Warwickshire News Mine

Other items on the agenda at the meeting, which is open to all Kenilworth residents, include an update on Neighbourhood Watch and the Community Forum Grant Fund.

Community Forums are a great way for people to find out about big issues affecting the area, get answers to questions and influence local decision-making.

Anyone with a question about a local issue can go along and put it to local Councillors and officers from a range of organisations.

Councillor Pauline Edwards (Kenilworth Town Council) will chair the meeting and there will be updates from Councillor John Whitehouse (Warwickshire County Council), Councillor Norman Vincent (Warwick District Council & Kenilworth Town Council) and Sergeant Stewart Bosworth from Warwickshire Police.

Councillor Pauline Edwards says: “Over the last three months, a lot of work has been carried out in Kenilworth on safety issues.

“The results will be highlighted in the next forum meeting, which will not only celebrate all of the hard work and achievements but also pave the way for the forum to deal with a wider range of issues and concerns raised by local people.

“This is an opportunity to discuss your local concerns face to face with local councillors, police officers and other local representatives, so put this date in your diary!”
Speeding in the town is just one of the issues that residents will get an update on at the Community Forum meeting. Community Speedwatch has been piloting the use of hand held speed cameras in Kenilworth in two areas, Windy Arbour and Clinton Lane.  This continues to be actively supported by community volunteers and residents may have seen this in action. 

To date, in excess of 100 letters have been sent by Warwickshire Police to those motorists exceeding the 30 mile an hour speed limit on these roads.  The letter is a warning and highlights the dangers of speeding. 

For residents who can’t make the meeting on 7 September, alternative methods of feeding into the debate are detailed below, and the next meeting is on 7 December 2009, at the same time and venue.

There are a number of ways that people can find out about the issues discussed at the Community Forum and what progress is being made. 

Residents can stay up to date with local crime and safety issues and contact the Kenilworth Safer Neighbourhoods team, who attend each Community Forum, by logging onto their website at http://www.safer-neighbourhoods.co.uk/ken. They can also contact the team with issues or concerns at kenilworth.snt@warwickshire.police.uk.

Jane Coates, Localities & Communities Officer in the Warwick District Community Partnership Team, remains an alternative form of contact with the Forum members, email janecoates@warwickshire.gov.uk

In recent months, the Kenilworth Safer Neighbourhoods Team, lead by Sergeant Stewart Bosworth, have been in close liaison with Warwickshire County Council, Warwick District Council, Kenilworth Town Council and a number of other agencies to ensure the smooth transition from meeting as a Safer Neighbourhoods Panel to the wider remit of a Community Forum.

Sector Commander for Kenilworth, Inspector Richard Woodcock said: "We have enjoyed a very successful and productive multi agency relationship over the past four years, with Kenilworth leading the way for change and initiative.

“The new Community Forum will provide a platform of evolution to ensure continued support and wider remit in protecting local communities from harm. In particular we will be focusing on more specific ‘Local Priorities’, chosen by the Community Forum following increased consultation with the public.

“We are hoping that people in the community will be interested enough to join in and reap the benefits of local solutions to local issues."

Link to WCC