East Marsh Ward
Community First Plan
January 2013
Contents
Forward
Area map
Summary
About East Marsh
- Early History
- East Marsh Today
- Housing
- Environment
- Crime and Anti Social Behaviour
- Employment and Benefits
- Education, Skills and Training
- Health
The plan seeks to focus attention to the key issues which affect people living or working within the East Marsh, with the expectation that this will lead to coordinated activity and monitoring of actions, reviewing of achievements and updating of the plan to reflect emerging issues, policies, funding and local authority programmes.
It is intended that the plan is a living document, subject to review, further consultation and amendment.
The creation of the plan is therefore not the end, but is hoped to be a means to an end to improve the quality of life of all those people who live and work in the East Marsh. The plan cannot be said to include the views, opinions and ideas of all residents, but is provides a significant insight into the thoughts of the community.
The challenge for the community of East Marsh is not to determine what the plan can do for you, but what you can do for the East Marsh Community through the plan.
To use a well worn quotation - “Failing to plan is planning to fail”
East Marsh Community First Panel, February 2013
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©Crown Copyright and database right 2011. Ordnance Survey 100021345.
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East Marsh is one of the oldest areas within North East Lincolnshire, and it’s earliest
developments can be traced to the mid to late 1700s, and closely linked to the rise of the fishing industry centred at Grimsby Docks.
During that period the area was transformed from marsh land into what was to become the thriving heart of Grimsby.
From its early development to the present time, the fortunes of the fishing industry have been reflected in those of the area, which expanded rapidly in keeping with the growth of fishing and has declined as rapidly as the industry.
East Marsh Today
East Marsh is one of the fifteen wards within North East Lincolnshire, with a population of approximately 11,750 located on the southern edge of the Humber Estuary, an urban area with a mix of residential, retail and other commercial premises which include a large proportion of Grimsby Docks.
The terraced housing which was developed to support the increased population still provides a high proportion of the living accommodation in the area, but has in some areas given way to the more modern developments arising from the slum clearances of the late 1960s, which saw the construction of six multi storey blocks of flats and other smaller low rise developments in the immediate vicinity of Freeman Street, which was one of two main retail centres in the area.
Terraced housing still accounts for approximately two thirds of all of domestic dwellings in the area.
East Marsh has suffered both economically and socially, from the near extinction of the fishing industry and the strong sense of community identity and belonging which was so evident during the 1950s and 60s has declined as some areas were demolished and replaced.
A direct legacy of these changes is the decline of Freeman Street as a retail centre and hub of the community.
Despite all of this, the area remains quite well served in terms of local amenities including shops, community facilities, churches, schools and leisure facilities. Affordable housing and accessibility to public transport are also advantages which the neighbourhood enjoys.
East Marsh has some of the most challenging needs in the whole of the United Kingdom, suffering significant levels of deprivation and social exclusion, this is clearly reflected in the fact that all eight of the Lower Layer Super Output Areas fall within the most deprived in England.
Housing and Services
Affordable housing is readily available with average housing prices being approximately half that in the wider North East Lincolnshire area.
However this reflects both quality and demand, and as well as the area benefiting from the housing services provided by three social landlords the area has high levels of privately owned rentals, often in the ownership of distant landlords and occupied by almost transient residents with short term tenancies.
The need for housing regeneration is widely recognised by both residents and the Local Authority, a first phase of regeneration is just coming to an end, as part of an ongoing Neighbourhood Renewal Programme.
Further activity however is dependant on North East Lincolnshire Council, Shoreline Housing and Longhurst Group, which are two of the areas largest providers of social housing securing appropriate funding.
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Fewer residents have privately owned vehicles when compared with the remainder of North East Lincolnshire and therefore dependency on public transport services is relatively high.
A high concentration of charitable and voluntary sector organisations are based within the area, providing a wide range of support services for residents of the area and the wider North east Lincolnshire.
The Environment
The area only has two large open spaces, Grant Thorold Park and Sutherland Park, and the lack of such community spaces often results in conflict between children and young persons and the more elderly, as young people use streets as play areas.
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Grant Thorold Park Children’s Play Area
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Where such schemes have been undertaken by residents the improvements are clearly evident.
Footpaths and parks regularly suffer from dog fouling, while the alleyways which provide rear access to most terraced housing often suffer fly tipping.
Waste management is a concern to the local authority, with recycling rates significantly worse than most other areas of North East Lincolnshire, in some street less than one in ten households recycle.
Numerous terraced properties do not have front gardens, and this has created problems for storage of waste and recycling bins, which frequently clutter footpaths, while large areas of the ward are structured such that opportunities for communal recycling sites are very limited.
