Whilst the East Marsh Community Website has always been non political and independent. As the development worker for the area I can only agree with the comments of Cllr Beasant in Thursday’s Grimsby Telegraph
He wrote the “East Marsh Community is pulling together and fighting back against crime”; the article was in response to a press release by a political party of some some outdated information that showed East Marsh was the UK’s number one area in UK for crime.
I just hope that people in future will take a few moments to think about what they write about in the Grimsby Telegraph and the negative effect it has on both the East Marsh and Grimsby as a town. It will however I believe make the residents and those of us working in the area more determined to fightback
A key weapon according to the Grimsby Telegraph in the community’s battle against crime has been information of the East Marsh Involve Community Neighbourhood Forum.
The Neighbourhood Forum is made up of local residents, North East Lincolnshire Council officers, ward councillors, Humberside Police, Registered Social Landlords and other agencies who are all pulling together to make East Marsh great place to live – they are aiming to bring back a real community spirit and pride into the local area.
East Marsh Involve which is Championed by Councillors Steve Beasant, Jon-Paul Howarth, and Tony McCabe was formed nearly two years back and is already making in-roads to cut crime and anti-social behaviour, create a stronger community and to give East Marsh a sense of identity.
Among there greatest achievements so far has been the empowerment of residents to take control of the future of their own neighbourhood.Now, not only do they have a say on how their area is policed, but they can also decide how cash allocated to their ward councillors is spent.
At the AGM last Tuesday, residents said the areas top priorities on their hit lists were:
Ø Reducing anti-social behaviour further (which as reduced dramatically over the last 12 months)
Ø Improving the appearance of derelict properties and alleyways
Ø Stamping out crime
Ø Reducing alcohol and drug related problems
One resident who lives in Tunnard Street, said: “East Marsh Involve has helped, but it is not as simple as just fixing things overnight.“It takes time, but we have started off on the right foot and we have to keep working with the police, youth groups and the council to make the area a better place.
Grant Thorold Park was given to the borough of Grimsby in 1911 by the Grant Thorold family. It was purpose built as a public park and sits in an urban setting and adjacent to a public library. The park has 2 new children's play areas and a multi-use games area, all against a backdrop of mature trees. All this work was done after consultation with the group Friends of Grant Thorold Park.
