Local MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough,
Andrew Jones, spent the morning with residents and staff of local housing provider Guinness Northern Counties on 24 August, when he visited two of its housing schemes, Bower Court and Montpellier Court in Harrogate.
The housing association is working alongside residents at both schemes to improve internal communal areas and gardens with the help of grant funding from the Big Lottery Fund and Groundwork.
The association and residents wanted to demonstrate the work that had been done so far to their local MP and introduce him to key residents at the schemes, some of whom have been instrumental in the improvement works.
Operations Manager Sue Wharam and Housing Manager Catherine Clough, both from Guinness Northern Counties, accompanied Andrew Jones to Bower Court on Bower Road in Harrogate, where he was given a tour of the gardens and introduced to Mr Alex Rose, who has been a resident at Bower Court since May 1997.
Mr Rose has been working hard in the garden at Bower Court for the last 2 years and has transformed the area into a beautiful space the residents can enjoy. The garden has a vegetable patch and the produce has been shared with all residents at the scheme. Guinness Northern Counties have supported Mr Rose with funding from the Neighbourhood Planning budget and the sustainability budget.
The tour continued on to Montpellier Court on Cold Bath Road, where residents welcomed Andrew Jones to their coffee morning and told him about their application for a lottery grant and plans for the new communal gardens at the scheme which is home to over 60 residents.
Catherine Clough, Housing Manager for Guinness Northern Counties’, said: “The idea behind today was for our local MP to meet with Guinness Northern Counties and residents of this area in an informal and relaxed setting. This has provided the opportunity to demonstrate the very positive work that is being achieved by residents and our own staff and the contribution being made to his constituency.”
Andrew commented: “It was an inspiration to meet so many people working together to make their environment better. The gardens at Bower Court are resplendent and the plans for Montpellier Court look to be as spectacular. Harrogate is famed for its Britain in Bloom success and these schemes are definitely in the spirit of our floral excellence.”