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Mayor makes himself at home at new housing advice centre
 

RESIDENTS and landlords in South Shields are set to benefit after a unique “one-stop-shop” for housing advice opened its doors for the first time.

South Tyneside’s mayor Cllr Ed Malcolm performed the official opening ceremony of the new William Sutton Housing Association estate office in John Williamson Street, South Shields, on Wednesday November 22.

For the first time, William Sutton Housing Association and fellow landlords Places for People and South Tyneside Council will work together under one roof – meaning tenants will be able get advice from a range of experts on all sorts of housing problems.

Residents were invited along to meet staff and to see Cllr Malcolm cut the ribbon across the office door at 4pm.

Then afterwards staff joined the mayor in his office for a celebration.

The office walls will be adorned with special artwork by young local artists who entered a competition asking them to draw a picture of the place they live.

The standard of entries was so high that staff picked two winners – Laura Anne Oley and Kerrylouise Kennedy, who both live in the Tyne Dock are, South Shields.

Both received art materials and Woolworths vouchers, and their work will be framed and put on the office wall.

The project, which allowed William Sutton to triple the office space of the John Williamson Street premises, was made possible with the help of a £10,000 grant, awarded as part of the Rekendyke Partnership.

The Rekendyke Project was launched in April 2004 by South Tyneside Council and the William Sutton Housing Association to improve the area.

Carl Doolan, area manager for William Sutton Housing Association, said the atmosphere at the launch was great. He said: “We had some residents popping in, and overall the day was a great boost for all the staff working there.

“It was tremendous to have the support of the mayor – that helped to make the day very special. “I don’t know of any other areas which have landlords working so closely together under one roof.

“It’s something that should really help to benefit everyone living in the area.”

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