Residents bid for anti-social behaviour crackdown (Middleton)

Residents of Mount Road in Alkrington are hoping to get a passageway close to Penrhyn Park permanently closed because of the level of anti-social behaviour that takes place there.

A group of Mount Road residents claim that the level of drinking and drug taking, vandalism and arson in the alley is making their lives miserable. The youths causing the trouble have even set-up an old sofa in the alley so that they can sit and drink beer.

The residents are now pleading with the council to close the alley, which is an unadopted road, and officers have said that this could be possible through the Magistrates Court.

One disgruntled neighbour said: "We understand that this process will take time but we need something doing now. Even if it is just a temporary measure before the alley is closed permanently.

"I am sick to death of it but there must be something we can do now. There is nothing to do down there, it's a dead end, so anyone who goes down there is up to no good."

Council officials have made assurances that if they can secure funding the alley will be permanently closed. In the meantime police officers will meet with residents to discuss the problems of anti-social behaviour and the alley will be cleaned continually before the closure is secured.