Light shines on estate but chill winds may cut through.

LIGHT’S brightening on an estate with improvements a shining example of what community groups can achieve.

Recently landscaped gardens and play areas are a visible testimony to effort put in by the Mario Tinenti Centre forming the Stair Fairies at the Bell Foundry Estate in Loughborough.

Together the residents of the blocks scheduled slots to clear the gloomy blocked stairwells to make them safer and more accessible to tenants.

However as today news comes through of the likely increase in national insurance payments there are comments of how those in favour are the richest.

You only have to cast your mind back to a few days ago and the sun was hidden behind grey cloud with the temperature dropping and the second increase this year in the energy cap may seem more concerning.

Set up to alleviate fuel poverty the latest rise brings the cap to its highest ever level. Caused mainly by wholesale energy prices going up the increased cost comes just as the furlough scheme winds down and may start to blow an ill wind over this estate and others like it.

Richard Spiring, 48, of the estate, one of the four per cent most deprived in the country has a pre – payment meter and estimates a 12 per cent increase on his current monthly prices could cost him a night out with friends. At around six pounds a month he says as he lives on his own he isn’t responsible for others so would cut back on entertainment rather than other expenses.

But Pauline McLaden, 76, says she doesn’t have the heating on in the winter much as she also lives alone. She puts it on for getting up around 7.30 am for a couple of hours and then again for two more in the evening.

“I go to bed early as I’m on my own,” said Pauline and keeps bills down as she switches her heating off at 7.30pm. But asked about the plight of others on the estate and she mentions another elderly gentleman now deceased.

“He had one leg and was pushed over and is now dead,” she added.

It’s agreed safety on the estate has improved since the Stair Fairies came together. The improvements are paid for from a service charge added to the rent.

Volunteer at the Marios Tinenti Centre Lorna Hughes said before the Stair Fairies the entrances and steps, hidden from sight by grey brick walls were poorly – lit, filthy and blocked by rubbish. Intimidating behaviour within the narrow bricked – in walk – ways included drug use and dealing.  

Ms Hughes said the group’s effort to clear them resulted in them sending  a presentation to the local council and funding was agreed for new security doors and CCTV.

“It’s safer for children and a better place to have visitors with drug dealing eradicated,” said Lorna.

“There are fewer families living on the estate now,” she added.

“The new security doors open outwards,” said Richard who said he agrees with paying the service charge added to his rent although he’s now mindful of his utilities bill going up too.

“I feel far safer opening the door to strangers and the clean – up operation means I can bring home friends,” he added.