Silver End: Resident's "ticking timebomb" claim (From Braintree and Witham Times)

Silver End: Resident's "ticking timebomb" claim

5:30pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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A resident claims his village is a "ticking timebomb" because of a drug problem.

"You can't get amphetamines in the village, as far as I know, but it's only a matter of time," said Roy Blackburn of Silver End.

"It's a ticking timebomb."

His comments come as a special meeting will be held at Silver End village hall next week to tackle antisocial behaviour and community safety in Silver End.

It has been organised by the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) to enable residents to work with local councillors, police and council officers in "a non confrontational workshop setting".

Jan Cole, Field Officer at the RCCE, said: “The police and the local authorities are particularly interested in perceptions of antisocial behaviour and community safety in Silver End and are keen to work with the community on local solutions. They have linked their initiative with the Parish Plan project in the village.

"The Parish Plan questionnaire distributed in April gave residents the opportunity to record their comments and we can now start to explore possible actions and projects to improve the situation.”

Mr Blackburn, 43, of Weaversfield, Silver End, said he read comments in the Braintree and Witham Times from Essex Police Det Supt John Quinton, urging parents to face up to their responsibilities and "challenge their children; find out who they socialise with, find out where they are during the evenings".

Mr Quinton's comments came in the aftermath of a Hackney youth being found guilty of murdering Silver End man Alan Reilly, who was stabbed to death in Bocking after a row about drugs.

"You can get skunk, hash, cocaine and heroin anywhere in the village," claimed Mr Blackburn, who is working on the Silver End Parish Plan.

"This village could be so nice, it's okay for pensioners at the moment but there's nothing for children."

PCSO Michelle Eaton, who works in Silver End, said she "completely disagreed" with Mr Blackburn's views.

"We spend a lot of time around the village, we've got three Police Community Support Officers and PC John Hallworth and we have a really active neighbourhood policing team.

"We regularly look into any calls we get and the amount of reports related to drugs is very low because we are on top of it," she said.

"There's plenty for the kids to do in the village. There is a youth club in the children's centre, based in the village hall, and this is for ten to 13-year-olds at the moment but it will be opening for 14 to 19-year-olds within the next two to three weeks."

Mr Blackburn, who has a nine-year-old son, said he has lived in Silver End for 23 years but it is only in the last three years, since being out of work, that he has paid attention to apparent issues in the village.

After trying drugs as a youngster growing up in East London, he said there needs to be more for teenagers to do in the village to prevent drink and drugs being used on the streets more frequently.

"There are a lot of good people in the village but they are being driven out," he said.

"We all need help everybody does. You're never going to stop people using and dealing drugs but please let's keep it away from the kids."

Mr Blackburn said the village needs its own youth council to give youngsters in Silver End a voice and link them more closely with the parish council.

He said he was speaking out to help ensure things improve for children living in the village.

The Safer Silver End meeting, which is open to members of the public, will be from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on July 15.

The Silver End Parish Plan Group is made up of volunteers working in partnership with Essex Police, Braintree Council, Greenfields Community Housing, the Children’s Centre, the parish council and residents to make Silver End a safe, accessible, friendly and enjoyable place to live.

In addition to the questionnaire, there have been a series of targeted consultations in the village to involve primary school children, teenagers and older residents as well as local businesses and community groups.

Call Jan Cole on 0844 4773938 or email silverendplan@sky.com for more information about the Safer Silver End meeting or the Silver End Parish Plan project.

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