Wednesfield High Street – The arguments that are raised from time to time, about the infringement that takes place via vehicles travelling in the High Street, and the lack of enforcement by police.
I informed residents that I was to contact the Police about the continued complaints that I have received. This is the response that I have received from the local Neighbourhood team that is tasked with looking after Wednesfield High Street. “Since my team took over responsibility for the High Street at the end of May, we have conducted four focussed high visibility initiatives on the High Street aimed at targeting prohibitive driving. Numerous drivers have been deterred and advised. One vehicle has been seized and the driver issued with a fixed penalty notice. I instructed the operation as service to the local community as the matter has previously been raised as a PACT priority.”
This is an important issue, and it underlines the role that the PACT plays in targeting police time for incidents. Wednesfield North PACT, meets regularly and I would appeal to residents here in Wednesfield North to do all they can to attend these meetings.
If you have a crime or an anti social behaviour problem the PACT meeting where you can speak directly to your police team, is the best place for that conversation. We need to ensure that our PACT does in fact reflect what our community wants.
With regards to Wednesfield High Street pedestrianized area, the Police team have also said in their written response to my enquiries that, ” Previous policing teams have found that prosecution is a very short term solution. With finite resources, the local Neighbourhood team is not in a position to permanently provide enforcement. Perhaps this issue is something that you may able to influence through the local council? ”
I have since taken this matter a step further and written to the Cabinet member responsible for the highway and requested that the City Council give consideration to the new cctv cameras that are now protecting the City Bus Lanes. If the issue is one of enforcement, and the Police are having a struggle in protecting the visitor to Wednesfield via their policing techniques. It may be that the new cctv cameras that have caused such a stir in bus lane protection, can provide the deterrence
? The response that I have received back from the two Cabinet members is that they will discuss this matter with City Officials.
