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Video: Elderly Peterborough residents plagued by louts
FEARFUL elderly residents of a street in West Town, Peterborough have finally spoken out after being plagued by anti-social behaviour.
FEARFUL elderly residents of a street in West Town, Peterborough have finally spoken out after being plagued by anti-social behaviour.The decision by a group of vulnerable residents from Vintners Close, West Town, was sparked by gangs of youths hanging around in their doorways, smoking and urinating in their bin storage area as well as causing them to have sleepless nights because they are afraid.
One 90-year-old woman even called police after being frightened by yobs banging on her window late at night.
Now police community support officers (PCSOs) Louise Waldron and Ronnie Durell have upped their patrols in the area and are working with Minster Housing to try and tackle the problems by locking gates and bin wells.
The street, which is behind Peterborough Hospital, boasts well-kept gardens and 88-year-old Betty Pywell, who moved into her flat 31 years ago soon after they were built, said the problems had escalated over the last few years.
She said: "I can't go to bed if they are out there talking as I am fretting and on edge and sometimes they are hanging around until midnight. By then you are too disturbed to sleep.
"My son had to sweep away cigarette butts as there are often piles of them outside our door and they make a mess of the bins. I know there are some people afraid to go out at night.
"But the extra police patrols seem to be working."
Speaking outside the flats, resident Carl Catley (76) said: "I can look after myself and I am not afraid to go out but I know a lot of my neighbours are elderly women living on their own and I always go out for them at night.
"We were all young once and these gangs - they are about school leaving age - are not bad kids really but they do create a lot of noise and mess. They must understand that they can be intimidating if they are hanging about just outside your door."
PCSO Waldron said: "A lot of what the youths are doing are not necessarily crimes but their behaviour is having a devastating impact on the quality of people's lives in the area.
"There is a cut-through from Mayor's Walk to Vintners Close which we are looking to work with the Co-op to shut at night.
"And there are various other things we can do, like making more patrols to make life better for residents here."
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Weather for Peterborough
Sunday 12 February 2012
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Temperature: 1 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
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