New Carr Vale lighting for youth

New lighting has been installed at a park in Carr Vale to help shine a light on local activities and encourage young people to use it during darker months.

The move to bring lighting to the park, off Chapel Road and Villas Road, was made possiblle thanks to Bolsover Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team, with the aim of not only improving facilities for the local community, but to also encourage young people to meet in the park.

It will also allow for organised activities for young people, such as the police and Bolsover Community Safety Partnership funded Extreme Wheels Roadshow, to take place at the park during school holidays.

PC Pete Harley of the Bolsover Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team put forward the idea and has worked with both Old Bolsover Town Council and Derbyshire County Council to organise site visits and design.

He said: “We noticed that we tended to get more reports of nuisance behaviour during the darker months, which tended to be about groups of young people gathering near to the shops, community hall and nearby streets. Some of the residents said they felt intimidated and there had also been reports of damage.

“By introducing lighting to the park in Carr Vale we hope we will encourage young people to use the facility more, especially during the darker months, which will also reduce reports of nuisance behaviour and help the local community to feel safer.”

The lights were installed in March 2014 by Derbyshire County Council and Old Bolsover Town Council agreed to fund the on costs and maintenance for the lighting.

PC Harley added: “We saw an initial reduction in calls about nuisance behaviour when the lights were first installed and we hope that there will continue to be a positive impact for the community during the first full winter.”

Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Dave Allen said: “We’re pleased to be able to provide funding for this project to give young people somewhere suitable to meet and encourage them to take part in organised activities.

“We’re keen to work with the police and other councils to support initiatives like this which help residents feel safer as part of our commitment to making Derbyshire an even safer place to live.”

To contact the Bolsover Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team call 101, or email [email protected].

You can also follow them on Twitter: @BolsoverSNT