Hello and welcome to the information page.
In this section we will be adding useful information and links to documents and websites that we think will help you with your project.
We understand that not everyone will want to make their comments on this site so please do contact us in the normal ways as below:
Email: luke.kirton@hounslow.gov.uk
Phone: 020 8583 2129
Post: Luke Kirton, CCICU Unit, Community Services Department, London Borough Of Hounslow, Civic Centre, Lampton Road, Hounslow TW3 4DN
Index
What is the Community Streets Project?
The official process
The technical bits
Do it yourself
Useful links
What is the Community Streets Project?
Take a deep breath and read the official aim of the project here:
The aim is to develop innovative, low cost, methods of improving the streetscape and enhancing the liveability of the streets. This could include such measures that help to increase the amount of space available for play, promote sustainable travel; slow traffic speeds and generally helps to create a more sociable, lively, greener environment.
Now breathe out. Good, now what does all that mean? Well with a small amount of capital funding and some support from designers and technicians our community engagement officer will work with you to make changes to your street. We hope that by doing this you will get to meet more of your neighbours, want to use more sustainable forms of transport , feel safer and generally enjoy your street more, simple really.
Want to know more? Look on the technical bits section on the information page
Good question there are two parts to the answer, The official process explains how we select the five streets each year and the process you will need to go through to be in with a shout of selection. The do it yourself section that has advice for anyone who wants to start making their street more of a community street.
The official process
We will select 5 streets each year to take part in the Project. Selection will be made through application and a set of criteria. Full details on how you can apply for next year will be up on this site before the end of April 2011. Our project year matches our financial year of April to March.
To prepare yourself for the application we have supplied some homework for you. Take a look around this site and in particular the links to other sites further down this page. If you think it is something you would like to see in your street canvass opinion of your neighbours and see if they too would be interested. If they are give the project coordinator a call and arrange for them to come and meet with you and your interested neighbours.
The technical bits
The Community Streets project has been developed in Hounslow following a successful national pilot scheme undertaken by the charity Sustrans, which brought together a traffic engineer, landscape architect and engagement officer to work with the local communities.
Hounslow’s Community Streets Project is a joint venture between Traffic & Transport Planning, the Corporate Community Investment and Cohesion Unit and Urban Design professionals from Sustrans.
Funding for this project comes through our Transport Departments Local Implementation Plan (known as LiP funding), which is put together to help achieve the Mayor of London’s Transport Strategy.
Are there any examples of the type of work that has been done elsewhere?
Yes there is, take a look at the Useful Links section and view the Sustrans DIY project. You can also link through to the
Do it yourself
You don’t need to be selected to start making your street a better community street. You can do some very simple things to improve your street that costs very little or no money at all:
Smile and say hello to your neighbours. I know I know you probably already do that after all you have read this far down the page so I am guessing you are pretty determined to make your street a better place. But seriously getting to know your neighbours is a vital start to making your street a better place.
Another very simple thing you can do is put a seat or bench in your front garden and on nice days use it rather than hiding in the back garden. You will be surprised how many people you will speak to and how much life in your street you will observe. If a fair few of you are doing it not only will it create a better sense of community it can also help make the area feel safer.
Party!!! They don’t have to be a curse of sleepless nights and arguments with your neighbours why not join up together and have a party for the whole street! See our useful links section further down the page for a guides and information on how to organise your own street party.
Has your street got a Residents Association? If it does why not join in and take part in the conversations and actions helping to make your street a better place to live.
Do you have specific problem about crime or fear of crime in your street? Then maybe setting up a Neighbourhood Watch is the way forward.
Neighbourhood Watch is a way of fostering a community spirit to help prevent crime and allay the fear of crime among residents in a particular road, a group of roads, a block of flats, an estate. Watches develop relationships between the local residents, the police and local authority. They also aim to improve the local environment by encouraging greater vigilance, improving home security, fostering a community spirit and working together to improve their environment.
Find out more here: Neighbourhood Watch Hounslow
Or Contact your local Safer Neighbour Team for further details
Useful links
Sustrans, who are helping us with the design aspect of the project, have already been involved with a national pilot of a similar scheme called DIY Streets, you can read more about this and guidance they have published here:
Link: DIY Streets
You are not alone! have a look at a blog put together by residents who are working with Sustrans on a DIY Streets project in Oxford
Link: Beechcroft Road
As a Local Authority we get a fair bit of guidance from central government departments that aid us in getting things right and avoiding the mistakes of others in the past. The Department for Transport has issued guidance for the design of streets called 'Manual for Streets'.
Following is the official blurb on the guide that you might find fits very well with our aims for the Community Streets Project. After the blurb will be the link to the web page from which you can either download a copy for free or order a hard copy for a fee. There is also a new Manual for Streets 2 that is only available at the moment to buy.
Official Blurb
Manual for Streets is expected to be used predominantly for the design, construction, adoption and maintenance of new residential streets, but it is also applicable to existing residential streets subject to re-design. It aims to assist in the creation of high quality residential streets that:
- build and stregthen communities;
- balance the needs of all users;
- form part of a well-connected network;
- create safe and attractive places which have their own identity; and
- are cost-effective to construct and maintain.
Transformation in the quality of streets requires a fundamental culture change in the way streets are designed. This needs a more collaborative approach between design professions and other stakeholder with people thinking creatively about their vriuos roles in the design process. This publication is therefire aimed at all those who have a part to play in creating high-quality streets.
Link: Manual for Streets
So what is behind the thinking that a community street is a safer street? And what is a mental speed bump? Have a read of the following ebook by David Engwicht and all, well maybe just some, will be revealed
Link: Intrigue & Uncertainty, Towards New Traffic-Taming Tools, by David Engwicht (.pdf 785KB)
There is nothing quite like a Street Party to bring neighbours together to build and strengthen your community. Fortunatley for us London Play has produced guidance on how to organise your very own street party see the follwing link for details:
Link: Street Party Guide (.pdf 1.46mb)
And as if that wasn't enough Streets Alive has an online guide for you to:
The Community Streets Project; your street, your choices.
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