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Home » News & Events » 2011 » January » Partnership event in Exhall Close, Redditch

Partnership event in Exhall Close, Redditch

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The campaign, which will be promoted as part of the PACT (Partners and Communities Together) initiative, will include a series of events in targeted areas of the town and aims to reassure local people that their concerns will be both heard and acted upon by the appropriate agencies.

The first of these community based events will take place in Church Hill over a four day period, between Thursday 10 February and Sunday 13 February, when representatives from the agencies involved will be in Exhall Close, calling at people’s homes to highlight the services they offer and how they can be accessed.

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (H&WFRS) will take along its Community Safety trailer to be used as a central base during the four-day campaign. Fire officers, police officers plus representatives from several departments at Redditch Borough Council, including Housing and the Anti Social Behaviour Team, will then call on residents in Exhall Close with a questionnaire to record which services they might be interested in. Age Concern from Redditch and Act on Energy will also form part of the team.

A letter to all households will be circulated in advance of the initiative, advising people which agencies are involved and what services they provide. Posters and literature from each partner agency will also be available from the trailer during the event.

For its part, H&WFRS will be promoting fire safety during the four day campaign and will be offering free home fire safety referrals and smoke alarm checks. West Mercia Police will be offering a range of crime prevention advice including information on home and vehicle safety, while the council will be encouraging people to report any repairs needed or other issues regarding council-managed services. Age Concern, meanwhile, will highlight a range of services available to older people while Act on Energy will be offering householders advice on how to heat their homes more efficiently.

Station Commander Phil Griffiths, based at Redditch Fire Station, explained: “All of the agencies involved in this initiative have an interest in the safety and well-being of local residents, and it makes sense to go out into the community together in this way to highlight our particular area of work and how we can work alongside partners to improve everyone’s quality of life.

“The Fire Service is particularly keen to encourage residents in Exhall Close to have a home fire safety check, where someone from our Community Safety Team will visit on a day convenient to the householder, to look at reducing fire risk in the home. This would include the installation of smoke alarms as needed, and encouraging families to work out an escape route in case of fire.”

PC Mark Broughton, Local Policing Officer for Church Hill, added: “As at a regular PACT meeting, we are hoping to meet local people face-to-face and see how we can offer reassurance and practical help for any concerns they might have. We will also be offering useful tips on crime prevention for the house and garden, as well as for people’s vehicles.”

Councillor Carole Gandy, Leader of Redditch Borough Council, said: “This is a very positive initiative. I hope it will raise residents’ awareness of Council services and how they can access them.”

The community action days in Exhall Close will be held from 10am until 2pm on Thursday 10 & Friday 11 February, and from 12 midday until 4pm on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 February.

Similar partnership events are planned for the Winyates area and two town centre locations later in the year.