr Banga & Chaudhari----------- 844421
Dr. Sudel------------------------- 843521
John Mann Mp ------------------ 01909 506 200
County Contact Helpline--------- 476800
Trading Standards --------------- 0845 0505200

Are you unemployed and looking for work?
Warsop Town Hall might have the answer...
We have a large website based database of vacancies that have been advertised in and around the county. This database is updated daily. With just a click of a button you could search for the job for you
Why not call in at the Town Hall and ask for Jess or Halina?

Great dates for your Diary

Warsop Carnival
Sunday July 6th
THE CARRS SHOWGROUND

ALSO SAME DAY SAME PLACE
Warsop in bloom

EVERT THURSDAY
9AM-2PM
MARKET WARSOP
LIVES UP TO ITS NAME WITH A MARKET
GO AND PICK UP A BARGIN AT THE TALBOT CAR PARK
OFF HIGH STREET

Mansfield Citizens Advice Bureau Will be at the town hall on the following dates
Thursday 8th May
Thursday 22nd May
Thursday 5th June
Thursday 19th June
Thursday 3rd July
Thursday 17th July
Thursday 14th August
Thursday 28th August

THE MEDEN MONEY TREE CREDIT UNION LTD
Did you know that by saving from as little as £1.00 per week, your local savings and loan co-operative can help you manage your money? More information is available at Warsop Town Hall tel:845858 or the Credit Union Ltd

This newsletter was brought about because so many people have been asking for information regarding the plans for this estate. The lack of such information has led to much speculation and rumours. Therefore in an effort for us all to end our frustration at the lack of information.

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