Guildhall North NRA

In April 2004, the Guildhall North Neighbourhood Renewal Area (GNNRA) Initiative was declared. The Guildhall North area lies within Folkestone Harvey Central ward, which is one of the four deprived wards in Folkestone. The GNNRA has been set up to improve the housing stock through a range of grants and loans.

The GNNRA also addresses a range of quality-of-life issues within the area, including improvements to the streetscene, addressing anti-social behaviour, and offering advice.

A ‘one-stop shop’ Neighbourhood Renewal Office was established within Guildhall North in December 2004. At this centre a range of services offers a drop-in facility to the local community. Strong links have also been made with B-4-8s, Shelter and Shepway PCT.

Shepway District Council is the core funder of the GNNRA Initiative, which has already developed the following projects:

• Free home maintenance surveys have been offered to all residents, with 187 dwellings being visited in the area.
• Alley Gate Scheme on Ingles Lane
• Replacement of street name plates
• Improved street lighting

During this financial year, the GNNRA has a budget in the region of £200,000 to carry out a number of projects in the area. The GNNRA will continue to work closely in partnership with a number of local initiatives, including:

• Local Services: In partnership with Christ Church Primary School, East Kent Primary Care Trust and B-4-8s,;new services such as childcare, health educatio and parenting skills are becoming available at the school for families in the area.
• GNNRA is teaming up with SureStart to carry out local research looking into current service provision in the area, and ways that this can be improved.
• Working with the Community Safety Unit at Shepway District Council, funding has been secured for the area under the ‘Cubit Plus’ scheme, which will co-ordinate efforts to clean up the environment.
• GNNRA is helping to facilitate residents' groups in setting up Neighbourhood Watch schemes in the area.