On Thursday 6th October, Cumbria County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service "Action Wards" initiative launches in Carlisle at Botcherby Community Centre at 2 pm.
The Action Wards Initiative will focus further efforts on four specific Cumbrian communities in a bid to drive forward the service’s fire prevention and community safety messages. In Carlisle the Botcherby Ward is set to benefit from the six-month programme.
The launch event is the first of the schemes weekly surgeries, which will take place on alternate Thursdays from the 6th in Botcherby Community Centre and alternate Tuesdays from the 11th in the Pennine Way Community Centre between 2 and 4pm. Fire service personnel, and key partners including the Police, Youth Workers, Councillors, Drug and Alcohol Action workers, and members of the Botcherby Community will all be at the launch.
A flexible approach has been taken in consultation with the communities to address the key issues in each area. A strong emphasis will be placed on working in partnership with other key agencies and the community in an effort to build safer, stronger communities and reduce incidents of anti-social behaviour. Events in Botcherby over the next six months will include:
- Extensive home safety visits.
- Distribution of community safety materials, information and advice.
- Advice and visits to local businesses.
- Closer partnership working with Community Police Officers.
- A mobile Fire Station on site in the ward, including multi-agency weekly surgeries for residents (involving Fire and Rescue Personnel, Police Officers, Local Councillors and Housing Associations).
- Active engagement with local schools to deliver community safety.
- Full participation in promoting Bonfire safety and reducing the risk in the days leading up to Bonfire night.
- Advice and guidance to commercial premises to improve fire safety management.
- Engagement with young people providing recreation opportunities including discos, arts and sports events.
- Litter picks and environmental clean-ups.
- Chip pan amnesties.
At the launch Fire and Rescue Service personnel will be on hand to further outline the six-month initiative and the benefits it will bring to the Botcherby Ward.
County Councillor Geoff Hodgson, Cabinet spokesman for the Fire and Rescue Service says:
"The County Council is committed to improving the safety of people lives. The scheme will build on the Fire and Rescue Service’s existing community safety work and should help to reduce incidents and accidents in Botcherby.
The initiative will not only make a significant impact on safety but also make a real contribution to reducing anti-social behaviour and improving the environment. The communities that have been identified will really benefit from the resources, events and activities that this scheme will bring to them."
Tony Stoddart, Fire and Rescue Service Area Manager for Carlisle and Eden says:
"The Action Wards programme will provide us with an excellent opportunity to actively engage the local community and address the issues that are relevant to them.
We are seeking to work closely with our key partners to reduce the number of incidents that occur in Botcherby. The scheme will help create safer homes and businesses and a cleaner environment for the whole community in the Botcherby Ward."