A number of agencies came together for an impact day in Walton last week (Wednesday 13 May) to address issues affecting the community.
The event was led by the East Suffolk Community Safety Partnership with support from officers from East Suffolk Council’s Community Safety, Environmental Health, Environmental Protection, Food Safety, Fraud, and Licensing teams. Ward councillors also joined the event which was supported by Suffolk Police and East Suffolk Services Ltd (ESSL).
During the event, two teams carried out inspections and checks on businesses and completed walks around residential areas to improve safety in the area.
Cllr Lee Reeves, Chair of the East Suffolk Community Safety Partnership said:
“We are committed to organising impact days in keys areas to tackles the issues that are affecting our communities the most. These events are incredibly important in bringing our teams together, alongside Suffolk Police and other partners to share and gather information to address concerns. For instance, some information about a business from the event has proven to be invaluable with a team from the council who are currently investigating the address. Impact days are also a positive way to increase visibility in the area, helping to reassure residents and support a stronger sense of safety within the community.”
The results achieved during the Walton impact event so far include:
• A homeless person was referred to the Council’s Housing team for support
• A welfare check was completed on a vulnerable elderly resident
• 10 bags of litter collected from keys areas at the skatepark, playground, Langer Park and Pram Walk in Felixstowe
• 5 bags of litter collected on litter picks throughout Walton
• Fly tipping including a large 1100L bin cleared in the area behind Morrisons and a mattress was removed at the bottle bank on Garrison Lane
• Overflowing dog bins reported to ESSL
• Visits were carried out to licensed and unlicensed premises, with some businesses given warning letters
• 17 businesses were checked for their trade waste licenses
• The Fraud team carried out a business rate audit to ensure details were registered correctly.
• 10 bags of litter collected by ESSL from keys areas in both the Walton and Felixstowe
Following the event, information was shared with relevant departments to carry out follow-up investigations and to complete enforcement action.