Improvements are a sizzling success

5/13/2010

There were celebrations at Maiden Newton this week when residents of Webber’s Piece officially launched new facilities at their communal room.

There were celebrations at Maiden Newton this week when residents of Webber’s Piece officially launched new facilities at their communal room.

A new toilet for disabled people, a storage cupboard and a temporary ramp have been created at the sheltered housing scheme run by Magna Housing Association.

Members of the Residents’ Association were so pleased with the improvements they organised a barbecue to mark the occasion.

The Residents’ Association chairman, Bob Hilton, thanked everyone involved in the work.

“There’s a lot more to do yet,” he said. “But we’re very happy with what we’ve achieved so far.”

Magna’s community development manager, Ken Bodycombe, said: “We’re very keen to get communities working together as a team. Here at Webber’s Piece, Bob, Joan Dean and the residents’ committee have shown just what can be done.”

The garden party went with a swing with help from Mike Caplen on guitar while local builder Andrew Robinson and his neighbour, Stephen Tanner, manned the barbecues. 

Last year, Andrew, whose firm Quarr Builders Ltd carried out the improvements, donated a barbecue to Webber’s Piece after creating a new patio and garden area, which was funded by money from the association’s Community Initiative Fund (CIF).

CIF is administered by a panel of resident representatives and is used to support projects that benefit groups of Magna residents.

“I only live up the road,” Andrew said. “My mother-in-law lives at Webber’s Piece so I know it well and was more than happy to come along today. Actually, Bob invited me and then I ended up doing the cooking! But I don’t mind - Bob does so much for everyone and a lot of people enjoy it.”