North West Liveability Partner Case Study:
Bolton Council in the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy Target Area within Halliwell
Halliwell Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy Area is one of 11 regeneration areas in the borough. It is a culturally diverse area, with large Asian / Asian British and Eastern European populations. The housing type is predominantly terraced, with some semi-detached housing and flats. Housing is a mixture of privately owned and social housing, with approximately 30% of residents renting their homes from Bolton Council.
As part of the North West Liveability Foundation (NWLF), Keep Britain Tidy was tasked with undertaking an ‘on the ground’ assessment of the local environmental quality of the area and a research (perception) study (200 doorstep surveys) to identify how the area’s residents felt about their local area and the quality of their local environment. This enabled the actual problems on the ground to be compared with the residents’ perceptions so that a targeted action plan to improve the area could be developed.
Some key findings of the work that were used to inform the action plan were:
• Residents perceived that the biggest issues affecting the area were dog fouling, alcohol-related litter and fast food litter. This stacked up with the results of the ‘on the ground’ survey, which noted that litter, broken glass and dog fouling were problematic in the area
• Many residents linked the occurrence of the above issues with young people hanging around on the street and the lack of things for them to do (as an alternative to hanging around on the street)
• The ‘on the ground’ assessment highlighted that graffiti was a key issue in the area
• On the whole, the waste collection service was well received. However, there were quite a few comments raised regarding excess waste and the council’s policy not to collect side waste. Residents did perceive side waste to be problematic in the area, although a comparison with the ‘on the ground’ survey shows that waste placed out was not regarded as an actual problem
• Doorstep recycling service was not used / used to full potential
• Residents noted that a uniformed presence in the area was generally quite low particularly after dark and on weekends, when it was perceived that the problems most affecting the quality of the local environment were taking place. As such, residents called for a greater uniformed presence in the area, on the days and times when the problems were felt to be taking place.
As a result of the combined results of the perception study and the ‘on the ground’ assessment litter, broken glass, dog fouling, graffiti and waste issues were highlighted as priorities for action within the ongoing action plan, which consists of short, medium and long term plans to address the issues raised by the residents and also the issues highlighted by the ‘on the ground’ independent assessment.
For further information, please contact:
John Sharrock
Head of Service (Streetscene)
Bolton Council
T: 01204 336927
E: john.sharrock@bolton.gov.uk