Riverside - What a difference a decade makes

26 April 2010
Volunteers celebrated ten years of estate management at special event in south Liverpool.

Childwall Valley Estate Management Board (EMB) has been overseeing improvements for Riverside tenants for the past eight years. Volunteers offer their time to benefit people in 576 Riverside properties on the Hartsbourne estate in Childwall. Prior to Riverside managing the properties, founding members of the EMB, Joan Minard, Anne Geraghty, Christine Brand and Eddie Geraghty got together with a group of dissatisfied tenants and residents to form the Estate Management Board to push for real change for local people. They continue to volunteer for the EMB today, along with other board members to continuously improve their neighbourhood.

Joan said: “Before Lee Valley and Riverside took over the estate it was a struggle to get repairs done and the place was run down. Now the estate has really picked up, so much so, that if a property becomes available, we have about 80 people applying for one house.”

Twelve years ago 60-year-old Joan lived in the maisonettes on Well Green Road, which Riverside demolished to make way for brand new houses and bungalows for rent and shared ownership. She remembered the anti social behaviour that was rife in the area in those days.

“Some people kept their flats nice, but others used to tip their rubbish everywhere. Some of the flats were in a right state. It used to take an age to get simple repairs done, now the repairs are second to none. The area has changed so much. Through the EMB, tenants and residents now have a say in what happens to their neighbourhood.”

Riverside has invested over £35 million on improvements to properties in Netherley and Belle Vale since it took over the properties in 2002.

Joan added: “The success of Childwall Valley EMB is down to working closely with staff as a team. Last year we achieved Guide TMO status, which means we can help support other tenant groups who would like to be more active in the community.”

Riverside has spent £12.6 million on new developments on the Hartsbourne estate and £20.6 million in the wider Netherley area. The social landlord plans to invest £11 million over the next ten years to improve open spaces, and provide more homes for sale and shared ownership, to encourage more owner occupiers to the Netherley, Belle Vale and Lee Valley areas.

Debra Clisham, EMB manager added: “We welcome new board members to help drive forward improvements. It’s a great way to influence the way the estate is run".

If you are interested in becoming a board member and live on the estate please contact Deb Clisham on 0151 488 1530.