reNEW is a 10 year partnership between local residents, the New Bilton Community Association and Rugby Borough Council designed to improve the living environment and quality of life of people living in New Bilton and a part of Newbold. Each year the area receives £100,00 funding, £50,000 of which Rugby Borough Council use to implement improvement projects, the other £50,000 is split equally between 5 resident-led action groups. reNEW is in its third year and new members and project ideas are always welcome so get involved and help improve your community! To get involved, contact Ben Cahill, Community Development Worker, on 01788 568 418, 07825 263 747 or bencahill@warwickshire.gov.uk. For more information on reNEW, contact Louise Clarke on 01788 533 533 or email louise.clarke@rugby.gov.uk

Want to find out more about your Community Development Worker? Click here to visit his blog.

ReNEW Community Newsletter

Renew News

Graffiti Removal

Funded by reNEW’s Crime and Community Safety Group, Rugby Borough Council’s Work Services Unit is removing graffiti in the Renewal Area. The idea behind this project is to remove as much graffiti as possible in as short a period as possible, allowing the team to be more reactive to new incidents. A number of streets and alleyways have now been cleaned. If you see graffiti in New Bilton, please call 01788 533533 to get it removed. Please be aware that if it is on private property, a disclaimer will need to be signed.


Crossing Lawford Road

There is now considerable support for research to be carried-out to look into improving the crossing on the Lawford Road near Campbell Street, and looking into the safety of crossing the Lawford Road in general. Obviously, any development near the Western Relief Road is dependant on this project, however there is certainly room for improvement when crossing the Lawford Road west of Campbell Street with many residents, particularly parents of St. Oswald’s Primary School, raising concerns about the safety of the road. This issue was raised as a priority at the recent Rugby Town West Locality Panel at the Indian Community Centre (see report). If you wish to add your support to an improved crossing contact Ben Cahill (see contacts).


Work Skills Course

Are you planning to start or return to work and would like to improve your skills and confidence in this area? If so, then Warwickshire County Council’s Adult and Community Learning Team are running a 6-week Work Skills Course in New Bilton beginning on 7 April 2008 at 1pm at the Christian Life Centre on the Lawford Road. The course will include CV writing skills, interview techniques, information on person specification forms and much more. If you are interested in attending this course, or would like more information, please contact Ben Cahill (see contacts).


Set-up a Neighbourhood Watch in your street

Neighbourhood Watch works! If you’re interested in setting-up a Neighbourhood Watch in your street or want to know if there’s already one up-and-running, please call 01788 533 575, email info@rugbynhw.co.uk, or write to Rugby Borough Neighbourhood Watch, c/o The Retreat, Newbold Road, Rugby, CV21 2LG. Visit the website at www.rugbynhw.co.uk


Residents decide priorities for area

The last Rugby Town West Locality Panel meeting was held at the Indian Community Centre on Edward Street on 30th January 2008. These meetings are an opportunity for all residents of New Bilton, Overslade, Bilton, Admirals, non-town Caldecott and Cawston to hear updates and presentations from the Police and other agencies and to raise three-month priorities for agencies working in the area. The priorities raised were:

• Tackling nuisance motorcycles in Admirals
• Preventing vehicle Theft in New Bilton
• Continued Police involvement with Kingsway shops in Overslade
• Safety concerns when crossing the Lawford Road

The relevant agencies will report back on these priorities at the next meeting on 19th March 2008 at 7pm at Rugby High School for Girls on Longrood Road. At this meeting these priorities can be continued or new ones can be agreed.


reNEW Annual General Meeting

The reNEW Annual General Meeting will take place at 7pm on Wednesday 21st May at the Indian Social Club, Edward Street, New Bilton, Rugby, CV21 2JP. This is your opportunity to come along and find out more about the past years achievements and meet the residents and officers involved.


Temporary absence of PCSO Fran Carty

PCSO Fran Carty is currently on restricted office duties, so will not be patrolling the streets of New Bilton for the time being. While there is no official replacement of PCSO Carty during this time, New Bilton will be well covered by the three officers in the Rugby West Team: PCSO Jane Thatcher, PSCO Harry Mossop and PSCO Emma Bastock.


‘NEW’ Garden Waste Collection

The garden waste collection scheme is currently being expanded to an additional 15,000 homes, including all those within the New Bilton Renewal Area. The delivery of the new garden waste wheelie bins - provided for residents to use for flowers, weeds, twigs, grass cuttings and small branches - will be rolled out from 25th March 2008. These bins will be collected on a fortnightly basis, with the first collections starting in April. You will be notified closer to the time of your green waste collection days. All garden waste collection is taken to local composting sites.


Housing Energy Efficiency Scheme

Save money and heat your home!

The reNEW Housing efficiency scheme launched with the first edition of the reNEW Newsletter has so far generated more than 70 enquiries from residents in the renewal area, however there is still money reserved in the scheme to benefit many more households and you could be one of them!

Whether you are an owner-occupier or rent from a private landlord, you could be eligible for FREE loft or cavity wall insulation.

Who can apply?
• Anyone aged 60 years or over
• Households with a child under 16 years receiving child tax credit (no income limit)
• Those with disabilities or individuals with long term illness
• In addition, those in receipt of means tested benefit may be eligible for a heating grant if your heating system is broken or if you do not have one.

If you are not within any of the above criteria there is still help available.

Find out what’s available by calling Warwickshire Energy Efficiency Action Centre on free phone 0800 512 012, who are taking referrals on behalf of reNEW. The contractors, Miller Paterson, working on behalf of reNEW and Rugby Borough Council to carry out the insulation works will be out-and-about in the Renewal Area canvassing over the coming weeks. Why not take the opportunity to speak to them direct for advice and guidance.


Home Renovation Assistance

Is your property in need of renovation?

If so, special assistance up to a maximum value of £10,000 is being offered by Rugby Borough Council to residents in the Renewal Area to carry out repairs to their property such as: damp, roofs, guttering, structural, electrics and facilities.

Who can apply? You must own your house or have a mortgage and be in receipt of one of the following benefits:
• Pension Credit
• Income support
• Working tax credit (with a household income of less than £15560.00 annually)
• Income based job seekers allowance

If you are not in receipt of any of the above benefits then you can apply for a means test to identify how much money you could be eligible for. To register your interest or simply out more contact Jamie Tallon or Care and Repair on 01788 533862.


Future Meetings