Friends and Police tidy up Gorse Hall

Date published: 19 February 2010

A local community group is working with the police in Tameside to clean up a piece of public land.

Gorse Hall in Stalybridge was the site of a former manor house and since its demolition in the early 20th century the area has become popular with walkers and people exercising their dogs in the woodland and fields.

Unfortunately it has also attracted people engaged in anti-social behaviour such as underage drinking, wheelie bin fires, vandalism of public notice boards and theft.

In response, the police and the council’s Tameside Patrollers have worked with the Friends of Gorse Hall conservation group to clean up the area and look at ways of preventing anti-social behaviour.

This has included increasing high visibility patrols in the area as well as documenting any instances of misbehaviour so that troublemakers can be traced.

Assistant Countryside Ranger Sam Boulton said: “We have received a lot of good advice from the neighbourhood PCSO Mike Wardle about documenting what goes on and making notes of things such as price labels on discarded drinks bottles and cans so the shop selling them can be talked to about who is buying the alcohol.

“The Tameside Patrollers have also been a help visiting schools to talk to pupils about the dangers of vandalism.

“We are now in monthly contact with the local neighbourhood officer and let them know about any problems or potential issues.”

Friends of Gorse Hall’s Christine Clough said: “Over the past few months we have built a good relationship with the police, PCSO’s, Fire Service and District Assembly at Stalybridge.

“Trouble spots have been dealt with promptly as we are in regular contact with each other. We are now working with Youth Services and we are hoping to encourage young people to be involved in projects and leisure use on Gorse Hall. We are working together to make Gorse Hall a safe area for everyone to enjoy.”

PCSO Mike Wardle said: ”We regularly attend the Friends Of Gorse Hall meetings to discuss any issues that they may have and this has resulted in the removal of graffiti in the area, tidying of recycle bins and work with the Fire Service to secure wheelie bins to prevent deliberate fires.

“By working together, the number of calls regarding Gorse Hall has been greatly reduced and we now only receive calls infrequently.”

If you have a local policing issue you can contact the Tameside East Policing Team on tel: 0161 856 9511.

Anyone with any information about this or any similar type of crime should call Greater Manchester Police on 0161 872 5050 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.