Community Spirit Wins Through in Suffolk

May 17, 2012 - PRLog -- This year The Olympics, The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and hopefully a sunny summer are helping to make us all feel good about living in Britain but it’s not always like that.

In some parts of the country neighbours don’t know each other well enough to pass the time of day let alone have a street party and a “knees-up”. The good news is that all over Britain there are areas where things are much more positive and people enjoy working together to improve their neighbourhood.

There are community projects in Suffolk, for example, which are inspiring people and even winning awards.

At an estate hit by a series of arson attacks community housing provider Havebury is working alongside the police, borough council and fire service to reassure residents and encourage them to get together. At community days advice is offered as well as practical support with collecting rubbish, carrying out home fire safety checks and helping with minor home repairs.

The area has suffered from arson attacks on cars but, despite the damage, the residents are still feeling pride in their area.

A nearby residential development in Bury St Edmunds that revamped a long-derelict site has risen phoenix-like from the ashes of another fire to win a prestigious regional building award.

The eight properties won the Best Social and Affordable Housing Project in the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Excellence Awards for East Anglia.

Built on the site of the former Merry Go Round pub - destroyed by arson in 2001 – the award judges called the development: “innovative and architecturally striking”.

The eyesore site has been transformed thanks to the building project which was backed by grant aid from the local council.

Chris Wilkie of the architects behind the scheme said: “We are delighted that the project has been recognised in this way.  It was a very challenging brief to develop this constrained and long neglected site but the result is a scheme of high quality of which we, and all of the project team, can be very proud.”

The scheme was also a finalist in the awards’ Best Small Housing Project Category.

St Edmundsbury Borough Council cabinet member for planning Councillor Terry Clements said: “Our environment is very important to our quality of life. I congratulate all involved in the commissioning, designing and construction of these projects and I am pleased that St Edmundsbury’s high standards have been recognised in these awards.”

Wherever you live it is worth taking pride in your community, talking to your neighbours and investing time in getting to know them. As we all enjoy this Great British summer of sport and pageant let’s celebrate our communities too.

Visit : http://www.havebury.com