The Best Guide for the Neston Area

Arson Outcomes Could Have Been Disastrous

Several wheelie bins have been set ablaze in deliberate arson attacks in Neston.

At just after 3am on Tuesday, 24 August, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and Neston and Parkgate Police attended Olive Road and Gladstone Road, to extinguish a number of fires ablaze in wheelie bins lining an alleyway which joins the two roads.

Fortunately no-one was hurt nor home damaged, aside from that caused to exterior walls and fencing. The Fire Service must be thanked for taking control of the situation swiftly and successfully. 

Alternative consequences are frightening to consider; had the fires occurred even a day earlier those same bins would have been full, ahead of the scheduled waste collection, and the flames could have spread further and faster.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident, as the community has reported other arson attacks in the Raby Road area in recent weeks.

The incidents are under investigation and are also on the radar of local Councillor Keith Millar, who represents Neston on Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC).

Cllr Millar has said: "I am aware of three incidents that have happened since the middle of July."

"The one on Olive Road - there were probably three or four bins that had lit up along the alleyway and police said that was the worst one.

"It causes a lot of angst and prior to the fire brigade arriving, residents were using their hosepipes, otherwise it could have been more serious.

"I am grateful that it is being investigated by Neston Police and they are taking it seriously. It does cause serious problems in terms of the impact on people and the potential risk."

Cllr Millar conducted a community walkaround looking to provide support and ensure residents' concerns and needs were fully considered. As a priority on Wednesday, the incident was lodged with CWAC, to arrange removal of the charred bins and debris. Cllr Millar praised residents for their proactivity and neighbourly approach; knocking on each other's doors to ensure everyone was alert and safe, and even utilising standard hosepipes to keep the flames at bay.

He also clarified that the two earlier incidents were reported outside Neston Cemetery on Friday, 23 July and on Raby Road Thursday, 9 August.

A spokesperson for Neston and Parkgate Police has spoken out on social media to say: "There have been incidents of arson in the area recently. Olive Road has seen wheelie bins set on fire in the early hours. I have done a community patrol this afternoon with Councillor Keith Millar. If you have any information relating to this please get in touch."

If you have any information regarding this, or any other, criminal incident please call 101.

Report this article as inappropriate

Comments

You need to log in before you can do that! It's only a quick registration process to join the AMA network and completely free.