RESIDENTS WAITING FOR SECURITY PATROLS DESPITE CATALOGUE OF CRIME (Kirklees Liberal Democrats)

Kirklees Liberal Democrats <info@kirkleeslibdems.org.uk>

RESIDENTS WAITING FOR SECURITY PATROLS DESPITE CATALOGUE OF CRIME

August 12, 2008 10:28 PM

A senior Huddersfield Councillor has called for Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing to urgently fund security patrols at a town centre block of flats.

A senior Huddersfield Councillor has called for Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing to urgently fund security patrols at a town centre block of flats. Buxton House flats have been repeatedly subject to vandalism and crime over the last year. Councillor John Smithson (Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group) is now asking why KNH or the Cabinet haven't provided emergency funds to get the problem sorted out.

A report to Huddersfield South Area Committee details how drug users and alcoholics sneak into the Buxton House building, leaving a trail of damage including blood, faeces and vomit in corridors and lifts. The blocks, which are managed by KNH, have no security patrols at present.

Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing manage the block of flats. Instead of providing money for the security patrols themselves KNH have asked for the Area Committee to pay to put the security patrols in place.

Cllr John Smithson (Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader) said today "I think it is wrong that Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing are trying to pass on this cost to the Area Committee. The Cabinet and KNH are responsible for maintaining safe and secure homes for local residents - tenants pay their rents and their homes should be secure. I think it is very shocking that the report states these crimes, including drug taking, threats with knives and vandalism, have been going on for a year.

"The cabinet and KNH should have acted long ago. It is their responsibility and to try and shuffle this on to the area committee is irresponsible - people are still waiting. I think serious questions must be answered about why this problem has been going on for so long.

"If KNH doesn't have some money set aside for funding emergency security issues like this then the budget should be reviewed immediately. I expect the cabinet to take immediate steps to ensure that residents don't end up in this position again."