AN area of Colchester does not deserve its poor reputation, claim organisers of a community safety initiative.

Colchester Safety Partnership launched its eighth day of action in the town’s St Anne’s area yesterday. Colchester Council and Essex Police joined forces with other agencies for a host of events, including a blitz on problem parking and speeding motor- ists.

Tim Young, Colchester councillor responsible for community safety, said: “This time we spoke to residents before we held the action day to find out what the problems are.

“We found parking, dog fouling, litter and street cleaning, speeding, antisocial behaviour and graffiti were the biggest problems.

“St Anne’s has a number of diverse areas, such as the St Anne’s estate, which I think it’s fair to say is one of the most deprived areas in Colchester.

“Longridge Park, which is a more middle-class area, is now suffering unemployment due to the recession, so we are having welfare teams on hand to give them advice.”

Peter Carringtion, Safer Colchester Partnership co-ordinator, said residents should be proud to live in St Anne’s.

“There aren’t that many serious problems in St Anne’s or major causes for concern, but that doesn’t mean we can be complacent.

“The reputation it has had over the past 20 years is entirely wrong. As a community safety manager I would have no problem living here.”

The Safer Colchester Partnership said it will be carrying out follow-up work in St Anne’s for the next three months.