Convicts help with sprucing up Basildon housing estate (From Basildon Recorder)
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Convicts help with sprucing up Basildon housing estate
8:00am Monday 27th August 2012 in News By Gina Marden
Councillor Phil Rackley with estate officers from Basildon Council
CONVICTED criminals are to be brought in to help clean up a Basildon estate.
The crooks, who are trying to mend their ways, will do gardening, litter picks and general cleaning on the Long Riding estate, after residents raised complaints about the state of the area.
The problems were highlighted this week when officers from Basildon Council joined residents, councillors and resident representatives for the first of 14 walkabouts planned for roads and estates across the St Martin’s ward.
Residents pointed out neglected areas and problems which were noted down by officers for action to be taken.
Among the findings were weeds and brambles found creeping up over pavements and fences in the area.
Damaged traffic bollards were noticed, suggesting people have ripped them up so they can park cars on the grass, while council homes had rubbish, such as tyres and carpets, dumped in overgrown front gardens.
The findings mean crooks signed up with the Community Payback scheme will be drafted in to improve the area.
Arthur Charlton, chairman of St Martin’s community panel, said: “This walkabout is a good idea, provided things that are raised are acted upon.
“There are some people who really look after their homes in this road. So for them it is a shame this road has fallen into such a bad way.
“Things like this really do affect people’s quality of life.”
A 57-year-old woman, who only wanted to be known as Sandra, and who has lived in Long Riding for 31 years, said: “I’ve never seen it look so bad as it does now. But it shouldn’t have been allowed to get to this with overgrown weeds, rubbish and bad parking everywhere.
“I pay my taxes and I want to see this area cleared up.”
Jenny Beak, estate officer at Basildon Council, said: “We’d like to thank the residents who came along to the walkabout and to those who stopped to talk to us.
“It’s important we hear first hand the views of residents so that we can work with them in addressing issues.”
The walkabout forms part of a 12-month-long Community Safety Action Zone, taking part in the St Martin’s ward.
Comments(13)
howironic
says...
11:13am Mon 27 Aug 12
Nebs
says...
11:21am Mon 27 Aug 12
https://forms.direct
.gov.uk/forms/form/2
66/en/nominate_a_com
munity_payback_proje
ct
babybird0404
says...
1:41pm Mon 27 Aug 12
boom wrote:THEIR own areas.
That's handy, they'll be cleaning up there own areas lol
A Dermot
says...
4:14pm Mon 27 Aug 12
babybird0404 wrote:Grammer Nazi
boom wrote:THEIR own areas.
That's handy, they'll be cleaning up there own areas lol
Brunning999
says...
4:21pm Mon 27 Aug 12
Make em work !
Audioman
says...
4:24pm Mon 27 Aug 12
you dont thay will be in.
Eric Whim
says...
4:30pm Mon 27 Aug 12
A Dermot wrote:ahem, Grammar......
babybird0404 wrote:Grammer Naziboom wrote: That's handy, they'll be cleaning up there own areas lolTHEIR own areas.
AndyBSG
says...
8:20am Tue 28 Aug 12
Audioman wrote:You obviously don't know Long Riding... The people doing this work will probably be more law abiding than the average resident in that hell hole!
Lock all your doors and windows,if
you dont thay will be in.
iknowbetter
says...
10:42am Tue 28 Aug 12
Eric Whim wrote:Hahaha nice one Eric you got there before me.
A Dermot wrote:ahem, Grammar......
babybird0404 wrote:Grammer Naziboom wrote: That's handy, they'll be cleaning up there own areas lolTHEIR own areas.
A Dermot you are such an idiot!!! Please tell me you are not bringing up any kids!! They may just end up on cleaning duty, if you get my drift.
perini
says...
12:03pm Tue 28 Aug 12
gumbley
says...
8:31pm Tue 28 Aug 12
President3
says...
8:42pm Tue 28 Aug 12
gumbley wrote:Hear hear! Basildon is regularly bashed on this site - normally by people who have never lived here.
I should not be surprised by the innane comments made by some of the contributors to this page. In my view it is sensible to use the Community punishment team to clean up areas. Better than minor offenders are punished by a period of unpaid work, putting something back into the community instead of being sent to prison. The people who live in wrong Riding, like other people in the community are decent hard-working people unlike some contributors who seem to resemble supporters of the 3rd Reich!
There are better areas of England, but there are many many worse.
boom says...
11:11am Mon 27 Aug 12