The Challenge

The challenge was to restore Mason Pond as a successful angling club, empower residents to manage it and thereby resolve social problems it was attracting.

Why change was needed

Masons Pool had become a magnet for vandals after falling into disrepair. It was closed by Walsall Council to keep it safe.

The total cost of securing the site, police and fire service call-outs, time spent by youth outreach workers and other agencies was estimated at more than £1 million over three years.

What we did

Walsall’s Area Partnership initiative had identified Heathfield Lane West for action after data showed it to be a hotspot for anti-social behaviour.

Trying to keep people out had failed. So we decided to invite people in, by engaging with the local community they have taken control of their own destiny.

We worked with the Partnership, the council’s Green Spaces team and the residents to see the issues from the residents’ perspective.

The Results

A major clean-up has restored the pond as an attractive green space.
The residents formed the Heathfield Lane Fishing Club to manage the site. It has 82 members, compared to just nine previously.
As a result the frequency of anti-social behaviour has dramatically reduced.
Additional conservation work is underway to improve nature conservation there, including establishing school visits.

The Client Says

“Habanero helped us change the way we think and approach problems at work. By seeing things from the perspective of residents we produced much better results, increased customer satisfaction and saved significant costs.”

Partnership Director