Neighbours unite to fight yob behaviour
A major crackdown is about to be unleashed on street drinkers, drug users, and dangerous cyclists in a part of the city which has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour.
The three priorities were adopted by the newly launched West Centre Safer Neighbourbood Team last night at their first meeting at the Vauxhall Centre at Johnson Place.
People were given a chance to raise concerns at the Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel (SNAP) meeting about problems in the area. The priorities were were to target anti-social behaviour, rubbish, tenancy and security issues and drugs in the West Pottergate and Paragon Place area.
The meeting, which was chaired by Janet Bearman, a city councillor for Town Close ward, also resolved to stamp out street drinking, rough sleeping and drugs between Westwick Street and Oak Street and to clamp down on cyclists riding on the path on Earlham Road.
Marilyn Hindry, who lives on Paragon Place, said a group congregates on the corner where she lives and she faces people urinating, dealing drugs, and rowdy behaviour on a daily basis.
She said: “Everything is getting so much on top of me and they wake me up all hours of the night so I never get any sleep, something needs to be done.”
The West Centre team covers an area of the city which stretches north to the River Wensum and South to Newmarket Road.
Many residents brought up problems with fly tipping, noisy and troublesome behaviour and drink and drug issues but the packed-out meeting roared with agreement over the problem with cyclists riding on the paths.
John Lear, left, who lives near Earlham Road and is on the panel, said: “I've nearly been run over outside my front gates and I've got friends who are elderly or with pushchairs, and I worry about their safety. The situation is out of control and it's a no man's land.”
For the next three months cyclists biking on the pavement in the Earlham Road area will be handed leaflets urging them not to use the footpath. The team will give an update to residents at their next meeting on Monday, January 21, 2008, at St Peter's Hall, at 7pm.
PCSO Paul Anderson, part of the West Centre SNT, said it was a very productive first meeting. He said: “The priorities they have adopted are an extension of the hot spots which we are already working on.”
A total of 19 teams have been rolled out across Norfolk Constabulary's Central policing area to tackle issues which affect everyday quality of life.
Further information about Safer Neighbourhood Teams is available at www.safernorfolk.co.uk
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