Estate's problems on the agenda
A MULTI-AGENCY approach is being taken to tackle problems in the Pilmuir area. These include anti-social behaviour and unacceptable issues surrounding the behaviour of children – and some older individuals – and problem families.
Allegations of problems were backed-up by an resident who contacted the "Forres Gazette" to complain that a number of issues surrounding anti-social behaviour, including drug and alcohol misuse, youngsters running wild and a "don't care" approach by parents were making life impossible for some residents.
However, a number of partner agencies are working hard together to curb the bad behaviour of a minority of individuals, including some young people around the Califer Road area of the Pilmuir Estate, who are causing the bulk of the problems.
"People feel they will be targeted if they speak out," said the man, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear he might be victimised. "The housing associations tell us that they will not tolerate anti- social behaviour, but they have offered affected residents moves to other areas which they admit is easier than evicting the problem families."
He added that although the police often responded to incidents, residents would welcome a more regular presence to deter individuals who were causing problems.
Meantime, Grampian Police inspector, Peter Dora added that although historically there were "vocal issues" on the estate, and issues with certain personalities, this was no different than in all areas of Forres, where problems might be flagged-up.
He said although police were made aware of real issues last year with groups of young people causing annoyance around the Pilmuir and Califer area, things had improved.
He said police were committed to providing an appropriate response to the area, which last year meant a number of extra patrols were deployed to tackle problems. He said this was not happening currently as the issues were not as bad as they had been, but said officers were always mindful of the potential for problems to arise and were on hand to help and act accordingly with an appropriate response.
For that reason, he urged public to take advantage of the mobile police office which is visiting the area next week and acts as a visible police presence which members of the public can go to and raise or report issues.
"A lot of effort and extra patrols and activity went into the area last year," he said. "If there are issues then I would hope that the public would take advantage of the satellite police office to tell us.
"We are aware that a lot of people are reluctant to contact us and rely on personal contact," he added. "This station is remote and if there is a problem that we are unaware of it, then we would like to get the information this way."
He said all incidents reported contributed to a profile which police can use to target their limited resources.
"We need the information in order to be able to act on it," he said. "if we don't have that information to build up a real picture of what is happening it is difficult for us to target resources."
Meantime, it is understood that a handful of problem families and individuals are being supported in a bid to solve their outstanding issues, some of which have resulted in disagreements with their neighbours.
Moray Council's anti-social behaviour co-ordinator, Andy Jamieson, said that regular six-weekly meetings were held in Forres between a number of agencies who were working together with local people to make the community a better place for everyone to live.
Among those involved are registered landowners such as housing associations, with Grampian Police representation from community beat officer, Kevin Skivington and the community warden, Margaret Cowie, who are heavily involved and invited to attend the meetings.
Moray Council departments are involved in formulating a plan for the area with input from the social work youth justice department, local neighbourhood forum worker, Lee Barton and community development officer, Heather Shaw who are working together to facilitate improvements.
"The Forres Neighbourhood Forum is currently supporting members of the community and the Pilmuir Residents Estate Committee and provides a link between the community and the partner agencies," said Mrs Barton. "The residents committee is currently creating a flier to encourage local people to report all incidents to the police or anti-social behaviour helpline. Alongside this they are working on a number of events to pull the community together and creating community spirit."
The Pilmuir Residents Committee was formed to try and give local people the opportunity to make their estate a better place for everyone to live in, with events being organised to try and bring the community together.
Current chairperson, Helen McCartney, said the group was just in its fledgling stages, and had really been formulated to try and provide an avenue to organise things to engage young people on the estate.
"We have organised various things including the May Day event and last year's halloween party," she said. "Both events went really well and we are hoping to do similar things again. One of our main aims is to try and organise things for the kids living around here."
Local community development worker, Heather Shaw, said work was also being done to support this aim by providing a programme of events for all age groups at the Pilmuir Community House.
She said a youth drop-in facility on Thursday evenings was already proving popular and it was hoped that more young people would take advantage of the facility.
"We would like to draw up a timetable for the community house," she said. "I am currently working on a programme of events. What we want to do is create a programme of activities to target all age groups."
She said a whole raft of activities was being proposed from teeny tots to family acitivites, alongside a programme which is being organised to engage young people with classes for older people such as computing for the over 50s.
She hopes that a proper programme can eventually be established for the community house which could be used to provide surgeries for a number of agencies working in the community from the CAB (Citizens Advice Bureau) to housing offices and other groups who might want to have a presence there.
"Anything we organise will be open to people from other areas," she said.
"Pilmuir isn't a bad area, but there have been small corners identified as areas of concern."
She added that as the residents committee got stronger, then they could take on the running of the programme of events.
A May Day event which was held at Pilmuir earlier this year by the residents group was praised as a great success and raised around £600.
All the cash is being ploughed back into organising other events for the local community.
http://www.forres-gazette.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/1869/Estate's_problems_on_the_agenda.html
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