Young volunteers to help map Helensburgh's trip hazards

The ‘Step Safe’ project, a joint initiative between the town’s Police Scotland Young Volunteers and the Grey Matters group, will see the youths hit the streets on Wednesday, August 21 to take pictures of any pavements that are broken or could be deemed unsafe, and to look for any overgrown hedges that could prevent local residents using footpaths.

The PSYV members outlined their plans at a meeting of the Grey Matters group in the town on Saturday.

PC Stephen Carr, co-ordinator of the town’s PSYV group, said: “We will be using fault sheets to document the location and photograph the fault.

“It is then our intention to plot these faults on to a large Helensburgh street map poster and present our findings alongside the Grey Matters group to the Helensburgh Community Council and a number of Argyll and Bute councillors at an event on Saturday, September 21.

“I have also been in touch with the PSYV national team with a view to having this project rolled out among the other 43 PSYV group throughout Scotland.

“It would be a great feather in all our caps to be able to say that it was our community who piloted the scheme.

“It is a wonderful and innovative initiative that the youth volunteers have worked on relentlessly.”

Alison Gildea, Grey Matters’ co-ordinator, said: “Grey Matters members have been discussing the condition of pavements and roads in Helensburgh.”Potholes, weeds, broken paving and uneven surfaces increase the risk of slips, trips and falls and can lead to lengthy hospital stays and long term health issues.

“We are delighted that our local Police Scotland Youth Volunteers are working with us to identify areas that need improvement.

“The enthusiasm of the group is fantastic.

“They have come up with a name for the project, designed a logo and are ready to hit the streets to catalogue the faults.

“We really appreciate all their hard work and are looking forward to seeing the outcome from their report.”