And there are sometimes problems …
In a densely populated area, the waste management is always a challenge: bins on the streets and litter are a perennial problem, reaching a peak in “changeover” time when one year of students is replaced by another.
Graffiti is another problem, with taggers drawn from some distance outside the area. Despite the best efforts from volunteers to persuade owners to clean off tags, the problem persists. However, a positive outcome has been the project to encourage street art skills and replace tags with something more interesting to look at.
Parking can still be an issue, though much of the area is covered by resident permits. The corner of Little Woodhouse Street for instance has been taken over by illegal parking.
Student accommodation blocks have brought their own problems. Many have been built in close formation without adequate provision for their residents to relax outside, or at least to have a view of green space. Noise can be an issue, especially late at night.
There are other problems that are not so easy to spot. The lack of housing suitable and affordable for families is the most serious. The loss of local facilities is another – the closure of pubs and shops and above all schools.
The area has a lot of heritage not just in the form of buildings, but of roads, pavements, walls and gardens. Sadly some of them are at risk, whether from age, damage, neglect or theft. The proposed Heritage Area aims to encourage more understanding and care of these important assets.
Little Woodhouse Neighbourhood Plan 