Probation team to help with community work

People completing court-ordered unpaid work will help carry out community projects around Westbury following an agreement by Westbury Town Council.

The Community Payback team, supervised by trained probation staff, will be able to work on projects identified by the council, including litter picking, graffiti removal, grounds maintenance and clearing overgrown areas.

Community Payback is a court ordered sentence requiring individuals who have committed offences to complete unpaid work as a way of giving something back to communities.

The work is intended to complement rather than replace council employees.

At a recent Management of Services Committee meeting, councillors also agreed to a contribution towards the costs of providing the service, which include supervision, vehicles, fuel, tools, equipment and protective clothing.

Councillor Jane Russ said the arrangement would provide a flexible team that could be used to tackle local issues.

She said, “It means that it gives us a small team of people that can be used if we have particular issues in certain areas. The rangers know if there is a hotspot that needs litter picking or it needs something moved. It can be utilised for the benefit of the community.

“It’s very flexible and is good for the people who are doing it that we’re saying we’d like you to come and help the community.”

Pictured: A community painting project completed by the team in Devizes