LOCAL COMMUNITY PROJECTS 2

ALVASTON
The Booth Street Scene was developed by the United Alvaston Community Panel in partnership with Derby Homes, but the new leisure area for children in Alvaston faced furious protests from neighbouring residents. Parents claimed the "eyesore" will lower the tone of the neighbourhood and will cause chaos and vandalism during the summer. Funded by the New Opportunities Fund, the caged area at the corner of Anderson Street and Booth Street features a kickabout and basketball area and a play area with seating is at the other end of Booth Street, near Benson Street.

Some of the play equipment was covered in graffiti after two days. Alvaston councillor Chris Wynn said, "All the messages that we had up to now have been very positive. However, I do know there have been problems with vandalism during the course of the building work. There was a good consultation run by Derby Homes and certainly, to the best of my knowledge, the responses were quite positive and the delegation of different areas was in accordance with the majority wishes. I would urge anyone who has concerns to come and talk to councillors at our regular surgeries."

MACKWORTH
The Mackworth Estate Community Association (MECA) is to improve a football pitch with most of the grant from the Derby City Partnership. The association will use £20,000 to install better drainage at Knightsbridge football pitch. MECA has pledged to provide play facilities, with a skate park being one of the ideas put forward. Arrangements are being made with the city council's parks service, which owns the pitch, to carry out the drainage work. MECA was formerly known as Mackworth Tenants and Residents Association but changed its name after being told by the Charity Commission that charitable status would not be given to a tenant's association.

MORLEY
Residents living on the Morley estate believe they have been overlooked by Derby City Council and are calling for more community facilities. At the beginning of 2004, residents formed the Morley Action Group to campaign for a community centre and secured £500 from the Area Five Panel committee. Diane Hanrahan, the chairman of the group, said, "The Morley estate seems to have been overlooked by the council. There was a playground in the area 20 years ago, but that was closed when it was damaged by vandals." The Morley Action Group wants either a purpose-built community centre on the Cheviot Street recreation ground or to find an empty building that could be converted for community use.

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