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The Chairman of the newly formed Residents and Tenants Association on the Bellfoundry Estate in Loughborough says partnership working on the estate has made a huge difference to local residents. Speaking at the launch of the third Partnership Week of Action on Monday 14 July 2008, Marios Tinenti, says the estate has ‘turned a corner' with the introduction of CCTV, a good working relationship with the local beat officers, robust action against criminal activity in the area and the restoration of local pride. The estate covers an area that includes Peel Drive, Freehold Street, Russell Street and Chapman Street. The need for a tenants association was identified during last year's Environment Action Week, which involve a range of agencies including the police and Charnwood Borough Council. Now an association is up and running, it has 11 members and they are hoping to set up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme as well. Another partnership period of action begins at 9am today (Monday 14 July) and runs until Wednesday (16 July 2008) with an environmental clean up, a ward walk, high visibility patrols, crime prevention information, graffiti removal, fire prevention advice, promotion of Neighbourhood Watch and property marking. The rural beat bus and Arson Task Force will be parked on the car park behind Cobden Primary School which is accessed from Russell Street. The residents association will have an information point on the nearby grassed area. Mario Tinenti, from the tenants association which has been called, the Loughborough Town Centre Collective, said; "In the last 2 years life on the estate has changed in many many ways. We had a lot of problems on the estate, which is the most economically deprived area in Leicestershire, with drug dealing, intimidation and violence and people weren't prepared to talk to the police because they feared reprisals. All that has changed. PC Chris Hayton and the other officers in his team have built up a great deal of trust with local residents and people who live here have come to realise that without information the police are powerless to act. "We still have some problems but they are not a patch on how they used to be, the estate has turned corner. The introduction of CCTV has made a big difference and the police and council have imposed ASBOs on troublemakers and evicted drug dealers. Now, one of our residents, who's 76, even goes round the area every morning picking up litter." Inspector Mark Cuddihy, Commander of Loughborough local policing unit, said; "Violent crime in the area is down by 13%, robbery is down by 37% and criminal damage is down by 22% which shows that partnership working on the estate is making a difference. The increase in information from residents and the number of people who are prepared to give statements has enabled us to take action and make arrests. I am really pleased that the estate now has a proactive residents association because I think that will drive further improvements and continue to improve the quality of life of people who live there." Councillor Richard Shepherd, the Leader of Charnwood Borough Council, said: "It is important to acknowledge what has been achieved so far in the Peel Drive area and to see what still needs to be done." Anyone who would like to become involved in the Loughborough Town Centre Collective can do so by calling 07593 423884 or email collective1@btinternet.com |
