Have your say on Fazeley & Mile Oak alleyways
Do the alleyways add to anti social behaviour problems?……………….. Should any or all of them be closed? ……………………………………… … Or do you think they are useful and should stay open?…………………Which road do you live in? …………………………………………………Anything else to say?
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26 comments
So far I’ve had two petitions with a total of 85 names on suggetsting that the alleyways do contribute to the problem of anti social behaviour.
I’ve also had a petition with a lot fewer names on suggesting they are useful for parents walking the kids to school. The more views the better in understanding how to continue in tackling anti social, yobbish and drunken behaviour.
But remember, this problem is mainly limited to a few specific small areas of Fazeley/Mile Oak and we will stamp it out.
im just writing to say as i would suggest about the bottom of deer park rd as i live by it.thats you talking about alleyways being closed off.well yes,i have mentioned this walkway by us be closed off,or active to residents when the building site behind us is erected.its been an ongoing problem since we’ve lived here.or either open it up,and not make it,into a pitstop,for use for cars driving through,as i know people have complained about turning their cars round at the bottom of the rd.but one further comment i must add,as im constantly phoning the police about this,is could you put in a ban for ball games,as the tremendous noise drives us crazy when they start,banging the ball up against the fences,and the shouting and roudy behaviour.but mostly the whacking of the ball.tremendous noise.would be a good idea.theirs my thoughts,this is regards to bottom of deer park rd alleyway,drive thru.thankyou!
hi as i have lived in deer park rd close to the alleyway in question i must put my views across.
one thing i would like to know is would this be happening if it had not been closed? i dont think so
i clearly feel the alleyway is a useful solutuion for a lot of people and me being one of them hope it stays open and i can honestly say i can count at least another 20-30 people that use it and cant wait for it to be reopened.
i use it for taking my child to school, and i would much prefer to take my child through there than on a busy main road anyday, and my children also like feeding the ducks, which is something that gives the little ones much pleasure at only a stones throw away
i feel if the police were patrolling the streets alot more then alot of the anti social behaviour would be stamped out and if the booze ban does work then i think that will stop alot of the yobbish behaviour too
im hoping when the new houses are finally finished then lighting will be a lot better as it is so dark, that deters alot of anti social behaviour
matthew
let me first thank you on all the good work you do in the area
i have recently moved from a bad area to a very quiet one
with the gully being closed near deerpark i do think this as helped stop the youths coming through to mile oak but also would be handy for parents taking there children to school,the question i suppose is it helping the police with them going the long way around
i use the gully’s four times a day if not more from price avenue up to affleck and then into allton avenue, also my eldest son use these to go to his friends which i prefer as he is not using the main road
but i do think these are a hot spots for the youths etc anti social behaviour but NOT ALL THE YOUTHS
but i do believe closing the gully’s is not the answer,i think the police should patrol a little more
thanks for all your help les
Alleyways may marginally contribute to anti-social behaviour, giving alternative getaways etc.
BUT this is far outweighed by the pleasanter
environment they engender. Walking and cycling are encouraged these days for health and environmental reasons - the alleyways and off-road shortcuts are really valuable and much pleasanter (without hard paving and petrol fumes).
Anti-social people are the issue - are we dealing with their life issues effectively - housing, training for jobs, alcohol, illness?
David & Mary
replying again this last time for the area as ive lived in deer park rd now for seven years,regarding yobbish out of control behaviour.and everything’s all talk talk.
we live by these so called alleyways,and as you say,it is routes for people that people use to go through these alleyways.granted.very ideal and economical for them.
but just to say to you,have some consideration of the people who live by these alleyways,and what they are going through,and what they have to put up with,with the yobbish behaviour,drinking,vandalism,drug use,ball games.imagine yourself living by one of these areas,especially where i am,down by the garages,at the bottom of deer park rd.and imagine loads of youths outside your household.creating a hell load of noise,and intimidation,when you pass these yobs.policing would be great,if it could be patrolled more regularly.but at the end of the day,nobody could possibly imagine what its like living by an alleyway,with a hell load of trouble by it,until they lived by it.its all well and good,these people saying it gives them access.but please have some concideration,for the people living by it.make some happen,instead of talk talk.7 years of mental anguish,being by a hell zone.were having to move out.had enough!but i sincerely hope you sort out this problem one day.and give the law abiding citizens piece of mind.as the people by these alleyways are suffering turmoil.and why should we?from other families yobbish youths?thanks for reading.and aurevoir!
