Open Door Summer 2012 - Dane Group

Cheshire West and Chester Council
History
Open Door Through The Years
As we transfer the management of the housing stock to Plus Dane we thought it would
be a good opportunity to look back at Open Door magazine and the changes that have
taken place in housing over the years. There have actually been seven design changes
over the years until we get to the magazine we all know today. Here are a few of them...
Issue 1 was in the winter of 1989, with an introduction by
Councillor O’Brien, Chairman of the Housing Committee
for Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council. There
wasn’t much colour, the illustrations were stick drawings
and the photos were black and white. Articles included a
focus on Westminster, and the refurbishment of the
Percival Road maisonettes. Issue 2 was a bit glossier, but
still only black and white photographs, including one of
the Housing Management team. I’m sure some of you will
remember names like Brian Simpson, now Chief Executive
of Wirral Partnership Homes.
Autumn 1996 saw a new look for the magazine and for the
Rother Drive Estate, by this time photos were in colour!
There was also an article about all the activities at
Churchill Court in Neston, which still thrives today. Spring
1999 featured a very familiar picture on the front, Mrs
Ogilvie, a regular entrant to our garden competition.
There has always been a range of competitions in Open
Door, which hopefully keep our readers entertained (and
puzzled!), and this issue was no exception. We had a fun
quiz, which is repeated in this issue, the regular word
search and the entry form for the garden competition,
again being repeated this time round. Autumn 2003 saw
news about a Housing Stock Transfer Update and
contracts such as the completion of fitting door entry
systems. By Winter 2006 the design had changed again.
This issue featured a history piece about Places of
Worship. From feedback we get from tenants, the history
article is always popular, either with the memories it
brings back, or information for residents who have not
lived in the area all their lives.
Spring 2009 saw a big change, the first issue under
Cheshire West and Chester Council. Although the cover
looked different, we still packed as much information
about the housing service as usual, such as the move to
Choice Based Lettings with CDHT and Weaver Vale
Housing Trust.
And now it’s our final edition before another move, thank
you to all our readers over the years, long may it continue.
page 10
cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk