Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
The North Shields Triangle is a residential area of turn of the century brick terraced housing originally built for shipyard workers, of approximately 300 separate properties.
A number of designs were developed and proposed which related directly to ideas which had come from the community. Particularly from the local children involved. These included a laminated, carved and coloured timber mural, cast iron and cast glass street sets, street sculpture, street mosaic and mural work.
Environmental activism in the community
The North Shields Triangle Residents Association was formed in August 1997 in response to developing social problems, and a deteriorating environment. This included youth crime and vandalism, numbers of problem families creating serious stress and nuisance to the community, derelict areas used for tipping, widespread litter and dog mess, derelict properties, and problems made by busy traffic in a residential area, causing streets to be unsafe to pedestrians and especially local children. People have even been knocked over in a back lane being used by private cars and taxis as a rat run.
Through a number of public meetings, and the voluntary efforts of residents, the community has now come together to address these problems. "We have brought our area to the attention of the police and the local authority, and have set about doing what we can ourselves". This has included organising clean up days in partnership with the local authority, pressing for traffic calming measures, organising a neighbourhood watch scheme, raising funds to support a local football team through the provision of strips and equipment, getting blocked drains cleared, damaged signs replaced, organising the purchase and provision of hanging baskets and planted tubs for the streets, clearing derelict sites and many other achievements including the organising of regular meetings and some social events.
Having started to address the immediate problems they faced, they decided to look at much more ambitious plans for environmental development. After a lot of work and a little bit of luck, they were successful in winning from the Government, just under £500,000 to transform the area into a Home Zone. This scheme has brought about significant traffic calming measures, improved street surfaces and the introduction of a number of new trees.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)