Published date: 14 March 2016 |
Published by: Lydia MorrisRead more articles by Lydia Morris
RESIDENTS say they are “living in fear” as youths vandalise their homes outside a park.
Following more than 20 years of vandalism to their properties, residents said they ‘dread coming home’ and fear someone is going to get seriously hurt by youths who congregate on Carlton Avenue Park in Saltney.
Almost 90 homeowners in the area have signed a petition to relocate the park to an alternative location, claiming they are ‘at the end of their tether’ with threatening and abusive behaviour.
During Saltney Town Council’s meeting last week, residents spoke out of their fear of more abuse, with one resident showing councillors a rock that was thrown at their front door that afternoon.
A resident of Carlton Avenue who lives adjacent to the park has been addressing the problem for more than 20 years. He said: “Unless you’re in our situation, I don’t think you will understand.
“The language we hear and the threatening behaviour is appalling, we’ve got a damaged front door which is going to cost us about £500 to repair and that was done by a catapult.
“We’re unable to sleep at night and people are afraid to go near the area. It’s unbelievable what we’re having to put up with every day.
“We dread coming home at night, mentally it drives you mad but most importantly, somebody is going to get seriously hurt.
“I appreciate youths have got to have somewhere to go, but people have got to have somewhere to live as well.
“When you come home from work, or if you are retired, you have got to be able to come home and relax, but that can’t happen.
“Every single person who has signed that petition has their own story to tell.”
Another resident of Carlton Avenue who lives next to the park said: “I’ve had a broken landing window, we’ve had to buy anti-vandal paint to cover damage to our wall, we’ve had the summer house damaged and the back of our hedge all torn apart.
“It just cannot go on, we are at the end of our tether. It’s affecting so many people.
“There are missiles coming over into our garden all of the time; we’ve got a bucket full of bricks in our garden that have come over.
“Our garden is a no-go area, we’re trapped inside the house.
“We’re living in fear all of the time and we cannot put up with it any longer.”
At the meeting, councillors requested as a short term plan to tackle the issue that a night vision and infra-red CCTV camera should be placed at the play area to enable the police to identify the youths and local PCSO Danny Hughes to monitor the area as often as possible. It was also agreed with residents that the council will remove a swinging basket at the park which causes the most disturbance and replace it with swings until the park can be relocated to another site.
High fencing around the park to prevent youths throwing objects into adjourning properties and a dispersal order will also be requested.
At the meeting, Saltney Town councillor Terry Walker said: “Something needs to be done about the issue pretty urgently.”
And town council colleague Cllr Derrick Beddow said residents are suffering and the site should be closed as soon as possible.
“The land on Morrisons could be used to relocate the park. If they start kicking up a rumpus there it won’t affect any residents and it could solve the whole situation,” he said.
Cllr Paul Board who represents Saltney Mold Junction, said he agrees with the request to close the park in the long term.
“It’s the behaviour that needs to be addressed. If you move the play area the problem will move with it,” he said.
“The park needs more policing, a camera and a fence around it that can be locked at night.”
Cllr Veronica Gay added: “These people have suffered for more than 20 years and as representatives we should listen to them and whatever they think we should do, we should support them.”
A meeting will be held with Saltney Town Council and residents of Carlton Avenue at a later date to discuss a long term plan to tackle the issue.
see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/159733/residents-living-by-park-in-saltney-dread-coming-home-.aspx
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