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'One Stop Shop' for Shevington
Reporters, photographers and camera crews
are invited to attend a photocall to mark the opening of a new ‘One Stop
Shop’ facility at Shevington Library.*
Date: Wednesday 5 September 2007
Time: 11.30am
Venue: Shevington Library, Gathurst Lane, Shevington
A new police post, the first of its kind in Wigan, will be officially
opened today, Wednesday 5 September.
The ‘One Stop Shop’, which is inside Shevington Library, is the first
time in Wigan that police officers are based somewhere other than a
police station, and will put them right at the heart of the community.
The new facility will be used as a drop-in centre where residents can
raise any concerns they have about issues such as alcohol and drug
misuse, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and local housing.
It will be staffed by one police officer and two police community
support officers (PCSOs), and will also be used as a base by officers
from Wigan and Leigh Housing, Shevington Tenants’ and Residents’
Association and Wigan Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Unit.
Local councillors will continue to hold their surgeries there too,
meaning residents can access a wide range of services under one roof.
Police officers will be working from the building on a regular basis,
but all agencies will be available every Wednesday between 1.30pm and
3.30pm for surgeries.
Area Inspector for Wigan, Glenn Jones, said: “I would like to thank
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust for providing us with this valuable
facility. The library is an ideal venue for us, as it is right in the
centre of Shevington, and will make us more accessible to people as part
of neighbourhood policing. Our officers will forge close links with the
community to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, and will be highly
visible, approachable and easy to contact.
“Being based at the library will give us a better understanding of the
area, enabling us to provide a more effective and tailored response to
local problems. The facility will also allow us to hand out crime
prevention advice, and give feedback to residents about action taken to
tackle any issues raised. Some people find police stations intimidating
places, and as this is a friendlier environment, I hope it will
encourage people to come and see us.”
Taryn Pearson, Head of Lifelong Learning and Information for Wigan
Leisure and Culture Trust, said: “We want libraries to play an
increasingly active role in local communities. By having all these
agencies together, the library will become an information hub for local
people and our visitors will be able to discover a whole range of
services under one roof.
“We have responded positively to local issues, and hope that by giving
the police a base in the heart of Shevington we will help the area
become a more enjoyable and safer place to live.”
Councillor Keith Cunliffe, Wigan Council's Cabinet Champion for
Neighbourhoods, added: "The Shevington One Stop Shop will bring the
community of Shevington closer together and help tackle crime and
anti-social behaviour. It will provide a positive and productive
response to the community’s needs. There is now no need for residents to
come into the library to 'keep quiet', we want them to come in and ‘talk
to us!’”
People visiting the One Stop Shop can also use the library’s many
existing facilities, including free internet access, free library books
and DVD and CD rental. A new community room facility is also now
available for hire by local clubs and societies.
Pat Spilsbury, Community Library Officer at Shevington, said: “Our
library is increasingly becoming a hive of activity. Our customers can
still use the traditional services such as loaning books and studying,
but now they can join in healthy activities, reading clubs and will now
be able to speak to the police, housing or community safety officers
about other issues.”
For more information about library services in Shevington, call the
library on 01257 252618 or visit
www.wlct.org/libraries
-ends-
Note to editors:
* The new facility is being funded by Greater Manchester Police, Wigan
Council’s Environmental Services Department and the Standish, Aspull and
Shevington Township Community Safety Group.
Media Opportunity: Representatives from all agencies involved will be
available for filming, photographs and interviews at the library on the
day.
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