A group of residents from Beech Avenue and Ash Grove in Spennymoor had a meeting with the police on Wednesday, 6th June, 2012, over concerns of anti-social behaviour in the area. The meeting took place in the open space area at the rear of both Beech Avenue and Ash Grove and had been arranged by a resident, Pete Molloy.
Pete Molloy said “A couple of residents had informed me of the increase of anti-social behaviour in the form of drug taking and drinking near the school gate of the open space area, so I said to them that I would go to the police and arrange a meeting with them, so they could express their concerns.”
PC Jamie Rielly and PCSO Katie Staincliffe attended the meeting on behalf of the police and the group of residents were able to inform the two officers what had been happening with anti-social behaviour with older teenagers and this was preventing parents allowing their young children from using the open space.
The teenagers causing the anti-social behaviour had been using the bench and the upright painted logs to sit while the drug taking was in the over grown bushes, which was identified by the police. PC Jamie Rielly promised to contact Durham County Council to see if they could help with the problems identified.
After PC Rielly contacted Durham County Council a further meeting took place on Wednesday, 13th June, 2012, with Phil Brooks, a Team Leader from Durham County Council’s Streetscene department in attendance.
The police and Pete Molloy were in agreement that the bench and the upright painted logs needed to be removed and the over grown bushes pruning back. Mr Brooks said this work was possible to do and reassured the police and Pete Molloy that the work would commence from the end of June 2012.
The open space area currently has no litter bins, but this will change with two litter bins being installed from the end of June after Pete Molloy made a further phone call to Durham County Council’s Streetscene department.
Pete Molloy added “I would like to thank the police and the Streetscene department for taking the resident’s concerns seriously and acting on them. Hopefully now we will see a reduction in the amount of anti-social behaviour in the area.”
Based on information supplied by Pete Molloy.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here