SPRING 2010 TENANT NEWSLETTER Ayrshire Housing completes more new homes in Prestwick The former leader of South Ayrshire Council, Councillor Hugh Hunter opened Ayrshire Housing’s latest development at Observer Court, Prestwick. Councillor Hunter and the Ayrshire Housing team are pictured here with tenant Fern Galloway, and some of her new neighbours who are delighted with their new homes. See Inside for: Get Ready for Summer Lochside Completion Staff News Ayrshire Housing completes more new homes in Prestwick Ayrshire Housing is delighted to announce the completion of 10 new homes for affordable rent in Prestwick. The new development, named Observer Court after the above-ground Royal Observer Corps shelter which was previously positioned here, is just off the Ayr Road and is a distinctive and impressive addition to the area, which has recently also seen substantial investment by South Ayrshire Council in the properties they own next to the development. The project was supported by generous grants from the Scottish Government and is the result of successful partnership between Ayrshire Housing and Kingcase Parish Church. The church released land for the creation of much needed affordable housing, which in turn facilitated the enlargement of their church hall. Indeed, campaigning group Scottish Churches Housing Action has highlighted the project nationally as an example of what a church with surplus land or buildings can do by working in partnership with its local housing association. The final stage of the partnership is the completion of the church’s new car park. The development was opened by the former leader of South Ayrshire Council, Councillor Hugh Hunter, who welcomed the creation of further housing for affordable rent in this area, as well as praising the long-standing relationship between Ayrshire Housing and South Ayrshire Council, which has delivered housing specially designed for people leaving residential care in the majority of our new housing developments. The 10 new homes are made up of 6 flats and 4 houses, 2 of which were specially adapted to suit the needs of families with particular requirements. The development was designed by award winning Ayr based architects ARPL. Sadly the original contractor, the long established Moulds of Kilmarnock, went out of business last summer. The project was completed by Prestwick based Ashleigh (Scotland) Ltd. LOCHSIDE COMPLETION The final 32 homes in our Lochside regeneration project have now been completed, making a total of 100 new homes for affordable rent available in this area. Lochside had previously been a low demand area, and in partnership with South Ayrshire Council 132 unpopular houses were demolished in 2008 to make way for new, modern family homes. The project has transformed the area into a series of “home zones”, with every house having its own private garden and car parking area. Their design ensures that a range of house needs can be accommodated including a small number of dedicated wheelchair standard houses. In addition, the development works have been complemented by a programme of modernisation and environmental improvements in the neighbouring South Ayrshire Council owned stock. Alongside the redevelopment works, an exciting range of community building and arts based projects is supported by both Ayrshire Housing and South Ayrshire Council, and delivered by Aspire2gether through the Lochside People and Place Initiative. Housing Management staff have been very much involved in these projects, as well as in promoting the Lochside Tenants and Residents Association, based at Lochside Community Centre. MORE LOCHSIDE NEWS In line with Ayrshire Housing’s commitment to ensure that the regeneration of the Lochside area continues after building completes, Housing Officer Margaret Woods is working hard with other agencies in the area to support the new area’s growth. Margaret is very positive about how the community is coming together, saying “Things are going really well at Lochside and everyone is settling in really well. At the moment we’re working with the new Lochside Tenants and Residents Association to make sure that the views of our tenants are being heard, while we are also working closely with South Ayrshire Council Environmental Health department, the Community Police Officers and South Ayrshire Council Problem Solving Team to make sure that the area continues to flourish.” Following the completion of the final 32 properties in the Lochside development, work will commence in the Spring to landscape the common areas that are another key aspect of the rejuvenated area. HOW WE PERFORM……. At Ayrshire Housing we are keen to ensure that our tenants are given information about the organisation’s performance. Here are some key facts and figures for the year up to 31 March 2010. • Average re-let time for void properties is currently at 12 days, well below our target of 20 days. • Current tenant arrears (non-technical) as at 31/3/10 was 0.96% of all rent due, considerably below our target of 1.1% of rent due. • Percentage of tenants owing more than £250 