Daredevil fun, security issues, and a new team in Town Hall

It wasn’t a trick, but it turned out a treat. Our Halloween event invitations went out at the last minute this year, but we still managed to attract a great turnout of young children and watchful parents for the fun and games. 

The main arena of the action was the suitably semi-secret Cade Square. Plenty of attractions – colouring-in books, stickers, puzzles, mummy-wrapping, buckets with pretend body parts, and wonderfully slushy green slime infested with miniature creepy-crawlies – kept our young patrons entertained. 

Further out in the neighbourhood, homes with scary decorations of spiderwebs and bats and skeletons were fair game for the older trick-and-treaters. The shared enjoyment well and truly made up for the disappointment of last year’s late cancellation.

Local security 

It’s always gratifying to see local residents come together, meet up in a safe and friendly space and make connections. We are blessed to be a very culturally diverse community living in a attractive park-like environment.

I have to acknowledge, however, that this blessing has come under strain in recent times. No neighbourhood is perfect, and Parkville Gardens is no exception.

Even in the early days of the development some seventeen years ago, some newly-arrived residents had possessions stolen from their homes. It’s no surprise that, as our population has grown in number, so have incidents of crime.

That’s been the case lately, with more reports of thefts, car break-ins, anti-social behaviour, and feelings of insecurity.

It’s therefore important for me to say that all relevant authorities are well aware of the challenge the neighbourhood is facing and are working closely together to meet it. There’s every reason to expect this will take time but coordinated initiatives are already being undertaken. We hope they will prove very successful.

New Town Hall team

Speaking of success, it’s time to congratulate Nick Reece on his formal election as Lord Mayor. Having kept the seat warm since Sally Capp’s retirement, he can now make it his own.

Nick was always an active participant in the two-monthly meetings of the presidents of the city’s residents’ associations (yes, it’s a mouthful) with the Lord Mayor, Deputy Mayor and council officers.

We look forward to continuing a constructive partnership with him and also with the new Deputy Lord Mayor Roshena Campbell whom we also congratulate.

The incoming Council is a mix of fresh and familiar faces. We wish them all well. •