Pictured above: Sandwell residents gathered at
Smethwick's Victoria Park to celebrate their local area and
hear more about plans for its transformation
Hundreds of Sandwell residents gathered at Smethwick's Victoria
Park to celebrate their local area and hear more about plans
for its transformation.
'Summer Celebration' highlighted the diversity and future
development of the Windmill Eye estate, and was supported and
funded by regeneration agency Urban Living and organised by
Sandwell Council's Windmill Lane and Cape Hill Neighbourhood
Management Team.
It also gave people a chance to hear about what is currently
going on in the area from local agencies, service providers
and community groups.
The celebration was the latest in a programme of community
involvement initiatives by the council in partnership with
Urban Living.
Over the last 12 months a residents' steering group has been
formed and a team of residents have gathered local opinion to
help shape the neighbourhood plan.
Residents have also taken part in a special DVD funded by Urban
Living which sets out local views on the future of the area,
and a residents' charter is being developed by local
people.
As part of the process, major consultation events will be held
in the autumn when the draft Neighbourhood Plan for the
Windmill Eye area will be unveiled.
This will determine how the area will be transformed over the
coming years with the potential for 750 new homes on cleared
sites.
Adam Carey, Urban Living director of strategy and community
engagement, said residents are at the heart of the
masterplanning process for the area.
He added: "These types of events are a great way to get local
people on board and excited about future plans for the
area."
Cllr Simon Hackett, chair of Sandwell Council's Strategic
Housing Forum, said: "The Summer Celebration was a great event
and it's good to see so many people taking an interest in the
future of the Windmill Eye.
"The neighbourhood plan is a huge opportunity to ensure a great
future for the people who live in the area."