Wardens get chop after Arun praises

Michael Harris and Kerry Ealing have been told by Arun District Council their jobs will end on March 31.

The decision has been made because not enough money could be found by the council and its partners, Sussex Police and West Sussex County Council, to continue to pay for the positions.

The redundancy came soon after the wardens' role in helping to tackle anti social behaviour in the district was praised in the council's magazine.

Mr Harris, a community warden since the scheme began more than five years ago, said in an interview for the article: "About 80 per cent of our time is taken up patrolling hot spot areas, being a reassuring visible presence and talking to people.

"I believe my role is very essential for both the public and Arun District Council.

"We are very much like the old-fashioned bobby on the beat."

This was the role the wardens fulfilled on their frequent visits to the Trees estate in North Bersted. The decision to get rid of them has been greeted with dismay by Trees Estate Residents' Association chairman Gez Watson.

She said Mr Ealing and Mr Harris had more than proved their worth with their work in the area.

"They have had a real impact here," she explained. "It's a real shame they are going. I am upset about what has happened.

"On an estate like this, people tend to be suspicious of anybody in authority.

"That's just the nature of the place and it takes a while for somebody new to be accepted.

"The last few months have seen the wardens have a real impact on this place."

They had worked hard with local youngsters and had ensured a fence had been built in line with the wishes of residents.

"It seems that whenever anyone starts to make an impact they are taken away."

She described the combination of the community wardens and the separately organised police community support officers as perfect for dealing with anti-social behaviour.

The community wardens scheme set up by Arun in November 2002 '“ initially for three years '“ was the first initiative of its kind in the county.

Cllr Roger Elkins, in charge of the district council's community safety work, said the role had been very successful in playing an important and valued part in reducing the fear of crime.

"However, over the last two to three years, this role has been overtaken by the introduction of police community support officers and the emergence of neighbourhood policing," he stated.

This meant that the positions failed to survive the need to review spending priorities and a failure to secure alternative funds for the wardens.

"I want to reassure our residents that community safety remains a top priority for this council.

"The Arun crime and disorder reduction partnership has recently confirmed priority funding for the anti-social behaviour team.

"The work undertaken by the wardens throughout the district will be built upon by the neighbourhood policing teams, police community support offices and Arun's anti-social behaviour team," added Cllr Elkins.