Residents call for action on estate they say is 'worse than Shameless'

People living in the Williamfield area of the town say it has fallen victim to anti-social behaviour and untidiness - likening it to the Channel 4 comedy-drama series set on a fictional Manchester housing estate.

Dorothy Bowman, 79, has lived in the area of Eskdale, Langdale and Silverdale Places for 26 years but says it is becoming increasingly plagued by "dirty, untidy gardens, smashed windows and broken fences".

She has blamed private landlords, social landlord Livin and a lack of funding being injected into the area.

"Most of the trouble comes from private landlord houses," said Mrs Bowman. "There is anti-social behaviour, eggs being thrown at houses, bricks thrown, cars damaged, fighting, drugs and alcohol. The whole area has deteriorated.

"My wish for this area is that it's lifted up to the standard of everywhere else and that it's a place that people would like to live."

Mrs Bowman, who says there are good tenants on the estate, believes people are moving out of the area as a result which is adding to an existing issue of empty houses.

A Livin tenant, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It's worse than Shameless. There's always been a problem with anti-social behaviour. I have kids who want to move because of the area but why should we move when somebody can do something about it?"

They are calling for a crack-down on private-rented and social tenants as well as help with funding in the area.

Great Aycliffe Town Councillor Ken Robson has backed their campaign.

He said: "Problems would appear to be increasing as private landlords snap up relatively inexpensive housing in the area.

"Local social landlords Livin have procedures in place to deal firmly with anti-social behaviour by problem tenants, however private landlords many of whom live outside the area appear not to care about this pleasant place or indeed the peaceful coexistence with neighbours.

"Unfortunately a few badly behaved people are giving the area a reputation for anti social behaviour."

Alan Boddy, Livin executive director housing and business development, said: “Where the problems have been caused by our tenants we have taken direct action but of course not all residents are livin’s tenants.

"Experience tells us that the most effective way of tackling issues of this nature is in partnership with all stakeholders, in this instance private landlords, the police and the local authority."