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Neighbourhood wardens move into Purley

Berkshire’s biggest landlord is adding two neighbourhood wardens to patrol the streets of Purley on Thames to combat vandalism, graffiti and remove abandoned cars.

Purley Parish Council has invested £10,000 to expand the successful initiative already running in neighbouring Tilehurst and Holybrook, which will now be extended to include an extra 1500 households in Purley.

Purley is the latest to benefit from expansion of the warden programme across West Berkshire, and Sovereign Housing Group can now begin recruiting two more wardens to add to the three-person team currently based at the Calcot Centre.

Neighbourhood Warden Manager Andy Cooch said: “Wardens will make a real difference to the quality of life in Purley, not only by keeping graffiti and vandalism to a minimum, but also by liaising with groups of young people, and helping reduce fear of crime with their presence.”

Purley Parish Council Chairman David Betts said: “We are delighted to have achieved this Village Plan objective after more than a year of negotiation. I am sure that residents will be reassured by an additional uniformed presence on our streets”.

“The wardens, and the two new Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) who will be joining our neighbourhood Police team, will be targeted towards where they are most needed, with input from the Parish Council and the Neighbourhood Action Group.”

Wardens differ from PCSOs as they don’t have enforcement powers, but by working alongside other agencies, wardens have a track record in helping reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.

Sovereign is now looking to find two people who know the Purley area well, and who want to put something back into the community.

Published 29 March 2006
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