While vehicle ownership is low when compared with other areas of North east Lincolnshire, traffic management and street cleansing is significantly affected by the fact that most properties do not benefit from garage or driveway provision, which creates high levels of on street parking.
Crime and Anti Social Behaviour
Whilst crime and anti social behaviour rates have fallen consistently in recent years the fear of crime among residents is still significant.
There is a high level of belief that young people are responsible for most crime in the area, while in reality young people are more likely to become victims that offenders.
Reported crime rates within the East Marsh are disproportionate to the rest of North East Lincolnshire and ASB is the most commonly raised resident concern, closely followed by drugs and burglary.(Down Your Street Police Survey 2011)
Instances of dwelling burglary in the area account for approximately one fifth of all such offences in the North East Lincolnshire, with insecurities being a major contributory factor.
Alley-gating schemes have been widely implemented in the area and have doubtless had both an impact on crime and the reduction of the fear of crime, but ongoing maintenance is costly and residents are reluctant to accept ownership.
Alcohol dependency and the use of illegal substances are higher than in most areas of NEL and have a negative effect on the community, drug related activity being one of the resident concerns frequently raised at the local forum.
Employment (and receipt of benefits)
The main employment opportunities pre 1970s were centred around the fishing industry and associated processing businesses, with the decline of those industries the area now has a high dependency on benefits, (residents are three times more likely to claim Job Seekers Allowances, and two times more likely to claim Income Support, than the average for North East Lincolnshire).
Employment is mainly within the unskilled and low paid categories with an average weekly income for households of £320 compared with £520 in Yorkshire and Humberside.
In recent years, the burden of household debt within the area has increased such that local advisory services all report that they are overstretched.
Education and Skills Training
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Levels of educational attainment, training and skills achievements within the ward are some of the lowest levels in the country. (Source National Indices of Deprivation 2007)
Adults in the area are 1.5 times more likely to have no qualifications, and almost three times less likely to have gained a qualification at level 4 or 5(HND, degree or equivalent) when compared with the number achieving this level across North East Lincolnshire, and half of adult residents have no qualifications. (Source 2001 census)
It is recognised that over three quarters of children registered with the local Sure Start Centre already have high levels of additional needs in terms of health, and child development.
Health
Health inequalities are evident when East Marsh is compared with other areas of North East Lincolnshire, average life expectancy for males is 6.1 years less than those living in more affluent areas, and that of females is 1.5 years less, and the area has the highest all cause death rate within North East Lincolnshire.
Child health concerns include low take up of immunisations and obesity at school reception age, which is the highest level across North East Lincolnshire. East Marsh Children’s Centre include a number of activities which encourage parents to change eating habits, including developing an outdoor area which is used for both play and horticultural activity by centre users and an allotment project.
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| East Marsh Children’s Centre’s new outdoor area takes shape with help from a local social enterprise |
These concerns can be directly associated to lifestyles, diet, smoking, drug and alcohol dependency.
Drug and alcohol dependency and abuse are also considered to be significant factors affecting the health of residents in the area, and it recognised within such agencies as the Drug and Alcohol Action Team that a high proportion of hazardous and harmful drinkers reside in the area.
Mental Health covers a broad spectrum of medical conditions and accounts for a significant proportion of all Incapacity Benefit claimants within the East Marsh.
East Marsh Community First Plan.
You may be asking why there is a need to develop a Community First Plan.
Decisions which affect residents are often made by the local authority and other agencies, and by gauging the views of residents we may be able to influence some of those decisions.
The East Marsh Community First Plan sets out the views of people living and working in the East Marsh, and identifies community concerns and improvements which residents would like to be made, as well as reflecting the recognised levels of social impact as evidenced in various data.
The plan has been compiled following consultation with East Marsh Involve, (the residents forum for East Marsh), East Marsh Network, (a forum of representatives of local partners including the Voluntary Sector, Social Landlords, Local Business representatives, Church groups), and local residents including young people.
It is hoped that the plan will ensure that local decision making will be influenced by the views and opinions of residents and people working in the area.
Hence, the main reasons for developing a Community Plan are that a plan provides an opportunity to obtain and present resident views, about the area in which they live and work, and the issues which affect their lives and improvements which they would like, in order that priorities can be determined which will be considered in decision making which affects lives of residents.
The plan will direct the delivery of Community First Funding for the ward, which is intended to be used to address community priorities, giving communities more involvement in matters which affect them directly.
The plan is intended to be a living document, designed to focus on the needs of the ward, while reflecting on issues identified within the Local Authority Strategic Plan.
