Erskine community makes a stand against violence
Residents come together after spate of terror incidents
A determined community will stage a colourful march in solidarity against violence after a spate of frightening incidents.
Organisers of the Erskine Expects walk have called on residents to come together as one in response to recent violent crime in the town.
The positive event, which will take place next month, comes after several serious incidents in the town.
A 43-year-old woman was sexually assaulted as she walked her dog on a footpath near Rashielee, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
And two men aged, 19 and 22, were slashed in Bargarran Square, on Saturday, July 7, with one of the victims requiring plastic surgery.
Now the community has said enough is enough and have demanded an end to violence and antisocial behaviour.
Organisers of Erskine Expects want families from all parts of the town to come out on August 11.
A spokeswoman said: “This is a family event, focusing on our community supporting each other, standing up for each other, caring about our town and it’s people, and sending a clear message that anti-social, negative, violent behaviour isn’t part of us.
“The plan is for two groups to leave at opposite ends of the town, meeting at the Bridgewater Shopping Centre for a short vigil.
“Make banners, streamers, with as much colour as possible, perhaps using the first two words of, ‘Erskine Expects...’ followed by words such as, to feel safe, to walk without fear, our people to be happy.’’
From Bargarran, organisers want people to meet at Darroch (Barwood) Park, 6.30pm, leaving at 7pm.
And from the Park Mains side, gather at St Anne’s School, from 6.30pm onwards, departing at 7pm.
The organisers stressed the march is in no way an anti police, or anti government, event but rather a chance for the community to demonstrate their spirit in the face of adversity.
Meanwhile, the Erskine community has backed Police Scotland’s decision to step up patrols in the area.
Cops have increased the presence of high-visibility uniformed and plain- clothes officers in the area in a bid to ensure people feel safe.
Inspector Cassie Glass, from the area community policing team, had described the decision as one which aimed to “help reassure the community”.
Erskine and Inchinnan Labour Councillor Jim Harte supported the move, saying: “The main issue for us was that we needed more police on the streets. That’s how you stop crime.”
Locals had taken to social media to question whether the former police station’s presence in Rashielee Avenue would have made a difference in deterring crime.
Erskine’s police station officially closed in May of last year but counter service had stopped in 2014, meaning members of the public could not visit the building.
However, Councillor Harte said visibility needed to take place in the form of officers on the beat and not a building.
He added: “Visibility on the streets is more important than having a police station.
“At 3.15am there isn’t going to be a police station open, so you’re going to get a response team at that time.
“But the bigger the police presence in the area, the more people are reassured and feel safe.”
Veronique Obike-Preud’Homme, a member of Erskine Community Council, said it was important for the “prevention” of crime to be prioritised in the area.
She said: “It’s about prevention more than a building. The problem seems to happen more in Rashielea and Bargarran but that doesn’t mean it will not expand.
“Where I live in Meadows Avenue, I feel safe. I’m in a community watch, where all of our neighbours are looking out for the wellbeing of the neighbourhood. I don’t feel threatened.”