Neighbours fear ‘something bad will happen’ in crime alley

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They have been calling for action since 2016



A group of neighbours in Coventry fear they will have to wait for “something bad to happen” before crime at the back of their homes is tackled.

Arson attacks, break-ins, vandalism and fly-tipping are all problems borne out of a shared access path with no security in Willenhall.

In one instance, a resident showed photos of a seven-inch knife they claim was dumped in a garden by someone they believe was fleeing the police.

Police say there have been three offences reported to them since October, including a burglary, attempted burglary and someone with an air rifle.

Neighbours want the route to be gated at Meadfoot Road, Mary Slessor Street and St Jude’s Crescent to improve safety.

But despite two petitions to the council and land owners Whitefriars, the first of which began in 2016, nothing has been done due to funding issues.

Now residents say the issue has just got worse.

Resident Melinda Anthony said: “It is a nightmare.

“We have had needles here, laughing gas canisters, you can hear them out here at 3am at night.

“And you have them speeding down on bikes in the summer.

“You are too scared to let your kids out.

“Some people park their cars there but others don’t as it is too dangerous.

“People do not want to come out here at night.

“If you leave your cars out here your windows will be stoned or tyres slashed.”

Melanie Hall, another neighbour, added: “It feels like they are waiting for something bad to happen before they do anything.”

In their second petition, residents raised more than £1,000 towards the gates, but the bid was turned down by the council and they claim they were told by Whitefriars they needed to pay for the full gate installation costs.

Another resident, Karen Brown, said: “We just do not know where else to turn as everyone who we have come to for help has done nothing.”

A WM Housing Group spokesman added: “We take anti-social behaviour extremely seriously and always investigate and respond accordingly alongside the relevant authorities.

“We have not directly received any reports of anti-social behaviour in the Meadfoot Road area and do not consider it to be a problem area.

“If we receive any reports we will take relevant action.”

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A WM Housing Group spokesman added: “We take anti-social behaviour extremely seriously...

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Gates to go up on crime-ridden alley in bid to stop anti-social behaviour

Residents have finally won a three-year battle to have gates installed at the back of their Coventry homes to tackle a spate of crime.

Arson attacks, break-ins, vandalism and fly-tipping are all problems borne out of a shared access path with no security in Willenhall, residents say.

Neighbours have called for years for the route to be gated at Meadfoot Road, Mary Slessor Street and St Jude’s Crescent to reduce crime.

Two petitions to the council and land owners Citizen were previously rejected, leaving neighbours at a dead end.

But a fresh petition launched has now been answered by Coventry City Council, with the authority now set to approve grant funding of £4,986 to enable Citizen to install a gating scheme.

When asked by the LDRS in April, the council did not commit to funding a scheme with a spokesman adding residents would need to fund it themselves, while Citizen added they did not consider it to be a problem area.

However the new grant funding is due to be approved by the cabinet member for strategic finance and resources Cllr John Mutton on Thursday, December 12, financed from the annual Policy Contingency budget.

A report ahead of Thursday’s approval said Cllr Mutton had also been contacted by residents, adding: “Such schemes allow local residents to access to the alleys as keyholders but restrict access to non-residents.

"Perceptions are that such schemes help to reduce illegal and anti-social behaviour.”