Shock Poll for Kidsgrove and Butt Lane Crimes

Pie chart shows only 5% of people in kidsgrove report all instances of crime.

After conducting a poll on this website I can reveal the percentage of people who report all instances of crime including anti-social behaviour in Kidsgrove.  Only 5% of people questioned report all instances of crime to the police in the locality.  This is very concerning and means that the local crime figures are not a true reflection of what’s happening on our streets. 

 The question that now needs to be asked is why aren’t people reporting crime? 

Do people know the police have changed over to a new number for reporting crime, 101?

The picture shows crimes in the area of Butt Lane and Kidsgrove that were reported to the police in August 2012. To check yourself log onto www.police.uk

I would like to make it clear as a local representative it is important people report crime and anti-social behaviour in all wards of Kidsgrove.  No matter how big or small the crime is, we have to report it so that we have a correct set of figures.  When crime is constantly reported in a certain area like outside of a derelict pub, the police recognise an area as a hotspot and target with extra resources.  We must never have the attitude of; “oh well nothing gets done so I’m not reporting it”. 

Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger, or if the crime is in progress.

If the crime is not an emergency, call 101 to contact the police. 

You can also contact Crimestoppers to report a crime anonymously. They will pass the information about the crime to the police.

Crimestoppers
www.crimestoppers-uk.org
0800 555 111

All crimes that have been reported in Kidsgrove for August 2012.

Our Bus Stops get Revamp

Following months of campaigning regarding the state of bus stops in Butt lane, Talke and Kidsgrove I can now confirm we are to see repairs and maintenance works taking place over the next 4 weeks.  For some reason certain groups in our society enjoy vandalising bus stops.  At present we are told Anti-Social behaviour is at a minimal in Kidsgrove but I beg to differ and I have asked Staffordshire Police to monitor where gangs hang around and challenge them if they feel they are causing a nuisance or causing damage to public property.  As chairman of the Butt Lane locality action partnership I am always receiving complaints from residents about ASB issues and it needs to be stamped out.  I reported the bus stop problems with Staffordshire County Council months ago and also asked the County Councillors to look into the issue.  I have now been contacted by an officer from the County Council who has thanked me for my information and told me repairs will begin immediately to all the bus stops on the roads listed below:

Butt Lane:

Bus Stops on Cedar Avenue before repairs.

Congleton Road

Cedar Avenue

First Avenue

The Avenue

 Talke:

Coalpit Hill

Wedgwood Road

Chester Road

Kidsgrove:

Liverpool Road x4

Queen Street

Clough Hall Bonfire Display – Cancelled!

It has come to my attention that Clough Hall Bonfire display organised by Kidsgrove Rotary club has been cancelled.  The Rotary work extremely hard each year with the Police and local Council to ensure maximum safety at the event.  Unfortunately this year Staffordshire Police have made over zealous demands on the Rotary club because of an incident that took place involving an officer outside of the venue.  The officer was apparently injured after a large group of youths turned on the Police.  There is no evidence these criminals attended the Bonfire and many believe they did not. 

On 25^th September 2012 (LAST WEEK) Staffordshire Police approached Newcastle Borough Council demanding new stringent measures be introduced for the Bonfire display.  Some of the organising for this type of event can take up to 12 months and does not just happen overnight.  The measures include:

• Appointing a competent Event Organiser to run and manage the event in line with HSE guidance (what are they actually suggesting here? Are they saying the Rotary haven’t had competent event’s organisers in the past because I know they do?)
• Completing a through risk assessment and implementing control measures to prevent a recurrence of last year’s problems (A risk assessment is always carried out to the best of the Rotary clubs ability and is usually reviewed by Newcastle Borough Council).   
• Providing a massive increase in the amount of stewards and security staff present throughout the event.  (So security staff to be appointed at massive costs so that the Police do not have to support events!)
• Supervising the bonfire at all times until it has been put out by the Fire Service.
• Providing improved crowd barriers around the bonfire/fireworks.
• Providing additional temporary lighting all around the park, particularly along the back where youths tend to breach the fencing of neighbouring properties and at each entrance.  (If youths breach the fencing of neighbours then isn’t that trespass and thus a criminal matter for the Police to deal with whether there is an event on or not?  Temporary lighting run off generators is very expensive and to light up Clough Hall Park would be a very difficult task!)
• Improved communication system, emergency plan and tannoy code words for evacuation etc.  (Communications have always worked well at the event)
• All stewards need to be professionally briefed on roles/responsibilities, communications, and times they are on duty. 

