'Please close our crime magnet alleyway'

1 day ago

Alex Jamesin Hadley

Katharine Williams has lived by the alley between Manse Road and Gladstone Street for 13 years

BBC/ Alex James A woman with rainbow coloured hair stands next to a white fence in an alleyway. She is wearing a grey hoodie and is wearing glasses. On the left of the photo is a chain link fence covered in ivy. — Katharine Williams has lived by the alley between Manse Road and Gladstone Street for 13 years

More than 700 people have signed a petition to close a "crime magnet" alleyway where a 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted last month.

Katharine Williams has lived near the path between Manse Road and Gladstone Street, in Hadley, Telford, for 13 years and said it was often full of human faeces and rubbish.

Williams said it was "torture" living next to the alleyway because of anti-social behaviour, such as drug-use and drinking, at all hours of the day.

A spokesperson for Telford and Wrekin Council said: "We understand the concerns of residents, but are unable to close the route as it is a legally designated public right of way and does not meet the legal criteria for closure."

More than 700 people have so far signed the petition to close the alley

BBC/ Alex James A photo of an alleyway with wooden fences either side. The ground is uneven and muddy. On the right one of the fences has been kicked in and has collapsed — More than 700 people have so far signed the petition to close the alley

Williams said she felt like she had to be home at certain times to prevent people using the alleyway from kicking down her garden fence - something she says happens regularly.

"Nearly every day I'll get my fence panels kicked in or I'll get abuse shouted at me. I've even had a bin of glass thrown in my garden."

She said she had spent thousands replacing fenceposts every year since she moved to the area 13 years ago and that she often came home to strangers in her garden.

"Even my kids have started to watch the garden because they're anxious about it."

Paul Savage said the alley was poorly lit, narrow and secluded, which made it unpleasant to walk through alone

BBC/ Alex James A man is standing in an alley next to a white fence. He is wearing a grey flat cap and a grey jumper. To the left of the image is a chain link fence covered in ivy. — Paul Savage said the alley was poorly lit, narrow and secluded, which made it unpleasant to walk through alone

Paul Savage has lived in the area for 25 years and currently lives opposite the alley. He is one of the people behind the petition to close it.

He said he believed that the alley was a space in the community that was unsafe for women and girls, especially at night.

Savage added he did not feel comfortable letting his daughters and granddaughters walk down the path without him.

"We want to reduce crime, we want to make the environment safe for women and girls and we want to reduce the risk of assault. You reduce risk by closing alleyways like this ... it's been used elsewhere in the country.

"I think if we can close this alleyway it will reduce the risk that women and girls are exposed to."

The council said it would continue to work with residents, partners and enforcement agencies to explore what practical steps could be taken to address issues.

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