Frodsham and Helsby have both been allocated a £1,000 grant by Cheshire Police, in an attempt to help residents address community safety issues in their area.

The fund was launched last week by Cheshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, David Keane, and is available for all of Cheshire's 122 policing communities.

It is hoped that the grants will help community police officers and PCSOs work with residents on projects which will tangibly improve the safety of their local area.

Grants will be awarded to new, one-off projects that leave a legacy as opposed to continuous year-on-year commitments. This could be, as an example, a road safety project, community engagement activities or a project which supports vulnerable people.

The fund has been developed using money seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act (PoCA) 2002.

PCC Keane said: "By taking out the profits that fund crime and reinvesting them into community, we can help prevent further offences and increase community safety."

Frodsham's PCSO, Neil Flanagan, is now encouraging residents with suggestions for project bids to get in touch with him, so that they can develop their ideas into funded schemes.

Applications need to be sent to Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner via local policing teams before 5pm on 18th January 2021.

Neil has been busy out and about in Frodsham over the past few weeks, investigating some complaints of anti-social behaviour in the town.

At this week's Frodsham Town Council meeting, he reported that groups of young people have been gathering in their cars, playing loud music and littering in Memorial Field car park on Bellemonte Road.

There is also evidence of nitrous oxide – laughing gas - use at the scene, which, while not illegal, can be dangerous.

"We have received reports of Bellemonte Road being used as a race track late at night," Neil said. "When the young people have finished in the car park, they speed down the road."

He suggested that the Town Council might consider closing off the car park at night, to avoid this sort of disturbance.

Neil also said that there has been an increase in reports of anti-social behaviour on the footpath adjacent to Green Gates on Ship Street, especially at weekends and in the evenings.

He has been making sure to patrol at these times, to help discourage this type of behaviour.

In addition to this, there have been complaints about vehicles speeding on Bridge Lane, Kingsley Road and Hillside Road.

Following these reports, Neil is keen to get a Community Speedwatch up and running again in the new year.

Neil would also like to remind residents that, while his police surgeries have been forced online, they are still taking place.

The dates for December are as follows:

Tuesday 1st December – 3pm-4pm

Friday 18th December – 2pm – 3pm