A sign with an important message — Cllr Tim Bick at Parkside Place

Local Liberal Democrat councillors are concerned about parking arrangements for the new occupants of the Fire Station site.

Cllrs Sarah Whitebread and Colin Rosenstiel are worried that the occupants of the 99 new units may be able to buy daily visitors’ passes.

“Sarah and Colin became suspicious when the County Council failed to produce a report on the matter despite many requests,” said Tim Bick.

Local residents have now started a petition to reinforce their case.

“Daily passes are cheap compared to car parks,” said Tim. “I believe if the 82 new spaces within the development are not enough, visitors’ needs should be met by Queen Anne Car Park before overwhelming the already overstretched parking scheme for residents in the Kite.”

Cllr Bick’s new panels will help reduce reoffending rates of low-level crime like night time antisocial behaviour.

The Lib Dem run City Council is soon to introduce new panels which will bring a fresh approach to low-level anti-social behaviour.

Victims of low-level crimes will have the opportunity to ask the criminals to meet them to discuss how to put right the damage they’ve done.

Both parties must agree to go through the process for it to take place.

“These panels will help show offenders the human consequences of their actions,” said Cllr Tim Bick.

“It will also enable ‘closure’ at a personal level for the victim,” continued Cllr Bick, the City Council’s Community Development boss.

“This won’t be appropriate in every situation, but it should nip some criminal records in the bud before they get started.”

The schemes have previously been used elsewhere in the country.

Approaches like this to low level crime have reduced re-offending rates and achieved a high satisfaction rate for the victims.

We have persuaded the local Area Committee to put improved signage on the list of projects for the next 12 months.

And they have won council support to lobby for national changes making it easier for the police to enforce the limit.

The Council’s enforcement team, which patrols by-laws on anti-social behaviour like littering, is to be enlarged.

From April 1st a new full-time post will be covering an extended weekend period, when the pressure in the city is highest.

“This is a great example of looking after – and improving – basic services even when resources are scarce” says Cllr Andrea Reiner.

“Combined with the big new programme of litter-bin replacements on our open spaces which also starts this year, this is excellent news.”