In focus Targeting anti-social acts in car park
ACTION is to be taken to stop young people behaving in an anti-social and potentially dangerous way at a multi-storey car park.
People who live in Grosvenor Street said that their kitchen windows look out onto a flat roof behind their houses, which gives clear views of the eighth floor of the car park.
They say it a hot spot for teens gathering and sometimes even scaling the walls and climbing down.
One woman said: “Our kitchens look out onto a flat roof which is connected to the Town Centre East car park, next to Lidl in Cheltenham.
“Fairly often large groups of teenagers, up to 15 of them, will gather on the eighth floor of the car park and throw litter down.
“But more dangerously, a few will actually scale the wall and jump down onto the roof below.”
She continued: “Less often they will then make a further jump onto the flat roof, which is concerning because that’s right on level with our houses.
“It’s only a matter of time before they land badly and really hurt themselves, what happens then?”
Cheltenham Borough Council, which manages the town car parks have said that they are aware of the issue and are looking into installing ‘additional safety measures.’
Mike Redman director of environment said: ‘’We continue to work with the police to combat anti-social behaviour to secure the safety and attractiveness of the town centre as a place for residents and visitors to enjoy.
“We are aware of a number of recent anti-social behaviour issues at Town Centre East car park.
“We’re currently looking at installing additional security measures such as enhanced CCTV and physical improvements to discourage further anti-social behaviour, as well as increasing foot patrols.
“We would strongly urge anyone who witnesses issues to call Gloucestershire Police on 101, or to report them online”.
Regarding the incident reported last Friday, a spokesperson for Gloucestershire Constabulary said that officers had “found the teenagers playing a game”, so no further action was taken.
They said: “Officers from the Cheltenham Neighbourhood Policing Team are aware of incidents of anti-social behaviour that have been reported in the town centre.
“Multiple reports have been received recently about groups of teenagers acting anti-socially in the area of the Town Centre East Car Park and Grosvenor Terrace.
“Police were called to Grosvenor Terrace on Friday evening after it was reported that a group of teenagers were acting dangerously by jumping from the roof of the car park.
“Upon attendance a group of 10 teenagers were located and found to have been playing a game in the car park so no further action was taken.
“Officers are conducting extra patrols in the area and are asking anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour to report this by calling 101 or 999 if the incident is ongoing.”