Town centre action group is disbanded
Emma Harrison • Published 19 Feb 2012 09:30
1 Comment
MEMBERS of Bracknell town centre's Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) have decided to disband and transfer its priorities to a business group.
The NAG met for the last time on Friday at Bracknell Town Council in High Street, where members agreed the group's priorities would be incorporated into the Bracknell Business Against Crime (B:BAC) initiative.
The move comes as Bracknell Forest Council withdraws its support for the NAGs in the borough.
It is up to members to decide whether they will continue their NAG, which are groups made up of residents, police officers and community figures who discuss and target neighbourhood issues, such as antisocial behaviour.
Town centre NAG chairman Graham Mountford, who is also town centre manager, said: "In terms of the town centre it is a different ball game in comparison with some of the other NAGs because there are not so many residents and it tends to be businesses.
"There are already organisations that can take that [the role of the NAG] on - such as the Bracknell Business Against Crime initiative, which could quite easily take what goes on here and what's discussed at this forum."
He said residents' feedback would still be important and the police tent would be put up in the town centre to collect and encourage this.
Mr Mountford said: "That is probably the best way forward with this group - a lot of what we do here is already discussed at BBAC anyway."
BBAC is a group of town centre businesses who meet regularly to discuss how to tackle crime in the town centre.
They will also consider the NAG's priorities of tackling anti-social behaviour, environmental issues including litter, graffiti and street cleaning and alcohol offences in the town centre.
Mr Mountford warned graffiti could become an issue in the town centre and said: "In the town centre we have lost a few shop units in the post- Christmas period which tend to be a target for vandals and those selling scrap metal.
"Landowners and police are dealing with that. But the general community should be aware so we don't get the situation that has occurred in other towns where units are covered in graffiti as it looks absolutely dreadful."
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
-
BruceDenney
21 posts
Feb 20, 08:36
Report commentShut the residents up, and let the businesses have a louder voice about what happens in our town.
You got to love our council.. Just remember you voted them in, you could vote them out.
Recommend?
Yes 4
No 0
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
