MEMBERS of the Middlewich community are well on the way to securing their future after a meeting on Saturday.

Councillors met with residents concerned about the custody suite, in Pochin Way, to discuss setting up a liaison committee with police and to talk about starting a Homewatch scheme in the area.

Fears over the suite were raised by residents of Bramble Close in January when families experienced intimidating encounters with people released from the facility who approached them for money or directions.

Town mayor Clr Chalky White, who hosted the meeting at the Salt Cellar pub with Clr Alison Roylance-White and Clr Jim Basford, said: "We had a few residents along, which was important as they will talk with their neighbours and pass information on."

Clr Roylance-White suggested a liaison committee should meet quarterly with an independent chairman and be made up of two councillors, two residents, two members of the town's CAT team and two representatives from the custody suite.

This suggestion will now be put to Cheshire Police.

PC Mike Senior, from Middlewich CAT team, was also at the meeting and said the team will ensure residents know they can contact them if they have any problems.

He said: "Residents said they were aware of the CAT team but not the number and didn't associate the team with the custody suite - but if people are released and cause problems in the community it becomes a local issue so the CAT team is involved indirectly."

A lot of interest was also expressed in setting up a Homewatch scheme.

PC Senior added: "It gives people chance to feed information up to police and keep the CAT team informed of what's happening and we can also feed back through the scheme."

People can find out more about Homewatch at Middlewich's first Community Action Meeting (CAM) which will be held at Middlewich Primary School, in Park Road, on April 25.