Now we all want spectators to be safe at events and the last thing we want is for anyone to get hurt.  What is most surprising and quite frankly incompetent is that Staffordshire Police make these requests a month before an event is about to happen.  They know very well events like this take time and energy to organise so why make these request now?

I can remember back on Monday 7^th November 2011 at Kidsgrove Town Hall that Staffordshire Police set out their plans to close down Kidsgrove Police Station and move all response officers to Newcastle.  Many of us were horrified that we would get a reduced service locally and that response times would go up.  The Police authority promised us that we would get the best possible policing and that closing the Police station would save front line officers that would continue to serve Kidsgrove.  Residents wanted to know if the Police would continue to support community events like they always have done and we were told they would.  Another broken promise! I sympathise with the fact that Government cuts are leaving Staffordshire Police with few options but why tell us we will get the same service when we knew dam well it wasn’t going to be the case.  The policy of honesty is always the best policy to avoid disappointment. 

The question you need to ask yourself is this; did Staffordshire Police want this event to fail in the first place so that they could save money on paying officers to support the Clough Hall Bonfire display?  I will let you make your own minds up. 

Visit the Sentinel Article: 

http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Police-pull-plug-Clough-Hall-Park-fireworks/story-17041657-detail/story.html

The Harecastle Hotel / A Potter Tea Kidsgrove

I am writing to update residents on the new tea rooms that have opened up in the Harecastle Hotel building on Liverpool road.  The building has an old Victorian feel about it with a very pleasant atmosphere.  The tea rooms offer a range of hot and cold drinks, cakes and soon to offer breakfast and lunchtime specials.  This will surely benefit the commuters of our town with the Train Station being just around the corner.  Opening times will be 7am-5pm, Monday-Saturday. 

Counter area with lots of cakes and equipment for the best coffee in town.

As I entered the building I felt like I had stepped back in time.  The old bar area has been transformed with lots of cakes and goodies to attract anyone with a sweet tooth.  I was welcomed by cheery pleasant staff and they asked me to take a seat so they could bring my order over to me.  I had a traditional pot of tea and a carrot cupcake.  I have to say the cake was divine and I was given a pot of tea big enough for two people.  Tea and cake cost me £2.70 but the quality was spot on. 

The tea room has a modern and traditional look.

The Manageress told me there was much more to come and the other side of the building will soon be opened to offer restaurant styled food.  I had a sneak preview and I have to say this is something Kidsgrove is in desperate need for.  If you’re out and about in Kidsgrove pop in and visit the tea rooms at the Harecastle Hotel.

This venue is exactly what Kidsgrove needs when going forward with the Town Centre Partnership.  Let’s remember the traditional Kidsgrove whilst adding a modern edge. 

The Harecastle Hotel almost complete with brand new tea rooms.

Kidsgrove Swimming Baths Update

I just wanted to update residents and let them know re-commissioning works of Kidsgrove Swimming Baths are progressing well and if all continues to plan we should see the swimming baths re-open in time for the half term holiday. That is certainly the councils target for obvious reasons. There will be a huge publicity campaign to make residents aware the facility is back up and running.  It’s a shame the swimming baths have been closed for so long but at least now the ceiling has been repaired thoroughly there will be less chance of this happening again.  The repairs have cost £200,000+ and Newcastle Borough Council has lost nearly £300,000 income since the closure.  Who said the centre didn’t make any money?

I feel we will need to invest more money into Kidsgrove sports centre in the near future and hopefully with partners and organisations working together this can be achieved.  Its important that young children get extra swimming lessons over the next 12 months so they can catch up on the year they missed. 

It has been confirmed the baths should be open by the end of October into early November.  I don’t know about you but I will be signing up to more swimming!

Kyle Robinson enjoying Kidsgrove Swimming Baths in 2010.