Thursday 26 February 2009
Safety on Somerville Road
On the 29th of January 2009 Wilson Chowdhry (Green Party activist in Chadwell Ward), organised a public meeting regarding the growing spate of subway attacks at the East Road and Somerville Road Subways. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Redbridge ASBO Team, LBBD Police, Redbridge Police, Redbridge Equality and Community Council, Greater London Authority and Various Neighbourhood Watches.
Healthy debate from victims and witnesses to crime in the area focused on a best fit, long term resolution to curb criminal activity. Allegations were made against students of Oaks Park School and Warren School for much of the activity. Visitors suggested that Local Headmasters and community groups should be more involved alongside community groups in a collaborative approach to resolving the issue. Unanimously all those in attendance declared the subway had become a magnet for antisocial behaviour. However, it was also recognised that although crime emanated from the subway, crime also resonated along the length of the A12 surrounding the subways and that any solution would have to tackle this concern also.
From the meeting the following action plan was agreed:
• Short term plan to introduce permanent 360 degree rotating CCTV cameras along the A12 that will encompass the entrances to the subways at Somerville Road, and East Road (both sides) and the area before and after the subways. It was felt subway cameras would be tampered with and destroyed within days of implementation.
• Our medium term plan was to either introduce some of the proposed bus route extensions post-effective stakeholder engagement. The other option was for the enhancement of Dial-a-ride service with more vehicles and flexibility of service to cater for real demand. The second part of our medium term plan was to work with local schools and youth partnerships to investigate why young people are undertaking such crime, what motivates them, what they might do instead and to introduce youth engagement schemes to create avenues for rehabilitation or recreation.
• Our long term plan is for the complete closure of the subway and introduction of a safe overground pedestrian crossing (not bridge), as it is clear that the subway has become a notorious hideaway and congregational location.
Although our long term plan was the most sought after solution, we recognized funding for such a scheme would take a long time.
Since the meeting communication with TFL has resulted in them undertaking a full survey of the affected area. They have agreed to attend a private meeting with Police teams, ASBO teams, School Headmasters and other community groups chaired by Wilson on the 26th February 2009. They will be discussing what interventions can be implemented to support local residents, with a view to introduce additional CCTV, minimising antisocial behaviour and to discuss what options exist for at-grade crossings on the A12. This is to be a non-public meeting, however, Wilson will feedback to residents in a public meeting after this date.
It looks like we are getting closer to finally putting an end to the dismay and low community morale induced by our local subterranean crossings.
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It is all very well treating the symptom of any problem but no one seems be bothered about doing anything about the cause. Several issues here relate to young youths causing mayhem and or danger to others through - boredom, lack of parenting or having too much time to do nothing.
ReplyDeleteTrouble with sosciety today is everything is too expensive. The price of leasure activities is stupid, I am a working adult and I can't even afford to go out, so what chance have young people got! The idle minds of these youths need to have something positive to channel their attentions on. The generation of 1960 people saw responsibility, inititive and care about fellow human beings, - why because people didn't have anything. Things had to last, people had to make do. Also I think a great fundimental teaching of responsibility came from conscription. It certainly put common decency and manners into people. I say bring it back. Take these young people off the streets for a couple of years, give them a reason to focus their minds. That way you get the problem off the street. Antisoscial behaviour is set to get even worse unless something positive is done to treat the cause.
Too many people inhabit this small area. If God wanted all countries to live together he wouldn't have placed us on islands.
ReplyDeletesee monitoring report 2 and report 3.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous comment no.1 there is much work being undertaken by community groups with respect to aetiological study and finding alternatives for these young disaffected youths. However such behaviour will continue while we have a government in place that is taxing the poor by removing the lower tax bracket, disenfranchising married couples by promoting benefits for single parents and removing the married persons allowance, bankrolling large corporate industry practitioners at the cost of our valuable SME's, facilitating little resource to promoting Green Energy - that could reduce our long term fuel costs and fails to address child poverty. At this stage I can only foresee a worsening of the existing class divide culminating in continuing anarchy.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous writer two - Britain was not always an Island - millions of years ago it was attached to France as part of the massive continent that is referred to by scientists as Pangaea - if scientists are correct. Besides we are now part of the European Union by choice and are linked to the French mainland by the Channel Tunnel. I also remember in my youth singing "he's got the whole World in his hands" indicating a global perspective of God not limited to the confines of any single country "For God so loved the World.....". Moreover if I am right England is no longer placed in the centre of Global charts or maps - whether this practice is correct or not you are entitled to your views, however I would say that the diversity of this country and the acceptance of other faiths, colours, creeds and cultures has created a unique vibrant atmosphere that makes me proud to be British. I agree areas of Britain are overpopulated, however surely the best solution for this is to invest heavily in cities and towns with smaller economies so that a more equal spread of wealth and employment would reduce fiscal impact on our existing major cities.