Donna Harris with her children Sean (left) and Kelsie, and Tess the dog, walk home from Oakland School, near Halswell. Local residents want to ensure their neighbourhoods are safe for children . . . and everyone else.

Residents say safety major issue

Residents of the Riccarton/ Wigram area will be asked for their feedback later this month on a draft action plan prepared by their local Community Board.

Aimed to strengthen the community, the action plan will look to address factors that people believe threaten their personal safety.
It is the result of community forums where hundreds of local people have given their views on issues such as making the area a safer place to live and addressing the causes of crime.

Riccarton/ Wigram community advocate Martin Maguire says recent surveys and studies have shown that personal safety and fear of crime is a big factor in life for many Christchurch people.
"Christchurch people see crime, anti-social behaviour, and the fear of being the victim of such behaviour as matters of serious concern."
"For example, a community survey in Riccarton/ Wigram identified this as the highest ranking concern, ranked very important by 75 per cent of respondents."
"The action plan aims to address these concerns and will build on these findings and on other social research undertaken in the local area during recent years," he said.

For more information or a copy of the draft action plan, contact Penelope Goldstone on 941 6535.