Everybody needs good neighbours – and 2010 Rotherham Ltd has been working with residents on a Maltby estate to decide what being a good neighbour actually involves.
On Tuesday, May 27 – European Good Neighbours’ Day – members of the Birks Holt Tenants and Residents Association (TARA) signed up to a Good Neighbour Agreement for the estate. Now other residents are being invited to follow suit.
A Good Neighbour Agreement is an agreement between residents and their neighbours setting out what residents themselves think is good neighbourly behaviour and promoting good community spirit.
The agreement for Birks Holt includes:
· I will not play loud music or cause rowdy behaviour late at night
· I will look after the outside of my property and keep my garden tidy
· I will look out for the elderly and vulnerable neighbours, and if concerned, contact the appropriate authorities.
The Birks Holt Good Neighbour Agreement is the second agreement in the Borough (Kiveton Park was the first last year) and has been developed following consultation by 2010 Rotherham Ltd – which manages, repairs and improves Council housing in the Borough - with local residents.
2010 Rotherham Assistant Neighbourhood and Involvement Manager Lynne Rowan said: “Good Neighbour Agreements have been effective in other parts of the country in creating an increased sense of community spirit and pride, and have led to reductions in anti-social behaviour and vandalism as well as cleaner estates. The agreement will help bring what is already a tightly-knit community on the Birks Holt Estate even closer together.”
TARA Secretary Lisa Lees said: "The Community Spirit within the estate has increasingly lifted over the last few weeks, particularly with the help from residents with the improving of the Community House and the attendance at the Community House from the children of the estate. We feel the Good Neighbour Agreement can only contribute to the improving community spirit."
The signing of the agreement was timed to coincide with European Good Neighbours’ Day. Over seven million people from 28 countries across Europe took part in gatherings to promote more neighbourly societies. The signing of the agreement at Birks Holt was the centre-piece of a whole series of events across the Borough organised by 2010 Rotherham Ltd to promote neighbourly behaviour.