Clean start for garages

12/2/2009

Sherborne is bracing itself for an early spring clean.

The town’s Partners And Communities Together (PACT) team are targeting trouble spots where anti-social behaviour is rife.

The first place to get a clean up is the garage area in McCreery Road, which has become a magnet for gathering youths, vandalism, fires being started, graffiti and fly-tipping.

Magna Housing Association, which owns the land, is hoping to demolish the garages next year and build much-needed social housing on the site.

But until then, PACT are determined to stamp out anti-social behaviour in the area.

Josie Watson, from Magna’s anti-social behaviour team and a member of the PACT panel, explained: “This area of Sherborne has become a real issue and PACT have made dealing with it a priority.

“Because the garages are run down, it attracts gangs of youths and we have had lots of complaints from locals about what goes on there.

“Hopefully a spring clean will go a long way to help stamp out the problem. Securing empty garages and generally cleaning the place up with make a big difference.”

Members of PACT and other volunteers are planning to roll up up their sleeves for a day of scrubbing on Wednesday (December 9), with skips being brought in to clear any unwanted rubbish.

PC Samuel Goom, town beat manager for the Sherborne Safer Neighbourhood Team ,said: “The PACT Panel has made dealing with vandalised and damaged areas a priority.

“If an area is vandalised such as graffiti and does not get cleaned up it can attract more damage, mess and lead to further anti-social behaviour.

“The PACT Panel Partners are working together and concentrating on getting the small pockets of damage cleaned up quickly. One of these areas is the garages at the top of McCreery Road and I am very pleased Magna has taken the lead as a PACT Partner and are helping clean up this eyesore.”

PC Goom said that other areas of the town will also be considered for clear up operations in the new year.

“Sherborne is a great place to live,” he added, “but there are some small pockets of vandalism around town that do need cleaning up.”