Councillor defends Matson
RESIDENTS have leapt to defend Matson – and say the area has an undeserved bad reputation.
A story about the Kingsway estate on The Citizen's website thisisgloucestershire.co.uk recently sparked comments labelling Matson as one of Gloucester's worst areas.
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HITTING BACK: County councillor Steve McHale in Matson.
The comments included: "Kingsway is the new Matson, so get used to it.
"There will be a lot more trouble yet."
But Councillor Steve McHale (Lab, Robinswood) said: "As county councillor for Matson, and a resident of the area, I have to say it's a lovely place to live.
"I am really upset by these remarks that are putting down Matson."
He was angered when comments left on the story about broken lights in Kingsway ended up turning on Matson – suggesting it was a rundown area.
"We have done a lot of work in recent years with the residents' association, the police, Gloucester City Homes and schools in the area to make it a better, cleaner and safer place to live.
"People seem to mouth off about the area without knowing what it is like at all.
"There was a residents' meeting last weekend, and the issues raised were not anti-social behaviour, it was parking problems at the local school.
"It shows how the crime levels have fallen in the past year.
"If people want to see what Matson is all about, they should come and visit the area.
"The picture being painted of the area is wrong, I love it and would not want to live anywhere else."
Julian Hiles, chairman of the Matson and Robinswood Residents' Association, believes a lot of progress has been made in the area since the group formed two years ago.
He said: "We're really proud of what we've done so far. We've managed to secure and guide increased ongoing investment, which is clear to see in things like improved areas around residents' homes and green spaces, new community benches and play areas.
"For some reason people who don't live in Matson and Robinswood see fit to criticise our home. The area is diverse and full of life, and we clearly have a lot to celebrate. We have the community rose garden, a superb library and upgraded doctor's surgery, excellent primary and secondary schools, churches of all faiths working together, GL Communities, Gloucester City Homes, the Matson sheep and a strong community spirit."
8 Comments
by glosterbabe, good old glos
Sunday, March 14 2010, 10:51PM
“Dinsdale: Mud Sticks and remember - Never judge a book by its cover”
by albert edward, Painswick Road
Sunday, March 14 2010, 11:44AM
“Gongratulations to Councillor McHale. He chose to live in the area and knows that it a fine place with some nice people.
Crime levels are no worse than elsewhere”
by Emma Royed, Brockworth
Saturday, March 13 2010, 11:30PM
“Neither Matson, Kingsway or Coney Hill has a monopoly of unsavoury characters. They have their fair share, but so has Longlevens, Upton, Abbeydale and Barnwood.
The more affluent areas are home to far more blue collar workers, but they are no different when it comes to buying 200 duty free fags, dodgy DVD's or this weeks top 40 singles from a bloke in the pub.
The big difference is that because they don't live in Matson, they are not assumed to of likely dubious character, so are less likely to be apprehended.”
by Cindy Post, Eastern Avenue
Saturday, March 13 2010, 10:12PM
“Neither Matson, Kingsway or Coney Hill has a monopoly of unsavoury characters. They have their fair share, but so has Longlevens, Upton, Abbeydale and Barnwood.
The more affluent areas are home to far more blue collar workers, but they are no different when it comes to buying 200 duty free fags, dodgy DVD's or this weeks top 40 singles from a bloke in the pub.
The big difference is that because they don't live in Matson, they are not assumed to of likely dubious character, so are less likely to be apprehended.”
by Matson resident, gloucester
Saturday, March 13 2010, 10:08PM
“Dinsdale - is Matson actually an area of high crime?? Where do you get your information from for that?
I'm pretty sure that Abbeydale/Mead is worse in terms of crime than matson is!
The issue with Matson, Podsmead, Westgate and now, seemingly, Kingsway is the amount of social housing that tenants (not all tenants, don't get excited) don't have any pride in.
It takes so long to get anything done about problem tenants and in the meantime, they earn the decent residents a bad name.”
by Dinsdale, Gloucester
Saturday, March 13 2010, 2:39PM
“I moved to Gloucester in the late 1960 as a teenager. Even then Matson was known a problem area. Over the years a lot of money has been pumped into the area from local taxpayers, given to community groups to improve the area. But it still after all these years still as a reputation as a problem area.
All the money which it has spent on it must had to thousands of pounds if not more,but still it a area with high crime. seems nothing changed . Now they want more money - maybe it not the area but the people living there thats the problem”
by John Doherty, Gloucester
Saturday, March 13 2010, 8:44AM
“Steve one should never allow banter to wind you up. When I first came to live in Gloucester many years ago Foresters and Welsh people were the selected mainstay for ridicule but I also think that gave the Irish folks a rest. To me it just seemed a strange spectacle of English life but learned to live with it. Indeed I also learned to clobber a few back in return for offensive slights. I know of many good people living in Matson and some excellent work they have done for others. There are two Principal commandments in Life. Jesus explained these two commandments -- Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and -Love your neighbour as yourself- The second is the most difficult to do but just keep on trying and you will be rewarded. Not by Man but by God.”
by Sarah, Gloucester
Saturday, March 13 2010, 8:17AM
“I suspect the reason for people saying that "Kingsway is the new Matson" is because from what I've heard most of the trouble makers from around the city have been moved to Kingsway. This may also be part of the reason that crime levels and anti-social behaviour have fallen in Matson and other notorious areas in the past year.”