Circular number 2

Dear Neighbour,

Many thanks to those of you who responded to our last letter and the comments and suggestions although the number of respondents was a little lower than what we had hoped for.

As it stands, we had another 12 houses that responded positively which brings our current total of houses participating or willing to participate to about 75 houses, still short of the 95 we need.

Some of the issues that were brought up through the telephone conversations were as follows :

1. Many wanted a gated 24 hour patrol which included closing the area up. They were not so keen on 24 hour patrols only.

2. A number of people were concerned how we were going to close the area up as there were so many entrances into the area.

3. Those staying closer the main road on SS3/6, 3/8 and 3/2 as well as those on 3/1 want to have the road fenced to minimize foot traffic, motorcycles and those taking part in nefarious activities from using it as a convenient escape route.

Based on some feedback from MPPJ, gating up our area will be difficult as we will need to have the consent of all those who live in the area. As, some have clearly pointed out, there are also too many entrances and the manpower requirements will be substantial.

What we will have to look at now will be 2 or 3 manned Guardhouses(except when they go for patrols) with a possibility of a lifting barrier which will be closed at night between 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM ( Suggested).

While we are not able to close off all access points, we believe that this will be a good first step towards securing the neighborhood and we will of course work with the authorities to progressively close the area and make it safer. I am sure that you will agree with me that Rome was not built in a day.

The important thing for all of us working on this project is that you provide us with your feedback and better still if you believe that you have something to contribute, do take the time to join us. The people involved in trying to make the neighborhood safer are also new at this and we would welcome suggestions. Call any one listed on this list and we will inform you of the next meeting where you would be most welcome to join in.

We believe that there are a few people who do not want to join in because they do not believe this program can work and I think that those people are correct, if all of us believe that it cannot work, then it won’t. It is only with the support and contributions for each and everyone of you, that we can get this program moving. We have made the first step, by having some security at night, it may now be time for us to take the second step of tightening up the security with guard posts and 24 hour security. Then maybe, in the near future we can close the whole area up.

In our case, it may be a step by step process. Other neighborhoods who have security programs have gone through a similar evolutionary process and what some of us see and admire as a sharp program have taken time to develop but with the support of the residents.

Do participate in the online survey