or 13 weeks rent was at 2.38% as at 31/3/10, below our target of 3.5% • Application form processing time as at 31/3/10 was on average 7 days, below our target of 10 days. • 94% of Urgent and Routine repairs were completed on time, (within 3 working days and 15 working days respectively) less than our 96% target. • 99% of Emergency Repairs were attended within our given timescale of 4 hours. You will be aware that we carry out most NEW HOUSING OFFICER AREAS repairs to your home but there are some which are your own responsibility. Unfortunately Following the return to work of Senior Housing some of our tenants will not be able to carry Officer Carol Young, the areas which each out these repairs to their home as easily as housing officer looks after will be changing, others. with effect from 1 May 2010 to: T h e r e i s a n organisation which Carol Young, Senior Housing Officer may be able to help Forehill, The Sandgate, Crown Square if you live in South and Blackfriars Court in Ayr. Ayrshire, are elderly or disabled and Isobel Moore have no one to help South Harbour Street, Corton Howe, you carry out small jobs around the house, George Place and Duke Terrace in Ayr, examples are as follows: - Maybole, Dalrymple, Dailly, Crosshill, Kirkmichael and Straiton. • Relocating furniture or heavy items within the property Dawn Bigham • Changing light bulbs Mossblown, Tarbolton, Symington, • Putting up shelves, curtain rails or Dundonald, Annbank, Monkton, changing curtains Troon and Prestwick. • Build up flat pack items • Fixing door and cupboard handles • Installing draught excluders Ann Tosh • Simple electrical jobs (e.g. changing a Belmont, Chalmers Road, St pair Handy Person Service fuse, rewiring a plug) Leonards Road, Rockrose Park and • Simple plumbing work (e.g. Rush Hill in Ayr, Barr, Girvan, unblocking ‘U’ pipes, fixing tap Ballantrae, Kirkoswald and Saltcoats. washer) • Fitting safety chains/peepholes Margaret Woods • Door bells Viewfield Court, Lochside, Braehead • Minor adaptations Avenue, Ferguson Street, Walker • Small area painting e.g. window Road, Fulshaw Place, West Sanquhar frames and Thornyflat in Ayr, Coylton. South Ayrshire Care & Repair is a free and REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE AREAS South Ayrshire Care and Re independent service designed to improve the quality of housing for older people or people John Hendry with disabilities. There will be a charge for Forehill, Thornyflat, Crown Square, materials used but the labour is free of West Sanquhar, Corton Howe, George Place and Viewfield Court in charge. Ayr, Mossblown, Crosshill, Dailly, If you think you are entitled to this service and Girvan, Barr and Dalrymple. would like more information, please contact Care and Repair on 01292 521126. You can Murray Paton also visit their website at Belmont, Chalmers Road, St Leonard’s Road, South Harbour www.southayrshirecareandrepair.co.uk Street, The Sandgate, Blackfriars, Lochside and Fulshaw in Ayr, Coylton, Dundonald, Troon, Barassie, Please note, the service is unable to help with Symington, Tarbolton, Prestwick, Maybole, gardening, decorating, repairing white goods Kirkoswald, Kirkmichael, Ballantrae, Monkton or general cleaning services. and Straiton. Congratulations to Zoe McGrady, Admin Assistant with the safe arrival of Zac a beautiful baby boy. Carol Young, Senior Housing Officer returned to work in February after the recent arrival of baby Andrew. Rose Estelles, Project Manager will be returning to work in the near future after the recent arrival of baby Theo. BABY THEO FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.AYRSHIREHOUSING.ORG.UK Here are some of the great features you will see on our website; Apply for housing online; Ayrshire Housing held a healthy heart lunch and raised £50 which was donated to the British Report a repair; Heart Foundation. View articles about our work; Tell us what you think about our Newsletter? Tell us what you think; We are constantly trying to improve the standard of the information we send out to Job opportunities; you. Find out about the services we Is the Newsletter easy to read? Yes/No offer and how you can get more Are the articles useful/interesting? Yes/No involved; Do you like the layout and design? Yes/No Do you have any suggestions for improving the View our recent newsletters and Newsletter? subscribe to receive Enewsletters; ……………………………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………. Access pages in a range of formats such as larger fonts and a speech Would you prefer to receive your Newsletter in a reader (DixerIT); different format? Large Print Our website is constantly being updated with information By Email which is relevant to Your Name: ………………………………………… you, so why Your Address: ………………………………………… not log on today! Please return this form to Sharon Ritchie at 119 Main Street, AYR, KA8 8BX Tenants’ Panel As part of Ayrshire Housing’s commitment to tenant participation, we are currently looking for tenants who would be interested in having a say in the way we manage our homes as part of an informal Tenants’ Panel.