03 September 2010In the first of its kind, representatives from local councils, housing associations, the fire and police services and local residents took to the streets of Swanley to jointly evaluate problems with the appearance of the area and to draw up plans to improve them.
Representatives from Sevenoaks District Council, Kent County Council, Swanley Town Council, Kent Police, Kent Fire & Rescue Service, West Kent Housing Association and local residents took part in visual audits in Hart Dyke Road, Lime Road and Lilac Gardens on Wednesday 12 September and again in Alexandra Way, Northview and Alder Way on Tuesday 18 September.
The purpose of the hour long walks were to identify issues and problems that, in many cases, cut across each authorities' areas of responsibility.
Issues raised included graffiti, the condition of the pavements, litter, parking on the pavement, missing bollards and broken fencing.
Plans are now being considered to address the issues. They include working with residents to help them maintain the appearance of the neighbourhood, revising street cleaning schedules by Sevenoaks District Council, issuing penalty notices for littering and dog fouling, using the probation service to carry out graffiti clean ups and higher profile police presence in the area. The partnership will be writing to Kent County Council to highlight issues raised about the pavement, dropped kerbs and bollards.
Cllr Keith Loney, Sevenoaks District Council's Cabinet member with responsibility for community safety, says: "The first ever visual audits have been an effective tool to evaluate problems with the appearance of an area and determine what can be done to tackle them. Graffiti, litter, and dumped rubbish can have a negative impact on a community. However, by taking a partnership approach we are able to quickly identify problems and determine who is responsible, be it a local authority or resident, so that action can be taken."
The visual audits were organised by the Sevenoaks District Community Safety Community Safety Partnership. The Partnership is considering carrying out further audits in other areas of Sevenoaks District in the future.
