A car park highlighted by Surrey residents as an area of concern has received a national award following extensive renovations.
Drewitts Court car park in Walton-on-Thames benefited from a tranche of Home Office Safer Streets Funding, secured by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and partners including Elmbridge Borough Council.
An extensive programme of renovations was carried out with the grant, and the site has now secured a Safer Parking Award.
The award is a national standard for UK car parks that have implemented measures to ensure the safety of both vehicles and their owners.
Safer Streets success
Managed by the British Parking Association (BPA) on behalf of Police Crime Prevention Initiatives Ltd, the scheme aims to reduce crime and the fear of crime in parking facilities.
To receive the award, car parks must undergo a rigorous risk assessment conducted by the police. This assessment ensures that the car park has appropriate measures in place, such as effective surveillance, good lighting, and a clean environment, all of which are known to deter criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.
The award signifies that a car park is a safer environment for users, providing peace of mind for those parking their vehicles there.
Car park improvements
The enhancements include:
- Upgraded lighting for better visibility
- New directional arrows to improve traffic flow
- Reviewed and improved speed humps
- A refurbished stairwell with a fresh coat of paint, new mirrors, and the application of urine repellent and anti-graffiti paints
- Temporary deployment of CCTV to enhance security
Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, said: “It’s been wonderful to see how the team in Elmbridge have used Safer Streets funding to invest in the safety and health of communities in the borough.
“Residents had told police and councillors of their concerns around the Drewitts Court car park, and the improvements made demonstrate the real impact that properly directed funding can have.
“I’m delighted that the efforts of the team have been recognised with a Safer Parking Award.”
Councillor Kirsty Hewens, Portfolio Holder for Enterprise, Parking and Local Economy, said: “Keeping residents safe and enhancing the feeling of safety is a key priority for the Elmbridge Community and Safety Partnership.
“We want people to feel safe visiting our high street car parks at all times of day.”
Funding boost
Walton was one of three Surrey towns to be allocated a combined total of almost £1million last year as part of the Home Office’s Safer Streets Fund. Redhill and Guildford also benefited from the grant.
In Walton, the funding is being used to tackle anti-social behaviour in public spaces after drugs, vandalism and littering were identified as particular concerns for residents.
Additional CCTV has been installed in the town, and a targeted youth outreach programme is under way.
The fund has also paid for improvements to the community garden at St Johns Drive in Walton, which now features new flowerbeds, vegetable patches and a bug hotel to encourage wildlife and support biodiversity in the area.