A day of action is taking place to tackle the rise in reports of anti-social behaviour and youth nuisance in Larches and Savick.

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Taking place today (Wednesday 2 December), the event is being organised by Community Gateway Association (CGA), Preston’s largest housing association and the main provider in the area.

Members of the CGA management and community engagement teams will be joined by officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team. The event is also supported by Councillors David Borrow, Jennifer Mein and Phil Crowe.

CGA say concerns have been raised during the past few months about young people congregating after school and causing a nuisance in some of the accommodation blocks and around Savick shops.

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Graham Dunkley, Tenancy Enforcement Manager at CGA, said: “Community Gateway have joined forces with the Police and other partner agencies to work together to tackle the problem.

“The day of action is being held to reach out to the community in these difficult times; to raise awareness and let residents know how to report criminal behaviour and other nuisance.

“We will be out across all the estate and would encourage anyone who wanted to ask questions or talk to us to please do so. Naturally, safe social distancing will be observed.”

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Staff will be available by the shops on West Park Avenue at 2pm to talk to people returning from school and offer advice and reassurance. They will use the opportunity to collect any new reports of anti-social behaviour.

The team will also be delivering flyers detailing what to do if tenants are concerned about anti-social behaviour. As well as the usual phone, web and email contact details, a new reporting app will allow people to report problem behaviour confidentially to CGA through a few clicks on a smartphone.

The event follows Community Gateway’s anniversary celebrations on Saturday (28 November), when it was 15 years since tenants voted to switch to CGA from Preston City Council.

CGA is now the largest social housing provider in the city, with ambitions to provide over 7,000 affordable homes by 2024.

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Speaking about the anniversary, Chief Executive Rob Wakefield said: “To be honest, I’ve never been prouder of everyone than this year when every member of staff has truly gone above and beyond to support our customers.

“Our firm belief is that tenants should drive the direction of the organisation – indeed our current Chair of the Board is a tenant in one of our sheltered schemes. It’s only by listening to our customers that we make sure we deliver the right services in a way that suits them.”

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What do you think of the day of action? Let us know in the comments.