Timmergreens Regeneration Update

 

We appreciate the feedback on the proposals and the comments received from local residents. We have worked with the design team and changed the plans from those initially publicised.  The plans for the Emislaw site have been submitted for planning approval.  The main changes to the proposals include:

• The removal of one block of housing in the park area to the south of the site.
• Re-routing the new pedestrian /cycle link to meet up with the bus stop on Arbirlot Road.
•  Reviewing the space around the block at the north of the site to maximise distance between the gable elevations of the block and the existing adjacent properties.

As we advised in the previous post, the  feedback from local residents on the Emislaw Drive/Spitalfield Place site has helped to shape the final plans for the first site to be submitted for planning approval. The Emislaw site has now progressed and there is an application in for planning permission. The Emislaw proposals are available on our Planning website and residents have an opportunity to formally comment on these.

You can see the planning application for the Emislaw site online on our Planning website.

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Talk Money Week 2018

 

Talk Money Week is the annual event to celebrate the work of thousands of organisations that improve money management across the UK.

The theme for 2018 is financial wellbeing, with a focus on what organisations can do to get more people accessing free debt advice, saving regularly, more young people receiving a meaningful financial education and fewer people using credit for everyday spending.

This year Talk Money Week will take place between 12 and 18 November.

Did you know that you can get free and impartial money advice?

       See the Money Advice Service pages

1. 1. • Advice and guides to help improve your finances
      • Tools and calculators to help track and plan ahead.
      • Support over the phone and online
      • Making the most of your Universal Credit payment

Assistance is available about financial advice in Angus

     Angus Citizens Advice Bureau – Arbroath

1. • • 11 Millgate, Arbroath, DD11 1NN
     • 01241 870661
     • For online advice visit Citizens Advice Guide

     Angus Citizens Advice Bureau – Montrose

1. • • 32 Castle Street, Montrose, DD10 8AG
     • 01674 673263
     • For online advice visit Citizens Advice Guide 

     Angus Council – Welfare Rights Service

1. • • Ravenswood, New Road, Forfar, Forfar, DD8 2WE
     • 03452 777 778
     • Contact advisors on ACCESSLine on 03452 777 778. Home visits can be organised if requested.

Problems with rent arrears

Contact the council on 03452 777 778

We want to help you to resolve arrange and can arrange:

• • • Visit to your home
    • A phone call  at a set time that would suit you
    • A reasonable arrangement for repayment with you.
    • Help with applications for housing benefit
    • Referrals for welfare rights advice.

View our Benefit and Money Advice page:

1. 1. • Apply for housing benefit
      • Information on Universal Credit
      • Crisis grants and community care grants
      • Help with benefits or debts
      • Free school meals

Housing Options for Older People – Do you want to move or stay?

As we get older, our housing needs can change. We’ve made a checklist (below) to help you work out what is right for you. Our advice is to think about what you want now, and what you might want in a few years. That helps you think about whether you want to move to a new home or whether you want to make changes to what you have now.
Our tips

• If most of the points are ok, look at ways to improve the few that are not ok.
• If most points are ok now but likely to change, you can start planning ahead now.
• If there are things that need sorting now, look for options to improve these for you. But still think of the other factors too.
• If several points are in the ‘need to change now’ column, this should help you work out your priorities for your next house move.

Our officers will be holding information sessions across Angus over the next month or so and will give advice to anyone who pops in between 10 am and 2pm on the following dates and locations:

• 25 October 2018 – Brechin Library

• 26 October 2018 – Kirriemuir Library

• 30 October 2018 – Forfar Library

• 8 November 2018 – Carnoustie Library

• 16 November 2018 – Montrose Library

• 23 November 2018 – Monifeth Library

• 28 November 2018 – Arbroath Library

Or if you would like to talk to an officer, please phone ACCESSLine on 03452 777 778.

Get Help with Your Energy Bills

We’ve all probably already noticed a chill in the air. It’s the time of year to start thinking of dusting off the thermostat and dreading the heating bill that follows.

