A GROUP of councillors have been working to improve the houses in Bridgwater.

Gill Slocombe and Rachael Cawell for Bridgwater West and Durleigh area looked at helping with both inside and outdoor elements of peoples homes, through a programme called Great Estates.

The homes involved are from housing association, Homes in Sesgemoor.

These included new front doors, repainting and decorating, fencing and gates, and non-slip flooring in community stairwells.

Councillor Gill Slocombe said: "We the ward councillors have been working hard to achieve improving not only the interior of our homes, but the outside and the visual aspect in West Street and Westover Green.

"We had asked for all the front doors and inner doors to be renewed.

"The fire safety had asked residents to take away their bits of carpeting form the stairwells but had not offered a safer solution.

"We asked that all the stairwells were brought up to a good standard of non-slip surfacing and bringing about a safer entry up and down the stairs.

"We also had new fencing and improvements to gardens.

"Our neighbourhood officer Ashley James from Homes in Sedgemoor has worked closely with the ward councillors, residents and other local agencies to improve the local area and invest in the community.

"The works have been completed via the Great Estates programme and have involved new front doors, external repainting and decorating, new fencing and gates and non slip flooring in communal stairwells."

Gill said that the residents are 'pleased' with the improvements.

She added: "Councillors and residents are extremely pleased with the works undertaken and Homes in Sedgemoor are in the process of creating better neighbourhoods in which people choose to live.

"For us, this is a major achievement down to new good management of Homes in Sedgemoor that has made all the difference.

"We feel it is so important that residents feel a sense of pride in their homes and the surroundings and we pledge to continue to work closely with Homes in Sedgemoor to maintain this high standard of all of our residents."