CHIPPENHAM'S new police community support officer Durry Maule will spearhead police efforts to clean up the town's troubled Redlands estate.

Redlands has been plagued with increasing incidents of petty vandalism, theft, under-age drinking, noise and minor drug taking in recent months.

On Friday the police met councillors, environmental health officers and members of Westlea Housing Association to draw up plans to fight the disorder on the estate.

Inspector Neil Bagnell, of Chippenham Police, said that Mr Maule was drafted in from Melksham to help tackle the problems.

He added that the police were recruiting two more PCSOs to assist Mr Maule and resume the duties of the town's two previous PCSOs Mark McIntyre and Terry Lee in Pewsham.

Inspector Bagnell said a police officer would be responsible for the area, and he will have more time to dedicate to helping police the estate.

"The actual crime figures for that area are not high, but what has come through is that there is a fair degree of anti-social behaviour and that has increased the levels of fear of crime," he explained.

"That being the case it is only right we do what we can to try and rectify this situation.

"We want to try and work with the other agencies who came to the meeting to address the problems and provide some long-term solutions."

The meeting was held at Monkton Park and was chaired by district and town councillor Nina Phillips.

She said many of the problems experienced in Redlands were associated with large groups of youths congregating around the parade of shops in the estate.

Coun Phillips said many elderly people no longer felt able to put flowerpots in front of their homes after vandals went on a smashing spree, and she condemned the thieves who stole cash from the homes of elderly women.

She said that some of the petty crime, including people urinating on the stairways of flats and dumping cars and rubbish, were damaging the quality of life enjoyed by residents.

But at the meeting it was agreed that many of the anti-social behaviour problems experienced by the estate would be resolved when the town's skatepark is built.

In the meantime Coun Phillips revealed she plans to have iron grills put on the lights at either end of the shops to prevent them from being broken and to help make customers feel safer.

She also hopes to ensure that the district council's cleansing and amenities targets the shop area and cleans it of dirt, weeds and loose bricks.

She said: "There seems to be a will and a desire to improve the situation and people's quality of life, so hopefully we can continue to keep things moving."

Coun Phillips said she is confident that with a partnership approach Redlands problems can be solved.