Homeless cause ‘living nightmare’
Neighbours demand action at
Homeless flats have created a “living nightmare”, say neighbours in a city street.
They told councillors that flats have sparked anti-social behaviour, homophobic abuse and late night police and ambulance activity.
Stirling Council’s environment and housing committee heard last Thursday claims of “hellish” consequences of living near the 15-flat block in Middlemuir Road, part of a residential estate within Springkerse Industrial Estate.
While housing officials and the police said statistics did not support the claims in the 97-signature petition, councillors agreed that action had to be taken and asked for more in-depth work to be done.
One neighbour, who asked not to be named, told the committee she moved into the area only a few years ago and was immediately approached by other residents who felt something had to be done about “excessive” activity involving police and ambulances and ongoing anti-social issues with some tenants.
She added: “A lot of people feel quite threatened and don’t want to get involved directly with the council, etc, but when I went door-to-door I found I could have written a book, to say the least, with what people told me. A lot of people are even afraid to let their kids play outside.”
The spokesperson suggested figures quoted by officials for incidents requiring the police in the area were the tip of the iceberg and that residents were generally too afraid to report incidents.
“There were two visits from police just last week, including a riot van and a man taken away in an ambulance,” she said.
“I’m not saying the statistics are false but I’m bewildered as to how they are collated.”
She recounted a number of incidents, including some involving repeated homophobic abuse, an incident of apparent domestic abuse within the flats which had spilled on to the street, and the presence of a large dog, adding “Some locals have told me they are living in fear.
“I would hate to think the CCTV was not being supervised but it’s hard to believe anyone looking at this wouldn’t see a lot of unusual activity and no council workers or anyone else appear at any of these times.
“I am not anti-homeless and in general neither are my neighbours. Some of us have been through the homeless system ourselves.
“We also wouldn’t want to discriminate against people who may have mental health difficulties, for example, but we feel the system really needs to be looked at and the process by which they allocate these one-bedroom properties.
“If they wish to keep housing the people who are creating the sorts of problems we have identified we need supervision and security.
“If the resources for that are not available then we ask the council to consider who they are putting in there. It’s a living nightmare, hellish.”
Housing officials said there had only been two complaints from neighbours since the hostel opened in 2008.
They added: “The flats were created because we had a shortage of one-bedroom accommodation. Each of the residents have an occupancy agreement that we encourage them to stick to.
“All the residents of the flats are classed as vulnerable. We are very careful but also mindful we don’t have properties sitting empty.
“We have mixed age groups, parents with young children, students, people who are working and have had one gentleman who was unfortunately very ill so there is a mix of residents there.
“Depending on the level of support they require, they will have daily or weekly visits. Someone is in the area every day.
“The occupancy agreement clearly states no pets. However, some do bring pets and this is quickly dealt with. The dog in question wasn’t there for any great length of time.” Councillors and the police pledged to look further at residents’ concerns.
Police representatives asked to speak to residents and advice on how best to report any matters.
Councillors asked for more details about the positioning of CCTV cameras and whether more could be done to monitor the wider area of the flats without encroaching on privacy.
Councillor Margaret Brisley said: “All our residents and tenants should be allowed to feel comfortable and safe in their own homes and these people don’t.
“We need to encourage residents to get in touch with the police about all these incidents. It may be that housing staff and police are not being made aware.
“However, the perception of some of the residents in that area is there are issues with the hostel that we are not aware of.”
Councillor Jim Thomson said a report from officials showed 10 incidents in an 18-month period, adding: “It disturbed me that it was felt this was acceptable. I can’t think of any street in Stirling which would be happy with figures like that.
“I don’t think we should make any decision today but should look at this in more detail.”
Councillor Gerry McLaughlan added: “This petition was signed by 97 people. I have chapped doors in my time and I know how difficult it can be to get 97 people to sign anything and for two streets it is amazing.
“This is a serious matter. There’s no easy solution and I appreciate that but the feedback we are getting now from officials is that they are taking this on board.
“I was a bit worried by the report which seemed to suggest there wasn’t a problem so move along, but I’m a bit more reassured now.”
Public safety convener Martin Earl said more reporting of incidents would flag the area up as an official hotspot when the authorities are considering where to apply resources.
Chair Danny Gibson asked for all householders, including those in the homeless flats, to be sent letters seeking their views and offering advice on how they can report any incidents. A review is also to be carried out of CCTV provision at the building.
Councillors asked for a report to be brought back to the committee once residents had been consulted.
A lot of people are afraid to let their kids play outside