‘Group of youths have left me at breaking point’
THE kids involved change, but the problem stays the same. For ten years, Kyle Rickards says, he has been plagued by large groups of youths hanging about in the churchyard next to his Rochdale home.
One night it might be bottles being smashed against the wall of his house, another it might be footballs being repeatedly kicked against his walls.
He might wake up to find his security camera has been smashed, or that hanging baskets have been ripped from the wall.
And each time he tries to remonstrate with those he believes are responsible, he is met with a barrage of abuse.
Kyle, 46, is epileptic and suffered a stroke in 2012 which stopped him from working. And now, he says, the problem of youths congregating in the grounds of Spotland Methodist Church is driving him to ‘breaking point.’
“I’ve got so frustrated with it.
“Since I had the stroke I don’t tend to go out much. I keep myself to myself.
“I am terrified to leave the house to see what I will come back to.”
Kyle has been in regular contact with his local councillors and the town hall, making at least half a dozen complaints to the police over the most serious incidents.
But still the anti-social behaviour continues. What would really help, he believes would be the extension of alleygates that block off the lane behind neighbouring houses to be extended to include his end of terrace property. But, because a public right of way runs between his home and the church, it’s not possible.
“I feel constantly intimidated by these people,” Kyle said. “Their actions are having a huge impact on my health.
“I was told by all my doctors and consultants not to get stressed as this will trigger my epileptic seizures.
“I am at a loss at what to do. I will genuinely have to sell my house and move if this cannot be resolved.
“I just want to live peacefully. Excuse my language but why should I have to put up with this s***?”
Coun Janet Emsley, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, community and culture at Rochdale council, said: “We want everyone in our borough to feel safe and we have an excellent community safety partnership which brings together organisations across the borough to tackle issues like this.
“As with every report of anti-social behaviour, we are working with the police to address the resident’s concerns and we have taken action to ensure this area is patrolled.
“We understand the resident’s desire to have an alleygate fitted but this is not possible in this case as the path is a through route and therefore cannot be gated. We encourage anyone experiencing antisocial behaviour to report it by visiting rochdale.gov.uk/antisocialbehaviour.”
Greater Manchester Police said they were unable to comment at this time.