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Do you have an urge to see something in your local area spruced up? Step this way...

27 replies

RowanMumsnet · 13/05/2013 12:21

('spruce up something in your local area' is not a euphemism by the way)

We've been talking to the nice people at Spacehive, who facilitate crowd-funding for local projects, and it made us wonder whether we could get some MNer-inspired projects underway across the UK.

The idea is that MNers come up with ideas for things in their community they'd like to see spruced up, made over and totally regenerated: crumbling scout huts, abandoned toilet blocks, empty shops (have a look at this page to get an idea of what projects others have suggested, and check out their FAQs to get an idea of the process). You'll need to think about not just what you'd like to see spruced up, but what you'd like to see it turned into.

Spacehive has lots of tools and experts to help cost projects and check feasibility. Then, once we've got a few solid ideas, Spacehive (and Mumsnet - and Mumsnetters!) will promote the projects and - with a bit of luck - between us we can get the money raised to turn your ideas into actual funded projects.

Don't worry, you're not being asked to be architect, project manager or builder: at this stage we're really just interested in finding some good ideas.

We're going to have our very own Mumsnet page on Spacehive to showcase our projects, so if you have an idea, please post it on this thread and we'll take it from there - or, if you'd rather not reveal your location to all and sundry on the internet, drop us an email on [email protected] with 'Spacehive - for Rowan' in the subject line.

Thanks,
MNHQ

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OrWellyAnn · 13/05/2013 14:37

Oooh I'm off to show DH this, he'll be very excited as there's a local project he's been trying to get off the ground!

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TrinityRhino · 13/05/2013 17:43

I'm guessing my frontroom doesn't count

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iclaudius · 13/05/2013 17:57

I love this! ( am passionate about mine and have been for years!!) have emailed!!!

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thebestpossibletaste · 13/05/2013 19:16

We have lots of empty shops in our local town and need a decent children's clothes shop. We have two shop that sells uniforms, one of those sells a few pieces of expensive designer clothes but we need something to replace Woolworths, I.e selling pyjamas, undies, tights and socks, basic clothes that are fair quality but not too expensive, maybe even a good second hand children's clothes shop, hand picked and priced accordingly. NOT a charity shop. They could maybe sell a few toys too.

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AwkwardAnnie · 13/05/2013 22:09

Oh my town could make SO much use of something like this. It's one of those old Northern Market towns where the Market shut years ago. So much potential, so many enthusiastic locals and recently new shopkeepers too, but not much support from the council.
The old cinema was turned into a nightclub, but the council/police recently closed it down. I know a lot of locals would love it to be turned into a community arts theatre/cinema centre.

I shall go and post this link on the local Town team FB page.

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supergreenuk · 13/05/2013 22:19

Our town centre park. We have parks in our area with money spent on it except my local park. It's so bad a railing has broken off on one of the climbing frames and all they have done is taped it off. So dangerous. It's so neglected but so many families use it still because its all we have close by.

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MoogDroog · 13/05/2013 23:10

Oh yes! The only playground in our town (was going to post a thread asking if anyone knew about getting something done about it).

One double swing and a crappy broken climbing thing. There was a slide like something out of a 70's time warp until they recently removed it. The thing is, there's a skate ramp for the teenagers, an outdoor gym for the adults, but practically nothing for the kids. So sad.

There's some lovely playgrounds in nearby villages, but I don't have access to a car in the week. This is in rural Wales btw.

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ChubbyKitty · 13/05/2013 23:29

Clothes shops. No more bloody over priced designer holes, but decent, basic, clothes shops, that normal people can afford.

We have New Look, and the odd good find in Asda. Our M&S is really small and full of children's clothes and a few pairs of granny pants (sorry) and we have a multitude of charity shops which again, are very small, and frankly leave a lot to be desired.

Everything I own seems to come from new look or eBay, and whilst I do like new look stuff it's frustrating when you go to find some new work trousers that fit and they don't have the right size and there's no where else.

There's probably much more important things to fund tbh, I'm just a little bitter since we lost all our affordable shops for no apparent reason!Sad

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RowanMumsnet · 14/05/2013 09:44

Hello

Thanks for these - sounds good! We'll come back to you if you've mailed us (it may take a couple of days) or we might drop you a mail via your registered MN email address if you haven't already mailed us.

In the meantime, do please keep posting up your ideas.

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meala · 14/05/2013 09:51

There's a lovely popular beach and park near my town. Years ago, a team came in and put in a kids park but now it has been vandalised and is really needing help!

The bridge linking to the big slide was burnt down and now small children can't get on to this part of the park unless a parent can lift them up (and it's high!). Other pieces of play equipment have been removed and not replaced.

It is such a nice spot, easy bus access from town and a great place for families to come that it's such a shame it is the way it is just now.

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nenevomito · 14/05/2013 11:46

Our local playpark has fallen to bits and the most that the council have done to spruce it up in the last 5 years was to give a lick of paint to the rusty scramble net frame. They can't even be bothered to cut the grass regularly.

