RESIDENTS of Caia Park are now safer thanks to new alley gates which have been installed behind some properties.
The gates have been made by inmates at HM Prison and Young Offenders' Institution Parc in Bridgend as a result of a partnership between Securicor, which runs the prison, Wrexham Community Safety Partnership, Wrexham Council and Caia Park Communities First.
A survey of Caia Park households found that the fear of crime was the main concern of many residents, who reported that the alleyways at the back of their homes were regularly used for criminal activities and anti-social behaviour.
A grant was secured from the Welsh Assembly for the manufacture of the reinforced metal gates at the prison in Bridgend to seal off the alleyways and prevent people loitering in them.
Around 36 gates are now in place and residents have been issued with keys for access.
The metalwork section is part of the prison's industries department which offers a range of vocational work to help prisoners improve their chances of employment after release.
Spokesman Steve James said: 'It might sound strange but prisoners think this is a really good idea. They've worked really hard to meet the delivery schedule and it's good that the men are putting something back into the community in such a positive way.'
Malcolm Russell, strategic director of Wrexham Council's corporate governance and chair of the partnership, said: 'The alley gates funding presented the initial opportunity, but it was excellent joint working, involving the local community, that actually made this project happen.'
Caia Park will eventually have around 100 gates and the scheme is to be extended to include Plas Madoc, too.
