Video Update: 17 December 2011

Stonebridge Park Estate, St Ann’s, Nottingham. UK

ONE YEAR AGO Today we had the turf cutting ceremony on Stonebridge Park, and now look at what has been achieved over the last 12 months – just amazing! This latest video begins in Jersey Gardens, then along to the Long Hedge site at the top of Magson Close, a look at the new flats being built on Magson itself, and St Matthias apartments at the bottom of the road.

We then resume looking at the same houses from the rear, into Rocket Park which has a new sign! A look at the former Fairholm OAP site, Pym Walk Flats area. Dennet Close (Top row), Dennet Close (Bottom row), Lytton Close, Eastham Close, the former Peveril pub site, and views of the same taken from Beacon Hill Rise. The Bollywood Apartments from Dennet Close Road and the film ends looking at Bluebell Hill Community Centre with the new buildings in the distance.

It has been an amazing year full of surprises, but the new homes are the star attraction of 2011.

Looking for cash injection to kick-start estate regeneration

By Emily Winsor emilywinsor@hotmail.com

A CASH injection is needed to kick-start the second phase of the multi-million pound regeneration of a St Ann's estate.

Nottingham City Council and housing association LHA-ASRA say they hope to secure money to bring the next phase of improvements on the Stonebridge Park estate – but admitted it could take up to two years to find.

The estate is being regenerated by the council, LHA-ASRA and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

Phase one of the development, building 95 homes at a cost of £22m, was partly paid for by kick-start money from the HCA, which provided £5.7m – but no kick-start cash is available for phase two.

LHA-ASRA chief executive Matt Cooney has high hopes that the next phase, of 115 more houses and 48 flats, will begin in the next two years

.

Former city council district housing manager Mr Cooney said: "Times are tough at the moment and we do not have the same funding privileges for phase two that we had for phase one.

"We are currently looking at ways to finance the completion of the estate – and we hope to secure funding soon so that phase two can get going."

He said he was pleased with phase one of the regeneration.

"If you go back in time to the early 1990s when the buildings were all grey and drab and compare it to today, it looks totally different.

"I take my hat off to Nottingham City Council because they are doing this at a very difficult economic time when other local authorities would shy away from it.

He went on: "Our hope is that the effect of phase one will lift the value of some of the existing properties in St Ann's too and the area will begin to flourish."

He added: "The idea is basically to rebrand the area by the time we are finished as something different and new – something which gives aspiration to those who live there."

Part of the plan is the recently completed Albany House, a £9m supported housing scheme for elderly people which was built by LHA-ASRA on the former site of Welland Court, a warden-aided complex in St Matthias Road.

St Ann's city councillor Dave Liversidge, portfolio holder for housing regeneration and community sector, said: "Phase one of this scheme has been brilliant and we're really keen to build on that success with phase two.

"We're in active discussions with our partners in the private and public housing sectors, including housing associations, to provide funding to take phase two forward to the same great success."

VIDEO Update 30 November

Stonebridge Park, St Ann’s, Nottingham.UK

Autumn is upon us and thankfully the weather is much kinder that of the hard frosts a year ago. This updates begins in Jersey Gardens, then a distant view of the Alcester pub and row of new build houses at the top of Magson Close. On the Long hedge site the new road and pavements are being put in place, and roofs are going on the large houses at the front of the site.

We then stroll down St Matthias Road looking at the rear of the Magson Close flats, with a distant view of the new roofs on the new built houses on Long Hedge. Then a look at the new St Matthias Apartment at the junction of Stonebridge & Magson Close Roads, and the new flats under construction up Magson itself.

We then have a view looking across the former Fairholm Court site at the bottom of Flewitt Gardens, a stroll into Rocket Park. We see the Pym Walk flats site, and then the new houses under construction on Dennet Close (top-row), new house on Dennet Close (Bottom-row), and then Eastham Close.

Next we view the Peveril pub site adjacent Beacon Hill Rise Road where the new roof is now being fitted to the second block of flats, and the Bollywood Apartments are being built rapidly. We then stroll down Dennet Close Road to see the new houses under construction, and a distant view of Flewitt Gardens. The film ends with views of the Peveril pub site from Beacon Hill Rise, and a look at the big crane that lifted materials onto the top of the Bollywood Apartments earlier in the week.

