Dear Wilford News Subscriber
 
Another busy week for Wilford prompts this latest Wilford News email
that covers crime, Iremongers Pond, extra funding for Wilford Library
and an opportunity for everyone to influence the library's opening times.
 
In a recent email to you, there was a warning to anglers (especially
the younger ones) about an incident that took place on the river bank
where two thirteen-year-old children had their bikes, mobile phones
and fishing tackle taken from them. At first, this was reported as
taking place on the Bee Bank, but PC Nigel Brown subsequently informed
me that this had taken place not on the Bee Bank but on Victoria
Embankment and the perpetrators has used Wilford as their getaway route.
 
This does not diminish the seriousness of the crime, of course, and the
message to parents of young anglers is to be careful.
 
PC Nigel Brown also emailed Wilford Community Group with some crime
figures for Wilford. I have copied his email below and send it without
any comment from the Group - Nigel's email says it all:
 
There have been "7 dwelling burglaries in the last 75 days, but still
well below the rest of Clifton Estate where there have been around 70
in the same period. Pass the message, LOCK UP YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS
WHEN OUT AND ABOUT!
 
"I have researched the crimes as follows in relation to Wilford, this
includes all of Ruddington Lane, St Austell Drive areas as well as the
village.

"July: 1 dwelling burglary (Ruddington Lane), 2 sheds/garages broken
into ( Main Road and Ruddington Lane) 2 simple thefts, 10 Theft from
vehicles (mainly Harvester) 1 criminal damage (Clifton Lane) and 1
assault. (17 crimes in total).

"August: 3 dwelling burglaries (2 on Main Road, 1 Ruddington Lane) 2
criminal damages, 2 theft from vehicles (Harvester again), 3 assaults
(includes domestics) 1 simple theft and 1 other crime. (12 crimes in
total)

"September is busy already:  3 dwelling burglaries (Hunters Close,
Main Road and Ruddington Lane) 1 shed/garage burglary (Main Road) 1
criminal damage (Ashdown Close) 2 simple thefts, 3 theft from motor
vehicles (mainly Harvester) and 3 other crimes. (13 in total up to
[Tuesday 11th]).

"....2 burglars were arrested in a house on Ruddington Lane [on
Monday 10th]( included in the above figures) but I do not know if
they have admitted any others in our area at this stage. Forensic
evidence is being checked.

"I hope this is of some help.
 
"Wilford/Silverdale are actually down on crime over the year to date
in comparison to last year."

At the Community Group committee meeting this week I suggested that
if we could get regular updates of these crime figures, they could
be published on the website and notice boards. It was suggested that
these could cause undue alarm, especially to Wilford's more vulnerable
residents. What do you think? Please let us know by emailing the Group
at WilfordCG@hotmail.com

At the same Community Group meeting we had a very informative presentation
from Community Landscape Architect Diane Moore about the possible
developments at Iremongers Pond. There followed a very lively debate,
with opinions divided into three camps - do nothing, develop the pond
for anglers, develop the pond for anglers and leisure users. The first
option was very much in the minority and a Steering Group is to be set
up comprising residents and anglers and a representative of the Environment
Agency will be invited to join to develop the pond as a beuaty spot but
with anglers very much in mind.

The City Council's Area 9 Committee has agreed funding of £5,000 over the
next twelve months for Wilford Library. £4,000 of this will be used to
fund an extra opening session and £1,000 will be used to publicise the
library in the local area. The extra opening session will be varied
throughout the year to see which is the most popular option.

In a separate exercise by the library service, a questionnaire is being
made available to users and non-users of the library to enable them to
have their say about opening hours. Forms can be obtained from the
library or by clicking the link from www.thisiswilford.org.uk.

As you know, Wilford Community Group is at the forefront of the campaign
for a new library for Wilford and as such we support this initiative
very strongly. We also think that this is a great opportunity for local
residents to demonstrate their support for their local library by joining
up and using the services. This is not quite a "use it or lose it" situation,
but the Group's campaign for a new library will only be successful if it can
be demonstrated that the community also wants a new library. Discussions
with the Area Committee have indicated support not only for a new library,
but an expanded facility that will include community facilities such as a
meeting room that may be housed in a two-storey building.

Please complete a feedback form and ask your friends and neighbours to do
the same - as Library Manager Sheila Rowley says, "we will probably not
get another chance to do a review of opening hours so we need to get it
right for as many users as possible."

Best regards,

David Boulton
Secretary
Wilford Community Group

Visit our website: www.thisiswilford.org.uk
Email us: WilfordCG@hotmail.com