It is intended that the plan will be reviewed and refreshed to reflect changing circumstances.
Consulting the East Marsh Community.
Various opportunities for residents to express concerns have existed for some time within the area.
East Marsh Involve (EMI) the forum for residents of the area meets each month, and provides residents an opportunity to voice opinions with local agency representatives and ward councillors, through which ongoing community priorities are agreed.
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A lively meeting of East Marsh Involve
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The forum also utilise a Market Stall which provides residents with opportunities to raise concerns, and elected members hold weekly resident surgeries.
The forum also utilise a Market Stall which provides residents with opportunities to raise concerns, and elected members hold weekly resident surgeries.
The panel recognised need to ensure that a wide spectrum of resident’s views was obtained and a pilot questionnaire was developed which was tested and further developed as a key component of consultation.
Consultation during the latter half of 2012 included the following activities and engaged with approximately 1500 residents.
- August 2012- East Marsh Summer Fair.
- September and October - Active Neighbourhood Watch groups canvassed involving approximately 100 properties
- East Marsh Involve Community Forum
- October Strand School parents support group
- October 2012- East Marsh Network Partners
- December - consultation was commissioned by the Community First Panel and 1050 residents were consulted with at a variety of community venues, local businesses etc, by door to door and telephone consultation. This consultation covered all of the East Marsh and resident groups aged 11-16, 17-24, 25-35, 36-46, 47-57 and 58 plus.
Resident opinions about the area have been found to vary depending in part on where they reside, the type of accommodation and the demographics of the area.
The majority of residents have expressed satisfaction in living in the area.
When asked “What residents most liked about living in the area” approximately one in four replied the proximity of friends and relatives, this was closely followed by the local availability of shops and services, including the bus services and the ease of access to Grimsby town centre.
While residents rated living in the area as mainly average to good, with almost 1 in three stating that they have no concerns about living in the area, residents within certain areas rated living there slightly higher than those in other parts of the East Marsh, and three quarters of those asked about feeling safe responded average to very good.
The most frequently cited concerns relate to drug related activity, groups of youths particularly during the evenings, street drinking and environmental problems around empty houses, dog fouling etc.
Residents throughout the area have stated that empty properties are unsightly and some have stated that they are the cause of additional problems such as environmental and anti social behaviour. Residents in areas which are not as badly affected by this problem have recognised the decline and the risk of it spreading.
When residents were asked “ What facilities they thought were good” the most popular responses related to the shops and medical facilities, while youth clubs, adult learning centres and libraries were also named but with lesser frequency.
However when asked “What facilities East Marsh needs more of?”, almost four in every ten residents responded specifically that facilities for children and young people, such as youth clubs were needed .
A variety of other facilities were also cited as being needed, such as media, sports clubs, homework clubs, social clubs for the elderly.
Interestingly some of the facilities quoted as being most needed are also those which have been cited as good, this may well reflect a lack of community awareness of available facilities, as well as a desire for further variety.
Resident concerns about the area.
The following concerns have all been raised by residents:
- Drug related problems – this is the highest resident cited concern identified during the consultation, as well as being frequently raised at forums etc.
- Youths congregating mainly at night – the second highest resident concern identified in the consultation processes and the most frequently raised by other means.
- Anti social behaviour and crime are high.
- The lack of safe play areas for children.
- There is need for more things for young people to do.
- Parking restrictions in the Freeman Street area is a widely spread concern
- The number of boarded empty homes and short term letting of private rented accommodation are seen as a cause of a lot of problems including fly tipping, litter, crime and anti social behaviour.
- The number of bins being left on the street is increasing
- Dog Fouling, litter and fly tipping are the most frequent environmental complaints from residents.
- Traffic concerns relating to the Durban Road area, are cited by residents in that area.
- Traffic concerns around the Rutland Street, Tunnard Street and Hildyard Street areas were quoted by residents in those areas.
- Recycling is significantly lower than desired and fly tipping within the communal alleyways and open spaces is a long standing concern, as are general street cleanliness and dog fouling.
- Alcohol causes a lot of problems in the area.
- Safe crossing facilities are needed on Victor Street
- There are too many empty shops around Freeman Street
What residents said they want in the area.
- Safe play areas and parks
- More safe community spaces
- More clubs and activities for children and young people
- More social clubs
- Media facilities
- Safer crossing facilities on Victor Street
- A higher police presence
- Reduced numbers of empty and boarded housing
- An improvement in the appearance of the area
- Less dog fouling
- Support for those seeking to enter employment.
The following priorities have been identified from community responses as the focus for Community First
Priority 1- Provide positive activities for children and young people.
