Use: Immediate                                                                                 Issue Date: Tuesday 10 May 2005

Highland Council staff hope that this year’s anti-social behaviour postal survey of around 1600 households in pilot Community Warden areas (Coulpark, Firhill, Kirkside, Milnafua and Westford in Alness, and South Lodge in Invergordon) will show that residents aren’t so worried about abandoned and untaxed vehicles in their communities as they were this time last year.

The questionnaire aims to collect local opinions on anti-social behaviour and compare them with the statistics collected from last year’s survey to see if people’s feelings have changed since the Community Wardens started in May 2004.

Tracey Urry, Ross and Cromarty Area Housing Manager, explained that the questionnaires were just one of the ways that the Housing Service was continuing to consult local residents, whether Highland Council tenants or not, about how safe they feel in their community and about what types of anti-social behaviour worry people most.

"We used the data we collected last spring to give us a base line measure of how each community felt about crime and disorder issues before our new Community Wardens started. This year’s survey will help us check if communities feel the Wardens have made a difference," she said.

"For example, last year’s survey showed us that over 38% of households were worried or very worried about abandoned and untaxed vehicles in their communities. So tackling this became one of the priorities the Community Wardens were asked to work on." Mrs Urry added.

On average the Wardens deal with 12 incidents of abandoned and untaxed vehicles a month.

The results from last years survey and initial consultations with community groups helped in the design of a Community Warden Compact, an agreement between The Highland Council and the community on what the Community Warden would do.

The Scottish Executive provided the majority of the funding for three Community Warden posts in Alness and Invergordon for an initial pilot period of two years. The Highland Council Housing Service manages the Community Warden initiative in the Highlands in consultation with local community representatives and statutory partners.

This year’s postal questionnaire sent to households in Coulpark, Firhill, Kirkside, Milnafua and Westford in Alness, and South Lodge in Invergordon should be returned to Housing Services in the pre-paid envelopes by Friday, 20 May 2005.

Date Last updated : 10/05/05