Leader's blog - 18 July 2024
Making Basildon Town Centre safer and more vibrant
We envision Basildon Town Centre as a bustling hub filled with diverse retail shops, leisure activities, and eateries that attract both locals and visitors. To make this vision a reality, we're investing in regeneration projects that will enhance the area and make it even more attractive.
For our town centre to thrive, safety and security must be top priorities. We understand that people need to feel safe to fully enjoy all that the town centre has to offer. That's why we're committed to working with our partners to create a secure environment that supports our community and local businesses.
The council is proud to be a lead partner in the Safer Basildon Partnership. This partnership brings together various agencies to tackle crime, disorder, and anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the borough. Through our Crime and Disorder Strategy, we focus on the key issues that matter most to our residents.
We know that town centres often see higher levels of crime and ASB due to the large number of people and activities concentrated in one area. That's why we're dedicating resources and organising events to reduce these issues in Basildon Town Centre. Our goal is to make the area safer and more welcoming for everyone.
Here's a quick overview of what we've done so far and what's coming up:
- Security Audit: We're planning an independent security audit of the town centre. This will help us understand the current safety issues and identify areas for improvement.
- Community Consultation: We'll be reaching out to residents, visitors, businesses, and workers to gather their views on safety in the town centre. Your feedback is crucial in shaping our plans.
- Community Wardens: Our community wardens have been patrolling the town centre, helping to reduce crime and ASB. Their presence has made a noticeable difference.
- CCTV Improvements: We've increased the number of CCTV cameras in the town centre to enhance security and help prevent crime.
We're already seeing some positive changes. For example, there's been a significant reduction in bicycle thefts, thefts from persons, and personal robberies. However, we know there's still work to be done, especially in areas like shoplifting, which has seen an increase.
In the next 12 months, we have several strategic priorities:
- Collaboration with Developers: We'll work with new developers to ensure that all new projects include strong security measures.
- Public Realm Improvements: We're planning to improve lighting, signage, and green spaces to make the town centre more pleasant and safer.
- Safe Spaces: We'll create safe spaces, particularly for women and girls, to ensure everyone feels secure in the town centre.
We want to hear from you. Your feedback and participation are vital to making Basildon Town Centre the best it can be. Keep an eye out for our public consultation events and share your thoughts with us.
Together, we can create a safer, more vibrant Basildon Town Centre for everyone to enjoy.
Published 18 July 2024.