Historic hall hit by anti-social behaviour issues
AS FENCING PLAN IS APPROVED, NEIGHBOURING BOWLS CLUB SAYS MEMBERS OFTEN CONFRONTED BY GANGS BLOCKING DOORWAYS
VANDALISM, graffiti, roof-climbing, abusive behaviour and drug-taking are just some of the problems plaguing a historic hall in South Derbyshire. Owners and tenants at Gresley Old Hall, in Gresley Wood Road, Church Gresley, say there have been several break-in attempts at the main hall along with an arson attack.
Members of the adjacent Church Gresley Indoor Bowls Club, which operates from the site, say they are often “confronted by gangs of youths blocking steps and doorways, sometimes not allowing us to exit”. They added that the anti-social behaviour has increased in severity in the last four years.
An application for security fencing was later submitted and now approved after the site owners say they have been “unable to control antisocial behaviour or vandalism”.
Planning documents filed to South Derbyshire District Council detail extra security measures to protect the hall, including extensive security fencing around the under-18s football pitch, indoor bowling centre, garage, containers and either side of the main site entrance.
The application, from the Gresley Old Hall Community Welfare Centre, details that the site is “plagued with vandalism, graffiti, roof-climbing, window-smashing, abusive behaviour, underage drinking and drug-taking”.
It claims that “despite having cameras and involving the police, the problems increase”, saying the council, police and fire service all support action and improvements which may “ease the current situation”.
The application says the under-18s football pitch is “covered in dog mess” “which is a serious health hazard”, with evidence of drug use and burnt patches from barbecues.
Pieces of metal are said to have been regularly placed on the whippet racetrack presenting a danger to the dogs.
Meanwhile, the Mercia Archers, who use the site, say their practice sessions are often halted by “youths deliberately crossing the range while shooting occurs”.
The site owners say there have been several break-in attempts at the main hall along with an arson attack. They say the garage and container area is a “favourite area for drug users” and the bowling centre fire exit doors are an “ideal target for the arsonists”.
The owners also say drug dealers in cars, quad bikes, motorbikes and learner drivers frequently access the site at night.
It claims there have been incidents in which people have stretched a piece of cord across the access driveway, causing the cord to become caught around car wheels.
Now the application has been approved the venue is to consider where to put its fencing, which could include fencing off the under-18s football pitch, the archery section and the whippet racetrack; or fence off the rear of the indoor bowling centre, garage and storage container. They are also considering a fence either side of the entrance gates.
The site had been home to the old Gresley Priory, built in 1135. In 1556, Sir Christopher Alleyne used the materials left over from the former building to create the existing hall.
The site owners say the garage and container area is a ‘favourite area for drug users’.