Making the town safer

Published 20 Jul 2010 16:28 0 Comments

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MEMBERS of a Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) are hoping to restrict the consumption of alcohol in the town centre.

The Bracknell town centre NAG met on Friday, July 2 at the town council offices in High Street to discuss their three priorities of alcohol, cycling and mobility scooters and wheelchair users in the town centre.

The NAG, chaired by town centre manager Graham Mountford, is hoping to get a designated public place order in regards to alcohol in the town centre.

Mr Mountford said: "It gives the police the power to take alcohol off them and it is an offence to refuse. What we are looking at is one or two areas where people in the town just sit drinking all day.

"The town should be a place where people feel comfortable. If this puts people off then we have to do something about it."

The use of mobility scooters in the town centre is also a priority the NAG is looking to address.

Mr Mountford said: "All of the scooters from Bracknell Shopmobility are speed limited and users have to pass a test before they are able to go out.

"Privately owned scooters can reach up to 10mph, which in a town centre scenario is too quick.

"If they are using them sensibly it is not a problem."

The NAG said that there used to be a man in a wheelchair who used his dog to pull him along in the town centre, which is why wheelchair users were on their priority list.

Members of the Birch Hill and Hanworth NAG heard at their meeting on Monday, July 5 about the success of the newly opened police point at Birch Hill Community Centre in Leppington, Birch Hill.

PC Mike Foot, neighbourhood specialist officer for Birch Hill, said: "What we found is a lot of parents coming in after picking up their children from school who would never go to the police station or call.

"To them they think it is nothing and actually in a couple of cases it is really useful information."

The vandalism of the benches at South Hill Park, which happened some time overnight between Monday, June 28 and Tuesday, June 29 was also discussed.

Cllr Chas Baily said: "This is the seventh picnic table we have had smashed to pieces.

"We said if it happened again they would not be replaced."

NAG chair Joanna Legg said: "I am of the opinion we could put something back there at some point. There are other groups that will provide for community projects."

The NAG is also running a reward scheme for youngsters in Birch Hill and Hanworth who take part in community projects.

To find out more call Pat Kennewell on 07746 456 236 or email information@birchhill.org.uk

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