FINANCIAL constraints at the Town Hall will not mean a reduction in Oxford’s “much valued” street warden service, the leader of the city council has promised.

This year’s budget-setting process will be among the toughest ever, with the council struggling to make ends meet.

But the men and women patrolling the city’s estates have been assured the axe will not fall on them.

There are 13 council wardens, patrolling Blackbird Leys, Greater Leys, Rose Hill, Littlemore, Wood Farm and Barton as part of a scheme, launched in 2003, which costs about £500,000 a year to run.

Council leader Bob Price said: “The service is not something that we plan to reduce.

“We feel very strongly the street wardens are a useful and important resource.

“They’re the eyes and ears of the council on the ground and provide an immediate resource for the community on a daily basis, which helps us to provide the right kind of service.

“They have had a significant impact – and I envisage them playing an important role in our community support work in the future.”

Lin Phillips, 59, of Brambling Way, Blackbird Leys, gave up her job as a bookmaker four and a half years ago to join the warden team.

She said: “People are pretty good with us. You might get a bit of verbal, but the community likes us, because we’re an intermediary between all the agencies.

“People come to us who might be nervous of going to the police and being seen as a grass – they know that we will not pass their names on.

“People feel comfortable and can confide in us.”

The wardens’ lot is a varied one. Each day Lin and her colleagues walk about seven miles around the streets of Wood Farm.

Armed with a notebook – and plenty of good humour – they report incidents of graffiti, fly-tipping, litter, dog fouling and parking offences to the relevant authorities.

During the recent spell of wintry weather, the wardens also did shopping for a number of elderly and vulnerable people who were unable to leave their homes.

Florence Russell, 73, of Peppercorn Avenue, Wood Farm, said: “The first day the snow was on the ground, I took a step out and down I went, and I was afraid after that.

“The service they provide is excellent, especially if you can’t help yourself. I value them being around.”

But the wardens are no pushovers. Although they do not have powers of arrest they can – and do – issue on-the-spot fines for dog fouling and litter.

Jessie Koudoua, 59, of Long Ground, Greater Leys, has been a warden since the scheme was launched in February 2003.

She said: “It’s all about looking out for people.

“We consider ourselves neighbourhood community wardens, rather than street wardens. We’re a throwback to the old days when communities were so much closer.

“People see us as a helping hand. If they don’t know the answer to something, they come to us and we will get the answer for them.”

The council’s crime and nuisance action team co-ordinator, Steve Kilsby, said: “There’s a big commitment to make sure the numbers on the ground stay there.

“As far as I’m concerned, the tremendous feedback we get from everyone that comes across the street wardens tells us that this is a much valued service.”