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Town plans welcomed
From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Friday 4th Aug 2000.
PLANS of action have been devised to tackle anti-social behaviour in Bradford on Avon and Melksham.
Organisations in the two towns have been working with the community safety groups and West Wiltshire Community Safety Partnership, which includes police, councils and the probation service, to identify concerns and possible solutions.
The action plans were welcomed by West Wiltshire District Councillors at a meeting of the northern area committee.
Cllr Nick Westbrook said: We are particularly pleased in the northern area and both Bradford on Avon and Melksham are developing quite robust action plans.
Various agencies are involved and hopefully there will be some long-term solutions. There are no easy answers.
Cllr Janet Repton said: It is an excellent plan. We were considering putting a drink ban in the towns but it would be like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
In Melksham, action includes investigating the possibility of a moveable CCTV system to monitor trouble spots, looking at ways to reduce crime against traders and businesses, inviting youngsters to join a Young Person's Action Group and the creation of a Youth Parliament.
Police action in the towns includes targeting patrols to problem areas and sending letters to the parents of youngsters in Melksham whose behaviour may not be illegal but causes concern.
In Bradford on Avon proposed action includes developing a youth health street work project, developing an existing peer mentoring scheme and looking at the problems in Westbury Gardens.
West Wiltshire community safety officer Pippa McVeigh said: We are hoping that now we have a framework we can find out what groups are already doing.
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