After it was announced Netherfield is set to benefit from funding for things such as additional CCTV cameras and improved lighting to make streets in the area safer, people have said they'd rather see money spent on improving roads. Colwick and Netherfield will get a combined £750,000 of funding from government's safer streets fund.
This fund is designed to do what it says - to make streets more safe. As well as cameras and lighting, the money can also be spent to tackle neighbourhood traffic and delivering plans to make people feel more safe.
But people in Netherfield have said that money would be better spent on improving roads in the area, as people could be made to feel more safe that way because of volumes of traffic. One man did say he believes there is already enough CCTV in the area, but that it's not in use.
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Colin Mellors, 63, who lives in neighbouring Carlton but goes into Netherfield regularly, said: "I think there's already CCTV around here but it either doesn't work or is switched off. It would be a deterrent that's for sure, but there needs to be traffic measures as well
"I think the money is needed in the area for improving roads. There are too many zebra crossings, roundabouts, junctions and the train crossing all within such a short space of each other, it's ridiculous. It's gridlock around here during rush hour, nothing moves. Train barriers could go up and down more quickly too to ease things, it is quite stressful if you're a motorist around here."
Peter Dye, 66, who has owned Netherfield Pound Shop on Victoria Road since 2005, agrees. "It's a nightmare," he said.
"Seeing it all through the day, it can get that bad with traffic around here, people turn around and go back the way they came. I think people avoid the area if they can, but if there's a way for there to be more footfall, I'm all for that."
One woman said she would like to see more funding go towards making streets feel more safe in Arnold town centre. Kelly Rogers, 41, who lives in the Arnold area, said: "I feel like Front Street could do with something, it feels OK there during the day but not so much at night. I can imagine people feel a bit intimidated.
"I do feel safe when I come into Netherfield, but, having said that, I don't come here all that regularly and haven't lived here for 12 years. But even so, when I lived here, it was OK, there were always people saying 'hello'."
Tom Randall, Conservative MP for Gedling, said: "No one should feel afraid while walking the streets, yet for so many people, particularly women and girls, feeling uncomfortable or even unsafe in public spaces has become an all-too-common occurrence. That is why I wrote to the Home Secretary in June and asked her to prioritise investment into making Gedling safer and I am delighted Colwick and Netherfield has now received £750,000 through our Safer Street Fund, which will deliver necessary measures such as extra CCTV and street lighting alongside engagement projects to change behaviours and prevent crimes being committed.
"Alongside our pledge to get more police on the streets, with more than 25 recruited and deployed onto the streets of Gedling, this investment will ensure people feel safe and secure throughout Gedling as we build back safer."
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "It has been one year since I launched our dedicated violence against women and girls strategy and in that year I have overseen incredible work to support victims, prevent violence against women and girls, protect citizens and deliver justice. Our essential work with specialist groups is delivering practical support and change for women and girls across our communities and the safer streets fund continues to make a difference to the safety of women and girls at a community level."
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