Safety fears raised on walking at night in Ludlow
A quarter of residents who responded to a survey said they did not feel safe walking around a county town at night.
Such fears will be debated with police at a meeting in Ludlow next week, as crime and community safety tops the bill of items to be discussed.
Town, parish and county councillors will be meeting with deputy police and crime commissioner Barrie Sheldon and Inspector Rob Thomas, from West Mercia Police, and are urging members of the public to attend next Thursday at the Ludlow and Clee Area Local Joint Committee (LJC) session at the Elim Hall on Smithfield Car Park at 7pm.
Councillor Andy Boddington, chairman of the LJC, said: "In recent months there has been a spate of burglaries of households and business premises in the Ludlow area.
This has added to the feeling of many residents that it's not safe to be out and about at night, or to leave their property unattended.
"We've been asking residents in Ludlow and the surrounding villages how safe they feel.
"One quarter of people who have responded to our survey so far don't feel safe walking around in Ludlow at night. Two-fifths feel less safe now that street lights are turned off after midnight.
"One fifth don't feel as safe at home with the lights off.
" These results are of great concern in a town and county like ours where people ought to feel safe all the time.
"That's why we are holding a debate with the deputy police and crime commissioner and police. We need to find ways to ensure people and their property are safe and that residents feel safe."
The police safer neighbourhood team will be providing leaflets and advice on household and community safety at the meeting, which will also discuss progress on getting new youth services up and running in Ludlow.
Councillor Tracey Huffer, chair of the Ludlow Youth Partnership, said: "It's been a turbulent few months and we have struggled to get new providers for youth services in place. We have made a lot of progress in recent weeks. I'll be explaining to the meeting exactly where we are at."
An exhibition of South Shropshire Housing's plans to redevelop the maisonettes on Sandpits Road will also be on display at the hall from 5.30pm.
