The Milton Keynes ‘Good Neighbour Campaign’

The Council have been working with the local communities in Milton Keynes to implement the ‘Good Neighbour Campaign’. Each Neighbourhood area on a day in October went out into their communities to improve the quality of life for the local residents.
The Central Milton Keynes Neighbourhood team were already underway, in conjunction with Thames Valley Police, MKC Housing and local residents of the flats in North 9th and 10th Streets in Central Milton Keynes to revamp an under used communal area. After meeting with local residents it was arranged for the area to be cleansed allowing the landscaping team to cut back the grass and other overgrowth. The culmination of this cleaning effort was a BBQ on Good Neighbour Day.
Food was kindly donated by ‘Iceland’, and CMK Neighbourhood Wardon, Rob Harriman staffed the BBQ. Despite the rain threatening the event it was enjoyed by residents in the much cleaner garden area, allowing them to mingle with their Neighbours. Residents stated that it is the best thing to have happened there in 10yrs and wanted to thank the CMK Neighbourhood Management team for putting the event on.
The possibility of play equipment for the area is now also being looked into.
The Milton Keynes West Neighbourhood Services team held a Community Day in Greenleys. The aim of this day was to raise awareness of Town Council initiatives as well as events and schemes organized by local stakeholders. The event was incredibly well attended with in excess of 250 people coming down.
The Milton Keynes North Neighbourhood Management Team held an event to act as an information and help point for local residents. Due to arson attacks in the area mainly targeting dumped rubbish piles it was decided to invite Bucks Fire and Rescue Service to offer advice on keeping safe in the home. Other stakeholders provided information on the good work that they are doing in the area and offered advice to residents to improve their quality of life.
In Bletchley a multi-agency team knocked on doors in Durrans Court, Fenny Stratford, answering questions, giving out information and recording residents’ comments on living in the area. Bulb planting took place in the Court and the garden of the Sheltered Housing complex. Landscaping maintenance and litter-picking helped to make sure the area looked a lot smarter.
Finally the Milton Keynes South Neighbourhood Management team invited residents down to collect and weigh in conkers, seen by a nuisance by some residents, for a chance to win great prizes, including John Lewis Vouchers for the heaviest weight of conkers collected. As well as the ‘Conker Challenge’ there were games of Conkers, making “Grass Heads”, a bouncy castle and Cadbury’s ‘Spots and Stripes’ also made an appearance. The overall aim of the day, as well as seeing conkers in a different light, was to encourage residents to meet in a neutral space to discuss neighbourhood issues and also a chance to discuss the future of the play area which is subject to improvement. The day was a great success and particularly showed the excellent working relationship between Milton Keynes Council, Woughton Community Council and other Stakeholders.
After the success of these first events the ‘Good Neighbour Campaign’ will continue in the New Year.