Policing – The Chairman welcomed the police officers and thanked them for attending before the main meeting to discuss the council’s concerns. Sgt Richards described how the police were planning to deploy staff more effectively to be more responsive to actual concerns and incidents rather than less effective routine visits. An example was the issue of speeding traffic, where they would seek to enable Community Speed Watch volunteers and react to data gathered on checks so that areas with a higher incidence of speeding would be targeted.
As far as anti-social motor-bike behaviour they would operate on a ‘three strikes basis’ ending in confiscation of bikes and/or the involvement of parents, particularly on under age offences. Sgt Richards emphasised the need for public to be involved in reporting these and other incidents. He asked that the new emergency contact number 101 be used and advertised in the newsletter. This connects to Chelmsford Control Centre and would be linked to a new mobile ‘phone system to give a more flexible response. This means the focus will be on to community concerns rather than being target driven.
The Chairman thanked them again for attending and for their very positive attitudes and the approaches they outlined.
Dictrict Councillor – Prior to the meeting proper District Councillor Simon Howell addressed the meeting and outlined some of the ways that Uttlesford was planning to cope with the target of an extra 3000 houses over the next 15 years. Most would be provided in the four towns of Stansted, Saffron Walden, Dunmow and Thaxted but depending on infrastructure there would be some spread across other smaller settlements. Councillors again expressed their anxiety that the overall infrastructure such as roads and schools needed to be considered.
The meeting proper began at 8.40pm
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