A SCHEME to improve community safety and tackle anti-social behaviour and crime has been praised for its success in Leigh.

Leigh West was awarded a share of the government’s Safer Streets Fund last year, following a successful bid from Wigan Council.

Safer Streets is a government initiative dedicated to improving the safety of communities across the country, with funding distributed to local police and crime commissioners.

The £500k secured from the initiative has enabled the installation of 70 state-of-the-art solar powered LED street lights and an increase in the number of CCTV cameras on the streets of Leigh.

The borough’s Place and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) has delivered the project, which also encouraged waste amnesty days and crackdowns on fly tipping to improve the environment.

Councillor Kevin Anderson, cabinet member for police, crime and civil contingencies, said: “This project has been a huge success and has created a safer and more secure environment for residents.”

“Through the combined efforts of the PCSP and local councillors, this funding has brought about real change.”

Throughout their work, the PCSP has collaborated with the Leigh Neighbours Project and the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation.

This has included regular engagement with local residents; listening to their concerns, offering advice and guidance, as well as providing home security kits to vulnerable residents.

Local school children have also designed a series of unique posters as part of the safety campaign.

Following the success of the scheme, a community hub is currently being developed in the area, which is due to open this summer.

This will allow frontline services to work in the heart of the community and continue to provide residents with easily accessible help and advice.

Susan Gredecki, chair of Leigh Neighbours Project, said: “I’d like to thank Wigan Council and their officers for their initiative in accessing the Safer Streets Home Office funding to help improve parts of our area and community.

“Here at the Leigh Neighbours Project, we’ve seen the hard work that the council, and ward councillors, have put in and are grateful for the improvements that their hard work has delivered.”