A public meeting has galvanised the local community in tackling the ongoing problem of overt hard drug-dealing near schools in Greenbank.
The creation of a new ‘Community Plan’ and a community workshop seeking practical suggestions of how to improve the area, are amongst the activities arising from the meeting in July.
Chaired by Luke Pollard MP, the meeting was standing room only at Onward House Community Centre. Luke said:
“I want to thank every single resident who came along and had their voice heard. We heard many passionate and emotional examples of what local residents have experienced and it’s remarkable to have so many people attend a meeting like this.
“I’m firmly on the side of Greenbank residents in making sure we see improvements, and thank Cllr Charlotte Holloway for arranging the meeting and bringing people together. Momentum is really building now, and I know that we can make genuine change happen when we work together.”
Luke added:
“I’m asking Greenbank residents to report any crime incidents in the area, however small or ‘normal’ it might now seem. Without proper reporting it is difficult for the police and council to allocate the resources that we need to tackle this ongoing problem.”
Cllr Holloway, the newly elected councillor for Drake ward who organised the second public meeting, said:
“Momentum is steadily building now – the residents, community groups, police, council and charities are coming together to create a plan for improving Greenbank for all.”
“I was particularly pleased to hear commitments from the police and from senior officers in the council that more resources would be committed to Greenbank. I’ll be watching closely to make sure those words turn into action.
“I also know that the community response can’t just be about the police – we have to look more deeply at the causes and cures for hard addictions, as well as looking at the positive steps we can take to improve Greenbank – such as more green spaces and public art instead of graffiti hot spots.”
