There was a good turn out of residents to the Park Barn & Westborough Police Panel meeting at the Park Barn Centre last night.

There were two police officers and two PCSOs there, Tracy James – one of our Community Safety Wardens, as well as Lib Dem Guildford Borough Councillors Mark Chapman and Julia McShane, me as the County Councillor and an officer from Guildford Borough Council.  Wayne McShane came as a resident and as Chairman of the Park Barn & Westborough Community Association.

Among the 15plus residents there were some people from the Nepalese community and it was very good to see them there.  They are very keen to become a part of life in Park Barn and Westborough.

The police officers reported back on the activities they have been carrying out in the area and then residents were asked to speak about things which were worrying them.  The three main concerns were around parking in different parts of the ward, speeding and groups of young people hanging around, again in various parts of the area.  After a vote by residents, it was decided that the Police priority until the next meeting would be to deal with speeding.

During the meeting, PC Ryan Stephens said how important it is that anyone who sees some activity which they believe is wrong, whether it is to do with parking and speeding or antisocial behaviour of some kind, should report it straight away using the 101 police number.  The Police Contact Centre would then pass the information on to police officers who are working at the time to deal with.  The second and equally important action is that they will record the report and that means that patterns can be recognised and will help with setting priorities for police activities in future, including patrolling.