Upton Estate set to see how crime can pay back

RESIDENTS have voted for the Upton Estate to be the first area improved by the Community Payback Team.

Halton Housing Trust asked both its customers and local residents to vote for the neighbourhood they wanted to see enhanced and Upton finished top.

“The response to the vote has been fantastic and we received as many as 150 replies via text, email and post,” said Noel Sharpe, Director of Customer Services at the Trust.

“We’re confident that once this scheme takes off it will help make a real difference to our customers’ lives by helping to create better neighbourhoods and communities.”

Voters were asked to decide from a shortlist of five where the work should take place first.

Once work on the Upton Estate is complete, the scheme will then move to different areas across the borough on a referral basis in partnership with Cheshire Probation.

The vote marked the launch of Cheshire Probation’s Community Payback scheme across Runcorn and Widnes, which will see offenders undertake tasks such as removing graffiti, litter picking and clearing undergrowth from pathways.

Areas of the Upton Estate have been identified for improvement and work is due to start at the end of May. The Trust is also planning to hold a launch event on the estate with support from Widnes Vikings.
   
Last year, more than 170,000 hours of community payback were carried out in Cheshire, including 31,634 hours in Halton.