Community safety partners will hit the streets of Sandfields and Aberavon to give residents help and advice on how to stay safe.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, South Wales Police, Neath Port Talbot Council and the Arson Reduction Team are among the agencies taking part in the community safety events.
Residents will have direct access to local police and fire officers who will provide advice on topics such as crime prevention and waste management. Free home fire safety checks will also be on offer.
Sergeant Jo Jones of the Arson Reduction Team said: “Of particular concern to us all in the Sandfields and Aberavon area is the amount of bin fires and fly-tipping which is a real blight on the community.
“One of the aims of these events will be to educate residents on how they can play their part in reducing bin fires, such as placing their refuse out on the day of collection instead of the day before.
“The Community Safety Awareness Vehicle will be situated in Aberavon and Sandfields over a number of dates in October, November and December. The vehicle is open to everyone in the community to come and speak to their local fire, Police and council officers as well as members of my team.”
There were no fewer than 345 reports of fly-tipping in the wards of Aberavon, Sandfields East and Sandfields West between April 2009 and August 2010. This accounted for 24 per cent of all fly-tipping reports in the whole of Neath Port Talbot.
Last year there was a spate of 20 rubbish fires within two weeks in the Port Talbot area.
Inspector Karl Eenmaa of the Port Talbot Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “Issues such as fly-tipping and rubbish fires contribute to increasing the fear of crime at a time when crime actually continues to fall.
“Neath Port Talbot Council has an excellent record in prosecuting fly-tippers and were responsible for almost half the prosecutions in Wales last year.
“This should send a clear message out to residents that neither the police or our partners will tolerate behaviour which has an adverse affect on the quality of life for residents.”
The community safety events are being held at the following locations
Monday 25th October, 10am – 4pm
Harlequins RFC car park, Sandfields Road, Aberavon
Friday 29th October, 12pm – 6pm
Rear of Hopkin Street, Aberavon (near the multi usage games area)
Tuesday 30th November, 10am – 4pm
St Marys Church Hall, off St. Marys Place, Aberavon
Tuesday 7th December, 10am – 4pm
NSA Development Centre, Bevin Avenue, Sandfields
Tuesday 14th December,10am – 4pm
Morrisions supermarket car park, Christchurch Road, Baglan Moors.
