Estate ‘no-go zone due to drugs and vandalism’
RESIDENTS and business owners on a Welsh city estate have said they are living a nightmare because of problems with drugs and anti-social behaviour which have led to some city taxi and bus drivers refusing to go there at night.
In Alway, which is one of the most deprived areas of Newport in the west of the city, people have described how they are struggling to leave their homes for work because public transport won’t go there after 7pm.
Mohammed Iqbal, who has worked at Alway fish and chip shop in the centre of the estate for 31 years, said the problem is worse now than it ever had been.
He said he often had stones thrown at his window and cans and bottles repeatedly kicked at his property.
“A couple of weeks ago I had some young people come in here and chuck an open can at the ceiling and just run away,” Mr Iqbal said.
“They don’t care. They don’t even care if customers are in here.
“It has had a big impact on business because when we have ten or so people gathering outside the kids don’t come, the parents don’t come – because they are intimidated.
“It’s all the time. I called 999 on Saturday because I was scared the windows would go through.”
Traders have told stories of youths ringing taxis and waiting for them to arrive before ripping stickers off the vehicles and throwing stones at them.
Karen Clare, who also lives on the estate, posted on social media this week with a picture of a vehicle she was in having been vandalised too.
“It has been going on for some time and it appears taxis and buses are the main targets,” another resident, Michelle Davey, said.
“But others have had their cars damaged and have nearly crashed. I can see someone being seriously hurt soon.
“I rely on taxis for my journeys from work and some companies will not come into Alway.”
Traders in the area have received a letter from the police informing them they will have more support to help combat crime in the area affecting their businesses, and a dispersal order is now also in place for the estate, but many have said much more needs to be done.
Every window in the old vicarage next door to Saint Teilo’s Church has been smashed and they are now all boarded up.
People living nearby told of watching hooded vandals throwing bricks at the house for days before each window was wrecked.
The residents, who said the area was “rapidly turning into a no-go zone”, said issues of anti-social behaviour and drug use needed to be publicised.
Gwent Police have been contacted for comment.