Stonebridge TRA: ‘Community Group of the Year’

Hope you are well? We just want to let you know that the Stonebridge Park TRA came first in the 'Community Group of the Year' category at the Renewal Trust's Volunteer Awards ceremony last night. We were nominated by Richard Pearson, so thank you to him. Ben and I attended and were very surprised with the results, especially as we were up against well-known and established groups.

So, on behalf of the TRA MC I would like to thank you all for your support over these last few months. As you know we hit the ground running and were a little apprehensive about taking on the positions. With your help, support and encouragement we have managed to put on two general meetings and attend two community events, which have no doubt raised our profile within the community and a bit of cash too! We are proud of our estate and look forward to what the future may hold for it. We realise this will take us all working together just as we have been doing, so we look forward to continuing to work with you.

Finally...as most of you will be aware we were successful in small grant application to assist Stonebridge Farm with their Dickensian Christmas this coming weekend. The TRA will be there on the 3rd, doing children’s craft activities. If you are in the area we look forward to seeing you there, it should be a lovely weekend.

Once again thank you!

Regards

Laura Summers

Stonebridge Park

Tenants and Residents Association

Homes and Communities Agency Update

First homes complete at Stonebridge Park, Nottingham

Published date : 19 October 2011

The first homes have been completed at one of Nottingham’s largest housing regeneration projects - and were officially opened by the Homes and Communities Agency's (HCA) Chief Executive, Pat Ritchie.

Pat Ritchie was joined by Matt Cooney, Chief Executive, LHA-ASRA Group, on a site tour and official hand-over of the first show home at Stonebridge Park in St Ann’s.

LHA-ASRA is the organisation leading phase 1 of the regeneration programme, in partnership with the local community, Nottingham City Council and the HCA, and contractor Lovell building the properties.

The HCA provided £5.7m to kick-start the scheme, unlocking a total investment of £11m for new housing to create more choice for residents and a mixed and sustainable neighbourhood.

Phase 1 of the regeneration programmes will see a total of 95 new homes completed in Eastham Close, Dennett Close, Magson Close and St Matthias Road. A selection of spacious two, three and four bedroom properties will provide new family accommodation for the area and new residents will be able to choose a tenure which best meets their needs, from buying outright to renting, or the "try before you buy" option, which involves renting for a period before buying.

Pat Ritchie, Chief Executive, HCA:

“This is great news for Nottingham and an important milestone in the regeneration of Nottingham’s Eastside. From the start this project has been led by the community, and we are pleased that they will very soon be able to see the benefits of new housing within their neighbourhood. The scheme has followed a comprehensive approach to regeneration – and our investment into housing is being complemented by health, employment and economic initiatives."

Matt Cooney, LHA-ASRA Group Chief Executive:

"We at LHA-ASRA are very excited about this project as it is transforming part of the St Ann's area. With the recent opening of the new Albany House extra care development on St Matthias Road adjacent to Stonebridge Park, it is possible to see the vision of a regenerated and vibrant community coming to fruition. We are also delighted that we are able to assist Nottingham City Council in achieving a key part of their regeneration plan."

All homes are built to high environmental and design standards, achieving Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. Improvements to the public realm and green space have also been incorporated in the plans.

Councillor Dave Liversidge, Nottingham City Council's Portfolio holder for Housing Delivery:

"Local residents have waited patiently for construction of these new homes, so the completion of the first new home is an exciting milestone. Many of the residents have played an active part in planning the new scheme which should help regenerate the whole area bounded by St Matthias Road, Beacon Hill Rise and Stonebridge Road and also help create local jobs.

The new two, three and four bedroom homes will be priced ranging from £69,500 for a two bedroom home, to £105,000 for a spacious four bedroom house.

Ends

For further information: Ian Dutton, HCA Communications Manager, 0121 234 9992, ian.dutton@hca.gsx.gov.uk

Notes to editors

The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the single, national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England. Its vision is to create opportunity for people to live in homes they can afford in places they want to live, by enabling local authorities and communities to deliver the ambition they have for their own areas.

