|
|
 |
| |
Extra policing will help tackle youth problem on estate
• THANK you to the CNJ for your article last week, talking to the young people who hang out around Denton. I walk home past Denton every single day and regularly use the shops on Malden Road that have been particularly affected.
The problems here are long-standing and deep-rooted.
One of the ways to tackle the problem of young people hanging around is to provide good quality youth services, like at the Kentish Town Community Centre and Gospel Oak Action Link. Both of these centres have received increased funding from the council this year, which is good news.
However, people will only feel safer when we have an increased police presence.
The new permanent police base on Queens Crescent will help officers get to know our community so they can identify persistent and repeat trouble makers. The extra money announced by the council last Monday for policing crime hotspots through the summer will also make a difference.
Now the police need to follow the council’s lead by making our area a priority.
MATHEW SANDERS
St Leonard’s Square
• OVER the past few weeks I have read with great interest the various articles and letters which have appeared in your newspaper regarding the situation in Malden Road and the surrounding area.
I have recently been informed that
Camden’s officers and relevant agencies are now holding regular meetings, and have been for some time now, to discuss the best way forward and feedback from these meetings appear positive.
However, it is crucial that local people and residents’ groups are not only listened to, but are also actively involved in trying to find a ‘local’ solution to the problems in the Haverstock ward.
In view of the urgency and serious nature of some of the problems being described in your newspaper by local residents, why aren’t we all, including the local youth, being invited to take part in discussions on how to address the problems on our streets and estates? We dare say this is what Camden regularly refers to as ‘tenant participation’.
An election ‘hustings’ meeting has also been called to provide local people who live in the Haverstock area with an opportunity to meet and question all the Haverstock ward by-election candidates and have their say on issues that are important to them.
The meeting will take place on Thursday, July 5 at St Silas Church Hall in Malden Road, NW5 at 7pm.
We await your invitation!
MIKE _ COOKSON - TAYLOR
Prince of Wales Road, NW5
Secretary and Haverstock Representative
(Camden Association of Street Properties)
• THE present administration does not have to face the electors until 2010, which may account for its apparent unconcern in refusing to let a deputation explain their fears at the unruly behaviour and crimes in the Malden Road area.
Sufficient people fail to stand as independents, who could hold the balance in power-sharing if elected. Deputations were refused under the former administration also.
The recent visit of Frank Dobson MP had him hearing of the situation at first-hand. More police are needed for a period until things improve.
Paul Keilthy’s interview (June 21) with some youth shows that they are unaware of the effect they have en masse. Some oldsters do complain needlessly – that has always happened.
But disorderly conduct and crimes are not acceptable. That affects young and old alike. In the now distant past (as photos show), streets in working-class areas always had children at play there – and that was partly due to lack of traffic, and also because homes were cramped so the kids had to get out.
We humans are social animals and need to socialise – hence the value of public open spaces including Talacre.
“Uncle Mohammed” is wrong to think the young are disliked – most youngsters get on with their lives and do not bother their neighbours.
We do envy them their youth with its vitality and lack of aches and pains!
SKIP MURPHY
Prince of Wales Road
NW1
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
