Community Action Event in Dunstable makes a big difference
Friday, 9 June 2023
We recently carried out our first two-day Community Action Event in Dunstable supported by a range partners and volunteers.
During the 2 days, patrols and door knocks were carried out to engage with residents and businesses about any concerns they had and offer help and advice, including how to report community safety issues.
Weapon sweeps were carried out, during which a small amount of Class B drugs was seized along with cold caller sweeps and speed checks. Dog Watch also patrolled across the town, sharing information and encouraging people to join this valuable scheme as a volunteer and residents and cyclists benefited from equipment to help protect their homes and cycles.
Dunstable Town Mayor, Councillor Liz Jones, came along to support the event and engage with residents, and information stalls were based in The Quadrant throughout the two days with our officers from community safety, public health, trading standards, road safety, youth and Play Streets teams being joined by Bedfordshire Police, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and MoreLife, who offered free blood pressure checks, provided BMI checks and healthy lifestyle advice, all on hand to talk to residents.
Dunstable Town Council’s grounds team was out and about, clearing overgrown hedgerows in preparation for new fencing and Ashton Square benefited from a clean and tidy-up by environmental services, who used a Waste Cube to show the amount of waste collected in the area in one day.
Dunstable Library offered free craft activities, and Dunstable Children’s Centre held a Forest School for SEND children and their families. Our Gypsy and Traveller team also visited sites around Dunstable, offering dental hygiene advice and giving away toothbrushes.
Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity held its regular Wellbeing Café followed by a Wellbeing Walk. In addition, it had a paint by numbers event to help spruce up the community garden. There will be further opportunities to join in with this at the Community Halls in Dunstable by contacting greenwellbeing@bedsrcc.org.uk.
Councillor Rebecca Hares, our Executive Member for Health and Community Liaison, said:
I felt that the Community Action Day event in Dunstable was a great success, with lively engagement between our team and residents through a range of interactive activities. This enabled us to effectively understand several pressing local issues and discuss tangible solutions that we believe will lead to a significant enhancement in the daily lives of the people of Dunstable. The Council will be holding further Community Action Days in Toddington on Friday 28 July and in Arlesey on Friday 15 September.