THE Townsend Together Team (3Ts) was formed in 2005 and now boasts more than 250 members.

At monthly meetings residents have the chance to air their concerns and projects are discussed.

Over the years various initiatives have helped turn Townsend around. With the help of young people on the estate graffiti has been removed from the local shop, a drop-in room has been created at the community centre and the local post box re-installed.

A disused plot of land was transformed into an award-winning community garden which is tended by local residents. Various clean-up events and community litter picks have been held.

The latest initiative is Birch Drive Volunteer Gardeners’ Jubilee Project which involves local residents sprucing up their neighbours’ gardens.

The project was started by Joan Richards and her teenage neighbour Holly Chesterman. The 3Ts’ chairperson Claire Geraghty told the Daily Echo: “More families are wanting to move here and that is a big vote of confidence for Townsend.

“It is important that we keep children off the streets and we work closely with the youth club which focuses on over-13s.

“To fill in the gap a new youth club has been formed for nine to 13-year-olds which meets at the community centre every other Friday. Entry is free and there are lots of activities from 7pm until 9pm.

“Crime has dropped dramatically over the years. There’s virtually no crime in Townsend now and it has become a relaxed place to live.”

She added: “People with concerns, who were understandably reluctant to speak to police community support officers during the Cops on the Corner initiative, can now go to an office at Castlepoint shopping centre.

“People who have moved away are now coming back because, unlike many large estates, Townsend has a real community spirit and residents feel they really belong here.”