District Council continues to do all it can to tackle ASB

The new lights and CCTV camera are to ensure the area is well-lit at night, making it safer for residents and helping to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. The installation of these new safety features will make it easier for the Police and District Council Officers to identify perpetrators of anti-social behaviour.

The location of St Mary Magdalene’s Church Remembrance Gardens was identified as in need of new lighting and CCTV cameras following some serious anti-social behaviour. It is also often used as a location for street drinking.

The new lights are in keeping with the heritage of the area and match the existing lampposts that were also improved through an earlier Safer Streets 4 project. The CCTV is monitored by the CCTV Control Room and provides much needed cover to the gardens and paths.

This project received £110,000 funding from the UK Government’s through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.

Councillor Paul Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Community Relations at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Newark and Sherwood District Council is absolutely committed to doing everything we can to tackle anti-social behaviour and to ensure our area is safe for residents and visitors. We are also determined to work with our partners and local organisations, such as St Mary Magdalene’s Church, to ensure that potential hotspots are identified, and necessary precautions are undertaken.

“With these additional safety measures installed in critical positions around the gardens, individuals will now think twice before displaying mindless behaviour and committing acts of vandalism. It will also make it easier for us to catch anyone who does conduct any anti-social behaviour in the area. We will not tolerate any behaviour that makes our residents feel less safe in the areas in which they live and frequent.

“We remain as focused, as ever, on creating a safer district in which residents and businesses feel secure and supported.”

Andrew Fearn Church Warden at St Mary Magdalene Church said: "It has been a pleasure to collaborate with colleagues at Newark and Sherwood District Council to help design and complete the work in St Mary's Gardens. It has been a problematic area for some time now and this project will hopefully prevent recurrences. The enhanced lighting combined with the CCTV will, I am sure, deter very many instances of anti-social behaviour"