Security guards will be drafted in to patrol the Queensway estate from November, the Echo can reveal.

The three-month trial will see security patrols carried out from 5pm to 2am in some areas of the Victoria ward, with the estate set to be given a large part of their attention.

Southend Council will also put in reinforced security doors on the estate’s four tower blocks.

The security measures were announced at a residents meeting by council bosses.

Dave Sargent, 50, who has lived in Malvern for 11 years, said: “I think it’s a great idea because they’ve put in patrols on the Woodgrange estate and that’s gone well, from what I hear.

“They’ve cut down on noise and crime there, so I’m sure it’ll be the same here.

“Any problem tenants will hopefully now be reported directly to the council.”

The authority had been considering using security guards since the beginning of the year, but has finally committed to using them.

It has referred to them as “neighbourhood patrols”, but they will be licensed, as security guards are.

The trial period, from November through to the new year – traditionally a period of higher crime rates – will set the council back £25,000.

The Echo has been campaigning to improve security at the tower blocks since the murder of tenant Christopher Ryan, 45, in November 2011.

A year later, CCTV was installed in lifts and communal areas.

Teresa Deane, 53, of Malvern, added: “We suggested this about ten years ago and suggested everyone on the estate put in £1 for security guards.

“I hope it works, but I’m not sure it will. A lot of it depends on the type of people the council throw in here.

“There needs to be better checks before people move in.”

Labour’s David Norman, councillor responsible for housing, said: “The patrols will be highly visible, intelligence-led and directed by South Essex Homes to ensure they focus on the right areas."

Echo:

Residents meet with the council to discuss the future of the estate

 

South Essex Homes could be ditched

SOUTHEND Council could axe the company it uses to manage its social housing in 2016, and bring 6,000 homes back under its control.

The previous Tory administration set up South Essex Homes as a management company in 2005, and it gives the firm around £9million a year for running the properties.

However, senior councillors on the new Independent, Lib Dem and Labour administration say they could bring back the thousands of social homes when the contact is up for renewal in two years’ time.

Labour’s David Norman, councillor responsible for housing, said: “South Essex Homes’ contract runs for another two years.

“After that, we will decide whether to bring it in-house again.”

Residents heard the news at the Queensway Community Group’s meeting, attended by senior councillors.

The estate’s locals queried South Essex Homes officials on a perceived lack of action on several complaints and issues relating to the estate.

However, the firm’s chief executive, Mike Gatrell, said a recent survey of about 1,000 on his company, commissioned by the council, was positive.

Emma Summers, who lives on the estate, said: “Why can’t the council take the homes back? It does a much better job.

“I’ve had so many issues with South Essex Homes and it doesn’t seem to care.

“I know the council can do a 100 per cent better job.”

It will affect hundreds of residents on the Queensway estate, with about 350 flats in the 16- storey Quantock tower block alone.

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: “I’m not happy with the level of service I get from South Essex Homes.

“It doesn’t get back to you quickly about issues you have with your flat and it doesn’t seem to care.”

Two years ago, when the previous Tory administration debated on keeping the company going, it was revealed axing the management body could generate around £1.1million – cash which could be invested into borough housing.

But Mr Gatrell said: “Since 2005, we have improved our customer satisfaction every year.

“I’m proud of that and I’m proud of our record.”

 

No decision made on future of the estate - Southend Council

SOUTHEND Council has reiterated its message to residents – no decision has been made on the redevelopment of the Queensway estate.

The Labour, Lib Dem and Independent council is likely to rubber-stamp setting up a working party to look into options for redevelopment of the estate.

Options could include demolishing the four tower blocks, refurbishing them, or building low-rise accommodation – but nothing has been decided yet.

A decision, ahead of any consultation, is about a year away.

Labour’s David Norman, councillor responsible for housing, said: “There are are no secret plans to demolish the four buildings and that is the truth of the current situation.

“We are planning to set up a working party to look into the future of the estate. It will take a lot of research and any redevelopment we do will be two to five years away.

“It will take years of planning any sort of redevelopment of the estate, whatever we decided to do.”

Echo:

Playground to be built over garages

A COMMUNITY group has been given a licence to tear down rundown garages on the estate and build a playground on the site.

Southend Council said it will give the Queensway Community Group an undisclosed sum of money to demolish the dilapidated buildings at the bottom of Coleman Street.

The group will then build a children’s play area, with no other facility like it on the estate.

Mike Smith, from the Queensway Community Group, said: “I’m glad things are moving forward from this meeting, as we’ve even offered to do the demolition and clear it.

“There needs to be somewhere for the kids to play, because they’ve got nowhere on the estate to go to.”

Plans to set up a local community group are also in the pipeline.

Mr Smith said: “These developments show there’s a real aspiration to create a community spirit here.”