THE three Labour councillors elected to the South Ham ward have spoken out about the need for an increase in safety patrols and improved community facilities following a double stabbing incident which shook the community last month.

On Monday, April 26, two people were stabbed on St Peter’s Road and emergency services flocked to the scene - with police cordoning off part of the street and searching a property known to be a bail hostel run by the charity Nacro.

A man and a woman were taken to hospital, but their injuries were not thought to be life threatening, while a second man was arrested but later released under investigation.

On Sunday (May 9), Gary Watts was re-elected to represent the area, and was joined by fellow Labour candidates Stephanie Grant and Tony Jones, who both moved from the Buckskin ward.

The Gazette asked all three how they hoped to support the South Ham community in the aftermath of the events.

“We need to get on board with the community safety team,” said Cllr Watts, while Cllr Grant added: “The community safety team is stretched really thin. We need more of them. You have to get a lot of incidents before you’re regarded as a priority area.

“It’s waiting for things to happen, to go wrong.”

The group hope to bring South Ham to the forefront of ‘regeneration’ in the town, to avoid it being viewed as a ‘bad place’ to live.

Cllr Jones said: “We are pleased that people turned out and voted. We know that there is a lot of work to be done under this Conservative administration, that people are starting to look at South Ham in particular as needing regeneration.

“What we don’t want to do is see South Ham as a bad place. It’s a lovely place to live, but if we’re not careful, it will deteriorate.”

Looking at the option of 20mph zones along busy residential streets was one priority cited, as was addressing the loss of community facilities, including Hampshire County Council’s decision to close South Ham Library.

They view South Ham as a strong community in need of its own, local facilities.

“People are going to have less money now, and it’s the children that will suffer if the parents can’t afford to pay for activities,” said Cllr Grant.

Cllr Jones added: “Lots of children rely on those facilities.”

Another major issue for the group is the Camrose football ground, which lies in their ward, and which they all want to see restored as the home of Basingstoke Town Football Club.

“It’s a community football club, and that’s what we need to get across,” said Cllr Jones.

Cllr Watts added: “Basingstoke council has a responsibility. We need to support their business plan, and we need Basingstoke Football Club to come back to the Camrose, because it’s becoming an eyesore.

“The council is very willing to invest in Basing View, but we already have a community asset in need of investment.”