VIDEO Update: 14 November

Stonebridge Park, St Ann’s, Nottingham. UK

A pleasant autumn stroll around Stonebridge Park, St Ann has captured the latest construction work in full flow as Bollywood Apartments, and a new block of flats on the Peveril pub site are ready for their roofs to be installed. A new road and pavements are being laid on the Long Hedge area top of Magson Close, and the new houses at the front of this site are having their roofs fitted. The blocks of flats & St Matthias Apartments nearby are about half-complete.

The video begins in Melville Gardens, and along the footpath into Jersey Gardens. The Alcester pub is seen along with the top row of houses on the Long Hedge site. Then the Long Hedge site proper showing the new houses and road under construction. There are two views taken over the Alcester pub car park from St Matthias Road, and then we come to Magson Clos with St Matthias Apartments first on view. A stroll up Magson Close with views of the flats under construction with St Matthias church in the background.

 

The photographs resume at the rear of the former Fairholm Court OAP site, and into Rocket Park. Flewitt Gardens, Pym Walk flats area, Dennet Close (top-row), Dennet Close houses (bottom-row), Lytton Close footpath. Views of Dennet Close from the top of Lytton. The two small ‘shoebox’ houses on Eastham Close. The new big block of 4 houses again on Eastham Close, Eastham Close Road, the former Peveril pub site, and Bollywood Apartment along Dennet Road. Finally views of the Peveril Pub site as seen from Beacon Hill Rise Road. The music is Cilia black “Step-inside Love”, Dr Finley’s casebook, and Music while you work.

Stonebridge City Farm

Throughout December (until Christmas)
Dickensian December
Activities provided by Stonebridge Park Tenants and Residents Association Join in the fun with Victorian themed activities, including a Winter Walkabout and Christmas themed cafe. December 3^rd-4^th (Saturday and Sunday) – Christmas wreath making.

Contact: stronebridgetra@hotmail.com

Stonebridge Park St Ann’s: 1 – Background

The construction of old St Ann’s began in 1845 and the large town of 10,000 back to back Victorian terrace houses was completed by 1900. Sixty-nine years later the area had degenerated into slum conditions with high poverty. With government money the City Council set about demolishing St Ann’s in its entirety, except a few retained streets. This large town with its many shops, pubs, off licenses, churches and community centres was replaced in 1976 with a new layout. Low level three tier blocks of flats along with a selection of 3 – 4 bedroom houses. The dozens of shops along St Ann’s Well Road were all lost, only to be replaced by the Marple Square & Robin Hood Chase shopping precincts, and a small number of other shops dotted around the estate. The hundred or so pubs were replaced by 10 new premises, and community facilities (Community Centres & churches) were also reduced significantly.

The area of St Ann’s we know today as Stonebridge Park is located on the eastern side of the estate boarded by three main roads; Beacon Hill Rise road, St Matthias Road, and Stonebridge Road. Rebuilt in 1976 by Wimpey’s after slum clearance, the Stonebridge Park estate consisted of 70% low rise 3-tier blocks of flats, and 3/4 bedroom houses. In its heyday Stonebridge had a population of about 450 tenants & residents.

However, the flats were not well liked by locals. The forecourts were all dark, dingy and lay hidden below 2 ½ meter high brick walls, a haven for crime & antisocial behaviour. These forecourts were not maintained by the City Council, and later Nottingham City Homes; broken paving slabs and missing drain covers were a constant hazard as the lighting was poor because bulbs were not replaced at the end of their lifespan.

The layout created numerous interlocking footpaths, so criminals had an easy escape without Police being able to peruse them, except on foot or mountain bikes later on.

Drug dealing was a major problem around Eastham Close flats, and the five pedestrian subways along other areas of the estate. Some of the flats were also used for such purposes, and prostitution plagued the Stonebridge Estate in the summer of 2005.

While main areas of St Ann’s were being improved by government funded schemes, like the Estate Action program & Nottingham City Challenge (1995), Stonebridge Park suffered through the lack of council maintenance & neglect by Nottingham City Homes. After twenty-five years (2001) the Stonebridge Park was run-down and locals felt they had been abandoned by their landlord. There was no sense of pride in the area, and good neighbourliness had evaporated.