This priority seeks to support clubs, sport and other activities which offer low cost opportunities for positive activities for young people with the following objectives:-
- To engage with young people providing sustainable positive activities to meet their interests.
- To raise awareness of the positive contributions of young people in the community
- To create opportunities for positive interaction between young people and the wider community
To support activities which provide environmental improvements, including any activity which
- Enhances the street scene, communal areas, parks and open spaces, and reduces the practices of fly-tipping
- Improves waste management resulting in a better living environment for residents.
Priority 3- Provide activities which reduce Social Isolation
To support the sustainability and development of groups, clubs and any activities which provide opportunities for residents to come together through which social isolation is reduced.
Priority 4- Improving resident’s economic wellbeing and employment opportunities.
This priority will support any activities which increase the economic well being of residents in the area, including activities which support the transition of those who are dependant on welfare benefits to work opportunities.
Priority 5- Improving Health
The priority will support any activity which can be demonstrated to have a health benefit, strengthening the work of local organisations which provide activities which support health improvement.
While this is the least resident evidenced priority, the area ranks among the UK’S worst 1% of wards regarding health inequalities, and hence this priority is considered appropriate in reducing health related concerns.
Local Facilities and projects
For further information about the following please see East Marsh Community Directory and www.eastmarsh.org.uk
- Central Hall – meeting/ conference facilities, entertainments programme.
- City Church – Various church groups, Wiz Kidz Nursery, Christians against Poverty Financial Advisory service, weekly drop in for parents of young children
- Community Chest- The Home Shop-Community Advice Service- furniture recycling etc.
- CPO Media – various printed or electronic media opportunities
- East Marsh Children’s Centre- A Sure Start Centre for families with children under 5 providing a range of parent and child services
- East Marsh Involve - Community Forum and providers of the Empowering my Community Project based at Foresight, Information and signposting via market stall.
- Foresight- a wide range of activities for residents with disabilities and learning difficulties together with volunteer and training opportunities and a children’s holiday scheme.
- Foresight also provides the community hub from which EMI’s Empower my Community Project is delivered.
- Freeman Street Market
- Freeman Street Resource Centre- includes a community IT hub facility and an external sport facility.
- Grant Thorold Library- readers group, children’s readers groups, children’s craft session, Computer learners course, Health trainers advise.
- Grimsby Boxing Academy- boxing activities for all ages
- Grimsby Neighbourhood Centre/ Neighbourhood Church - Conference facilities, Youth club,
- Harbour Place Day Centre- support and day facilities for homeless and socially isolated
- Hope Street Medical Centre – a specialist centre for various medical conditions- with community garden etc.
- Open Door Health and Care Centre- General medical services- holistic services- support services
- Rock Foundation- various community activities, café etc.
- Shalom youth Centre- various youth activities and support groups
- Your Place - provide a range of community activities, drop ins, advise, community garden and horticultural activities
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| Grimsby Neighbourhood Centre East Marsh Children’s Centre Central Hall |
The community currently benefits from a Big Lottery Empowering my Community project, which gives residents the opportunity to shape and deliver an exciting mix of activities and service provision during evenings and weekends within the Foresight Community Centre.
This project is already providing opportunities which address some of the ongoing concerns for both residents and the local authority, such as activities for young people, low cost access to a range of exercise activities, IT training, social interaction, access to partnership representatives.
Local facilities and organisations access various sources of funding such as Awards for All, Children in Need, Ward Councillor Funding.
The Future – A plan
While East Marsh is a single electoral ward, the area is effectively split into a number of local communities with differing demographics, with areas having differing concentrations of young people, more elderly residents, businesses etc.
Over many years there has been endless consultation with residents about their priorities, or their wishes on how new funding should be spent.
The views which have been expressed through the consultation processes can be considered as a clear guide to the concerns, wishes and aspirations of the community.
From our knowledge of this consultation, together with local priorities and more recent consultation, we believe that our Community Plan should concentrate on,
- Community Safety,
- The Environment
- Community Cohesion
- Economic Wellbeing
- Health Inequalities
The Localism Bill will provide opportunities for Local Authorities and communities to be more directly involved in local management and decision making.
Two aspects of the Localism Bill are of particular interest to East Marsh Involve and the wider East Marsh Community, these are Neighbourhood Planning and the Community’s right to take over community assets.
This Action Plan should be seen as a working document which will require regular review and updating.
Many of the activities included in the plan require the support and involvement of the local community and partner agencies if they are to be achieved.
Our Action Plan
References
Deprivation
The Index of Multiple Deprivation combines a number of indicators covering a range of social, economic issues into a single score for all lower layer outputs areas (LSOA) in England.
