A HARLOW councillor has called for more security measures in the Barn Mead area of Harlow.

Councillor Jake Shepherd to Councillor David Carter (Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing):

Residents in Barn Mead have shared with me concerns about the risk of theft and personal safety in the garage areas, and have for quite some time now requested that improvements to lighting and CCTV be made to deter and detect crime.

Will this administration commit to delivering lighting and security upgrades to the garage areas in Barn Mead, and the wider Passmores Ward?

Reply from Councillor David Carter (Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing):

Whilst I understand the concerns of the residents in relation to personal safety, the infrastructure of these sites do not lend themselves easily to the addition of lighting and CCTV, as there is no electric supply in all but one of the garage sites in Barn Mead. The block closest to Barn Mead playing field is the only site with an electrical supply and already has lighting.

Housing will however make enquiries with the Neighbourhood Policing Team to assess the level of crime reported within the garages in Barn Mead, before making a decision on whether we will begin the surveying process for a potential installation programme.

We need to tackle those areas that have a proven ongoing significant anti-social behaviour issue, which is our approach generally across the town.