COMMUNITY FIRST PLAN FOR MACKWORTH WARD
Summary
Mackworth is located to the west of the City Centre. It follows the line of the A52 and extends to the perimeter of the City. To the north lies Markeaton Park and to the south lies the Mickleover/Mackworth Green Wedge. To the east, in Amber Valley, lies Mackworth Village and open countryside.
The A38 bisects Mackworth creating distinct areas: Mackworth Estate to the west and the New Zealand/Ashbourne Road area to the east.
Historically development spread from the City Centre along the route of Friar Gate/Ashbourne Road into what is now Mackworth Ward. During the late 1800s and early 1900s development spread to the north and south of Ashbourne Road in the form of terraced housing to house workers from the mills in the surrounding area. The population of the ward expanded significantly in the post war period with the development of the Mackworth housing estate to the west of the A38, developing the Ward to the City boundary.
There are large areas of incidental open space within the Mackworth Estate area. There are also large areas of open space on the periphery of the Ward such as Mackworth Park and Markeaton Park to the south and north respectively. Public open space provision within areas to the east of the A38 is more limited, due to its inner City and higher density character.
The Mackworth Estate area of the Ward is characterised by low density, mid 20th Century council housing, dispersed with large areas of incidental open space that provide a green corridor linking Mackworth Park and Markeaton Park. Housing densities in this area are generally low, whilst the predominant housing type is semi detached. The street patterns are characterised by long sweeping avenues linked by smaller roads with the occasional cul-de-sac. The layout is quite intricate and allows for a high level of permeability through the area.
The Stepping Lane and New Zealand area is characterised by higher density buildings built during the Victorian era. The townscape is dominated by terraced properties generally set out in a grid layout. Smaller plot sizes and higher densities give the area a finer urban structure.
Access through the Ward is predominantly along the Ashbourne Road A52 and A38 corridors, whilst Radbourne Lane and Prince Charles Avenue are also important routes through the area.
Mackworth has a small District Centres which is on Prince Charles Avenue which has a Co-op supermarket and other small retails outlets. There are two other Neighbourhood Centres within the Mackworth Estate on Humbleton Drive and Drayton Avenue.
Resident Priorities
The Community First Panel has been aligned to the existing Neighbourhood Board and Forum, so that the aspirations for the ward already identified through neighbourhood working can be met through the additional resource of the Community First budget.
We also hold Board on Patrol estate walkabouts, resident Neighbourhood Forums in both parts of the Ward allowing residents to choose their priorities. We also have sub-groups that look at issues within the Ward. All of the above are methods used to engage with residents in the ward and to seek out what is important to those who live in this ward.
We identified what residents want for their local area through the “You Said, We Did” initiative at Neighbourhood Forums over the past two years. In the past two years we have consulted with in excess of 352 residents via these means. The priorities below are what the residents wanted. These are due to be reviewed in 2013/14 in line with the Neighbourhood Plan.
The priorities of the Community First Panel are:
· Reducing Anti Social Behaviour
Achievements to date include: funding activities for young people and those of all ages, putting in speed cameras and holding regular meetings to discuss tackling any form of anti social behaviour.
· Improving Feeling Safe Within The Ward
Achievements to date include: funding bollards, CCTV cameras repairing footpaths, looking at creating parking areas, providing extra lighting and removing fencing and posts.
· Communication & Promotion Within The Ward
Achievements to date include: Supporting a community event by funding a marquee, funding a neighbourhood booklet and notice boards
· Cleaner, Greener Areas
Achievements to date include: Improvements to two play areas within the Ward encouraging healthy activities, funding litter picking equipment to a local school, providing more litter bins within the ward.
Other available funding
The following additional funding is available to community groups in the Mackworth Ward:
Streetpride devolved budget accessed through Neighbourhood Board
Youth, Safety and Highways devolved budget accessed through Neighbourhood Board
Community devolved budget accessed through Neighbourhood Board
Housing Focus Group budget accessed through Derby Homes
Awards For All
Biffa Awards
Big Lottery – Reaching Communities
Children in Need
Comic Relief
Heritage Lottery Fund
Lloyd’s TSB Foundation
Santander
Sport England
The Nationwide Foundation
The Good Neighbour Fund
In-kind resources
To date, the following in-kind resources have been offered for use in community projects funded from the Community First budget:
· Venues/meeting rooms
· Public open space
· Handyperson skills
· Volunteer time
Projects in the Mackworth Ward which have already received Community First funding
Mackworth Estate Community Association
New Zealand Community Association
Mackworth St Francis Football Club
Derby Wheelblazers
Mackworth Indoor Bowls Club
Mackworth Crime Prevention
Mackworth Community Allotment Association
The Mackworth Ward Community First Panel met on 01 May 2013 to agree this Community First Plan.