Stanwell village could lose 'wonderful' warden

Feb 1 2010 By Mark Goode, Staines News

Beryl Wilkins, of Stanwell High Street

STANWELL could lose its 'vital' community warden after Spelthorne Council announced a review of the post.

Many villagers rely on Mick Rayner to liaise with the police and local authorities, including the borough and county councils, to sort out problems such as graffiti and anti-social behaviour.

They fear they could lose him altogether if his job is made redundant.

Father William Whittaker, the vicar of Stanwell, said: "Quite a lot of people in the village are a bit upset that his post could be made redundant. He deals with all manner of issues very quickly and has been known to give elderly people lifts.

"It is to do with finances, but it always seems like people are getting cut from the bottom. I don't see why they can't cut executives who earn a lot more money. We had graffiti around the church so we rang him and he got it cleared, and another time there was a problem with youths hanging around, but he spoke to the right person and it was dealt with quickly. He is a vital resource, especially for the elderly."

The council says the community warden role could be merged with one of four new posts, called neighbourhood supervisors, who deal with environment, street scene, and community issues.

Discussions are in progress about the precise nature of the new posts and council bosses say no decisions will be made until they have spoken with Mr Rayner.

However, Beryl Wilkins, of Stanwell High Street, said: "I think it would be a great shame for Stanwell if he is taken away. You can always get him, and if you see graffiti or a building which is in decay, you can call him and he will deal with it straight away. He is a wonderful man and I can't speak highly enough of him."

A spokeswoman for the council said: "Some of the core roles the warden undertakes will remain and others will be reviewed, but if the new role proceeds, Mick Rayner will remain highly visible and active within the community."