COMMUNITY wardens could be employed to clean up the streets of Weston's south ward - with the help of local children. The area has been given £3.7million by the Government to improve the social and environmental sides of the estates. A panel has already

COMMUNITY wardens could be employed to clean up the streets of Weston's south ward - with the help of local children.The area has been given £3.7million by the Government to improve the social and environmental sides of the estates. A panel has already appointed a neighbourhood manager to spend the cash. Similar schemes in other parts of the country have paid for neighbourhood and junior wardens to patrol the streets.A neighbourhood warden's role is to promote community safety and assist with environmental improvements such as litter, graffiti, dog fouling and housing.The uniformed wardens were brought in to patrol high-crime areas and reduce the number of offences.They can also provide a visiting service for vulnerable people including the elderly, disabled and victims of crime.North Somerset councillor Ian Parker says wardens are a good idea because the Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) scheme is not working.He said: "In the early days the PCSOs used to be seen everywhere, but I haven't seen our one in more than a year. At the moment there's not a great deal of evidence of them being around the estates."The concept of wardens is good, but people could perceive them as informants and we could have trouble recruiting."The idea of junior wardens is quite interesting in that it would make them responsible for their peers' behaviour."The scheme would make them better citizens and hopefully improve the state of the wards."A committee made up of North Somerset Council, police officers, health bosses and housing association chiefs is being set up to decide how to spend the money.Residents are wanted to join the committee and give their input on where the money should go.For more details call neighbourhood manager Catherine Williams on 01934 426310.