A HOUSING company has invested £98,000 in revamping an east Durham estate following a consultation with residents.

East Durham Homes (EDH) has spent the cash on repairing and replacing vandalised and broken walls and fencing around the Ponyfields Estate, Horden.

The organisation secured the funding from Durham County Council, on whose behalf it manages and maintains nearly 8,600 homes, after seeking the views of residents on how the area could be improved.

The research, which was carried out by Groundwork East Durham, included a postal survey, drop-in sessions and a meeting with the local residents’ group.

Stuart Wood, EDH senior estates and regeneration officer, said: "The main issues highlighted by tenants during the consultation process were those of unsightly walls and vandalised timber fencing.

"These were the same issues that had come to the attention of our Estate Officers during their regular estate walkabouts.

"As EDH has just completed Decent Homes work in the area it seemed an appropriate time to address the environmental issues."

EDH has also secured further funding to demolish dilapidated and unused garage blocks in the Naisbitt Avenue area of the estate. The buildings will be replaced with parking bays.

A similar scheme of environmental improvements is now planned for the Matterdale Road and Braithwaite Road areas of Peterlee, where Decent Homes work has also now been completed.