Bexley: Bob Neill MP joins L&Q on tour of local achievements

This week, Local Government Minister Bob Neill MP took part in an L&Q tour which allowed him to see some of our achievements in Bexley and to speak with L&Q staff and residents.

The visit began with a roundtable discussion on joint local working with L&Q representatives and Bexley Councillors.

From there, the first stop on the tour was Ridley Road, Welling; an area in which L&Q manages approx. 250 properties. In recent years, Ridley Road had developed anti-social behaviour issues, becoming a meeting point for many of the area’s young people.

L&Q has worked with the police, residents and other local stakeholders to make positive changes in the area. We have also worked with the young people, listening to their needs and funding projects to improve their opportunities. As a result of this work incidents of anti-social behaviour have reduced, and residents now feel a lot safer.

The tour then moved onto the Neighbourhood Matters centre in Welling; a local community shop run by and for residents with L&Q, voluntary organisations, Bexley Council and Police support.

The centre was formerly an empty shop, owned by L&Q, which was gifted to the local community and Safer Neighbourhood team in 2007.

The centre has been a real advantage to the community in tackling anti-social behaviour and is testament to the benefits that partnership working can have on the local community. The success of the centre led to L&Q gifting another empty shop next door, in 2009.

The final stop on the tour took Mr Neill to an L&Q sheltered scheme at Elwick Court, Crayford.

Following an extensive resident consultation exercise, L&Q begun a modernisation programme for all its sheltered accommodation in the Borough. Elwick Court is one of four schemes within Phase 1 of the programme. Just over £2m has been spent across these schemes, providing new facilities including refurbished communal areas and improved security.

During the tour Mr Neill met a number of L&Q staff, including L&Q Chief Executive David Montague, who said of the day: “I felt enormously proud of the work of everyone in L&Q as I accompanied Bob Neill on his tour. “Some of the places we visited today have previously suffered from very high levels of anti-social behavior. We were able to show Mr Neill what our hard work has done to transform these areas and he was able to hear from residents about the positive impact L&Q has had on where they live”.