By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
An area in a Nottinghamshire town is to benefit from hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding to make the town’s streets safer.
The Sandy Lane area of Worksop has been chosen to receive the money.
The area has some of the highest concentrations of crime and antisocial behaviour in Nottinghamshire, according to the Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry (Con).
The funding from the Home Office is aimed at tackling neighbourhood crime, anti-social behaviour (ASB) and helping to combat violence against women and girls in public places.
Plans could include installing CCTV, street lighting, free home security devices and gating off alleyways.
Bassetlaw District Council is due to receive the funding through Mrs Henry’s office.
A total of £164,056 has been allocated across 2023/24 and 2024/25.
£69,835 will be available from October 2023 to March 2024 and £73,519 from April 2024 to March 2025.
The authority has previously been successful in winning Safer Streets Funding from Whitehall, working together with Mrs Henry.
The council and Mrs Henry have selected an area for the funding which is known as a “hotspot” for the type of crime which will be targeted.
The Sandy Lane area of Worksop has been chosen “on the basis of the criteria of Neighbourhood Crime and ASB”, council documents stated.
The Safer Streets Fund is “central to the Government’s mission of levelling up”, home secretary Suella Braverman said last month.
Council documents stated: “A more visible presence in the town centre with the ability to deal with incidents and breaches expeditiously, and to act as a deterrent for unacceptable behaviour. This would help to address some of concerns about perceptions of safety raised by traders, shoppers and visitors.”
Mrs Henry said: “We have listened to the people of Worksop. They do feel sometimes like they are forgotten and I wanted to assure them that I’m determined that funding goes where it is needed.
“We’ve already invested nearly £1 million of additional funding in Worksop, and we’re now looking to do even more so people can benefit.”
Proposals are still being worked on and it is anticipated they will be signed off in the next few weeks, subject to Home Office approval, with delivery set to start in October.
