Media centre

Wednesday 9 Mar 2005

NO MESSIN’ IN ST MARY CRAY

Region & Route:

| Southern

On Saturday 19 March St Mary Cray is being treated to a fun day at Mountfield Recreation Ground. The event, from 12pm until 3pm, is being hosted by Network Rail and Cray Valley East Safer Neighbourhood Panel, and everyone is invited! Dave Ward, Network Rail Route Director said: “This event is about raising awareness of the dangers of the railway in St Mary Cray with the aim of reducing railway crime. But local people who come along are not going to be lectured on railway safety, they will be encouraged to have fun outdoors and above all enjoy themselves.” The event includes:

• Fun football activities
• British Wrestling Foundation demonstrations
• Competitions
• Interactive police and railway safety awareness stands
• Climbing wall
• Fun fair rides

  Network Rail will spend more than £5,000 on Mountfield Recreation Ground, which borders the railway, making it a more pleasant environment for children and families to enjoy.  More than 150 metres of overgrown bushes, small trees and litter will be removed.  This will enable the local council to reopen the play area.  The Safer Bromley Partnership has contributed £7,000 to fund a variety of events, competitions and give-aways to ensure the day is successful. The fun day will reintroduce the local community to the park and encourage them to take pride in their environment, keeping it tidy and enabling everyone to enjoy the outdoors space.  Cllr Colin Smith, Bromley Council's executive councillor for community safety said: "The Council is committed to making Bromley safe for everyone.  Most people know that railway crime of any sort is totally unacceptable, however we really need to make sure this message gets through to our young people.  Events such as this fun day give people an opportunity to learn more about how they can help at a local level to keep the railways safe for everyone - and this is a really important message.  We hope that everyone enjoys the day." In the run up to the event, 10 Police Community Support Officers and local ward officers will carry out a door to door exercise to highlight safety issues in the St Mary Cray area. Inspector Nick Stratford said: “This is an opportunity for my officers to raise their profile, build community confidence and encourage feedback on local issues while delivering an important message on railway safety.” The fun day is also an opportunity for Network Rail to launch their national No Messin’ campaign.  No Messin’ has been developed with children aged from 10 to 16 in mind and it is stylised to fit into today’s popular culture. During the day children will be able to win No Messin’ prizes and encouraged to log onto Network Rail’s No Messin’ website:  www.no-messin.co.uk where they can participate in games and competitions. Dave Ward continued: “Trespass and vandalism is a recognised problem in St Mary Cray.  A lot of work, including new fencing, fly tipping clearance and a door-to-door campaign, have been carried out and this fun day is an extra addition to the hard work that has already been put in.” Over the past year, 32 instances of trespass and vandalism have been reported. Each has the possibility to have fatal consequences.  The most typical incident in St Mary Cray is children playing/trespassing on the track which takes place between 3.30pm and 7pm - after school hours.