City base camp is a safe haven

Nov 19 2008 by Stephen Robertson, Stirling Observer Wednesday

A NEW initiative aimed at ensuring people feel safe while out at night in Stirling over the festive period is being launched this week.

The safe base ‘08 pilot programme gets underway in the city this coming Friday with the opening of a new facility at the basement, just below the Central Library at the Back Walk.

Developed by Stirling’s Night Time Economy Group, the main aim of safe base is to increase the feeling of safety and to lower the potential of people being exposed to vulnerability while out in the city at night.

Safe base ‘08 will provide an environment that’s warm and comfortable and will have a team of experienced staff on duty to help anyone who may be in the city at night and feeling vulnerable or in need of assistance.

It will provide information on matters such as transport and personal safety, while basic first-aid can also be administered on-site should it be required. Access to emergency response will also be available.

Andy Kennedy, city centre initiative manager and chair of the Night Time Economy Group, said: “The festive season is of particular concern given the additional number of people coming into the city centre at this time, the increased frequency of drinking and the behaviour of individuals whose alcohol consumption patterns are normally much less.

“We want to ensure that everyone enjoys the festive season in Stirling, but that we also minimise anti-social behaviour and ensure as much as we can that community safety is not compromised.

“The facility is being staffed by 28 people from eight agencies over its period of operation, and this really does demonstrate that a partnership approach to the development of projects, works.”

Stirling Council’s spokesperson on communities, Councillor Steven Paterson, said: “I very much hope that everyone enjoys the Christmas and New Year period in Stirling, and that the availability of this facility and the commitment of staff from across agencies will ensure that Stirling is a safe place to be this year.”

Improved lighting, enhanced transport provision and CCTV upgrading have also been undertaken. These latest actions build on other projects already ongoing through the Stirling City Centre Initiative including the taxi marshalling over the festive period.

Safe base ‘08 will be open from 10pm until 2am every Friday and Saturday night for five weekends before Christmas, from this Friday, November 21 until Friday, December 26, and on other selected nights.