They must not close!
Every time we compromise to these missfits their philosophy wins and wins.
Look outside the box 4 other answers, be innovative not not manipulated.
Regards Ade
just one more comment i would like to add to let you know.ive phoned the police,about antisocial behaviours regarding congregating in alleyways by us numerous times.its always the same individuals,that do it.ive even learned over the seven years of the names of these individuals.and reported names that cause the nuisance.the approach from the police,when they do arrive is to either warn them to stop what they are doing,or move them on.what kind of detterant is that ?relating over the seven years either alcohol,smashing bottles,drug use.leaving containers and syringes down here,or ball games,where there blasting the ball around,vandalism of the fences.and roudy noise they weve put up with.ive got loads of incident numbers at hand ive saved.but to let you know.why,use this softly approach with the reoccuring culprits?why not use a zero tolerance approach about this?are all these politicians if they become too harsh with these minors of 16-20 years of age,think they’ll lose votes with the famillies concerned?as i tell you,the majority of the law abiding citizens outways the culprits and there famillies,causing trouble in the neighbourhood for sure.
Bryan suggests that it is electoral votes which would determine my view on the alleyway situation… I assure Bryan that my position on this will be based on what is best for the community.
Not on a referendem and not on petitions I receive. All of that will help me judge what I think is best but in the end I must listen to what the people who live in Fazeley and Mile Oak say and then make my mind up on what I think should be done.
I’ve talked to many people who live by and around the alleyways and the drinking and yobbish behaviour which often occurs into the early hours isn’t fair to those people. I’ve said many times recently that from what I see and hear, the area is a very pleasant place to live but is being spoiled by small groups of people who have got nothing better to do than cause distress to others.
One way or another this will be addressed.
Adrian’s comment is also valid. I’ve already ensured that policing in the area is greater than it was 18 months ago and am constantly looking, with the police, at ways to improve it further. I’m hopeful that when the new police office is fully up and running in Mill Lane it will offer even greater police presence on the ground more of the time.
The alleyways do appear to contribute to the problem of bad behaviour but there will be no ‘jerk reactions’. They do also offer useful cut throughs to a significant number of people, particularly when walking the kids to school, but the number one priority for me is to try and eradicate, as far as possible, behaviour which causes upset and concern to others.
Please keep the discussion going and encourage others you see in the area to have their say too. All comments are helpful when coming to a view on what should be done.
i do agree in what others have said where i last lived it was opposite the gully in affleck avenue and i used it 3 or 4 times a day to school shop etc
i have also mentioned to the police the main times youths (yobs) if this is what some want to call them the times they do congragate on the gully mostly when school finishes and can be up until 9pm, and i do agree the police do know the names of the same faces that are always there
it is not fair then to some of the primary school children who do walk down from school on their own without parents
MY PERSONAL OPINION IS BEFORE EVEN THINKING OF CLOSING THE ALLEYS, THE POLICE SHOULD BE POTROLLING TO SEE IF THE SAME FACES CONTINUE CAUSING PROBLEMS
AND TO ADD ALSO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE NEAR THEM WITH THE SAME FACES AND NAMES THEY REPORT, I CAN’T SEE THE POINT WHILST THESE PEOPLE KEEP FILING OUT FORMS WHEN NOTHING IS DONE
The alleyways should remain open the people who are against this are the ones that do not use them. The alleyway between Deer Park Road and Manor Road being closed doubles my journey of the simple trip to the hospital. As a pensioner already I feel that the closure will only become a more major problem with age.
Hello Matthew -
I’m sure I’m not the only one who read this comment of yours about how you will make decisions…
“Not on a referendem and not on petitions I receive. All of that will help me judge what I think is best but in the end I must listen to what the people who live in Fazeley and Mile Oak say and then make my mind up on what I think should be done.”
Perhaps I can ask on their behalf “what value democracy?” if you are not going to make decisions based on a referendum? “What value the voice of the people?” if you will not take action based on petitions?
