Rugby residents give their priorities
Residents gathered at Overslade Community Centre on Wednesday night to question and get feedback from their local Councillors, the Police and the borough and county councils on a wide range of subjects.
The Rugby Town West Community Forum meeting, which covers the Admirals, Caldecott, New Bilton and Overslade areas of the town, was once again well attended by local residents, who raised a number of issues at the meeting.
Dog fouling, community safety and Police priorities for the next few months were all on the agenda, and residents got the opportunity to raise their concerns on issues as diverse as weed-killing, pot holes, speed bumps and activities for young people during the public ‘question time’.
At a previous meeting, residents had requested that a new pedestrian refuge should be installed on the A4071 Coventry Road. As a result, the proposal was taken to Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet last month and £45k has been allocated for this to be installed.
Community safety was high on the agenda. Residents heard that, over the next few months, the Rugby Community Safety Partnership will be working on projects to help the nighttime economy in Rugby, conducting workshops with local primary schools on the dangers of gang membership, as well as taking a multi-agency response to try and reduce violence and disorder during the World Cup.
The Community Forum sets the priorities for the local Safer Neighbourhoods Team and Sergeant Dafydd Goddard from Rugby Police gave an update on their activities since the last priorities were set by local residents. This included over 50 police patrols conducted on the Dunchurch Road to deter and detect vehicle crime, resulting in a 25% reduction in offences.
There were also over 50 patrols on Burnside and Wentworth Road to deter anti-social behaviour as a direct result of residents’ concerns and over 80 patrols on the Pavillions estate, which resulted in five Anti-social Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) being issued to local youths.
Pavillions residents who attended the meeting reported that behaviour had improved on the estate but it still needed to be a priority, so Police patrols and joint action involving the borough and county council will continue to take place. There are plans for a Community Action Day for Pavillions over the summer. Residents agreed that the other Police priorities for the next few months should be to tackle anti-social behaviour on the Alwyn Road recreation ground and speeding on Charlesfield Road and Rosewood Avenue.
There are 30 Community Forums across Warwickshire and local residents are encouraged to go along and have their say on any local issues, as well as set local priorities. Upcoming Community Forum meetings in Rugby borough are:
Thursday 10 June – Earl Craven Community Forum – 7pm onwards - Brinklow Community Hall, Broad Street, Brinklow
Monday 14 June – Brownsover, Benn & Newbold Community Forum – 6.30pm onwards - Newbold Riverside Primary School, Newbold Road
Tuesday 15 June – Fosse Community Forum – 7pm onwards – Pailton Village Hall
Tuesday 29 June – Eastlands & Hillmorton – 6.30pm onwards – LMRCA (Rugby Railway Club), Hillmorton Road
The next Rugby Town West Community Forum meeting will take place in September. For details of all Community Forums in Rugby see http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/rugbyarea.