A pilot project aimed at creating a safer night time environment in Clacton town centre will now launch in the New Year.

Tendring Community Safety Partnership is setting up an SOS mobile unit which will go operational on January 8, 2012.

Open Road, the leading provider of drug and alcohol treatment services in East Anglia, has agreed to manage the scheme which will provide valuable support for late night revellers.

The whole aim of the new initiative is to relieve the increasing pressure on the emergency services caused by people drinking excess alcohol.

The facility will also be there for anyone who needs support or advice during a night out in the town and to assure people it is a safe place to enjoy themselves.

Leanne Thornton, TDC's Community Safety Manager, said she recently held a meeting with Open Road to get the project off the ground.

"We have a pool of volunteers lined-up and we had hoped to start in December," she said.

"However, there were number of issues that needed to be sorted out and we have now set a new date of January 8.

"I am absolutely delighted that Open Road is on board and has agreed to manage the scheme on our behalf. They run the SOS Bus in Colchester which has been a huge success and their knowledge and experience will be invaluable."

The mobile unit will operate on a Saturday night between 7pm and 3am. If there are enough volunteers it is hoped to also cover Fridays in the future.

Lynda McWilliams, Tendring District Council's Cabinet Member for Customer and Central Services, said she fully backed the initiative and is becoming a volunteer herself.

"The idea is to reduce the increasing pressure felt by the Police, Ambulance Service and the Accident and Emergency Department at Colchester General due to excessive alcohol consumption," she said.

"The Tendring partnership is providing a town centre based facility in a re-branded police mobile unit for people who find themselves in a vulnerable state. They may need help or medical attention for minor injuries or because they have had too much to drink.

"Hopefully the mobile unit will be able to give them assistance which will avoid the need to call for an ambulance and them having to be taken to A&E at Colchester.

"I am looking forward to getting involved in this very worthwhile project and hope that others will come along and sign up. The more people we have the better the service we can provide."

Funding for the pilot scheme will come from the Tendring Community Safety Partnership.

5/12/11