Shortroods community safety project is launched

Underage drinking, litter and bogus callers will be tackled in Paisley’s Shortroods community following calls for change.

The successful Your Home, Your Street, Our Community programme will be kick-started in the neighbourhood after people living there gave their views on which issues need to be looked at.

A survey saw more than 160 people outlining key issues they would like to see addressed and the Renfrewshire Community Safety Partnership is now working to produce an action plan.

Among the issues identified were underage drinking, litter and bogus callers and the local community also requested a more visible police presence in the area, more activities to be provided for young people and a crackdown on dog fouling.

Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, said: “The reason this programme has been so successful in other areas is that we are tackling issues that the community have identified matter to them.

“The council, along with our partners, will work hard to make a noticeable difference in Shortroods across the next three months and aim to sustain this improvement at the end of the intervention.

“I would encourage anyone who lives and works in the area to look out for the work taking place, give their support wherever possible and we will make a real difference to Shortroods as a place to live and work.”

The intervention period will last for three months with all partners within the Renfrewshire Community Safety Partnership playing a role, including Police Scotland, Renfrewshire Council, Scottish Fire and Rescue and the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

Chief Inspector Simon Wright, Area Commander for Paisley, said: “I am delighted with the number of people and groups who have contributed to the Shortroods survey.

“As a partnership we are currently reviewing what has been said and we intend to start immediately on addressing the concerns that residents and businesses have highlighted.

“We will ensure that all the activity is highlighted to the local community and my officers look forward to engaging directly with the community over the next three months.”

The programme aims to work alongside the community while carrying out intervention work to ensure that there is a lasting benefit to the area following the conclusion of the three-month period.

A follow up survey will take place following the intervention to identify the improvements made and continue the link with the local community and the partners involved.

 For more information on the project, visit www. r e n f r e w s h i r e . g o v. u k / YourHomeYourStreet