Lower Edmonton residents put at 'centre' of neighbourhood board's new vision

The Lower Edmonton South Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board has the tough task of deciding how to spend £20million of government cash

A new community board in Edmonton has pledged to place residents “at the centre of decision-making” as members begin setting out a vision for investing £20million in the local neighbourhood.

The newly-formed Lower Edmonton South Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board recently met for the first time, bringing together representatives from local community groups and experienced professionals in different fields to discuss priorities for the programme and their next steps in delivering a “genuinely community-led vision for the area”.

Both Lower Edmonton and Enfield Wash were named in March as being among 40 areas around the country chosen to receive £20m each in government cash through its Pride in Place Programme, with Enfield being one of three London boroughs to have two different areas chosen for the scheme.

For each area the funding will be spread over a decade-long period, meaning there will be £2m available for these communities every year between now and 2036.

Earlier this year applications were opened for local people to both apply for the roles of chair and to become members of each board. The Lower Edmonton chair has now been named as Vivienne Aiyela, a lifelong resident with “extensive experience in regeneration, equality, social value and supporting organisations and communities to deliver positive change”.

While no immediate spending decisions have been made, Vivienne said: “Edmonton has been my home for more than 30 years, and community is everything to me. I know the talent, determination and pride that exist here.

“Our board will work as a team alongside residents, making particular efforts to hear from people whose voices have too often been overlooked. We will listen before setting priorities and keep reporting back on how people’s contributions shape our decisions.

“This is their neighbourhood and their future. Our responsibility is to turn that community leadership into lasting improvements that local people can see and feel.”

Among those on the 14-strong neighbourhood board are local MP Kate Osamor; Lower Edmonton councillor Siddo Dwyer; the ‘boxing bishop’ Costakis Evangelou, founder of Edmonton Eagles Amateur Boxing Club; Tara Hanna, director of local education charity Exodus Youth Worxx; Marsha Jones, a senior clinical leader in the NHS; and Zeeshaan Rana, a police officer and foster carer.

The first phase of the neighbourhood board’s work will focus on “listening to residents and building the foundations for a community-led Pride in Place initiative”.

Through engagement with local people, the board will seek to understand what residents value most about their area, the changes they would like to see, and the priorities they wish to shape through the £20million of government cash.

Kate Osamor, the Labour MP for Edmonton and Winchmore Hill, said: “Pride in Place presents a significant opportunity for Edmonton. As we begin this programme, our priority is to listen to residents and work alongside local partners to develop a shared vision for the future of our community.

“The board brings together a wide range of experience, expertise and commitment from across Edmonton, providing a strong foundation for this important work. By working collaboratively with residents and local partners, we can ensure this community led programme reflects local priorities, unlocks Edmonton’s enormous potential, and delivers lasting benefits for the whole community.”

One of the board’s first opportunities to engage with the community will be at the ‘Community Connect’ next Thursday (22nd) at The Living Room Library in Fore Street, between 9am and 5pm. Residents are encouraged to stop by and speak with Vivienne and members of the board to find out more about the programme and how they can get involved.

Cllr Dwyer, added: “Residents and businesses keep telling me the same thing. While Lower Edmonton is a great place to live, it needs investment to bring it back to where it should be after being held back for 14 years.

“The best part about Pride in Place is that it starts with listening to and respecting the views of locals. It will be driven by residents and community leaders, not politicians, and I’m pleased we have a diverse and talented neighbourhood board to drive it forward.

“This £20m is a once in a-generation opportunity from central government to restore civic pride, invest in our public realm, and bring much needed new jobs and skills.”

In February next year, the neighbourhood board is due to finalise its Pride in Place plan for the local area, which will set out priorities and investment in the area over the next ten years.

Updates about the board’s progress will be posted on a dedicate Enfield Council web page, where all meeting minutes and decisions will be made public:
Visit letstalk.enfield.gov.uk/prideinplace-edmonton

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