Blacon Parade Meeting

I have to admit, I’ve not been to many community forums, but the fact is that it’s the only place where you can express a view about what’s happening locally and people will listen. That alone can make you feel better. There are two in Blacon: 'One Voice for Blacon' and the 'Blacon Community Forum'. Tonights meeting was chaired by Janet Gittins (local authority) and Reg Jones (local Counsellor).

The meeting focus was on the topic of the Blacon Parade. This is basically 20 small retail outlets in the centre of Blacon (or near enough) with residential apartments above them. My particular interest (apart from the fact it's a major development in the middle of my neighbourhood) is that Cafe Life is one of these retail outlets and run by our local church New Life Blacon. The Parade buildings are dated and look grotty and ready for a revamp.

This is a photo of the left flank of the Parade (the rectangular shape in the bottom left of the map below - the part earmarked for demolition and rebuild). The buildings behind the Parade include the Blacon Sports and Social, the Betting Shop, the Community Centre, the Clinic and a Youth Centre (The Delta). They are all a bit run down and badly in need of an update. Everybody agrees with that. The contention of the last 8 years is what we should have instead and who’s going to pay for it.

In this aerial photo I have highlighted the buildings we (New Life Blacon Church) have used to meet and share life, music, fun and food in Blacon since 2007. The Blacon Community Centre was our Sunday morning meeting and social events for 3 years. Our beloved Cafe Life building, a faith based community cafe. And then the Sports and Social where we have been meeting for the last year on Sunday mornings and Friday evenings.

I must emphasise that this is my rough 'artists impression' made up from what I have gleaned from information given out so far (not an official plan). The major partners in the redevelopment are Chester and District Housing Trust (building more 'affordable housing' behind the Parade), Chester Primary Care Trust (who plan to build a walk-in medical centre) and Cheshire West and Chester Council (who look after the retail and public services). As well as this a local independent body is being set up called the Blacon Asset Management Company (to handle local services to the communities best advantage). The plan is that the BAMC will be based in a multi-use facility comprised of business space and community space (roughly on top of our present Cafe site).

Most people in Blacon know that the Parade and the buildings behind it are getting knocked down at some point over the next two years. What they don’t know (at the moment) is what is going to built in its place. Most of the messages in the local press are vague and the artist’s impressions we see are just that; impressions. There is a cynicism and distrust from those who are bothered about it which has been cultivated by years of ‘community engagement’ meetings which have so far proved fruitless. This is what the key partners are up against - it's a tough job.

Tonight’s meeting had an interesting twist. It wasn’t to hear and discuss what was actually going on. It was to talk about how information and engagement should most effectively take place with the wider community. We split into groups and talked about mail shots, posters, events and web sites. Looking forward to seeing what gets written on them...

Blacon's new Vicar: Tina Upton

Took part in 'The Institution and Induction of Christina Phoebe Upton' this evening. She is the new vicar of ‘Holy Trinity Without the Walls’, the Blacon Anglican Church. I took part as a member of the congregation and of the parish. We were asked by the Bishop if we would support Tina as she ministers in her new role as vicar.... we all said, ‘yes’, we would.

I’ve never been to an Anglican Induction before. It’s quite an occasion. Lots of vicars in their frocks, church leaders like me in their civvies, the Sheriff of Chester (who also happens to be a Blacon resident and Councillor), all to welcome and witness Tina’s arrival in church office.

The Rev Christine Davies from the Blacon URC welcomed Tina on behalf of the other Blacon churches. As the leader of one of those churches I hope Tina will be joining our Blacon and Saughall Churches Together group. It has great potential...

As well as the customary sermon and hymns the service is packed with ritual and ceremonial symbolism – something the Anglican church is really good at. There is the handing of a Bible to Tina by a member of the congregation, a procession to the font and where she pours in the water, a procession to the church door where she is given the keys and the church bells are rung. Like a wedding service she has to make vows and sign a book.

She seems like a nice person, lots of smiles and animation in her voice. Her first job is to read this week’s church notices, which she did with verve and humour. Her husband took part in the service too. He read a poem about what it will be like when Jesus comes back to earth. I’m not sure exactly why but it seemed a bit odd. I think I like him.

I’ve met the last three vicars of HTwtW’s – all men. I’m not sure but Tina could be the first woman vicar they’ve had. That in itself is an interesting dynamic for 2012. As we all left the church we shook hands with the Bishop and the new vicar at the church door. That’s when I met Tina properly for the first time and introduced myself. She said she’d heard about our cafe and was looking forward to meeting Aliss as well. That was nice. I think Tina's arrival is a timely one and we all look forward to the changes she is going to ring in.

