Community wardens will be ensuring town centres and retail areas are safe this festive season as East Dunbartonshire Council launches its annual safety campaign.
The wardens will be out and about throughout December as part of the Council’s Festive Safety Campaign which aims to assist the public, provide reassurance, deter crime, support businesses, and help to keep streets safe.
With additional patrols in place – which includes evening and late night shopping hours – the Community Safety team will also be working closely with Police Scotland who recently launched their own festive safety campaign.
Cllr Andrew Polson, Joint Leader of the Council, said, "The festive period is a special time in East Dunbartonshire and we want everyone to have a safe and healthy Christmas. That’s why our safety campaign is so important and working with Police Scotland colleagues we will be doing all we can to ensure people feel safe and to deter any criminal activity.
“Our community wardens will be in our town centres and retail park areas until shops close, including additional patrols for late night shopping hours.”
Cllr Vaughan Moody, Joint Leader of the Council, added, "We all want this Christmas to be a merry one for our communities and so everyone’s safety is paramount. Look out for our high-visibility patrols and please continue to support local retailers and hospitality venues where you can.”
Officers from Community Protection will be working pro-actively throughout the festive period to promote public health, safety, wellbeing and consumer protection across our communities. Environmental Health Officers will be inspecting our local restaurants, cafes and takeaways to ensure that food safety continues to be a priority throughout the party season. Trading Standards Officers will be working with local businesses on consumer and product safety throughout the busy shopping season and the Council’s Licensing Advisors will also be engaging with licensed premises throughout the festive period. Compliance with COVID-19 legislation and guidance within hospitality and business retail spaces will also be monitored by officers ensuring mitigation measures and evidence of good practice to protect public health.
* If you are planning a Christmas shopping expedition then please remember that parking charges will be suspended in Bearsden, Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch and Milngavie on Saturdays 4, 11 and 18 December. There will also be no charges on 25 December.
To ensure public safety the Council's community wardens will still be enforcing parking regulations and restrictions for any vehicles parked inappropriately (on-street and off-street) - including Blue Badge misuse - on the Saturdays when charges are suspended.
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