APPALLED residents who bought their homes for £1 are sick of their “s***hole” street where junkies shooting up in alleyways and on a children’s play park.
Locals who live in Corbridge, Stoke-on-Trent say the council “don’t care” about the dumped sofas, rubbish, and drug users hanging around in the alleyways.
Families on Century Street, Cobridge, say they have seen people ‘shooting up’ behind their housesCredit: STEVE ALLEN
David Bailly has lived on the street for years and is appalled at the state of the areaCredit: STEVE ALLEN
Rubbish is thrown all over the streets in the area, locals sayCredit: STEVE ALLEN
The estate near Century Street and Denbigh Street is packed with homes owned by private landlords and a handful of people who bought their homes for a pound off the city council.
One resident bought her home on the street 33 years ago for £11,500 and believes the pound homes plan could have worked if the council had invested in the area.
Instead, the streets have descended into a “s***hole” where residents and young kids are exposed to people taking drugs and other types of anti-social behaviour.
The streets and alleyways surrounding the homes are covered in rubbish and old furniture – with one local saying her house was invaded by squatters who left it covered in used needles.
Images show disused shopping trollies full of rubbish dumped on the side of the street, alongside old clothes and burst black bin bags.
One woman said: “When I bought my house here 33 years ago there was a civic pride in the community.
“The council, the police and the private landlords have a big responsibility for what has happened to the area. It’s appalling how it has changed, so much and none for the better.
“Council staff don’t seem to care and we even had one kerb cleaner drive up the centre of the street and not even bother with either kerb.
“Everyone around here calls the place a sh*thole.”
Retired heavy goods driver David Bailey, 70, who has lived on Century Street for 17 years, told the Sun Online: “We don’t have any problems with neighbours.
“Everyone on the street has their own problems.
“The druggies shooting up in the alleyways is the problem, or even the park as families around here have young kids.”
Stoke-on-Trent council said that they take the concerns of residents very seriously and have partnered with the police to help rid the area of anti-social behaviour.
Resident Alexandra Williams, 22, added: “They say it’s the worse estate in Stoke, but the people around here are good-hearted and would help you out if you needed anything.
“It’s a proper community that is let down by the Government, the local council, the police and lots of private landlords who don’t care about their tenants or their properties.”
Mum-of-six Nicola Bester, 37, said that she has had many run-ins with drug dealers – who she has stood up to in the past.
Nicola said: “I’ve been here nine years and have six children, so have had run-ins with the drug dealers.
Alleyways are full of junkies doing drugs, locals sayCredit: STEVE ALLEN
The streets and alleyways surrounding the homes are covered in rubbish and old furniture
Multiple residents claim that the council do ‘nothing’ to helpCredit: STEVE ALLEN
“I have had the police called on me and been in trouble for standing up to the druggies.”
Speaking about alleged drug users on the street, she added: “I know them and they are trying to make some money.
“I work for a housing disrepair team and these private landlord properties could do with being repaired.
“It’s a bit rough, but every area has their issues. If the police did their job and got rid of the main drug dealers then the area would improve.
“People round here get their cars scratched, their car’s stolen and even blown up.
“I will do my bit to help out in this community. It’s the powers that be not doing their job that leads to the problems.
One local said her house was invaded by squatters who left it covered in used needlesCredit: STEVE ALLEN
Old furniture and rubbish are thrown on the streets in the local area
Stoke-on-Trent council said that they take the concerns of residents very seriouslyCredit: STEVE ALLEN
“My house was deemed not fit to live in after some druggie squatters moved in, but I had them thrown out.
“We found needles and bags of drugs everywhere – I wouldn’t touch the drugs I got the police out for that.”
Across the street, couple Tommy and Carol bought their £1 home seven years ago – but say that they feel “let down” by the council.
Tommy said: “We keep it clean as we can and do our bit, but we are let down by the council.
“The council should spend money on sorting the issues out – instead they seem to be going around erecting new statues for this and that. This area should be a priority.”
And speaking about the drug issue, he added: “It shouldn’t be happening in front of children.”
A Stoke-on-Trent council spokesperson said: “Teams have previously been out in force in the community as a visible presence to reassure residents and act as a deterrent to anti-social behaviour.
“The city council’s community safety, housing and environment teams have repeatedly cleared rubbish from back alleys and issued fines to culprits, installed alleygates and deployable CCTV in partnership with the police and other agencies.
“There is a very active community group in the area and we work with them and support them, they have developed a community garden and events for residents which we also support.
“Our teams work very closely with the police and it is right that the police take action on any criminal activity.
“We take the concerns of residents very seriously and work in partnership to address them.”
Old furniture dumped on the side of the roadCredit: STEVE ALLEN
Families have been left distraught with the state of the estateCredit: STEVE ALLEN
