POLICING PROGRESS IN EAST WICKHAM

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 19th Oct 2004

A street meeting took place in Tidford Road in August between the East Wickham police officers, Bexley Council representatives and local residents. Tony Pickett attended from the Liberal Democrat Team.

Tony Pickett said: "This was a very constructive meeting. It was reported back that since the local Police team had made their first roll call ten weeks previously it had success in tackling crime, particularly anti-social behaviour and vehicle misuse.

"Residents welcomed the improvement and real reductions in disturbance. The East Wickham Police Team have made a real contribution to making the area safer. They deserve our heartfelt thanks."

TIDFORD ROAD SPEEDING PROBLEMS.

However, there were also real concerns expressed by residents at the Tidford Road meeting about serious speeding problems with cars and scooters speeding up and down the road using it as a rat run.

Residents said they had contacted Labour to express their serious concerns about these problems last year and that they had been told that these would not be taken on board.

The Police then suggested that local residents could monitor the situation and organise a petition. Two residents volunteered to take on this task.

Tony Pickett said, "This initiative by the Police is to be welcomed. Let us hope that this means that Tidford Road will have its concerns listened to this time, rather than being ignored as it was before."