In the summer of 2002 the Melville Gardens Tenants & Residents Association was formed (MGTRA), with the aim of reducing antisocial behaviour by making changes to the interlocking footpaths; introducing bollards, new fences and railings etc. Footpaths needed either closing, staggered fences or posts put in place to stop them being used as motorbike rat runs. However, it was the fact stolen cars could drive across the greens to a site where they were eventually burnt out, that was of greatest concern.

In addition MGTRA wanted the council to replace their old rotted windows & doors with double glazing. The association obtained a £3,000 grant from the Area-6 committee to employ Alan Schofield, who worked with them to draw up a Residents Plan for their area of Stonebridge Park.

The Limmen & Melville Residents Plan took shape in 2002, and most citizens in the area took part in the consultation process.

Then in the summer of 2002 a number of residents situated in Flewitt Gardens, and Dennett Close, visited LMTRA and sat in on a number of meetings. Mrs Maureen Graham decided that they too should form a Residents Association even though they lacked experience, and formed a committee, and local labour councillor Dave Liversidege gave them a lot of help and encouragement. This group soon decided that the Estate needed to have a new name to make it sound a nice area of St Ann's, and decided upon Stonebridge Park named after Stonebridge Road, and Stonebridge City Farm. Their group thereafter was known as Stonebridge Park Tenants & Residents Association (SPTRA), and the area became the Stonebridge Park Estate.

SPTRA then applied for their own set up funding, and an additional £3,000 grant to hire Mr Alan Schofield to work with them to put together their own Residents Plan once he had finished at Limmen & Melville. This four month period to January 2003, was a difficult time for SPTRA members, in working their way through the funding application process of the Area 6 St Ann's Committee. Once approved a public meeting at the nearby Bluebell Hill Community Centre was arrange to announce the good news. There after in 2003 monthly public meetings were held, accept no Minutes were ever recorded, no newsletters were put together & circulated, and most importantly they had no contact address or phone number for anyone to get in touch with them!

Nearly all of the committee members of SPTRA were home owner/occupiers, and the majority lacked experience of running a Tenants & Residents Association, or customer relations.

The public consultation process run by Alan Schofield was going well for the first 8 weeks, then the number of locals attending meetings dropped dramatically, and no one turned out! Undeterred, the SPTRA committee pressed ahead and drew up their own Residents Plan. Sadly, instead of allowing Stonebridge tenants & residents to see, and comment on the plans, in 2004 SPTRA arranged a private meeting with council officers and just handed it over. A public meeting followed; however, few locals were impressed, while council officers praised the plans as a turning point for the Stonebridge Park Estate, and local Labour Councillor Jon Collins, on behalf of Nottingham City Council, pledge £1m to fund the improvements during 2005 – The process to change Stonebridge Park for the better had begun.

By Richard Pearson

VIDEO: The Robin Hood Pageant 2011

Nottingham Castle.UK

The Robin Hood Pageant happens every year at Nottingham Castle, and attracts hundreds of tourists far & wide. This year I went along with my friends June & Andrew Gaskell, together with their daughters Jessica (10) & Angelina (8). They invited their school friend Holly. It was a lovely day out and the weather was fine.

VIDEO: Update 1 November 2011

Stonebridge Park, St Ann's, Nottingham.UK

This is the latest video showing the construction of the new houses on the Stonebridge Park Estate, St Ann’s. There is a lot of work going on by EnviroEnergy who are installing the new district heating network in Magson close and Eastham Close.

I was surprised to see the 5 feet high perimeter brick wall and small yard at the rear of the first completed house on Stonebridge, located at the top of Magson Close. The rest of the Long Hedge Street also has small backyards, and there are no front gardens only off road parking areas outside the front doors! This may be a problem for young families with children, or planning to have offspring, as the kids will have no where to play outdoors. The nearest play area, Rocket Park, is some distance away.

