Good Guys back in Town!

An award winning campaign - that helped trigger a three per cent cut in anti social behaviour during the run up to last year's bonfire night - is back with a bang!

 

The 'Good Guys' campaign - which encourages residents to report bonfire build-ups and organises diversionary activities for young people in the area - won a Home Office Certificate of Merit award last year.

 

At the launch of this year's event, which sees St Helens Council working closely with its Community Safety partners - Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, Merseyside Police and registered social landlords Helena Partnerships, Riverside and Your Housing Group - the message was again 'Bin it - don't burn it!'

 

St Helens Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Housing, Planning and Community Safety, Councillor Richard McCauley said: "No one is trying to be a killjoy, but street bonfires can be dangerous and unpredictable - and can often fuel anti-social behaviour and firework misuse.

 

"We want residents to enjoy bonfire night safely, and are encouraging everyone to attend organised firework displays. The council's organised 'Spark in the Park' display takes place on Tuesday 5 November at Sherdley Park and promises to be a truly spectacular night."

 

Group Manager Chris Case, Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service district manager for St Helens, said: "We want to drive down deliberate, anti-social, nuisance fires during the bonfire period but we need help from people in the community to do this.

 

"Firefighters are engaging with young people and youth groups in St Helens, delivering bonfire safety messages and water safety messages. The firefighters, along with members of the Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service Prevention Team in St Helens, are also liaising with local shops and businesses to highlight the importance of refuse control and storage of wheelie bins. Wheelie bins should be stored away from windows and doors and should only be put out on the day of collection and removed as soon as possible after collection to a secure location.

 

"We have had a number of wheelie bin fires in October in parts of St Helens and we are working in the communities and with police to help reduce this anti-social behaviour."

 

Tanya McGibbon, community engagement officer at Helena Partnerships said: "This year's events are set to be bigger and better than ever. We'd like to thank everybody, especially young people from our Helena Make it Happen youth steering group, that have worked so hard to make this the best way to mark the Autumn festivities. Ultimately we want to ensure that our neighbourhoods can enjoy a clean and safe time around bonfire night."

 

The Good Guy campaign encourages residents to report the build up of combustible waste and street bonfires to St.Helens Council on 01744 676789. Special teams organised by the Probation Service and St.Helens Council's Environmental Protection then dispose of the material safely.

For more information visit: Be the Good Guy

Photo caption: Community Safety partner agencies officially launch the campaign at Parr Stocks Community Fire Station.