Residents of wealthy street fear nearby road from hell
RESIDENTS in one of Birmingham’s most sought-after streets say a neighbouring road blighted by prostitution and drugs is destroying their lives.
Edgbaston’s Melville Road is idyllic by day, tree lined, with stunning £500,000 Victorian homes and the fine St Augustine’s Church at one end.
But by night, residents are awoken by the noise of screaming women, speeding cars and prostitution from the adjoining Gillott Road.
Prostitution, drugs and anti-social behaviour are rife along the street, which runs north off Hagley Road.
The latest police figures revealed 12 crimes reported on or near Melville Road in December alone – including three violent and sexual offences.
Six of the offences were vehicle crimes, and the remaining three were possession of weapons, theft and drugs.
Last year, a stab victim stumbled into Melville Road and collapsed after he was knifed in Gillott Road.
A mother, who lives in Melville Road, told of her fears.
She said: “There are drug dealers, and every night women screaming. Melville Road is a really nice road, lots of families and professionals. But that road, it’s horrible.
“There’s the drugs, and people often come running and shouting from Hagley Road – that road is dirty, the streets and bus stops are full of rubbish.
“Metal canisters [laughing gas] are dropped everywhere. It’s got worse.
“The problem is we’re so close to Gillott Road. I hear the cars speeding at night.
“I’m afraid to go walking and afraid to go to Tesco down the road.”
Another resident, who has lived in the street for ten years, claimed he was forced to intervene when trouble began at the junction between the streets. The 52-year-old explained: “I saw a guy, he was beating up a woman outside. I had to stop it.
“He drove off with another girl and left the girl who had been beaten.
“She was still shouting and hurling abuse when they drove off.”
He added: “There’s prostitution, girls walking up and down the street – Gillott Road is a notorious red light district.
“They shut the road off at the top to stop kerb crawlers.
“It’s mainly anti-social behaviour, drugs and prostitution. Everyone sees it, not just me.”
Another young resident said vehicle crime had risen to a point he now warns guests to remove all valuables when they visit his home.
West Midlands Police confirmed it was working to tackle drugs, prostitution and anti-social behaviour on Gillott Road and the surrounding streets.
Sgt Pete Sandhu, from the Edgbaston neighbourhood policing team, said: “We are aware of concerns raised by residents and are acting on them.”