Housing customers vote on how crime can payback

CUSTOMERS of Halton Housing Trust have the chance to vote for the areas where  they feel the  Community Payback Team can improve their neighbourhood.

To launch the Community Payback scheme across Runcorn and Widnes the Trust is asking both customers and residents to vote on the area they would like to see improved.

Noel Sharpe, Director of Customer Service at Halton Housing Trust, said: “We hope as many people as possible will take advantage of this opportunity.

“It is one of our priorities to make a real difference to our customers’ lives by helping to create better neighbourhoods and communities and this is a chance for people to influence where we make the improvements.”

The Trust has shortlisted five neighbourhoods for the vote. They are:

A. West Bank
B. Stewards Avenue Estate
C. Upton Estate
D. Montgomery Road Estate
E. Grangeway.

Once the votes are counted the scheme will launch in the chosen area.  The scheme will then move to different areas on a referral basis in partnership with the Cheshire Probation Team. 

Last year, more than 170,000 hours of community payback was carried out in Cheshire, including 31,634 hours in Halton.

Tasks included removing graffiti, litter picking and clearing undergrowth from pathways to repairing and redecorating community centres and working on environmental projects.

Noel Sharpe added: “As well as ensuring our homes are safe and secure, we play an active part in our local communities, ensuring our neighbourhoods are places people can be proud to live in.

“Work of this kind often goes unnoticed. However, under the rules of the scheme offenders must wear bright orange high-visibility jackets marked ‘Community Payback’ which means the projects combine visible hard work with the prospect of offenders achieving vocational and crucial life skills.”

Customers and residents can vote by texting A, B, C, D or E to 07985 683683.  Nomination forms are available in Trust offices and from Housing Officers.  Download our Community Payback leaflet for more information.