Environmental Action Day cleans up

A multi-agency team tackled localised crime and disorder in Bushey as part of an Environmental Action Day on Wednesday 16 May.

Hertsmere Borough Council's Community Services, Waste Services and Environmental Health joined forces with the police, Paddington Churches Housing Association and fire service to positively improve life in Bushey.

Between 6.30am and 11am the team:

• Tackled eight rubbish sites
• Identified and improved 12 graffiti hotspots
• Detected three vehicles without tax
• Provided fire safety advice and distributed fire safety leaflets
• Over 400 Environmental Action Day leaflets were delivered
• Referred an area to parks for hedges to be cut back
• Reported potholes to highways on one road
• Identified a site to refer to building control
• Environment Health advice given to shopkeepers

Valerie Kane, Community Safety Officer, said: “Our Environmental Action Days make a real difference to the local community. They are co-ordinated by the Crime and Disorder Partnership, which includes local partnership agencies. Together we aim to tackle localised crime and disorder through positive action.

“During our action days we are able to tackle graffiti, remove fly tipping and other issues that create an unsafe, unfriendly atmosphere that we know raises the fear of crime. Our initiative, together with our spotlight events, rely on partnership working and I'm pleased to say that everything went to plan - with all agencies working particularly well together."

Police Sergeant Nick Caveney from Bushey Neighbourhood Team said : "I am very pleased that as a Neighbourhood Team we have been able to respond to some of the issues that our community have highlighted to us. Through working together with our partner agencies we have been able to make a significant difference to the areas of North Bushey that we targeted over these two days.

"The priorities we have as a Neighbourhood Team are forged through consultation with our communities and our partner agencies. The next opportunity to have your say and get involved with the debate in North Bushey is on Thursday 28 June at 7.30pm at the Holy Trinity Church, Bushey Mill Lane, on which date representatives from a number of agencies and your local police team will be holding an open meeting to help form policing priorities in the Bushey North area."

The following day a Spotlight Event was held in Bushey Mill Lane between 2pm and 5.30pm on Thursday 17 May.

A team of experts from Community Services, Environmental Health, Waste Services, the police, Neighbourhood Watch members and Crime Reduction Group members gave out advice and freebies to local residents.

On the day a community skip was left for residents to discard unwanted item. Valerie adds: “This was the first time we have provided a community skip – it was full so obviously proved useful to the residents. We will certainly be providing a skip at future Spotlight events”.

Commenting on the two-day initiative a local resident said: ‘I think this is a superb idea and should be carried out on a regular basis.

For further information about these events, please contact the Partnership Secretary on 020 8207 7568 or email: partnership.secretary@hertsmere.gov.uk