28/9/2005 - Action Wards

Cumbria County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service launch their countywide "Action Wards" initiative today.

The scheme will focus further efforts on four specific Cumbrian communities in a bid to drive forward the service’s prevention and community safety messages. Moss Bay Ward in Workington, Harbour Ward in Whitehaven, Botcherby in Carlisle and Central Ward in Barrow are all set to benefit from the six-month programme.

The Action Ward initiative is wide ranging, and a flexible approach will be taken, in consultation with the communities, to address the key issues in each area. The Fire and Rescue Service will be working closely with key partners to deliver the programme and create safer, stronger communities. Countywide, events over the six months will include: 

Extensive home safety visits; Streetsafe crime reduction events; Environmental Clean ups and litter picks; Mobile Fire Stations on site in the wards; Close partnership working with local schools (including arts and sports events); Distribution of community safety information.

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 in all the of the "Action Wards".

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"

Bernard Dolan, Cumbria’s Chief Fire Officer says:

"The individual communities have been selected for a variety of reasons, some have statistically high levels of domestic fires, while others have large numbers of elderly or vulnerable residents. The Action Wards programme will provide us with an excellent opportunity to actively engage local communities and address the issues that are relevant to them. 

Throughout the Action Wards programme we will be working closely with key partners to further develop our community safety programme and help build safer, stronger, communities."