Abbotts Barton Community Group: Successes

Since our first meeting we have been working on a lot of projects, of which the most noteworthy are:

Information exchange between residents, the group and the Council:

Attended almost every St. Bartholomew's ward councillor's surgery to keep up to date on issues that might affect Abbotts Barton and wrote reports about what was discussed.
Actively used our website and social media to update our subscribers, followers and likers on a regular basis.
Kept the local notice boards up-to-date with reports, news and events so that our offline residents also know what is going on.
Set up a group of Street Champions to help us deliver printed newsletters (started in 2014 and expanded in 2015).
Started working on a community plan and presented a draft version at the Hillier Road consultation event in July 2015.

Events:

Hosted annual Big Lunches and Picnic in the Park sessions during the warmer months (2013, 2014 and 2015).
Organised the Abbotts Barton Gets Active exercise sessions with the help of a grant from Winchester City Council (September/October 2014).
Hosted up a community Easter Egg trail in 2015.
Offered Fitness With Friends exercise sessions led by group members (started April 2015).
Created our first ever community photo trail in 2015.

Local improvements:

Campaigned for a safer crossing on Worthy Road (we have been promised it will come).
Asked for more notice boards around Abbotts Barton (we have received two more in February/March 2015).
Asked the City Council to replace the old goal post in the park and to get a second one (completed in September 2014).
Asked the City Council for some picnic benches in the park (placed there in August 2014).
Asked the Hampshire County Council to improve the footpath on Nun’s Walk (done in June 2014).
Met with the Scouts District Commissioner to discuss the potential of a local Scout hut.
Alerted the City Council to park maintenance issues (poor grass cutting in 2014). Council officers were in contact to make sure the contractors were doing their job properly.

Of course there is more that we have been speaking about with the councillors and we will continue to do so!
If you would like to come along to a Councillors' Surgery session (even if you don't have anything to say) or if there is something you would like us to talk about with the Councillors: please let us know!