Derwenthorpe Residents' AssociationPosts that will appear on the abc:d page.
You’ll have had a notice of a tomorrow’s AGM of Derwenthorpe Residents’ Association. This will include reports from DRA, and elections to the new Core Team and DGG.
A Zoom link, the agenda, and minutes of the last meeting are available at https://derwenthorpe.co.uk/arms
We’ll be posting a financial report at the same location today.
Last Thursday, we submitted our petition on Central Square to JRHT. On Friday, they asked us for a meeting, which we held yesterday (Monday), including representatives from the DRA core team, DGG, ABC:D, and DPAC:
We discussed two things:
1. Central Square. We want them to stop using Central Square as a builders compound. This is perhaps the most densely populated area of the estate. JRHT had discussed some ideas around this and had some helpful proposals. We discussed their ideas and some of our own. JRHT are going to investigate some details of the options that were discussed. We hope to see some firmer proposals in the next couple of weeks and to have some better news – particularly for residents of Barron House and Newman House.
2. An earlier paper that we’d submitted about communications. JRHT were keen to get on with all the things that we’d specifically asked for in that paper, including the resumption of development liaison meetings that had been suspended during lockdown. These are liaison meetings between the DRA core team, JRHT, and the builders – to track issues with the build. In the past, we’ve used them to get things like sagging porches sorted across the estate, and MVHR reinstalled across Stephenson Quarter (phase 1), for example. We’re also looking forward to a more regular JRHT presence on the estate, and to regular JRHT reports in LotsOn.
Some details still need to be discussed, but we’re hoping these things will start this month.
Thank you, to everyone who worked so hard to gather signatures for our petition last week, and to everyone who signed it. We knocked on virtually every door on the estate, and got 344 signatures from 296 different addresses.
We’ve written a paper to JRHT, including views from several residents of Barron House and Newman House. And we were shown one photo so shocking, we had to include that in the report (and above), too.
We’ll be having a meeting with JRHT about this very soon. We’re asking them to think again, and keep construction and logistics on the building site, not in this residential area.
We also want them to put something nice on Central Square, but that can’t happen until we have a plan, so while we know what everyone DOESN’T want there, we also need to know what people DO want! We’ve heard some views.
Someone asked for a swimming pool with water chutes, which seems unlikely. But please, have a think about what you’d like here, and get your ideas in at https://www.facebook.com/groups/abcderwenthorpe/ or in the comments here.
If you’re having a hard time thinking beyond the builders’ yard shown here, maybe share some photos of public spaces that you do like. A favourite park, perhaps.
Following the recent leaflet from JRHT about planned construction work, the Derwenthorpe Residents Association has had quite a lot of feedback from people in the community who are extremely concerned about the use of the Central Square area as a compound during the development of Phase 5.
We think it’s very important that JRHT understand the strength of feeling in the community about this and so the DRA have started a petition with the wording:
“We oppose the proposed plans by the firm building Phase 5, having access to use the Central Area Compound. We want to see the Central Area raising of road levels, and the creation of a New Central Area completed as a priority.”
Volunteers are going door-to-door to collect signatures and so you should hear from them in the next week.
If you’d like to get involved in collecting signatures please email abcd@derwenthorpe.co.uk
We’d also like to hear any other feedback you have on JRHT’s leaflet, feel free to leave a comment or drop us an email
Help us build back better! JHRT have asked the ABC:D group to gather the community’s ideas on what should happen with the Central Square area of Derwenthorpe. This is the area between the SSC and the two blocks of flats that’s currently used as a building compound. They are thinking about moving the bus stop there, and adding some visitor parking, but they really want your help to shape what happens.
The ABC:D group think we should think bigger than just Central Square. We’d like your ideas for new community facilities in the whole area around the SSC. Maybe you think we need a bigger community building, an outdoor space for BBQ’s and picnics, more sports facilities, a skate park, or all of the above! Feel free to be as creative as you like! We’d love this project to help bring the whole community together in the coming years.
Head to the ABC:D Facebook group, there’s a picture of the Central Square area that you can download and draw on. So get your colouring pencils out and get sketching! Post a photo of your picture when you’re done!
Not feeling artistic? Feel free to add a comment with your ideas, or send us a direct message. We’d love to hear from you!
Not a Facebook user? You can download the image on this page, make your changes, and email them to abcd@derwenthorpe.co.uk
Are you interested in hearing more about our plans in future? Then join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/abcderwenthorpe
Derwenthorpe Residents' Association 