The Safer Knowsley Partnership has been carrying out a range of activity over the summer months to ensure Knowsley’s parks are safe, welcoming and vibrant.
The Safer Knowsley Partnership, which includes Merseyside Police, Merseyside Police Authority, Knowsley Council, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Knowsley PCT, has been working with the local community as part of the SafeSpace Campaign, which encourages communities to reclaim their local green and open spaces.
- Events and activities have been taking place across the borough. As an example, over recent weeks, residents and visitors to Kirkby have benefited from:-A range of diversionary activities are on offer including football sessions each Thursday between 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm in Wignall Park, Southdene, Kirkby, driving remote control cars at Towerhill Park on Fridays from 5.30pm and netball sessions at Towerhill Community Centre.
- Funding was secured by Police Community Support Officers at Kirkby, for the following initiatives:--
- Rugby League Summer Camp - Towerhill Park from 26-29 August
- Summer Sports Nights on 7,14 and 28 August, St Kevin's Field where under 17s can enjoy Basketball, Rounders, Cricket, Football, Netball Summer Sports nights at Webster Park, where under 17s can enjoy the same activities on 8, 15 and 29 August
- Knowsley Council Wardens have provided reassurance visits and in Towerhill and Webster Parks alone, they have distributed 98 security devices, such as bike locks and shed alarms.
- The local community has participated in environmental audits to identify areas for improvement. As a result, litter clean ups have taken place and further work is planned such as cutting back overgrown bushes.
- Knowsley Council and Merseyside Police Officers have been working in partnership and practical strimming training has taken place in Towerhill Park to assist with visibility in the park and remove overgrown areas.
- A burnt out vehicle on the perimeter of Towerhill Park has been removed.
- The Hays Residents Association organised a football competition which took place earlier this month.
- Plans are in place to close an access gate used for scrambler bikes on Towerhill Park.
- Damage to a pedestrian barrier in Towerhill Park has been repaired.
- Neighbourhood Wardens have been working with Knowsley Housing Trust to repair damaged fencing around the perimeter of Webster Park.
- A community clean up, involving Hay Residents Association, volunteers and Wardens took place on 18 August in Webster Park.
Councillor Jackie Harris, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Social Inclusion commented “Knowsley has some fantastic parks and open spaces which are the perfect location to enjoy a family day out. The activities are part of the Safespace initiative which aims to reduce anti-social behaviour in parks across Knowsley, make the areas cleaner and more attractive, promote their use by the community and provide activities for young people to get involved in to given them something productive to do.”
Inspector Natalie Perishine from the North Kirkby Neighbourhood added “We have increased patrols in the parks and are determined to tackle any problems such as anti-social behaviour so nothing spoils anyone’s enjoyment of the outdoors. This is also part of our Total Policing initiative, which is about a total war on crime and total support for victims.”
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