The video begins showing a large crane lifting building materials for the new Peveril-Apartments on the former Pub site near Bluebell Hill Road. Melville Gardens, Jersey Gardens, Long Hedge top of Magson Close, Top view of Magson Close, Magson Close from the Lord Alcester Pub car park, Bottom of Magson close showing St Matthias Apartments, Magson Close proper. Stonebridge City Farm, top of Wray Close, then into Rocket Park. Pym Walk flats area, Dennet Close top-row, Dennet Close bottom-row, Eastham Close, Peveril pub site, Bollywood apartments. Then views looking down towards Flewitt Gardens. The last views show the double parked cars in Stonebridge Road, and Paul’s corner shop which has just been repainted outside. This is the only local shop available, with reasonable prices, for Stonebridge Park residents

Video: Peveril Pub & Eastham Close Jan 2007

Stonebridge Park, St Ann's, Nottingham

This is a new archive film to add to your collection, it was taken in January 2007 showing Eastham Close flats, and the Peveril public house a short time before demolition. On 17th January gun shots were fired through the front window of a house in Kelverdon Gardens opposite the public house, which is the reason for the police cars. A guest appearance by Loraine Crofts who lives in Eastham Close appears at the end! The accompanying music is Morecombe & Wise ‘Bring me Sunshine’.

VIDEO: Update 15th October

Stonebridge Park, Nottingham. UK

The First House to be completed on Stonebridge is shown below

The rest of the Long Hedge street is shown in the above photo

Matt Cooney use to be the Housing Manager for St Ann’s, Nottingham, so we were all very pleased to see him at the turf cutting ceremony in January, and again at the official opening of the first house to be completed on Stonebridge Park this month.

THE FIRST HOUSE to be completed on Stonebridge was officially opened on the morning of 13^th October 2011 on the Long Hedge site, top of Magson Close. It is a significant achievement after work began on the Estate just 10 months ago.

This is the latest Video of the Estate taken on a lovely sunny Saturday afternoon. It begins in Eastham Close, then round Dennet Close, the Peveril Pub site, and Eastham Close again! Fairholm Court, Rocket Park, Jersey Gardens, round the back and into Wray Close, then Magson close to the top. We continue up St Matthias road to view the New Albany House complex, back into jersey Gardens, and then we follow the footpath along Melville Gardens.

The LHA-ASRA Group comprises LHA, ASRA Greater London Housing Association, and Nottingham charity Family First.

With offices in Leicester, Nottingham, and London, it owns and manages more than 11,000 homes across an area extending from Nottinghamshire across Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, to London, and employs 547 staff.

It is an approved Investment Partner of the Homes and Communities Agency, and has a capital programme worth over £140 million gross. LHA-ASRA works with 35 local authorities including Nottingham City Council, and 27 London boroughs.

Group member Family First provides community services (including recycling), housing services, care services and children/family services.

The Group provides a mixture of general needs accommodation and care and supported housing (managed by Group members ASRA, Family First and LHA Support Services).

HYSON GREEN: Planning Blunder of Nottingham Council

This 1978 film was made by ATV and shows the living conditions in Hyson Green, Nottingham, that eventually led to the Hyson Green flats being demolished. Today the ASDA super store occupies much of the site, which is regenerated and the local economy improved. Balloon Woods flats, St Ann’s, Phase 10  / Marple Square (St Ann’s) are other example of planning defects by the Nottingham City Council!

Flewitt Gardens Decision bad for Stonebridge

 

Top: Flewitt Gardens

Below: 2009 & Sept’ 2011 Dennet Close opposite Flewitt Gardens

 

The front row of houses in Flewitt Gardens lies within the Phase 1 Construction area, and is situated opposite the new houses being built on Dennet Close opposite. All of the tenants & home owner/occupiers that live here are angry that they have not been included in the latest round of consultations for off road parking, new perimeter fences and cladding. It was pointed out at the last SPTRA meeting on 5th October that these houses should have been given priority over other areas outside the Phase 1, in Wray Close & Stonebridge Road. The decision to exclude this row of homes was taken without the knowledge of Stonebridge Park Tenants & Residents Association, and no announcement was made at the August public meeting on the Estate.

Lytton Close Road

View Looking down Lytton Close

I was surprised that it is the intension of LHA_ASRA to name this section of road: Dennett Road as it is actually an extension of Eastham Close Road. With all of the tenant home owner/occupiers of Lytton Close not wanting there street re-named, it brings into question whether the two new shoebox houses built next to Mr Whyman’s home of 9 Lytton Close will be located in Dennet Close or Eastham Close, even though they have been constructed on the Eastham Close area!

