Village Voice No 239 October 2012
Melbourne & District
crime fears as Melbourne sees sharp rise in burglaries THERE has been a sharp rise in burglaries in Melbourne in recent weeks, leading to fears by one councillor of an “open season for criminals”. Area Sergeant Steve Todd outlined the crime statistics to the Safer Neighbourhood meeting in Barrow on Trent. Sgt Todd said that in the last month Melbourne had had the high-
est number of incidents in the area, 35 in all, which included 13 reported Anti-Social Behaviour. Aston on Trent followed with 14 incidents and Shardlow 11. He told the meeting that actions taken to prevent future crime include an increase in the number of patrols, including plain clothes surveillance, and the introduction of Stop and Search practices based on
intelligence. Melbourne Parish Councillor David Smith expressed concern over recent incidents and the impact of the fear of crime on Melbourne residents. “With Wakes Week soon to be on us, followed by Hallowe'en and bonfire night it could be open season in Melbourne for criminals if there is no ongoing commitment to policing
in Melbourne," he said. Sgt Todd assured Cllr Smith that arrangements for a task force to be on hand over the period have been made. He also stressed that crime in the area is low and statistics show it has been falling marginally over three years. The Safer Neighbourhood priorities set for the next three months are ASB in Melbourne and speeding.
School buS Service To conTinue by TOM MILLS THE walk from Barrow on Trent to Chellaston School for pupils IS safe. That's the official view of Derbyshire County Council.
It is a decision that has again angered the parents of youngsters facing the daily journey from the village to school. But reassurances have now been given to residents that the 306 bus service operated by Harpur’s from Barrow on Trent to Chellaston Academy will continue. Fears in the local community that the service would end arose when the county council announced its intention to withdraw the transport subsidy because guidelines laid down state that subsidised bus services need not be provided for school pupils who travel distances of less than three miles over a safe walk route. The distance from the furthest point in Barrow to Chellaston Academy is officially two and a half miles. The transport company has operated the
306 service for six years and when the subsidy was withdrawn in April of this year, it continued to operate the service at a cost of 60p each way for each passenger – an increase of 10pence. Nick Harpur, Managing Director of Harpur’s Coaches Ltd, told Village Voice: “There has never been any intention to withdraw the service." Should the walk be declared unsafe the county council would be required to provide a fully subsidised service. A previous assessment of the walk 11 years ago declared the walk to be safe and the two safe walks assessments carried out by DCC this year led to the same conclusions. However, residents continue to ask why, if the route has always been declared a safe walk, has a subsidy been paid for all that time and why has it been withdrawn now? Barrow Parish Council will be writing to Derbyshire County Council to express its deep disappointment at the latest decision and requesting assurances that any significant change in future traffic levels will trigger a reassessment of the safety of the walk.
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Olympicnic day out – Page 3
School starters – Pages 6-7
Happy days – Page 12
PRESSING AHEAD .. Melbourne Area Transition group invited Festival visitors to 'Have a Go' at using the new community Apple Press to convert apples into delicious juice. Pictured above are a group of Melbourne Scouts demonstrating the press to another group of visitors. The press is available for hire by Melbourne residents. FULL FESTIVAL ROUND-UP ON PAGES 10-11.
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