WIREDGOV

Working with the community has been hailed as the cause of a reduction in vandalism and nuisance motorbike riders on Army training ranges in Colchester.

Training facilities for troops and the quality of life for residents have improved thanks to the work of the Middlewick Stakeholders Group, which includes representatives from Colchester Garrison, Defence Training Estate East, Landmarc Support Services, Essex County Council, Colchester Borough Council, Colchester Borough Homes, Essex Police, the Royal Military Police, and the Ministry of Defence Police.

The group came together in 2009 to tackle problems of vandalism on the firing range, which required costly repairs and denied troops use of the facility. The illegal riding of motorbikes across the ranges also posed a hazard to walkers enjoying access to the land and a noise nuisance to neighbouring residents.

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