The first Safer Streets projects to improve safety and security in Balderton have been installed.

The funding is going towards several improvements and initiatives, including improved lighting and CCTV, attitude and behaviour change sessions, and raising awareness for reporting anti-social behaviour.

Environmental improvements are also included in the programme and, as part of the first share of the funding, has gone towards new bins and benches.

Benches have been installed at Coronation Street Park, while replacement bins have also been installed there and at Balderton Lake to help reduce littering in the area.

This comes after the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Nottinghamshire secured £1m for the Safer Streets 5 project via the Home Office.

Balderton has received a share of that funding to help tackle neighbourhood crime, and anti-social behaviour and violence against women and girls.

This is the fourth time Newark has benefited from Safer Streets funding and more than £1m has been invested towards a safer Newark and Sherwood from the scheme so far.

Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry said: “We know there have been some troubles in the area with anti-social behaviour, particularly around the park area. That is why the addition of new high-quality CCTV, as well as environmental improvements such as new bins and benches will make a massive difference to feelings of safety to the people of Balderton.

“This also marks one of the first times we’re working alongside a parish council as well as a district council in addition to our partners at Nottinghamshire Police. Safer Streets is an amazing opportunity for us to collaborate and build lasting partnerships locally, all while working together to make our communities even safer.”

Coun Paul Taylor, portfolio holder for Public Protection and Community Relations at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “We have already achieved significant results through our Safer Streets projects, and it is fantastic to see the work beginning in Balderton for Safer Streets 5.

“Improving community safety and security are the very core focus of the programme of work we have planned as part of the project, and I am looking forward to seeing the progress we make.

“In addition to this project there are some great things in the pipeline to help make our residents feel safer including our recent expansion of the Antisocial Behaviour Team, enhancing and improving our CCTV network, and more. We will continue to push forward with this work to create a safer Newark and Sherwood.”

The previous round of Safer Streets funding saw interventions such as vehicle crime prevention days, new intercom systems, an innovative Safer Gyms scheme, and more.

This led to reports that in Newark town centre where the action was taken, there was a 26% reduction in vehicle crime, a 19% drop in house burglary and a 16% fall in violence against women and girls.

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