Wokingham Borough Council’s new anti-social behaviour (ASB) team has already experienced huge success since launching at the beginning of April.
The team offers a visible presence seven days a week to address concerns that affect people’s lives, such as fly tipping, noisy neighbours and nuisance vehicles. In the first two months, the service dealt with a total of 239 cases, plus a number of general enquiries where advice was given.
Officers focus on areas, such as parks and open spaces, where issues are more common and will attend when loud music or other noise is causing a nuisance in a neighbourhood, such as building noise.
The service includes animal wardens to handle stray dogs, tackle animal neglect and promote responsible ownership. It works closely with the licensing team, which oversees alcohol sales, betting shops, amusement arcades and taxis.
The majority of cases (92) dealt with in the first two months were for environmental issues, but there were also 47 cases of ASB and 51 relating to noise nuisance.
Showing we care about your wellbeing
Cllr Clive Jones, the new leader of the council, said: “It is good to see the new ASB service is already doing what it set out to. The team work incredibly hard seven days a week to provide reassurance to our residents that we care about their wellbeing and will do what we can to help.
“In all cases, the team will use reason and try to offer advice and this approach has seen a co-operative response from those involved. We want Wokingham Borough to be safe for everyone and this service is a proactive way of achieving that goal. It is also an effective way of discouraging behaviour such as fly tipping, which is a blight on our beautiful towns and countryside.”
As expected, Easter proved to be a busy time for the team, with lots of reports coming in over the long weekend. One of the biggest tasks was a car meet at the Mereoak Park & Ride near Three Mile Cross. There were more than 100 cars present, along with a gathering of spectators, which was managed with assistance from Thames Valley Police.
Co-operative and positive response
Ian Shenton, the new executive member for environment, sport and leisure, said: “In cases involving noise disturbances, organisers and households have been politely instructed to respect neighbours and given advice, which has seen a positive and respectful response.
“The animal wardens have been helping to reduce dog fouling by putting up signs in areas where reports have been received. The wardens have also dealt with stray dogs and visited a property that was illegally offering a dog walking service.”
The ASB team have dealt with a variety of cases, including a noisy filming crew and a car wash where electric driers were disturbing residents.
Officers attended a ‘Have Your Say’ meeting at Bigshotte Park in Crowthorne and listened to residents’ concerns, which included loud music, bonfires, drinking and potential drug use. The team have followed up on these concerns, working with police to arrange foot patrols after school and in the evening.
In the first two months, 175 licences were issues by the licensing team, while safety advisory groups were formed for Henley Regatta and the party at Elms Field for The Queen’s Jubilee.
If a crime is being committed and people are in danger, call the police on 999, or 101 if it isn’t an emergency.
For any other nuisance, contact the council at asb@wokingham.gov.uk or on (0118) 974 6000 during business hours. The out of hours service is available on 0800 212 111 from 5pm into the night on Fridays and Saturdays and during the daytime at weekends and bank holidays.
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