Neighbourhood Street Warden UpdateDuring a patrol with the Chatham Neighbourhood Street Warden—Colin—this evening, I witnessed first-hand what a huge difference these wardens have made. Specifically we were patrolling a number of known trouble spots around Chatham, taking in locations in my own ward, Lordswood, Princes Park, Walderslade and close to Chatham town centre.
The most surprising aspect of the patrol was just how quiet these areas are now, although Colin was quick to point out that it isn't always so tranquil. We spoke to several people we met, ranging from youngsters to shopkeepers, also by telephone.
Even the once-notorious "piggy alley" in Luton is now almost completely clear of the problems it had for a very long time; and what remains is being dealt with.
It is very rewarding to ralise just how much anti-social behaviour can be dealt with—even if imperfectly—simply by talking to the perpetrators and their victims and explaining matters. This is by far the best way to tackle such problems, much more effective than the sledgehammer approach in many cases, and everyone learns something from this approach.
The Neighbourhood Wardens specialise in dealing (in a gentle way) with neighbour disputes, anti-social behaviour, spotting things that need attention (and feeding that information into the system) and gathering evidence where necessary.
I for one was certainly impressed by the sheer presence that Colin has, being recognised by so many folk of all ages out there on the streets of Chatham. One just knows that this is a vital part of the way to improve our local communities.
The Neighbourhood Wardens operate from 2·30 pm to 10·30 pm Tuesday to Saturday, and their contact number is (01634) 33 81 31. Do contact them if you have an issue of the kind that they can handle—they really are a tremendous asset to our community.