‘At Hull City Council, we know how important it is to ensure the places people love to go to are protected’ one councillor says
Hull Truck Theatre is among the organisations receiving thousands of pounds in crime reduction grants (Image: Google Maps)
Hull Truck Theatre and the Men in Sheds charity are set to receive thousands of pounds in crime reduction grants as Hull City Council tackles break-ins, antisocial behaviour, road safety and fly-tipping across the city. It is hoped that as well as making organisations in the city more secure, it will also help communities around Hull feel far safer on a day-to-day basis too.
The funding was agreed in Hull City Council’s Cabinet Sub-Committee for Crime Prevention Grants meeting. It follows several serious incidents at Hull Truck Theatre, including break-ins, robberies and issues around people under the influence of drugs and alcohol entering the building and abusing staff.
A council report also makes clear that the theatre has seen regular occurrences of ‘unauthorised groups of teenagers coming into the building, taking things from the bar, trying security doors and intimidating staff members’. The new funding will focus on the building’s security provision to create a safer public space.
It will see the installation of better security doors and improved wide-angle high-definition CCTV to reduce blindspots in the building. Notes from the council officer assessing the bid for the £8,700 project stated: “Hull Truck Theatre is an important cultural asset for the city, supporting community participation and contributing to the vitality and safety of the surrounding evening and night-time economy.
“The proposed security improvements provide a proportionate response to the recent incidents of burglary, theft and antisocial behaviour, helping staff, performers, participants and audiences to feel safer when using the venue. Improved CCTV coverage will reduce existing blind spots, deter offending and provide clearer evidential images that can be shared promptly with the police to support the identification of offenders and appropriate enforcement action.”
Oak Road action to tackle park’s rough sleeping and antisocial behaviour
The Men in Sheds charity group, which exists to combat social isolation, is being funded to redesign and improve the pavilion area in the Oak Road Playing Fields, in Hull.
Their grant will be used to create security fencing for the car park and will also see the installation of further CCTV to cover a wider area of the park and the construction of a storage shed and display shed. The total cost for the project is just over £9,000 with around £6,500 coming from the crime prevention scheme.
As part of the bid, the Men in Sheds group told the council that the area sees ‘almost daily instances of antisocial behaviour’ and is a magnet for fly tipping, drug dealing, and loud music from cars. It is also increasingly attracting rough sleepers with the Men in Sheds group reporting vulnerable women sleeping in campervans in the area for several weeks before last Christmas.
It is hoped the planned improvements to the park will deter criminal behaviour, enhance community safety and reduce crime. A council officer noted: “the proposal represents a proactive investment in community wellbeing and preventative activity.”
Fly tipping and traffic troubles will also be tackled
Other projects funded by Hull City Council include the installation of CCTV on Reynoldson Street to tackle fly tipping; a series of landscaping projects on Dulverton & Sandford Close and along Holwell Road and Bude Road to deter nuisance motorbikes; and a new traffic regulation order on streets close to Newland Avenue to keep pedestrians safer.
This traffic project will cost £21,000 in total, with almost £15,000 coming from the crime prevention scheme, and will see the introduction of a priority traffic system on De Grey Street, Lambert Street and Alexandra Road. “Using the existing traffic island build-outs, signs and road markings will be installed to clearly indicate which direction of traffic has priority,” the council report states.
In addition, the scheme will provide more on street parking spaces helping vulnerable residents, especially women, find spaces closer to their home. And it will reduce collisions or near misses with vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. The introduction of a series of loading bays on May Street, Suffolk Street, Grafton Street, De Grey Street and Alexandra Road will all further contribute towards the plan to reduce collisions and near-misses.
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The breadth and ambition of the funded crime prevention projects was welcomed by Cllr Ted Dolman (Liberal Democrat – Kingswood ward). He said: “I am incredibly proud to see the Crime Prevention Fund supporting even more fantastic causes across our city. At Hull City Council, we know how important it is to ensure the places people love to go to are protected.”
Cllr Dolman, who is the portfolio holder for communities at the council, explained 130 projects across the city had been successfully funded by the authority through its crime prevention strategy over the years. He added: “We want everyone across Hull to feel safe, and the Crime Prevention Fund ensures we have the money in place to support those working in our communities.”
To find planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more, visit the Public Notices Portal.