The main concern of the Lytton Close locals is that this section of new road has no pavement either side, and no street lighting is to be introduced in the near future. Despite the recent reassurance from Mr Alex Barras (Stonebridge project Manager LHA_ASRA) that there will be street lights (24^th August meeting), I am advised by the street lighting dept they have no plans to lay street lighting cables in front of Lytton Close prior to the construction of this new road.

 

If you are unable to persuade the street lighting dept to do otherwise, it means that the road will be built to a high standard, and then contractors will come along and dig two narrow trenches either side of the road, along the full length, to install the necessary Street lighting cables! Or there will be NO street lights here at all making the roadway a serious safety hazard for locals, as we have said all along.

 

The other consideration is the use of traffic calming -- staggered humps -- along the proposed road in front of Lytton Close. I am advised by the cleansing section of NCC that this would make the road difficult for bin-lorries to travel along, in addition to emergency vehicles.

Shoebox Houses

Above: B1 type house under construction on Eastham Close

Above: B2 type houses under construction on the Long Hedge Site, top of Magson Close

I fully agree with the Developer LHA_ASRA’s  company motto: "Building Better Homes, Better Communities and Better Lives.” This applies to Stonebridge Park along side the tenants of their properties in other areas of the midlands.

 

I am deeply concerned that the 10 small houses marked B1 & B2 on the building plans for Stonebridge (6 on the Long hedge site; 2 on Eastham Close), and referred to as “Shoebox houses” by the Royal British Institute of Architects, will not be suitable for new families. Not just because the personal space of each new occupant per dwelling is too small to be healthy, it’s the small gardens outside each home that are unsuitable for children to play in. The garden space does not allow enough area for parents to erect play equipment!

 

Inside the two shoebox houses on Eastham Close, there is no closet to store children’s toys/play equipment, in addition to garden tools, ironing board, mops, brushes or even shoes or wellies!

For first time buyers with young children, these shoebox houses on Stonebridge do not appear to be value for money, and new families don’t have much of a choice. The only people that would want to buy these shoebox homes are those seeking to buy-to-rent, or to make a quick sale for profit..

In recent years, this is what has happened on the Wishing Well pub site, and opposite Hendon Rise (a former quarry) both in St Ann’s Well Road. Neither of these options has worked, and for sale signs are present all the time

 

At the recent SPTRA public meeting, my intension was to draw attention to the 24^th September publication of the RIBA report that looked at new build homes around the country, and in June I provided detailed plans of the B1 & B2 type houses so these could be decided upon as well.

 

There is no doubt that all of the new houses, flats & apartments under construction on Stonebridge are being built to a very high standard, and that your partner Lovell’s is building them speedily and on target. It’s not the quality, it’s the size that matters, and that is what I am referring to along side the smallness of the gardens.

 

I am not against the regeneration of Stonebridge Park; I am 100% for it. I do want the scheme to succeed and be a lovely estate on which people would want to live. I also know that the scheme nearly did not happen, and that locals are lucky to have this new phase 1 redevelopment. However, it must be done right.

 

In the 1970s & 80s Nottingham City Council made a number of planning blunders around the city of Nottingham: Hyson Green flats, Balloon Woods, St Ann’s, and Phase-10 / Marple Square (St Ann’s); all of which either had to be demolished and the region rebuilt, or the area regenerated after a relatively short period of time. The blocks of flats which once stood on Stonebridge Park had a lifespan of only 32 years!

 

I do not want to see the planning defects of today become the slums of tomorrow!

Rocket Park Lifts Off

By Caroline Lowbridge

Caroline.Lowbridge@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk

RESIDENTS have celebrated the transformation of a park which has been redesigned to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Rocket Park used to significantly dip in the middle, meaning troublemakers could hide there without being seen.

But the sunken park has now been raised to make it more visible and safer for children. New paths, litter bins and benches have been provided, and plaques have been placed on two of the benches in memory of Maureen Graham, who campaigned for regeneration of the estate.

The improvements were welcomed by PCSO Michelle Kent, who covers the Marmion and Stonebridge beats in St Ann's.

She said: "It was a run-down park before and no one used it. It was just broken bits of metal and wood. It couldn't be used for children.

