Working for a safer borough

Local campaigner Richard Greenhill praises those involved in tackling violence and antisocial behaviour on our streets:

I would like to send congratulations to the volunteers and police involved in improving the safety of our borough. There is a lot more work to be done, but latest results show that the tide can be turned in favour of the law-abiding majority.

I attended the Broxbourne community safety consultation forum on Thursday and was impressed by the continued increase in the number of police community safety officers. Just a few years ago we had none. Now there are 13 plus four more expected to start work this month and the police seem confident they have funding secured to recruit even more by July, in addition to raising the number of special constables to 23, to be deployed on the streets at peak hours of the evening.

Part of this success has no doubt been due to the partnership of police, government and local authorities, working with residents who give up their free time to ensure local problems are not ignored. It was particularly good to hear the success story of the Edinburgh Crescent Neighbourhood Watch and Four Swannes Residents' Association in Waltham Cross, where residents have reinvigorated the community spirit to tackle antisocial behaviour.

I was disappointed that the council representatives had nothing reassuring to say about their policy of allowing community halls to be demolished. While national funding is providing hope for improved facilities at St Joseph's Church Hall and in Holdbrook, councillors have failed to protect venues such as the Creasey Hall in Waltham Cross and Whitefields Hall in Flamstead End.

We need more community places, particularly for young people in the areas where they have nowhere to go. It is time ruling councillors recognised their responsibility to the people they represent.

Richard Greenhill
Editor
WX Waltham Cross Community News

Report filed 16/02/2007

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