Fenton residents call for former prisoners' house to be closed down
A CHARITY is considering shutting down a home for former prisoners following complaints from neighbours.
Families claim they have had to endure threatening and anti-social behaviour from those living at the two-bedroom property in Hitchman Street, Fenton.
They have contacted Christian charity Saltbox to call for its closure.
Saltbox says it does not want to upset its neighbours.
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Dave Rowley, aged 52, of Hitchman Street, inherited his house from his mother who lived in the street for 60 years.
The retired engineer said: "It has been a growing problem and the police come out at all hours to deal with the trouble.
"We have had everything from prostitutes hanging around to drug dealing over the back fence."
His mother Sarah, aged 85, was bedridden with a long-term illness for four months before her death.
He said: "It was affecting her quite badly and she just needed some peace and quiet in her final days."
Mr Rowley says he has been forced to invest in CCTV cameras, a burglar alarm and strong locks.
He said: "I think a big problem is the lack of supervision at the house because more people go in through the windows than the door.
"We often have our nine month-old granddaughter to stay with us and it is not a pleasant environment.
"We want the house to close and have been promised before that it would go."
Saltbox says its clients do not pose a threat, and any concerns raised by neighbours are swiftly dealt with.
The charity runs 30 community houses across North Staffordshire, housing around 70 ex-prisoners. Places are not offered to arsonists or sex offenders.
Chief Executive Lloyd Cooke, aged 44, said: "We run a number of programmes for vulnerable people.
"From time to time there can be issues with clients who are problematic.
"We are very sensitive to these issues."
But neighbours say the behaviour of the tenants is making their lives a nightmare.
Anne Shaw, aged 56, from Hitchman Street, said: "You daren't leave any windows open.
"It is very difficult to ignore when you see these people blind drunk staggering up the street.
"We know they have been to prison which is very intimidating."
The house has been run by the charity for about two-and-a-half years.
Mr Cooke added: "It is very likely we will close this house down because we don't want any bother for the community."
Comments
by levsgirl
Tuesday, September 25 2012, 8:38AM
“I live on Hitchman Street and am trying to sell my house as we've outgrown it as a family - however, following this article I don't expect to be going anywhere anytime soon!!! It makes me so angry because there are people around here trying to earn a living and go about their business without disturbing anyone else, to have a house like this in a street where there are families and nearby primary schools is just ridiculous! Although there's been no direct impact on us at the moment, we have been aware of dodgy goings on, and having been subjected to noisy inconsiderate neighbours in the past I really empathise with the guy mentioned in the article who was just trying to make his mother's last days comfortable and peaceful. As with any other tenant, if these people are causing trouble and making other peoples' lives hell they should be moved on, is there a petition anywhere that I can sign?”
by DJofTNE
Monday, September 24 2012, 5:31PM
“Think they need to take into the account the local area and its gangs of kids that were already there, to blame this house is ignoring the root of the problem.”
by nelsonl
Monday, September 24 2012, 2:07PM
“I understand peoples anger about supporting criminals, but PaulF430 has hit the nail on the head, or shot himself in the foot in his quote
"I'd sooner donate my life's assets to helping an injured animal than a former criminal"---exactly, a former criminal....
Perhaps given a chance this guy might of changed, he might want lead a peaceful life, he has done the time for his crime, isnt it wrong to make him suffer for something he hasnt done this time.
I dont know what the crime was, but if he isnt causing any harm, leave him alone, if he is kick him out, and put someone else who is need in the house.
Some people do deserve a 2nd chance, and need a break to get back into society.
Only my opinion this is, i arent judging whos right or wrong, and as i said if he does do wrong boot him out, until then live peacefully”
by nickyoscar
Monday, September 24 2012, 1:54PM
“dapperdanuk, from the comments made by the residents by this house it seems to me that the issues are not that these former prisoners have been rehoused, it's the trouble that they are causing, (ie, ''drug dealing over the back fence''). I agree that everyone deserves a second chance, however surely these people are abusing their second chance by continuing to involve themselves in criminal activity. Charitable organisations like Saltbox are there to help people to stay on the straight and narrow, not to give them a safe place and somewhere to rest their head after a hard day of law breaking.”
by dapperdanuk
Monday, September 24 2012, 1:29PM
“I know I'll be rated down for saying this... but here it goes anyway.
Surely former prisoners have served their time and would be at a much higher risk of offending if they came out of prison with nowhere to live? I've committed crimes... we all have if we're being honest. Nobody is perfect. If someone comes out of Prison and genuinely wants to make a go of their life, to give back to the community - surely they deserve a second chance?”
by warren-lloyd
Monday, September 24 2012, 12:55PM
“While I would not be a rude as PaulF430, I also have a problem with a Charity being involved in work like this to this extent. We should look at the prison and justice to help prisoners to re enter the wider communities upon completion of there sentence as part of the efforts to stop reoffending.”
by PaulF430
Monday, September 24 2012, 12:10PM
“I love how the chief executive calls them 'Vulnerable people' - what about the people who's lives you're making a misery by housing these scum bags? These criminals made their choice and why on earth we have a CHARITY to support them I will never know. How about you redirect your finances to issues that people genuinely care about, like the RSPCA. I'd sooner donate my life's assets to helping an injured animal than a former criminal. I never thought i'd knock a charity, but come on...”
by warren-lloyd
Monday, September 24 2012, 10:54AM
“Graham, yes.”
by graham44d
Monday, September 24 2012, 10:06AM
“Didnt this charity have a house up meir which had to be closed down due to anti social behaviour? Just close it down and move the problem on.”