Last updated at 13:24, Tuesday, 28 July 2009

A COMMUNITY is taking action to tackle vandalism in a town centre park.

CAMPAIGN: Councillor Jack Park by the bowling green in Millom Park. HOWARD SHIMMIN REF: 0496537

Police, members of Millom Town Council and Copeland Borough Council representatives have put their heads together to try and tackle vandalism in Millom Park and improve its amenities.

An action group has now been set up called Friends of Millom Park.

The group will be launched later this year and will be run by members of the community.

Residents are invited to join and attend an initial meeting on September 8.

Open spaces manager for the borough council Toni Magean is co-leading the project.

He said: “Over the past few months in particular we have seen an increase in minor crime, nuisance crime.

“I must pat the police on the back, both the police force and council are working to make sure things get reported.

“But it is not just a problem for the council and police, it is a community problem, we need to be all working together.

“It is about, as a community, taking responsibility.”

Part of the friends group’s role will be to apply for funding to bankroll future park development.

Mr Magean also suggested installing CCTV cameras in the park by extending the town’s current security system.

Mr Magean said: “CCTV works in two ways. It records the crime but also acts as a deterrent by its presence.”

Suggestions have also been made to link the group with a civic pride movement.

Millom inspector Carl Patrick is also helping lead the project.

He said: “If people have got pride in what they have got, they will start looking after it.

“This process takes years. We need to start changing attitudes early on.”

At the meeting in September representatives from the police, the borough council and the town council will talk to residents about their plans for the group.

Borough council representatives also hope to invite a member of the Friends of Egremont Park group, which is already up and running.

The Egremont representative is due to talk to visitors about what is involved in setting up a similar group in Millom.

Anyone interested in getting involved in the friends group should attend the preliminary meeting at the town council offices, above Millom Library, in St George’s Road, from 6pm.

For more information contact the town council on 01229 772340.

First published at 13:06, Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk