Concerns directly affecting residents’ were specifically tackled in the second Thurrock Community Safety Partnership Walkabout Day, this time held in Grays Riverside.
The community engagement event pooled the resources and expertise of officers from Grays Police, Essex Fire and Rescue and Thurrock Council’s Community Protection, housing and horticulture teams to focus on issues that had already been raised.
Anti-social Behaviour was highlighted as one of the major areas of concern and during the day-long operation (on May 26th) Police School Liaison Officers worked with the Youth and Connexions team. One youth was warned about the illegal use of a mini motorbike while other groups of young people were spoken to by experts. A total of 34 hours was clocked up by Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers during the event.
Community Payback probation volunteers worked with Thurrock Council’s Street Cleansing Team clearing fly-tipping, working on a future allotment bed in Seabrooke Rise, horticulture work at Grays Beach as well as clearing land at the Hogg Lane roundabout.
To engage with residents normally at work, the Community Safety Partnership met with commuters at Grays Station in the morning and evening rush hour to gain an insight into their thoughts and concerns relating to the area.
With the help of Seabrooke Rise Community House volunteers Thurrock Council’s Trading Standards team also had the opportunity to give residents, many elderly, advice and information about avoiding bogus callers.
Thurrock Council Head of Public Protection, Lucy Magill, said: “In this the second Partner Walkabout Day, we are already seeing the results of engaging with residents, asking what their concerns are and reacting quickly to them. It is important to us that the people of Thurrock feel their issues are being dealt with and that they are engaged and feel a part of their own communities.”
In advance of the walkabout day PCSOs and volunteers visited the area with questionnaires giving residents the opportunity to raise any problems they felt should be dealt with. During the day as many of these concerns as possible were dealt with, while others, and any raised during the event, will be addressed as soon as possible.
A third Partner Walkabout Day is planned in Corringham at the end of June. Anyone who lives or works in Corringham who would like to raise an issue can receive a copy of the questionnaire from safer.thurrock@thurrock.gov.uk.
To sign up for regular information, including advice and tips, from the Thurrock Community Safety Partnership, register at safe.thurrock@thurrock.gov.uk.
