Neighbours group pushes for action on prostitution

Published 5 Aug 2012 12:00 2 Comments

COMMUNITY activists have launched a campaign to install gateways in three west Reading streets plagued by prostitutes.

The Oxford Road Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) is lobbying Reading Borough Council's Safer Neighbourhoods Team to look into creating gates in Stanley Grove, Connaught Close, and outside the Oxford Road Community Garden in Western Elms Avenue to prevent prostitutes plying their trade there.

Residents flagged up the problem streets to the NAG during a public meeting in June where they slammed police for failing to control the problem.

NAG chairwoman Teresa Colliass said: "Prostitution is the oldest profession in the world, we are never going to get rid of it completely, but we can work to reduce it."

The Safer Neighbourhoods Team is preparing a quote for a gateway near a row of garages in Connaught Close but the other two areas require negotiations with landowners.

The NAG is also looking into creating a low level barrier in Hodsall Road to prevent cars and kerb crawlers gaining access, restricting access to Tetbury Court and helping a management company improve security at flats in Argyle Road,

It is also identifying hotspot areas used by prostitutes in the Lorne Street and Argyle Street areas, clearing an alleyway in Ormsby Street and liaising with Reading Users Forum on their regular needle collections.

The NAG will hold a follow-up meeting from 7.30-8.30pm on Wednesday, October 17, at Oxford Road Community School.

See www.uknags.org.uk for details.

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This article appeared in Local Berkshire 03 Aug 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  Dorabella
  3 posts
  Aug 9, 19:47
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  re the land in Western Elms Avenue by the Community Garden. The local residents have consistently opposed plans to develop this site, most recently for a sheletered housing development. It has been left unoccupied and derelict, and has, not surprisingly, attracted drug dealers etc. for a long time.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 4     No 2

• 

  lorrie
  Unregistered User
  Oct 24, 11:28
  Report comment

  Reading is a horrible place to live in!!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 4     No 1

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