Community Payback - Halton result

23 Jul 2009

Community Payback is a demanding community punishment which can be handed out by the courts. A new campaign which allows the public to decide on the work offenders sentenced to Community Payback was launched by the Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw, on 30 March this year.

The area of Halton is one of 54 national Neighbourhood Crime & Justice Pioneer Areas which for the first time, invited the public to vote for the scheme they would like to see offenders working on in the Halton area from a shortlist of 5 local projects. The project which received the most votes was the clearance of the Trans Pennine Way which received 35 votes out of the total 111 votes received.

This long distance footpath and cycleway attracts rubbish and graffiti as it cuts through Halton. Work has already started with teams of offenders strimming the pathway to enable full use to be made of its width.

Plans for further work include the cutting back of shrubs and clearance of overgrown areas, the removal of rubbish and graffiti and general improvement and repair of fences, signage and notice boards are fit for purpose.