Come on Matthew…you’ve done your own door to door surveys…are they as useless as petitions and referenda? If so - why do them??
And don’t say you’ll base your position on what you hear door to door. In face to face situations people will tell you what they think you want to hear. You’ll get the real message from people through anonymous devices like a referendum, a petition and a ballot box.
John W
Matthew, a breath of fresh air at last,my house is the one pictured. We have suffered for 24 years i.e. abuse, noise, filth, litter etc etc. If the alleyways were closed,access to Longwood School could be via the community centre as it was years ago, for the Deer Park,Manor Road and other Mile Oak families. The old A5 has a wide footpath and grass verge for pedestrians coming from Bonehill, although most travel by car.I would certainly like to discuss all possibilities with yourself.Many thanks
to the suggestion about gaining access via community centre,
i myself think this is a bad idea, the school suffers many problems, only 2 days the little oaks play area( recently built) was vandalised
i think the school should have the one main entrance, i know the school has the entrance3 aswell via george avenue but from what i remember this caused problems via the last offsted inspection
i would not like to think whilst my 3 children was at school their could be 3 openings open
especially with what is in the media with poor amadeline mcann
matthew.it sounds to me your going to keep the alleyways open,whats causing a problem.as i see alot of people complaining about them being closed.
we have mentioned cctv in the trobled area spots,and i realise this is costly,as weve looked into it.that mayby one deterrant for the thugs.
also,where i live at the bottom of deer park road.just before you get to the shops.any chance that you can stop the ball games down here,as it’s a constant nuisance with the noise.
and also these yobs that are causing the nuisance behaviour,why arent they on asbos?asked this to one policeman,and weas told they would breach it all the time.not give a monkeys about it.so could you look into deterrants for these reocurring individuals we have to put up with from mileoak,and deer park,between 15 years to 18 years please,as they congregate just outside by us causing a mockery,and its quite intimidating,as there can be up to 30 youths out here,causing a total menace out here when they start please too.
thankyou,mr bryan garland.
A quick comment regarding John W’s views on democracy, petitions and referendums.
Firstly, I am absolutely passionate about democracy and accountability for all those in elected office.
Petitions are hugely important for raising issues and ensuring they are examined properly and fairly. But we live in a representative democracy. Some people are more likely to make their views known. Some have the ability to ’shout’ louder than others.
A Greek style democracy where those who can shout loudest always get their way is unfair in that it doesn’t take account of those who can’t or don’t make their views known as strongly.
The fact I take the trouble to set up consultations like this, I hope, goes some way to confirming I want to be fair and listen to as many views as possible. The 20 or so public comments and 33 private comments received by e-mail are very important in helping me to get a rounded view.
Tackling anti social behaviour in Fazeley and Mile Oak is my number one priority. More police now than before, alcohol control orders and a real crackdown on bad behaviour confirm that determination.
I’ll examine all the information and points of view from everyone who wishes to let me know what they think and then try to reach an informed decision on where I stand on this.
Just for the record, from what I see so far, there is clear evidence that the closure of the alleyway at the top of Deer Park Road has had a positive effect on reducing anti social behaviour. If other ways can be found of making sure it does not again become such a problem then that is fine. If not then the priority has to be stamping out bad behaviour.
Please keep views coming.
hi matthew
just like to comment on your last point
”Just for the record, from what I see so far, there is clear evidence that the
closure of the alleyway at the top of Deer Park Road has had a positive effect
on reducing anti social behaviour. I would certainly take some convincing to
support that being permanently reopened under the circumstances.”
firstly from my own personal opinion i have not noticed any difference in anti social behaviour whilst the alleyway has been closed, there still is the matter of large groups gathering around the garage area near the shops at the bottom end of deer park, which i still feel is the major problem with deer park.
and secondly keep the alley closed and the yobs have won.
it will be punishing law abibing citizens who use the alley as means of getting to work, or taking there children to school.
debbie
Hi Matthew
Re:Alleyways.
I read the article in the Herald regarding the closure of the alleyway between Manor Road and Reindeer Road/Deer Park Road.
Whilst I can understand how the Fazeley resident feels as I used to use the alleyway almost daily (as a non driver) to get to the bus stop on the A5.
