Cleared for bright future

By [lwood]

GRIMSBY'S Freshney Green development... brand new homes, open green spaces a health centre and play area – a vision poles apart from the Yarborough estate at the time of the death of Alfred Wilkins.

Then, the bright future the area has now, thanks to the ongoing £40-million redevelopment, wasn't even on the horizon.

And while there is no doubt most of the people living on the Yarborough at the time were law-abiding, decent citizens, the day the former merchant seaman died symbolised the grimness of the place.

Even before this, the estate was notorious for its troubles. Fires were not uncommon in unoccupied homes, buildings were daubed with graffiti and the pockets of wasteground were magnets for anti-social behaviour.

The reporting team at the time were discouraged from taking their own cars in case they were stolen or vandalised... it was like the TV show Shameless, but way before it had ever been aired. And real.

One reporter, sent in to the estate to cover the aftermath of the Wilkins murder, recalled: "I was on my own in a car, driving deeper and deeper into the estate.

"The houses gradually became more and more dilapidated, covered in graffiti and vacant.

"The rain was pouring down and got heavier as I neared Arundel Walk.

"It was weird – the sky seemed to blacken, to the point it felt like night time, even though it was in the middle of the day.

"The only real light came from the mobile police caravan, and the bright yellow of the officers' high visibility jackets.

"The rain was so heavy it was hard to make much out, but there were a couple of children pretending to kick a football about, but really watching the activity with interest.

"I also remember it being eerily silent – apart from the rain, and the wind flapping the police tape cordoning off the scene.

"Putting this into context with the fact a murder had just happened, and the police were saying residents were very reluctant to talk, I felt like I was trespassing in some sort of underworld.

"As I got out of the car, I genuinely felt a little apprehensive – it was as if hidden eyes were watching my every move.

"Thankfully, the police officers invited me inside the caravan and made me a cup of tea.

"It was really strange sitting in the brightness and warmth, knowing what was outside.

"It was almost unreal – quite like a film set. It was just so grim."

Residents themselves were among the first to admit that the estate wasn't exactly pleasant there at times – but were also fiercely protective, and it was heartening to see how much community spirit was alive and well.

They claimed the amount of vacant and abandoned properties made it look much worse than it actually was – and bad weather certainly didn't help.

One commented at the time: "Most of us on here are good people – there's just a few who drag it down, and it's not fair on the rest of us."

Over the years, North East Lincolnshire Council tried to get vacant homes occupied, either through letting or demolishing ones beyond repair, but until the arrival of the Freshney Green project, everything proved unsuccessful.

The problems the estate faced were not unique, or unique to council estates – its reputation was a major stumbling block.

Another resident added: "There are difficulties on the estate, but they are no more than in other areas of North East Lincolnshire or the rest of the country.

"We're unfairly tarnished."

A bright future for the estate seemed to be far off – until the Freshney Green scheme came on the scene, thanks to Shoreline Housing Partnership and Stamford Homes.

Just last month, we revealed how the new estate will look – and it is truly state-of-the-art.

As reported, work began in August last year. It boasts houses with en suite bathrooms and luxury fitted kitchens. Some will be owned by the residents, some part-owned and some rented.

And buyers are already snapping them up, with the first property sold before building work even began.

As well as new homes, the redevelopment will include a health centre, a children's play area and traffic calming measures.

Tony Bramley, chief executive of Shoreline Housing Partnership, said: "It's not just about what this estate means to us, but to North East Lincolnshire.

"Certainly this is the largest development of its kind for many years.

"This is a very exciting time – a bright new future."