Hartlepool residents' group calls it a day after 16 years of helping the community

Robert Smith, chair of Fens Residents Association.

The Fens Residents’ Association, which has campaigned on a number of issues over the years, is to be disbanded due to prohibitive running costs.

But chairman Robert Smith said he and other key members will continue to fight for the good of the estate when necessary.

He said: “It is mostly down to funding that’s made it time to call it a day. We have had lots of supporters and followers but only a small number of active members and that can make it difficult.

“We are proud of our achievements over the years that have improved the environment and quality of life on the Fens. We have also worked well in partnership with the council.”

Highlights have included representing the views of residents over plans to create the South West Extension comprising 1,200 homes.

The association says it the development would have been much bigger and occupied most of the land on the other side of Greatham Beck if it had not been for them.

It also led a campaign to prevent the name of the Fens Estate disappearing altogether from the redrawn ward map of Hartlepool in last year’s Boundary Review.

And it has campaigned on health provision and worked with the Hartlepool Borough Council Community Safety Team, ward councillors and Cleveland Police to raise awareness of the menace of off-road bikers.

The association’s final newsletter has just been produced but due to coronavirus restrictions it cannot be delivered to households.

However, it is able to view on the residents association’s website.

Mr Smith added: “Even though we can’t produce a newsletter any more we will still be keeping a careful eye on developments and issues and will take every opportunity we can to decrease the negatives and increase the positives for the estate, but as individuals.”

To read the final newsletter visit www.fensresidentsassociation.co.uk

Details about an upcoming meeting of Greatham Parish Council have since been overtaken by the coronavirus situation which has banned all public gatherings of more than two people until further notice.