Green fingered offenders transform residents' garden

It was trowels at the ready when offenders helped transform a communal garden and community room in Dedworth as part of the Community Payback* partnership between the Royal Borough and Thames Valley Probation.

The five-strong group got dug in on Saturday 5 February to give the residents' garden in Sawyers Close a makeover and to carry out improvements to the Pump Room community area.

Cllr Colin Rayner, Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetcare, said: "Community Safety and probation have been working together for some time and this is the third project where offenders have helped community groups in the borough and we have more planned to continue the good partnership working.

"It is crucial that we enable offenders to pay back to the community and this is such a positive and constructive way to do this. I am delighted that we have got a formal agreement with Thames Valley Probation to undertake at least 12 projects this calendar year and I am confident we will do this and more!

"This is a great example of the community working with us for a safer and better community for all and I would encourage community groups or parish councils to suggest projects."

Carol McCall, Chairman of Sawyers Close Residents' Association, said: "The community payback team came to Sawyers Close and worked really hard. They were polite, helpful and considerate and did everything we asked them to do and gave us advice.

"They are very well supervised and we would certainly be asking them back. I would recommend them to any community groups who need help with projects such as gardening or painting. Thank you to everyone for organising it."

To find out more about Community Payback log onto www.thamesvalleyprobation.gov.uk and watch the short dvds on what it is, how it happens and the end results.

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