Community work together to solve issues
Residents gathered at the LMRCA Railway Club on Hillmorton Road on Tuesday night to question and get feedback from their local Councillors, the Police and council representatives on a wide range of subjects.
The Eastlands & Hillmorton Community Forum meeting, which covers the Eastlands, Hillmorton and Paddox wards of the town, was once again well attended by local residents, who raised a number of issues.
Councillor Neil Sandison, Chair of the Eastlands & Hillmorton Community Forum, said: “I was really pleased with this evening, we had a really good turnout from local residents and councillors, as well as the police. I think what was really positive was that the community was looking at how it could solve its own problems.
“We believe our Forum is not just a talk shop, it’s a workshop.”
Youth and community facilities were high on the agenda, with a discussion about the potential development of the Wesley Road Methodist Church site to provide activities and outreach services. Young people from Fareham Youth Club kicked off the meeting with a presentation about their club facilities and a plea to residents to help them improve them.
Cllr Sandison said: “We regularly have young people come to our Community Forum; we wanted them involved from the start. If young people are prepared to come along, give them a platform, give them a chance to speak and say what their concerns are.”
Community safety was also on the agenda last night and residents heard that, over the next few months, the Rugby Community Safety Partnership will be working on a wide range of projects, including one to help protect vulnerable elderly residents – around 170 door handle alarms have already been supplied to older people in the borough.
The Partnership is also working to reduce anti-social behaviour in Rugby with the use of mobile CCTV and to reduce speeding through the Community Speed Watch scheme.
The Community Forum sets the priorities for the local Safer Neighbourhoods Team and Sergeant Kate Winter from Rugby Police gave an update on their activities since the last priorities were set by local residents.
In response to residents’ concerns, 12 police patrols were conducted on Shenstone and Dunsmore Avenue to deter illegal parking, resulting in 4 warnings being issued. There were also 16 speed checks carried out on Langton Road, and 15 police patrols in the Hillmorton area specifically to try and address the anti-social use of motor vehicles.
Residents agreed that the police priorities for the next few months should be to tackle anti-social behaviour on the GEC, Featherbed Lane and St. Andrew’s recreation grounds.
Cllr Sandison said: “Clearly community safety was an issue. Certainly as a division that has a lot of recreational space, we consider ourselves to be Rugby’s biggest playground, because of the number of open spaces, nature reserves, small parks and big parks in the area. They do obviously act as a natural magnet to many of the young people, not just from our division, but from the surrounding area.
“We’re pleased that the police are making progress, but what the Forum has asked them to do is to make a special effort over the summer months.”
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.
The next round of Community Forum meetings in Rugby will take place in September. For details of all Community Forums in Rugby see http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/rugbyarea.