Tiverton action day hailed a success (From This is The West Country)

Tiverton action day hailed a success

10:50am Sunday 5th July 2009

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A COMMUNITY Action Day in the Wilcombe area of Tiverton, proved a big success as local agencies received 275 requests for services or advice from the community.

These included 96 requests for free fire safety checks and 39 requests for free home security checks.

Julia Ryder, the Community Safety Officer who co-ordinated the event, said: “It was a really productive day.

“We visited over 920 properties to deliver information packs and were able to speak to around 320 residents on their doorsteps.

“We had a really wide range of services taking part including the police, fire service, district council staff and public health teams and were really pleased that representatives from the children’s centre, Age Concern and Wilcombe Primary School were able to take part as well.

“We have been able to take requests for services as well as find out from residents what their concerns are, if any.”

PC Michael Martini, Neighbourhood Police Officer for the area, was pleased to hear that in the main the residents spoken to were happy with their community and had no concerns.

He said: “Well over half of those we spoke to had no issues to raise, but I was not surprised that the highest number of comments we received were around parking and speeding issues.

“I will continue to work with the district and county councils on this matter and also look at local education, as in the main it is the residents, or their visitors, who are responsible for their speed and consideration when driving and parking in this area."

Another issue raised was reports of young people in the area causing noise or nuisance and lack of facilities for them.

PC Martini said: “Again I will be working to see if we can improve the opportunities for our young residents in order to keep them positively occupied.

“We have already introduced a Youth Café in the town on a Thursday evening which is well attended, and police have a project working with the youth service to open the youth centre on Saturday evenings.

“I would ask parents to encourage their children to attend these venues rather than hang around the streets, where they may disturb the wider community.

“This event has been a real opportunity to hear the views of residents on a wide range of topics and work with other agencies in order to address the key issues that have been raised.”

A further meeting for residents will be held on Tuesday, July 14 at Wilcombe Primary School from 6pm to 8pm when agency staff will be able to update residents on the issues they have raised and how they might be tackled.

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