Residents Rewarded For Restoring Pride To Longwood Park
Longwood Park, an estate in Langley, Berkshire, has received another award to add to its, already impressive, collection. The awards have been presented in recognition of the stunning turnaround of this once condemned community into one of the most desirable addresses in the area, with a list of people queuing up to move in.
This remarkable transformation is all down to the residents of Longwood Park, with the support of Windsor Housing, part of Radian.
The Slough and District Civic Society 'Improvement to the Environment' award, was presented to proud members of the Community Board at a ceremony held in Slough Town Hall last week in acknowledgement of their impact on the local community.
Local eyesore before Longwood Park after
Marian Green, Community Board Chair said: "This is a great honour and reminder of how important it is for us as residents to make sure Longwood Park continues to be a credit to the local environment and a place where we can be proud to live. It is up to us all to keep our estate looking good."
The history of this estate is remarkable. In 2000, residents learnt that Slough Borough Council was planning to tear down the four, dilapidated, thirteen storey tower blocks that symbolised the estate. The residents' reaction to this, however, was defiant and Longwood's metamorphosis began as they decided to take charge of their own destiny.
"Longwood Park was an estate which had lost its pride and much of its community spirit. The tower blocks were in poor condition and there was increasing vandalism and anti-social behaviour. Our estate had become a place which was not popular. There were empty flats because people on the council's housing waiting list did not want to come and live here." Charlie Langham, Community Board and former Chair.
Residents decided to organise meetings, newsletters, notice boards, comment boxes and family fun days to involve everyone in deciding how they could improve the estate. However, the council rejected their proposals on financial grounds.
Undeterred, the residents and the council invited not-for-profit landlords to bid to undertake the proposed work, in exchange for taking over as landlord of the estate. Parkside Housing, now Windsor Housing, was selected and a three-way partnership was formed with residents, the council and Windsor Housing working together to realise the £30 million facelift.
Residents agreed that two of the unsightly blocks of flats should be replaced by new, low-rise homes and a specially designed park to provide a safe space for children to play. The two remaining high-rise blocks would be modernised inside and out and include a new on-site housing office, resource centre, and library with free computer suite for residents.
"Once, nobody wanted to move in. Even the local pizza deliveries didn't want to drive out here, as the neighbourhood became more and more run down. Now there is a waiting list and Longwood Park is transformed. The residents can rightly take 100% of the credit." Longwood Park Resident.
The Community Board, made up entirely from residents that live on the estate, meets every six weeks to organise the day-to-day management of the 352 units. The recent Community Board elections were oversubscribed with candidates who all wanted to be a part of the continuation of this stunning project. Those residents who are not on the Board are always welcome to attend the meetings to raise any points they may have.
When Longwood Park won the prestigious UK Housing Gold Award, the Community Board was invited to meet Prince Phillip at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party. The Duke of Edinburgh was so impressed by the project that he personally visited the groundbreaking estate last year, to officially celebrate the completion of the redevelopment, a full two years ahead of schedule.
Photocaption
Members of Longwood Park Community Board: Marian Green (Chair), Malcolm Nightingale (Vice-Chair), Cathy Cramman, Jim Doyle, Gareth Clarke and tenant Eileen Green with Civic Society President, Melville Cuttell.
