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Making an Im-Pact

Nearly 3 years ago a new initiative was launched in Alvechurch called Partners and Communities Together or PACT. Part of a national approach by the Police to engage local communities, it was adopted by West Mercia and many other Police forces. Our local policing team based in Wythall led the first PACT meeting in Alvechurch Social Club and heard around 60 residents talking about the biggest priorities in the Parish.

How does PACT work ?

Although the Police led that first meeting, PACT now works through a Panel comprising Councillors (from Parish up to County level), the Police, Bromsgrove District Housing Trust, local headteachers, the Village Society and local residents and it has an independent chairman. Meetings are held quarterly in Alvechurch Village Hall and are open to everyone. Issues can be raised by residents or by the Panel themselves.

Each meeting starts with feedback from the Panel on issues raised at previous sessions, then residents raise new issues that concern them. These are added to those raised outside the meeting (you can do this by filling in one of the postcards shown here) At the end of the meeting, a "vote" is taken to pick three priority issues for action before the next PACT session. Every issue raised is looked into but the 3 top priorities are formally taken up by whichever organisation is responsible eg highways problems will usually be taken on board by Worcestershire County Council. When PACT meetings finish, you can talk informally to the Panel if you wish.

Once a year PACT goes walkabout in Alvechurch and the Panel and interested residents look together at issues on the ground.

How successful has PACT been?

In early PACT meetings there was a greater emphasis on crime-related issues and a clear call for more visible policing in Alvechurch. Since then daytime patrols in the village have increased and a Community Support Officer (CSO) has been based in the Parish. CSOs aim to tackle low level crime and disorder by spending most of their time on foot patrol, talking to local businesses, community groups and youngsters to share ideas on local problems. The Village recently featured CSO Pippa Church and her positive work with local youngsters.

Five areas have consistently been priorities for the Alvechurch PACT Panel:

Priority Actions taken or planned
1. Speeding traffic, especially through the Village Centre and on Redditch Road but also on Weatheroak Hill and in Beoley. Traffic calming installed on Birmingham Road.
Twenty mph speed restrictions being considered near new schools.
Regular Police speed checks on Redditch Road.
Traffic calming near football ground planned December 2008.
2. Anti-social behaviour. More Police presence in village centre and regular checks in Swans' Length area near the Multi-Use Games Area.
Alcohol-free zone created to limit outdoor drinking.
3. Cars parked illegally or inappropriately, especially on pavements. Police are issuing fixed penalty notices where cars are on double yellow lines and warning other motorists.
Key areas identified as Swan Street, Bear Hill and Birmingham Road near the new schools.
4. Litter and Fly tipping District Council staff tidy the village centre three times a week and Village Society members lead periodic litter picks.
5. Environmental issues. Overhanging trees and hedges, drainage problems at The Meadows and the tidiness of Tanyard Lane car park. The Parish Council lengthsman has cut back vegetation in Radford Road and on the main roads in and out of the village.
Major effort underway to get funding to improve drainage on The Meadows.
Bromsgrove DC have been asked to maintain the village car park more frequently and thoroughly.

The wider picture

PACT issues are discussed by the Alvechurch Neighbourhood Group and are increasingly being taken on board by the organisations represented on the Panel. Local feedback from residents is starting to influence services provided by our Councils and the Police. Bigger issues are now being raised including development in the Green Belt, affordable housing, facilities for youngsters and development of the old school site. From its early roots, PACT has now become a wider forum where many community issues are being tackled by a partnership approach. It's hoped this will address the perception that our respective Councils don't work closely enough together.

How can you have your say?

PACT does seem to be making an impact in Alvechurch but why don't you tell us what you think?

You can get more PACT information from these places:

Minutes of PACT meetings

These can be downloaded as pdf files. You will need Adobe Acrobat or a similar program to be able to read these files. If you do not have such a program then your browser may ask you whether you want to download and install a free reader.

PACT meeting 15th July 2008 PACT_15_07_08.pdf
PACT meeting 14th October 2008 PACT_14_10_08.pdf
PACT meeting 13th January 2009 PACT_13_01_09.pdf
PACT meeting 21st April 2009 PACT_21_04_09.pdf
PACT meeting 14th July 2009 PACT_14_07_09.pdf
PACT meeting 13th October 2009 PACT_13_10_09.pdf