A COUNCILLOR and residents are hoping to resurrect a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in East Swindon.

The schemes aim to keep streets safe by encouraging homeowners to keep vigilant, report problems to police and check on vulnerable residents.

At a meeting later this month, residents will meet with Neighbourhood Watch representatives to try and establish more watch schemes on East Swindon streets. Anyone is welcome to the meeting, organisers said.

The bid follows a recent wave of burglaries and anti-social behaviour in around Eldene and Liden. At a meeting in Eldene Community Centre over the summer, one resident warned that the incidents threatened to turn the area into a “ghetto”.

Kevin Parry, ward councillor for Covingham and Dorcan, who has organised the Neighbourhood Watch meeting with resident Tina Mayo, said: “We are trying to get residents from Liden, Eldene, Covingham, Nythe and Coleview to come along and really kick start Neighbourhood Watch.

“We want to build and network across a bigger area, so we can tackle the problem together – rather than move the problem around.”

Coun Parry has used part of his stipend, given to him as chairman of the parish council, to buy five new Neighbourhood Watch street signs.

Neighbourhood Watch schemes were mentioned at a recent parish council community safety forum meeting as a way for residents to work constructively with police. The forum brings together Wiltshire Police representatives with eight parish councils in the South Swindon area.

The Neighbourhood Watch meeting will be at Nythe Community Centre on Thursday, November 30, from 5.30pm.