Pedal power is just the ticket for wardens (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Pedal power is just the ticket for wardens

9:41am Sunday 27th March 2005 in News By Naomi Wright

PEDAL power is set to help Waltham Forest's street wardens patrol the borough.

All 24 wardens in Leyton, Leytonstone and Wood Street, Walthamstow, have been given new bikes after council chiefs secured extra Government cash to buy them.

A council spokeswoman said the bikes would help the wardens, who each walk about 15 miles a day, to cover their patches more easily and respond to requests to deal with anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping more quickly.

They will also use them to carry out other jobs in the community including visiting schools and groups.

Robbin Tuddenham, the council's head of community safety, said: "This is great news for Waltham Forest. "The public feel reassured by our wardens' presence and the bikes will help them stay visible as they travel from location to location more quickly.

"By using bicycles our wardens continue to show that they care about protecting the environment and promoting alternative ways of travelling.

"Although most of our wardens are confident cyclists, they will undergo cycle proficiency training with the council's environment department to help them stay safe on their bikes. "We purchased all our bikes from local firms and we will be developing this bike project with our colleagues in the police who will also be getting on their bikes alongside us soon."