I met with, Derby City Council’s neighbourhood team for Allestree, along with the Rev Sarah Watson at St Nicholas Church.
They had some important insights into the issues affecting Allestree, including loneliness and isolation, vulnerability to scammers, and insufficient activities for its many young people. They are working with residents and community groups to find ways of addressing these.
I was also fascinated to hear about their work at A&E supporting people who might be struggling more with mental health, for example, and taking preventative steps in various ways such as engaging with social groups. This kind of holistic joined up work is what integration is all about, and has the power to save a great deal of money as well as improving health and quality of life.
We also spoke about recent discussion on planned improvements to the junction between Kedleston Road and Allestree Lane, which I went to have a look at. These works have been planned a long time and are connected with nearby developments which among other things are driving increases in traffic and congestion. I would support measures that make the crossing more navigable for pedestrians while improving safety and maximising traffic flow.
Please get in touch with any questions or thoughts on how I can support Allestree residents.