WITH lighter nights on the way, fed-up residents have renewed calls for security fences to keep out wheelchair joyriders and randy couples. 

Tenants at flats at Cranham Court in Warndon, Worcester say they have yet to hear whether they will get metal security fencing and gates as they continue to be plagued by loutish behaviour.

It is over six months since concerns were first raised with landlords Platform Housing. Wardon city councillor Jill Desayrah continues to press for action on behalf of Cranham Court residents so they have fencing like that at Sheepscombe Drive and Randwick Drive.

A multi-agency meeting was held last July. In December, Platform said the request for security measures was still under review.

Worcester News: FENCING: Residents at Cranham Court don't see why metal fencing like this can't be extended to protect other parts of the housing complexFENCING: Residents at Cranham Court don't see why metal fencing like this can't be extended to protect other parts of the housing complex (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Complaints raised by residents to Cllr Desayrah include:

  • Litter in the car park and communal garden including fish and chip wrappers and McDonald's rubbish
  • The wooden fence being kicked repeatedly 
  • People jumping off flat stairwells
  • A communal gate to the flats being damaged
  • Youths 'joyriding' in a stolen fold-up wheelchair last October
  • A couple having 'noisy sex' in the communal garden last summer 
  • Stones being thrown at residents' windows
  • 'Menacing behaviour by intruders'
  •  People throwing bottles and cans onto their property 
  • Non-residents smoking cannabis in the communal garden
  • Non-residents defecating in the communal garden

Since the request was made, residents Pam and Graham Key have suffered more antisocial behaviour.

READ MORE: Cranham Court could be gated at night to protect residents 

READ MORE: First randy couple, now wheelchair joyriders in Cranham Court

Mr Key, 72, said a group of five 11 or 12-year-olds were climbing on their garden shed about three weeks ago.

Mrs Key, 59, said: "I said 'excuse me, this is someone's garden!'."

"They could hurt themselves," said Mr Key, 72.

He expressed the hope that the sex in the communal garden last year was 'a one-off'. But, with lighter nights on the way, a repeat was 'in the back of our minds'.

Mr Key added: "We would feel much safer if we had a secure perimeter."

Lyn Gleeson, 55, another resident, said: "We're not against people having sex - in the privacy of their own homes."

Some work has been done by Platform to improve security - an old fence had been smashed down by vandals but has been replaced by Platform Housing with a new wooden one. But residents want something sturdier, perhaps made of concrete.

Cllr Desayrah first raised security fencing with Platform in June and at least three times since. There is metal fencing near the entrance to the flats in Cranham Drive and feels this could be extended to enclose the complex with a key fob system for residents.

She added: "I would appreciate it if Platform come and investigate the possibility (of security fencing) to improve the lives of these residents. They deserve to feel secure in their own homes."

Platform Housing was unavailable for comment. Safer Neighbourhood Inspector Tanya Beckett of West Mercia said: "My team and I, along with the ASB team have researched this. We can confirm that we have had no reports in relation to this location since the beginning of this year and there are no issues or concerns previously raised with us. We have no knowledge of any of the incidents you list.

"I would of course encourage residents to report any crime or ASB to the Police, but as it stands I can confirm that this sits firmly with Platform Housing as the lead agency."