Although I have a longer walk to the bus, the difference it has made having it closed is great. I live in Reindeer Road and the alleyway runs alongside our house, whilst it was open we had eight panes of glass broken in the greenhouse as well as rubbish thrown over the fence. One day whilst I was gardening I had an empty Coke can just miss me.
People used to congregate on the bridge, until the early hours of the morning and they didn’t just talk, they shouted and at 1.00am in the morning this is no joke!
Hopefully, it will remain closed.
Cath Wallis
As like Debbie and many others i use the alleyways upto 4 times a day taking my children to school, add on another 4 times when he has cubs. consider this .. the pavement on the main Watling street between Manor Road and Price avenue is barely wide enough to fit 2 people on. I walk 3 children to school and have a pram. i have walked this, purposely, on a bin day. in the morning it was difficult as all the bins and boxes out, on the afternoon i was having to stop every 2 or 3 houses, put brakes on pram and move the bins to get past.
when my daughter starts walking i will be within inches of main road in order to hold her hand. it will not be possible for parents to share the school run as many children need there hands held. this will mean a considerate amount of parents and children all making a daily dangerous walk to school. In the event of parents walking in opposite directions one will have to wait on someones drive or garden to let the other past.
I walked safely to Longwood school over 30 years ago through the alleys, now my children are facing the possiblity of a very dangerous daily walk.
Sharon
Hi Matthew
Having read what Sharon has to say, I sympathise
but it does not change my view about the closure of the alleyway between Reindeer road, Deer Park road/Manor Road.
It must be very difficult with small children and usually they are not the problem when accompanied by their mother/father I am afraid it is the unaccompanied children and youths who seem to think it is funny to destroy other peoples property and having had this for some time I feel it is a time for it to stop.
Unfortunately, some parents often do not even know where their children are, let alone what they are doing.
I know that if I had caused half the trouble that they do I would have been skinned alive by my father.
Cath Wallis
Hi Matthew re alleyways
People are saying that the anti social behaviour is less with the Deer Park to Manor Road alley way shut, they comment on the fact that youths used to congregate on the bridge. Have any of them actually been to see if the way is open, if they had they would see that you can get on to the bridge with sufficient space for the world and his mate to congregate. The only thing one can’t do is get into Manor Road because there is a board across the path. So come on lets have less whinging, open it up and let us return to the promised Public Right of way Thanks
The arguments are very strong from both points of view looking at the comments so far.
I too have sympathy for both arguments. What thoughts on a possible half way house solution of, say, closing some or all alleyways off from 7pm at night to 7am in the morning?
Not sure how that could work in practice but would that be worth considering and importantly would that help to stop the anti social behaviour whilst allowing local people use of the alleyways during daylight hours?
hi matthew
just to add to what mrs bastow said i totally agree with what has been said, the actual spot that the youths used to congregate in is open and ready for them to use what is the point of the alleyway being closed?
i do agree somewhat with closing the alleyway between certain times but can we be assured that its going to be open every morning for us to take our children to school?
i have been and looked at the lighting and feel its alot more lit up and this will deter alot of anti social behaviour
debbie
Matthew, Whilst i understand Mr and Mrs Wallis point regarding anti social behaviour in relation to the Deer Park, Manor Road access.Is it right to penalise parents who use the gully for the safe transport of their children to and from school.
With the apparent increase in Police Officers surely incorporating the identified trouble spots in the daily police beat will deter and congregating by youths. Perhaps including the Deer Park estate in the regular route by community oficers or street wardens would increase the security of these areas (i thought thats what we pay council tax for)
Perhaps by adopting a trial period of opening the alleyway and then conducting a further questionnaire would provide valuable insight into the state of the anti social behaviour.
There seems to be a lot of speculation as to what might happen. Surely by opening the alleyway for a trial period would give declarative evidence.
Debbie
Hi Matthew
Perhaps as Debbie says a trial period of opening the alleyway for parents to take and collect their children to school might work.
Can you tell me where is the increase in Police officers etc, you only see the odd one going round the estate by car. It needs more officers on foot to hopefully deter the youths congregating on the bridge, not at the same time each day (they would get used to that and go in between times).
How long would this trial period be for?
Cath Wallis
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