Bid to form community group to combat trouble

Bid to form community group to combat trouble

25 September 2013

A PUBLIC meeting is being held in Killyleagh tomorrow night with the aim of forming a new community group in the town.

The meeting, which is being held in the Bridge Community Centre at 7pm, will also discuss recent incidents of anti-social behaviour.

Tomorrow’s meeting is being chaired by Councillor Willie Clarke, the chairman of the district’s Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP).

The Partnership is delivering a community safety action plan in the Killyleagh area over the forthcoming months and tomorrow night’s meeting will be an opportunity to ensure locals have input into the plan which will look at issues such as dog fouling, graffiti and anti-social behaviour.

Recently, surveys were distributed to households in Killyleagh to ascertain residents’ policing and community safety concerns, with the information gathered from the surveys collated, with the results unveiled tomorrow night. Joining residents and politicians will be PSNI and Housing Executive representatives.

Councillor Clarke said the public meeting is an excellent opportunity for people in Killyleagh to decide the elements of the action plan.

He said he’s delighted with the high number of surveys which have been returned, explaining the action plan is a partnership approach, with its roll out hopefully improving the quality of life of people living in Killyleagh.

Rowallane councillors Billy Walker and Terry Andrews say it’s vitally important Killyleagh has a group to represent the interests of the community.

Councillor Walker recently suggested that extending the opening hours of the Bridge Community Centre at the weekend could help combat the problems of anti-social behaviour and provide a place for young people to go.

He said tomorrow night’s meeting will be able to explore what else can be done to provide other outlets for young people.

“It’s important Killyleagh has a vibrant community group to help start addressing problems in the town. A new group will also be able to provide a voice for residents and articulate their views on

important issues,” said Councillor Walker.

Councillor Andrews said reforming Killyleagh’s community association is vital as it can help spearhead new community-based projects for the benefit of everyone in the town.