This months front cover shows a beautiful view over the much treasured space that is known as Orchard Meadow.
The car park which borders it is a different matter. We have carried reports of antisocial behaviour in the car park before. Drug dealing has been reported and some pretty un-pleasant behaviour.
A couple of years back residents were promised CCTV cameras in the car park and fi-nally one was put up. But despite this, cars are still being vandalised. The latest exam-ple is a van which had its wing mirrors kicked off (see photo). We heard of an-other very disturbing story of an England flag draped over the bonnet of a van which bore the logo of a foreign company name. That is just unbelievable!
We are also aware of serious fly tipping in the car park. There are still blind spots because a single camera can’t cover all corners.
Maybe the attack on a 16 year old by the car park last month will prompt action to get better camera coverage and to improve the safety of this spot in the village centre. All the poor boy’s personal effects of any value were stolen, including his branded top and coat. Having handed everything over he started walking away and was set upon by the gang and knocked unconscious.
If this area is such a hot spot, surely we need more deterrent? CCTV is finally up and running but is not good enough. What about foot patrols?
And residents who park there question how a significant annual parking fee in-crease of 100% be justified if the car park is not safe? They want another camera at the very least.