There are loads of children in my local area and the nearest play parks to us are around 20 minutes walk away.

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MrsMarigold · 14/05/2013 12:53

There is jus so much litter near us and thousands of dandelions this year, it's really getting me down.

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SetFiretotheRain · 14/05/2013 13:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kveta · 14/05/2013 14:10

ooh!

there is an abandoned petrol station forecourt and some empty buildings next to it in my area, which looks more and more decrepit by the month - it's right on the main road into town, and is an eyesore, all weedy and cruddy looking.

I would LOVE to make a community centre for community arts projects - so basically a big studio space with a room for toddler/children's art groups to meet, and maybe a pottery studio too (with kiln), because although we have a museum/art gallery locally, it is not really aimed at kids, especially not toddlers. Our town doesn't really have much arty stuff going on at all actually, so this is something that it could really use. It could offer classes for all age groups - there are so so many gymnastics/football/cookery type classes for pre-schoolers round here, I'm sure an art class would go down well, and evening classes for older folk would be ace too.

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threepiecesuite · 14/05/2013 18:01

Around the corner from me is an area of wasteland which used to be a car showroom which has since relocated. It is right on the edge of a crowded council/private estate and I'd like to see it turned into allotments. It is a low-income area and I think people would jump at the chance to grow their own veg.

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PavlovtheCat · 14/05/2013 18:54

Yep there is a local park in a deprived area in Plymouth, in an area where there is a LOT of children living, it is old, unloved and therefore not used. There are not even any flowers! It has the potential, with no a horrendous amount of money, but a lot of love and attention, to be a fabulous space for people to take their children instd of the rubbish dumping ground full of graffiti that it has become as no one has any reason to pick up rubbish or take care of it in any way.

It currently has old broken and tatty swings etc, with no imagination. It has a football pitch that is unkempt, and a lot of grass that, well it now used for anything and is just, there. Lost of dead space that is not really accessible due to fencing etc. There is a basketball court, if you can call it that, that has no purpose really as it has no hoops or floor markings, it's just a cage.

It needs, some flower beds, some comfy benches, some pretty things to look at, so that people will want to sit there on blankets and have a picnic, some proper imaginative play equipment, a decent well marked and well kept football pitch, some play areas for kids to ride bikes, scooters etc.

It is Astor Field in Plymouth.

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PavlovtheCat · 14/05/2013 18:56

Oh, and there is not another play area that people feel comfortable going to within walking distance, the nearest one, the best in Plymouth IMO, is a car drive away and that is not possible for many people without cars. That one is fabulous, lots of beautiful trees, blossom, flowers, daisies in the grass, a fab play area, tennis courts, bowling green, it's one of those parks you want to live opposite, compared to Astor field which is an eyesore.

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LittleAbruzzenBear · 14/05/2013 19:26

Our train station. The building is falling to bits and boarded up. The council have cleaned up the platforms and put new signs up, but they have left the building. It looks unsightly, unsafe and not a nice place to be. A shame because it is a nice market town and this ruins it. I'm sure more people would take the train if it looked less like a drug-dealing area.

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WhispersOfWickedness · 14/05/2013 19:48

Lots and lots and lots around my village Sad
It is an ex RAF base and the sale of the properties when the base was closed was very badly managed. This means that there are a lot of empty houses. Also, there are a few buildings which have been abandoned and the community centre could really do with some work doing to it.

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funnyperson · 14/05/2013 20:51

Medway: Gillingham where 21% children live in poverty and the only food shops are takeaways. Badly needs a fruit and vegetable/farmers market where Kent's farmers can sell their produce and the local families can buy it at affordable prices.

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funnyperson · 14/05/2013 20:52

Medway: Gillingham where 21% children live in poverty and the only food shops are takeaways. Badly needs a fruit and vegetable/farmers market where Kent's farmers can sell their produce and the local families can buy it at affordable prices.

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joanofarchitrave · 14/05/2013 22:19

I came on to post something locally but I am so inspired by these, it's fantastic. Yes we can!

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StairsInTheNight · 15/05/2013 04:44

south east London: we live close to a busy main road and at one side of the crossroads there are old derelict toilets, been there as long as i can remember. Theres no shops or parking near to this crossroads, its used by people (no pedestrian crossing facilities either) to get to various bus stops. I wish the toilets were turned into something, ideally it would have local info, maybe a vending machine for newspapers, a roof so you could get out of rain, a coffee kiosk?!

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JakeBullet · 15/05/2013 06:27

This is too big a project but in Laindon (Basildon) we have a very run down shopping centre which was supposed to have been regenerated long ago. It hasn't been and I really want to see something done to improve the appearance of it for the local people.

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CairoPrankster · 19/05/2013 22:47

Am I too late to join in? There is a space right next to our local railway station, there is a building in there but it has been used as a fly tip, it is full of rubbish and burnt out cars. It is such a poor advert for what is actually a very nice town. I would love to make it into a community garden and feel sure that others feel the same but DH thinks that I'm mad

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