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| A new horizon..... |
A new year, a new format. We have after 10 months, finally made a decision!
It is no secret that PFNW as a concept has been a runaway success and at many levels; but as it is, PFNW is still simply a neighbourhood watch scheme, but consistently punching well above its weight and largely pigeonholed by officialdom. With your continuing help, we aim to change all that!
PFNW also has had geographic limitations. In our view the format was outdated and not at all flexible, but we worked within it, from time to time, kicking against the traces and most of the time walking on eggshells. Simply the format was laid down in a time before the Internet, Twitter, Blogging, Computing and i-Pads. Nothing virtual or social media friendly about it.
The concept of a NW street co-ordinator in the 21st Century, knocking on doors visiting the same small cluster of houses week in, week out, is as relevant today as seeing a village policeman pounding a regular home beat. It simply does not happen in the cut and thrust of the urban environment but may well work in a sleepy village. Understanding that parts of South Peterborough still retains some of the village style atmosphere we all seek.
Meanwhile in harsh urban environments, we increasingly rely on tactical policing, high speed communication, internet, broadband, digital cameras and so on. At any one time, PFNW could call on 200 'eyes' many armed with cameraphones.
We will easily treble that number within the first few weeks, as we open up Park Farm Neighbourhood News [PFNN]. Deploying resources accordingly. Running the videos, clocking minimotos, attending neighbourhood meetings, and most importantly completely free to offer editorial views, and considered comment also geared to monitor both political and non-political campaigns. Something we have not been able to do within PFNW, but had to operate through the arms length news service.
So we are without regret parking the traditional neighbourhood watch scheme and replacing it with something larger that fits in with the 21st Century, the Localism Bill and the greater devolved powers that the Coalition Government is offering to all of us.
It is a format that not only meets our traditional neighbourly requirement but also services the growing number of telephone calls and internet delivered comments and suggestions from outside our traditional home beat boundary.
We have also through careful and prudent use of the Freedom of Information Act, uncovered a raft of political decisions and reckless spending both locally and nationally that some politicians may, no will, wish to hide from you, the electorate.
PFNN will continue to attend council meetings on your behalf and report on the behavior and spending of your money by our elected representatives, expect more local news reports, more information on council committees and particularly our pet project, how Childrens Services is progressing under its new fee earning interim consultant. PFNN will still be calling for resignations of people who have been over promoted or just not up to the job. How many highly negative OFSTED reports does it take ?
So bear with us as we make the changes, much has already been done but some things take a little longer and we are also seeking 'stringers' (local citizen reporters - training will be offered if requested) in other areas of Cambridgeshire and beyond to report and load local report videos into this new venture. To see how the core model we have based our future concept works on a political level have a look at www.order-order.com , this is the style of probing and information delivery we will be seeking.
Julian Bray & Morag Irving
.. (C) Stanground & Park Farm News 2011 E&OE Tel: 01733 345581 ..... LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE (non-emergency) 101 In an Emergency Dial 999. If you have information about crime contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
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