C.A.T.

Dyke House residents were asked how things were before the resource centre opened and how they have changed since.

Muriel Boreland (Brougham Area Residents Association) explained, "that in the past before they started the residents association the private landlords were buying up properties in the area and just moving anyone in. The effect was that it was devaluating every one else's property. There was drug dealing, anti- social behaviour and other criminal behaviour going happening. Then it came to the day when local residents said "Enough is enough, something has to be done to remedy the situation".

"If the residents resource centre hadn't existed our residents group would have been on they own. The group would not of been meeting the people they meet, we would not have had the opportunity to become a big family sharing our problems with other residents groups in the area. All group members can sit down together and try and find a way to solve these problems, we wont solve all of them over night we don't expect too, but at least we have got somebody and a place to go where you don't feel you're on your own".

Muriel Boreland continued... "Through attending the resident groups meeting, residents don't only meet peers but also meet local officals and talk to them face to face. Not on a phone or by letter, hoping for a reply, residents can go to the resource center and have the officals stood in front of you, you ask a question and you get an answer, which is what you need".

Dot Donovan (Lancaster Road Residents Association) explained, "six months ago she felt isolated because there was no one to talk with and listern to problems. A person felt that no matter what you wanted to achieve there was no body there to listern. However with the establishment of the resource centre the situation has changed. It is a genuine place you can go and put your views across and someone is going to listern. A person or group may not always get the results their want, but you are going to get that little bit further".

"I started off at the centre being a little bit unsure because it was something I had never been in touch with or had anything to do with. I felt that I was just a little bit out of my league. But its just normal people, and I was very supprised that so many normal people have so much knowledge".

"The best thing about it was seeing everybody coming together. People doing jobs for other people, especially in the area that you live, because things don't work if you don't do it".

Charlie Smith (Oak and Pine Residents Association) explained how the situation was two years ago when he first moved into the area. There was no group or groups, however now there are people meeting together and getting somewhere as a group, were before as individuals you were getting nowhere.

"I would like to see the whole area around here cleaned up completely of hooligans, thugs etc, and any other saftey procautions we can take I would like to see implimented. The thing is money is always the problem and getting the funds to do this in the future is difficult, but if you know were to look there will be money and my hope for the future is to make more improvements for the area".

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C.A.T. Communities Acting Together. 29 Chatham Road Hartlepool Dyke House Hartlepool TS24 8QG. tel: 01429 405596. Local contacts - Eddie Price tel: 07789 923565. Mick Thompson tel: 07786 126776. Muriel Boreland tel: 01429 291537. Webmaster Rolf Parvin Email: [email protected]

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