Three years of community action in Clarendon, now let's look to the whole of Goldsmid Ward (February 2007)

by Melanie Davis

The Clarendon Local Action Team, set up in 2004 to improve community safety in the Clarendon area, has brought a series of improvements to that neighbourhood. Now as Labour Councillors and candidates we would like to see the approach to be extended to tackle community safety issues across the whole ward.

The Action Team brings together the police, residents, ward councillors, the Council (Housing, Community Safety, and Environmental Improvements Teams), City Clean, and local businesses.

“The action team shows what can be achieved by working in partnership in a community,” says the Team’s Deputy Chair Labour Councillor Simon Battle.

“This kind of forum should be used to tackle graffiti and anti-social behaviour in other parts of Goldsmid ward,” adds Melanie Davis. “The action team brings communities together with individuals and organisations that can make things happen in neighbourhoods”

An 'Action Plan' was established to tackle anti-social behaviour, abandaned cars, fly-tipping, vandalism and also to promote 'greening' the Clarendon Road area.

Progress made in the last 3 years includes:

- Clearance of vehicles from land around Gamleys warehouse in Ethel Street and Conway Street, including wooden posts and tree-planting.

- Investment in CCTV to discourage anti-social behaviour and deter crime

- New tree planting and greenery around the estate, repairs

- Action against anti-social residents, including evictions

- Removal of estate agent boards

- New litter bins

- Nuisance vehicle action days

- Blitzes on flytipping

- Graffitti removal

- Youth work by the YMCA involving groups of young people gathering on the estate

- Neighbourhood watches set up among tenants on the estate

- New lifts and secure door entry systems in the Estate tower blocks

- Monthly councillor/advice surgeries at Vallance Community Centre.

- Decon Labs section 106 money for environmental improvements for the future.

The Action Team meets approximately every three months at Vallance Community Centre.

Email your views on this article to: info@goldsmid.com.