‘Eyes and ears’ play vital role for villages
S08763H13 Sue Rogers (front) with David Barling behind and the Neighbourhood Watch volunteers
NEIGHBOURHOOD Watch volunteers in the Steyning area gathered for a “thank you” tea on Monday.
The tea was organised by Steyning Parish Council at the suggestion of Sue Rogers, parish councillor and cabinet member for community safety at Horsham District Council.
She explained: “First and foremost, Monday afternoon was about thanking the Steyning and District (this includes Bramber and Upper Beeding) Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators for their work.
“As volunteers, I see them as crucial ‘eyes and ears’ on our roads and streets.
“They play an important role on the community safety agenda in neighbourhood policing – something that I would like to encourage, not only in Steyning but across the district.”
David Barling, chairman of Steyning Parish Council, said the event had been a “thank you for the hard work that they undertake during the year” and it had given the volunteers a chance to meet one another.
He added: “We were also able to identify a person who may take on the role of area co-ordinator, and we are hopeful that this position is now filled.”
He said the afternoon was very well attended by neighbourhood watch volunteers, along with Paul Conroy and Michael Pearce, neighbourhood wardens for Steyning, Bramber and Upper Beeding, and Louisa Hull, the PCSO in Steyning.
Mrs Rogers said as well as thanking the current volunteers, she hoped the event would encourage more people to get involved with Neighbourhood Watch in the villages.
“I would like this to be the spring board to encourage more co-ordinators to come forward,” she added.
Andrew Moffat, the new chairman of Neighbourhood Watch for Horsham district, has been working with Mrs Rogers to publicise the voluntary association, which aims to keep members informed of any crimes of significance that have happened in their area.
Mrs Rogers said: “Feeling safe in your home and where you live is such a fundamental issue and something we should never neglect.”
Steyning is the second safest town in the Horsham district, according to the parish council website, partly thanks to the work of the Neighbourhood Watch team and the PCSO.
The Horsham district is hoping to attract many more younger members to Neighbourhood Watch, which is free to join.
Visit www.mynhwsussex.org/Horsham for more information.
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Weather for Shoreham
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 5 C to 15 C
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