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One of the hardest things I find about running this newspaper is finding the stories. Nearly every month there is an article appealing for you the public & residents to call me, Email or fax me any stories you may have. It doesn’t have to be a complaint or a moan, it could be light hearted, or about what you think is good in the areas. The only restriction is it has to be linked to our local community. Since being established, people have being calling and so I am able to cover more stories which i hope is reflected in the paper. So please continue to help so we that together we can build a better community.
It has been suggested to me that Gateway News is a political paper. That is nonsense; Gateway News has two regular writers, MP John Austin, and Cllr Chris Ball. Indeed they are both members of Labour, but also two key people responsible for our community. If they were from any other political background they would still be writing for Gateway News. From the outset my intention is to give residents a direct link to them, for which you can make your own judgement.
Monday the 12th of September saw the start of a mad fuelling frenzy in the north of Bexley borough, sparked by rumours of oil blockades to protest against soaring petrol prices. The memory of the last oil protest in 2000 was obviously at the fore front of peoples minds, and the threat of another fuel blockage, launched people into a panic buy mode, despite calls from the government not to. The panic buy gained momentum in the days prior to the protest, organised for the 14th of September, as queues in the petrol stations forecourts began to grow. and in some places spill onto ‘A’ roads, grinding traffic to a halt. I spoke to people who had waited up to 40 minutes in queues or filled up “to be on the safe side”. I too panicked when petrol stations started to put out signs reading, CLOSED, SORRY NO FUEL.
The threatened action by the protesters was not as big as people anticipated, but did leave virtually the whole country driving around with full petrol tanks.
A second dispersal period has been enforced in Slade Green’s Frobisher Road area, by police, in agreement with Bexley Council. The powers commenced at noon on 24th August and will continue until 11.59am on 24th February 2006.
Under part four of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 which came into effect in January this year, police are allowed to disperse groups of two or more persons and, after 9pm, to take home youths under 16 if they are causing intimidation, harassment, alarm or distress to local residents and businesses.
The powers will be in force around Manor Road, Erith including Frobisher Road, Cornwallis Close, Raleigh Close, Columbus Square, Cook Square, Mariners Walk, Hamilton Walk and all integrated footpaths and alleyways within the Frobisher Estate.
Reports of criminal damage and anti-social behaviour have dramatically reduced, since the area was designated a dispersal zone back in February, an initiative which has been welcomed by local residents.
The local Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team, led by Sgt Ross McKibbin, who made the initial request to bring in the powers on the estate, to tackle escalating and persistent problems of criminal damage, has requested that further powers are authorised, to ensure that any remaining problems with anti-social behaviour, over the forthcoming winter months, are dealt with appropriately.
Sgt McKibbin says: “Since the powers were introduced, we have arrested two individuals and directed a further 61 to leave the area. As a result we have seen a dramatic reduction in reports of criminal damage and a huge drop in calls to police from the Frobisher Road area, but we are aware that there is still work to be done to alleviate ongoing problems.
“We have also been engaging with young people living around the area, to encourage them not to hang around, but to get involved in activities such as the Ball Court Football League; a league which the Frobisher Team went on to win this season.
“We will continue this programme, and have also been involved in setting-up summer activities in the area, in partnership with Bexley Council, Bexley Community Safety Partnership and Orbit Bexley.”
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