However, help is at hand – The Citizens Advice Scotland website gives information about grants and schemes which may help you to make your home more energy efficient. You can also get information about grants that you may be able to get if you are in debt to your energy supplier.

 

Housing Beyond 2021 – Scottish Government consultation on the future of housing

 

The Scottish Government has now opened a new consultation on what housing in Scotland should look like after 2021 and up to 2040.

Over the next 12 months the Government will be engaging with local authorities, businesses, the third sector, home owners and tenants.

For more information on the consultation, and to give your own views, see the Scottish Government website.

Positive Progress on Timmergreens Regeneration

Plans to deliver more modern, higher quality properties for our tenants in the Timmergreens area of Arbroath are moving ahead. The aim is to improve the environment and quality of life for people living in the area.

We consulted tenants and other residents in Timmergreens on proposals to improve the area in the summer of 2017. There was overwhelming support for the draft programme, which was approved by our Communities Committee on 20 August 2017. Since then, we have been rehousing the tenants of properties earmarked for demolition

Feedback from local residents on the Emislaw Drive/Spitalfield Place site has helped to shape the final plans for the first site to be submitted for planning approval this month.
See our website for more.

Consultation – the Regulation of Social Housing in Scotland

The Scottish Housing Regulator exists to

“safeguard and promote the interests of current and future tenants of social landlords, people who are or may become homeless, and people who use housing services provided by registered social landlords (RSLs) and local authorities”.

The Regulator was established in 2011 and is now carrying out a major consultation on how it will work with tenants and social landlords in the future.

If you want to get involved, please check out the information on the Regulator’s consultation pages

The deadline for responses is 14 December 2018.

Calling All Housing Options Customers!

Please help us to improve our services by completing the new Housing Options survey – it will be available until December.

If you have met with one of our Housing Options officers to talk about your housing situation, please give us your opinions about our service by completing the survey.

Note – if completing the survey, please answer Question 1 with the name of the town where your interview took place.

Healthy Living Roadshows in Arbroath

Our Communities colleagues are running Healthy Living events in Arbroath on 8, 9 and 11 October. All welcome. Full programme is below:

Monday 8 October, Strathairlie Building, Strathairlie Avenue

10am—12 Cuppa and a scone
10.30am—11am Penumbra – Wellbeing session
11.15am—11.45am Penumbra—Wellbeing Session
12-2pm Soup and a roll or stovies
11am -2pm Make your own smoothie on the smoothie making bike
2-3pm Family Fun session for all ages (Parents are responsible for their own children)
2pm—3pm Active Schools Games session—for ages 10years and above

Tuesday 9th October, Community Space, Arbroath Academy

10.30-12 Cooking session Family fun with Pizza (pre bookable) – call 01241 438255 or email CLD
12-1 Community café soup , roll and stovies on offer
1-2 Family Fun—Active Schools games session
1pm—2pm Family Learning Messy Play—Parents must accompany their children
1pm—1.30pm Penumbra- Wellbeing session
1.45pm—2.15pm—Penumbra—Wellbeing Session
1-3- IT support for School meals and school clothing grants

 

Thursday 11 October at 10am – Beach Clean 

Meeting at Chalmers, West Links

For more information contact the Communities Team on 01241 438255
CLDArbroath@angus.gov.uk
Facebook: Communities Team Supporting Arbroath Area

Want to Build Your Own Home? Government Loans Are Available from the Self Build Loan Fund

The Scottish government have recently launched a Self-Build Loan Funding scheme for people wishing to self-build their own home.

The scheme targets people that have been unable to source a mainstream self-build mortgage to undertake their project, but who will be able to obtain a mainstream mortgage upon completion.

The Scotland wide scheme is operated by ‘The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust’ on behalf of the government and is taking applications now.

Qualifying criteria apply but for more information on accessing loan funding for your self build project please see the website.