Witham: Street pastors coming to town (From Braintree and Witham Times)

Team of volunteers could be in place in time for the Christmas party season

4:40pm Saturday 6th August 2011 in News By Owen Bennett

Drinkers in Witham will be offered a shoulder to cry on and a hand to help them up by a team of street pastors.

The scheme could be in place by Christmas after Witham Town Council agreed to pay half of the £500 required for uniforms and registration to national body Ascension Trust.

Braintree, Chelmsford and Colchester already have street pastors, and co-ordinator Trevor Myatt said the scheme had helped reduce anti-social behaviour in other towns.

The pastors would be present on the town’s streets on Friday and Saturday nights, and Mr Myatt is hopeful training the volunteers will be completed in time for the Christmas party rush.