Of 32,482 such areas in England North East Lincolnshire has 107, of which East Marsh has 8.
Of these eight, four are ranked in the one per cent most deprived in England, a further three are ranked in the 10 per cent most deprived areas and the remaining one is ranked in the 20per cent most deprived. (Source Indices of Deprivation 2010)
Table: Indices of Deprivation 2010 – East Marsh
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Source: Indices of Deprivation 2010, Communities and Local Government 2011
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Housing and Services
Of the dwellings in the East Marsh, 3354 are terraced, 2001 flats, 389 semi detached and 77 are detached. (Source 2001 census Office of National Statistics)
28.2 per cent of household are rented from local authority, 26.4 per cent are mortgaged and 14.6 per cent are owned outright. (Source 2001 census O.N.S.)
Residents are twice as likely not to have a privately owned vehicle compared with the rest of NEL. (Source 2001 Census)
Environment
Six of the Lower Super Output Areas fall within the worst 10% for Living environment in England. (Source National Indices of Deprivation 2010)
Crime and ASB
Volume Crime - burglary, assaults, domestic violence. (Source-Crime maps - UK Crime mapping / Humberside Police)
Six of the Lower Super Output Areas fall within the worst 10% for crime in England, (Source National Indices of Deprivation 2010)
35% of North East Lincolnshire residents perceived drug use as a problem in their local area, this was higher than the national (30.5%) and regional (30.4%) rates and the NEL is ranked 8th highest out of 21 Las in the Yorkshire and Humber Region No doubt, the perceived problem will be higher in wards of deprivation than in rural wards. (Source NEL JSNA Summary- Local Indicator Drug Misuse)
An analyse carried out by Drug and Alcohol Team (DAAT) for the Fiveways Area Action Group in 2010 found that there were 1,355 Problem Drug Users within NEL( i.e.those using heroin or crack /cocaine). (Source 2010 DAAT report to Fiveways Area Action Group)
Employment and Benefits
In May 2011, a total of 2995 people living in the area claimed one or more DWP benefits, which equates to 40.3 per cent of the working age population. (Source- DWP Benefits claimants)
There are 2,945 recipients of Housing Benefit in East Marsh, compared with 18,410 in total in North East Lincolnshire. (Source- DWP benefit claimants)
The area had1193 claimants of Job Seekers Allowance in January 2012 (16.1%of working age population) (Source -Job Seekers allowance claimants by ward in NEL Jan 2012)
73% of employed residents work within a three mile distance, compared with 40% nationally. Most work within the docks area, 35% work within the ward area, indicating that residents have a low job search horizon and that there is still a local employment base. (Source – A New Neighbourhood Dynamic for Grimsby’s East Marsh 2009)
All LSO Areas of the ward fall within the worst 4% for employment and within the worst 3% for income. (Source – National Indices of Deprivation 2007)
Education, Skills and Training
All eight Lower Super Output Areas in the ward fall within the worst 1% for education, skills and training in England, (Source National Indices of Deprivation 2007).
81.3% of children registered with Sure Start Children’s Centre considered to have additional needs (Source- East Marsh Children’s Centre)
Health
Age standardised All respiratory rates within NEL CTP area 2004-2008.
Age standardised All Lung cancer Mortality rates within NEL CTP area 2004-2008
Age standardised COPD mortality rates within NEL CTP area 2004-2008
Age Standardised rates for Stroke mortality for persons in NEL 2005-2009
Age standardised rates for all Circulatory diseases mortality for persons NEL 2005-2009
7130 residents describe themselves as in good health, 2963 as in fairly good health and 1659 as not in good health.
24.33% of residents in the area have long term illnesses, and 12.7% have limiting long term illness. (Source 2001 Census)
An analysis carried out by Drug and Alcohol Team (DAAT) in 2010 found that there were 1,355 Problem Drug Users (those using heroin or crack /cocaine) within NEL. (Source - 2010 DAAT report to Fiveways Area Action Group)
During 2008/9 there were 979 individuals in effective treatment at some point in that year, of which approximately 270 lived in the post code district DN32, which is predominantly East Marsh. (Source 2010 DAAT report to Fiveways Area Action Group)
An in depth local study carried out in 2006 by the Public Health Department revealed that there are likely to be 25,000 hazardous and harmful drinkers in North east Lincolnshire, with 5000 being dependant and 15000 regular binge drinkers.
As with drugs, the evidence from DAAT, the postcode DN32 appears to have the majority of problem drinkers based on the number of people attending Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, A & E Department and being positively screened for alcohol. (Source 2010 DAAT report to Fiveways AAG)
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