RESIDENTS LEFT TO PICK UP NEEDLES

FOR more than two years, pregnant mum Isabelle Clement has pleaded
with the council to clean up the drugs-ridden estate where she lives
with her young family.

Traumatised by stepping over dirty needles and drug users to reach her
front door, she says she has called, emailed and written to town hall
staff, attended residents meetings and at her most desperate sent
daily emails containing photos of the dirty needles, alcohol bottles
and even human faeces that litter the stairwell to her flat in
Inglewood Walk, Brunswick.

The blood-spattered and urine-soaked steps, which are regularly used
as a shelter by heroin addicts and prostitutes, are next to a creche
and the only route to first floor homes on the estate.

Isabelle and her neighbours thought they had a breakthrough when, in
2006, the council promised to install fob-operated gates at the top
and bottom of the stairwell so that only residents would have access.
But their hopes of a solution to the 'nightmare' estate were dashed
when the idea, which received planning permission in 2007, was later
withdrawn because the council said it could not justify spending the
money.

Almost 12 months on, Isabelle and her husband Mohamed Deria, who have
a 16-month-old daughter Aliyah and are expecting their second child,
say the council has let them down.

Ms Clement, who is seven months pregnant, said: "I feel traumatised at
the thought of bringing another child into this life. The council
immediately acknowledged the problem and we have tried everything to
get them to help and been patient with them.

Despaired

"We have been on the re-housing list for almost two years but are
clearly not a priority so we were so relieved when we thought we had
got somewhere. I just despaired when they pulled the scheme and I am
amazed they do not consider the health and safety of their tenants,
especially children, to be more important."

In the past year, the council has arranged for the area to be pressure
washed and have given tenants the number of a security firm to move on
unwanted visitors but residents say the clean-ups do not always happen
and addicts only return after they are moved away.

Tom Forrest, 62, has lived on the estate for nine years and has even
resorted to picking up needles himself. He said: "It was the only
solution to clear them before children leave for school. There's no
excuse for the council not to do anything. We've tried everything and
feel very disappointed that nothing has happened."

Within days of the M.E.N making a phone call to the council, officers
have now promised to look again at finding a solution.

A council spokesman said residents were not expected to clean the area
and added: "The city council are aware of the issues at Inglewood Walk
with individuals using the communal stairwell for illegal activity and
leaving the area in an unclean condition.

"In an effort to combat this, the city council has arranged for the
stairwell to be blocked off with a gateway and a public walkway
realigned. The plans for this work have been changed and this has
regrettably caused some delays. Further consultation with the
residents is now necessary before the work is ordered and this will
commence in the next few weeks."