"People tend to go down to the run-down areas and they think no one is paying attention so they can do what they want. Now some work has been done, hopefully people will give it some respect."

Maureen Graham, who formed Stonebridge Park Tenants' and Residents' Association (SPTRA) almost a decade ago, died in August 2007.

She and her new members gave the estate its modern name of Stonebridge Park in an effort to turn its image around.

SPTRA chairwoman Laura Summers hopes the transformed Rocket Park will be well used by families.

She said: "I remember playing on it as a child but it deteriorated over the years. It looked like a scene out of the beginning of Terminator.

"There's a lot less chance for anti-social behaviour now."

St Ann's ward councillor Dave Liversidge opened the park following the first phase of improvements. He did this at a fun day held on September 30, which was attended by dozens of residents.

Consultation is starting with residents on the second phase of the scheme, which will look at a play area for the park.

Just over £145,000 of council funds was set aside to improve the open space, which is also known as Jersey Gardens.

Mr Liversidge said: "It became known as Rocket Park because it had rocket-shaped climbing frames, but it was just used for druggies to sit on.

"It used to go right down in a dip. It used to be at least three times further into a dip. The people in the surrounding houses couldn't see people, so kids couldn't play and it became a place where druggies used to sit.

"This is what the community wanted at the time, to get it into a state we could use."

SPTRA treasurer Ben Rowson, who lives in Jersey Gardens, overlooking the park, said: "Parents couldn't see their kiddies playing because it was hidden too deep. I think it had just not been maintained and it got worse and worse. It will be good when they put new play equipment here."

Mrs Graham has been widely credited with turning the estate around.

The plaques on the benches also credit her husband. The plaques say: "In memory of Maureen and George Graham and their contribution to the work of the Stonebridge Park Tenants' and Residents' Association."

Video: Update 2 October 2011

Stonebridge park, St Ann's, Nottingham UK

This is the latest slide show of images around Stonebridge showing the installation of the new hot water ring main, and heating pipe-work of the EnviroEnergy District Heating Scheme. Waste refuse is burnt at the Eastcroft incinerator in London Road, Nottingham, turning water to boiling point. This is distributed around pipes to homes & businesses in Nottingham City centre and St Ann’s. Households use it for bathing and washing etc.

The route begins in Melville Gardens, Magson Close Long hedge site, Magson Close proper, Fairholm Court, Rocket Park, Pym Walk flats site, Dennet Close, Eastham Close, and ending at the Peveril (pub) site next to Beacon Hill Rise Road. The last images show the Eastham Close houses front & back yards.

Video: Rocket Park Memorial open day

On the 30th September in glorious sunshine Councillors Dave Liversidege & Sue Johnson dedicated a plaque in memory of George and Maureen Graham, in doing so they opened the new look Rocket Park to the public. David said that £447,000 was made available to transform the park, and some money remained to add new play equipment on the site. Maureen Graham was the chairlady of SPTRA from 2003- 2007.

Did you take any photographs on the day, would you like to share them? If so please send images by e-mail to richard.pearson53@yahoo.co.uk no later than 15th October 2011, and they will all be edited into the above slide show, in return I will send you a copy on a DVD that you may play on your TV and make copies for your friends & family. Or Share the video with others on your Facebook web site.

VIDEO UPDATE: 18 September

The next public meeting of Stonebridge Park Tenants & Residents Association is at 7pm on 5th October at Stonebridge Farm.

Britain’s new built homes like the two single houses on Eastham Close, those now under construction on Dennet Close, and the two on the Long Hedge site at the top of Magson Close, are the smallest in western Europe and many are too small for family life, says a new report by the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba). But what is living in a “shoe-box house” like?

This is the latest video of photographs taken around the Estate. The cleanly swept streets were very noticeable, so well done Lovell – thank you for listening to the concerns of locals at the last SPTRA meeting. The other noticeable change is Rocket Park, where the new shrub beds are caked in weeds and these will soon grow to a metre tall! Its a shame that after all the hard work of landscaping that which has taken place, Rocket Park is not being maintained.

The Video begins in Magson Close, then moves on to Rocket Park, Pym Walk flats area, Dennet Close upper level, Dennet Close lower level, Eastham Close, and the Peveril pub site fronting Beacon Hill Rise road.