Chair's Report to the Annual General Meeting of the Petersfield Area Community Trust, 17 November 2004

PACT is well established as a group that campaigns vigorously on issues local residents have raised. Here is a summary of the major developments over PACT's 6th year.

Planning

PACT's Planning & Environment Issues Sub-committee has met regularly throughout the past year and maintained an overview of developments in the area.
PACT has made progress in discussions with the developer (Chartfront), and the City Council regarding the proposed community centre as part of Newmarket Road/Harvest Way site.
The principle of including a community centre in this development has already been approved by the City Council at the Outline Planning stage.
The next planning stage will be the Reserved Matters application when final details must be given.
It has been a relatively quiet year though there are still some further developments of 'brown-field' sites in the pipeline.
Existing residents have endured more noise, dust and disturbance whilst re-development has proceeded. Many are now planting trees, or fast-growing bamboos, at their boundaries to reduce overlooking - and even prickly hedges to keep out intruders.
A public inquiry has been held into plans for the Young Street site but the planning inspector's decision is unlikely to be delivered for some time yet.
PACT has secured written assurances that pedestrian and cycle routes through to the railway station will be retained and improved in the 'Station Area Revamp'.
PACT has been consulted by the City Council about a number of Strategy documents and has made critical, yet constructive, comments.

Open Spaces

Welcome improvements to play areas and landscaping on St Matthew's Piece have been funded by financial contributions from developers (S106 monies).
Further improvements have been consulted about.
PACT discovered that a high proportion of the S106 monies collected in Petersfield had been allocated to open space projects elsewhere in the city.
PACT addressed the City Council's Environment Committee about this and the issue was reported in the press.
As a result, several of the above projects are now under review and PACT hopes that the funds which have been clawed back will be used for improvements to Flower St. Rec and the Ainsworth St. play area.
PACT also highlighted a grassed area at the corner of Petworth St. and the status of this land is to be investigated by planners.
New public open space has been provided in St Matthew's Gardens. Fortunately this does not seem to have the same problems as open space at Ravensworth Gardens where broken glass appeared at the surface owing to faulty construction.
PACT strongly resisted the suggestion that S106 monies should be used, in our view quite inappropriately, for remedial work and the City Council is still trying to get the construction company to pay.

Millennium Garden

The second of the two mosaics for the PACT Millennium Garden on Norfolk St was finished this summer, and was formally unveiled by the mayor.
This mosaic represents Petersfield community spirit and responsibility, and was created in Cherry Trees Day Centre by clients and by Papworth Trust residents.
This year, the PACT Summer Event was combined with the unveiling celebration for the second mosaic, and despite rain it was well attended and a tremendous success.
Food and drink was provided by almost every single business on and around Norfolk Street some fabulous music was provided by some local musicians.

Local Youth Services

PACT has encouraged and supported Neill Wishart ([email protected]) as Parkside Youth Worker.
In Petersfield, Neill runs a weekly Youth Club for 13-16 year olds and a weekly Drama Club, and has become a familiar face both on St Matthew's Piece and at St Matthew's primary school.
Issues about which PACT has raised questions include:
- whether a steering committee for a Petersfield Youth Club should be school-based;
- whether Neill's youth work is too heavily Parkside-school based;
- Parkside's failure since 1998 to obtain the contractually obligated inflation proofing of the £20K pa funding for youthwork;
- defining the basis for including/excluding new young people from limited-scope activities;
- obtaining improved access to the former Howard Mallett Centre for youth-oriented events;
- seeking improved publicity on the noticeboard Neill maintains for what can be done at the centre, how and where to join in, etc.

Over 50s

PACT's 2003 AGM focused on the services and needs of older people.
Everyone over 50 is welcome to share in the activities and developments - please join us!
PACT's thriving Over 50s club celebrated its second birthday in October 2004.
This runs on Fridays from 10.30 to 12 noon at Cherry Trees Centre, St Matthew Street - members participate in forming and running the varied and lively programme.
Highlights of the past year included interesting speakers, much fun and bingo as well as outings to Thurrock Over 50s event, Romford Market Christmas outing, Huntingdon Garden Centre and a day in Great Yarmouth. We have intergenerational events with Brunswick Nursery and St Matthews Primary School.
We look forward to our first multicultural event with the Indian Over 50s Club in November. The programme is on the PACT notice board outside the dentist and on the Cherry Trees Centre window.
Focus groups of older people have been consulted by the new Director of Health and Social Care to discover the needs and improve services for older people.
The new Group Practice in York Street has 2 PACT management committee members on its Patient Participation Group - there is scope for more participants.
On Tuesdays from 11 to 12 at the Alex Wood Hall the Petersfield Active Ageing Group (PAAG) continues its successful 'Nice and Easy Exercise Class' for the over 50s. It costs £1.50 and really helps with mobility, balance and other problems.
PACT has a representative on various local and regional committees for Better Government for Older People (BGOP). This has produced "A Picture of Older People in Cambridge - Summer 2004" which provides a snapshot of needs, services and contribution of older people in the City.
Please contribute and respond to this report, which is available from Dorothy Runnicles (via [email protected] and 01223 462318)

Crime & Safety

PACT's July 2002 public meeting 'Making Petersfield a Safer Place?', has produced a series of public meetings to discuss local policing issues, both on Mill Road and at St Matthew's school.
The City Council and Police ran a year-long project from June 2003 to June 2004 called APEC, which concentrated on our local problems.
The visible increase in local police presence and new Petersfield Community Support Officers are addressing local concerns.
Graffiti still continues to be an issue, but improvements to the garage block on St Matthew's Street are promised soon.
PACT is closely involved in developing plans for the lighting layout, and consulting with sponsors British Land to illuminate pedestrian routes in Rope Walk.

Communication

PACT produced a 6th annual issue of ImPACT and distributed 3,000 free copies to Petersfield homes, groups and businesses.
This year's 12 page ImPACT is glossier and has more content than previous editions.
Our hardworking distribution team enables information from PACT to be regularly circulated and displayed throughout the community.
PACT maintains its community noticeboard on Norfolk Street, with up-to-date news.
PACT's website www.colc.co.uk/cambridge/forum/pact/ is regularly updated and continues to develop.

And Last But Not Least...

PACT has held many Management Committee and Subcommittee meetings to maintain progress on key issues.
Regular scrutiny is made of PACT's account and finances, including at this AGM.
PACT has been active in fundraising to support key PACT activities.
PACT is grateful for having benefited from receipt of the funds remaining following the disbandment of the Priory Residents Association..
This money will be reserved for use in the planned new Petersfield Community Centre.
A recent Residents' Survey by PACT has resulted in a £5000 Safer City grant being sought, following the matched funding awarded by British Land.

Fresh faces continue to be welcome in PACT, on its working parties and on its management committee - there are many ways in which you can become involved. We'd love to see how you would like to shape and contribute to a new year of constructive local community action. Please email [email protected] or phone Glenys on 570157.