Operation Cipher – Hoping to improve life in the Calders

We were at the launch of Operation Cipher in the Calders earlier today. In between the showers we managed to get some interviews and chat to some people who were there to try and help.  The children from Sighthill Primary who were there had a great time trying out the sirens on the police van and the blue flashing lights, as well as finding out how CCTV works and what the inside of a fire engine looks like.

The council’s Environmental Wardens were on hand to clean up some of the litter, and there were people from the City Libraries as well as Housing and the Get On Bus where they can help you with all kinds of matters from money to getting a job.

There is a serious message here, that the agencies involved want to get  across. They would really like to see a community group set up to allow them to engage more with the residents. If this is your area then they would like to speak to you about how to do that.

We spoke to Group Commander Geoff Aird who is particularly keen to get the safety message across to residents in the next month:-

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Chief Inspector Richard Thomas is the Local Area Commander and he has high hopes for the project including the setting up of a new community group since there is no Community Council to represent the wishes of the people who live here:-

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There were many children along from Sighthill Primary School and we spoke to one girl about the sports which are to be offered over the coming weeks:-

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And then just when we weren’t expecting it the Lord Provost dropped by. He had been planting a tree with Sarah Boyack MSP nearby and heard there was something to see in Calder Crescent..

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Sarah Boyack MSP told us about the Trellis Community Garden where she and the Lord Provost had been looking at the work that some people have been doing there:_

Finally we spoke to Sam McMillan who had brought along the CCTV van today:-

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Here is our selection of photographs from the event:-

http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=109615