Drink Responsibly

Just noticed this notice today outside the Cafe at the Parade shops. It says: "PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY, If you don't officers may confiscate alcohol and issue fines." Very authoritative isn't it? White letters on a black background.

Normally signs like this specify that they are talking about a particular area. Presumably this one means the pavements around the shops. We have some good friends who like to sit on the wall near this sign and drink all day. But their goal is not to get intoxicated. It is to stay intoxicated and avoid the dreadful prospect of withdrawal. Most of the time they are quiet and timid - particularly when they have a can that is more full than empty.

Perhaps this sign is aimed at the whole Blacon neighbourhood. Imagine that for a minute. Police officers breaking into homes and bars where people are 'drinking irresponsibly' and confiscating their booze. :-/

I am not saying I am happy about people binge drinking anywhere. Especially if it leads to agressive or intimidating behaviour. But surely our responsibility to deal with these symptoms of our community shouldn't mean putting great big 'you shall not' signs everywhere.

'Responsibility', of course, hints at 'moral obligation'. Being responsible for or to someone or something. It's an obligation to behave in a certain way. Usually a way that benefits others.

From time to time our friends who sit on the wall come into Cafe Life (in the photo background) to use the toilet. That's good isn't it? Better than peeing in a hidden doorway anyway. It gets better... Sometimes they come in and have a sit and a chat. Read a paper. Have a cuppa. Sometimes we ask them how they are doing and pray for them if they have pain.

One of the most poignant expressions of 'behaving in a way that considers others' (being responsible) I know of, is when on Christmas day staff from the Cafe make a full Christmas dinner for anyone who wants to come and celebrate the day together. Free of charge. Presents and games included (all courtesy of other people's generosity). I was told that this last Christmas Day 'nobody wanted to go home'! All kinds of different local people join together, including our friends from the wall, to celebrate the saviours birth with food and good company.

It irritates me that the local authorities have resorted to posting this bleak looking and very negative, legalistic statement over the centre of my community. I applaud the local Police for the great work they do with community engagement but this kind of sign is a backward step to redefining Blacon as a place of hope, creativity and friendship.

Heart of Blacon

Blacon is divided into north and south very neatly by a railway cutting that runs right through the middle of the estate. The railway is now long gone but has been replaced, like many others, with a tarmacked surface and added to the UK's network of cycleways.

The only way from one half of Blacon to the other is over the old railway bridge. This bridge has been the notorious hangout and gathering place for local youths. One of the last places not to be surveyed by a security camera linked to the police. Typically the site was overgrown with trees and shrubs and littered with alcho-pop bottles and cigarette packes.

Then, a couple of years ago, a local man (from Saughall) called Stephen Perry had a vision for making this place of division and hopelessness into an inspiring, aesthetically pleasing, 'clean and green', unifying 'Heart of Blacon'. Taking this dark and abused area and making it light and attractive. and do you know what? He's pretty well gone and done it!

I'm sure I will add more photo's and comments on this subject but this is the first and I include a photo of one of the natural wood carvings down on the embankment; a badger standing on his hind legs. There are lots of them just waiting to be spotted on the old railway sidings: rabbits, squirrels, owls, falcons, foxes... delightful.

Now when people walk or cycle through Blacon they see creativity and life instead of crap and despair. And I for one appreciate it.

Institutionalised

I looked out the Cafe window today through the grills on the windows. It was originally built as a bank so the windows are narrow with reinforced glass with protective cages over them.

'Shawshank Redemption' is largely voted as the most popular movie ever in most internet polls. One of the themes of the movie is how long term prison inmates get 'institutionalised', or unable to adapt to life on the outside. One of the most moving parts of the film is when a long term inmate called Brookes gets released from prison. he is set free. However, he is so used to prison life that the whole idea terrifies him. On the 'inside' (of the prison) he has learned to be somebody. On the 'outside' he is a nobody. [spoiler alert!] He cannot cope. He takes his own life. The original film soundtrack to these tragic scenes is a moving and powerful piece of music score called "Brookes was here".

Many of us think that we are trapped. That the one thing we think we want is freedom. Freedom from poverty, freedom from loneliness, freedom from a relationship, freedom from a job, freedom from unemployment, freedom from all kinds of prisons. However, the truth is that often, deep down, that freedom scares us. We don't like having real freedom. We don't know what to do with it. We prefer boundaries.

Freedom. Not always the easy option. To be really free takes courage, resolve and faith. The end of the movie makes this message clear. Perhaps that's why its so popular; it articulates something true about us all...