News Gangs taking over Shuffleton area
'Renovation or demolition of Phoenix Street and Richard Cooper Street - Someone should make a decision to save the future of Shuffleton.'
These were the views of Goole resident Paul Thompson this week as he told how a recent Sunday evening walk through the two condemned streets left him feeling 'intimidated' by gangs of youths. He has since hit out at East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) and local politicians for allowing the situation to ruin the lives of residents living in the Shuffleton area of Goole.
"I took a walk around the Shuffleton area to observe for myself the conditions that the residents of Phoenix Street and Richard Cooper Street have to endure," said Mr Thompson this week.
"I have never felt so intimidated. Gangs of youths were lurking menacingly and behaving in a raucous, threatening manner.
"Outside the shop in Argyle Street I was approached by a group of teenagers who asked me to go to the shop for them, and I was met with a torrent of verbal abuse when I refused.
"The residents of this area shouldn't have to put up with such behaviour. I'm a tall man and when I refused to buy alcohol for the youths I felt intimidated, so how the elderly people in the area feel, I don't know.
"There has been an unofficial curfew imposed on residents in the Shuffleton area, and I can't remember the last time I saw a policeman in this area. Youths and drug users wander free in the area, and police should have a bigger presence."
And Mr Thompson added that the actions, or lack of, from ERYC and local politicians has 'made his blood boil'.
"Goole Town Council has done nothing to put pressure on East Riding Council to get on with decision-making over the future of these streets. Some say renovation, some say demolition - but either way, it has to be sorted.
"East Riding Council could issue compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) on the remaining occupied houses but it won't.
"Throughout the country there have been similar cases of councils losing in court when trying to issue CPOs. It is turning into a war of attrition, and the people of Shuffleton are the ones that are losing.'
Mr Thompson also posed questions to a number of local figures, asking Goole MP Ian Cawsey why he was not using his influence to pressure ERYC into taking action on the matter, and asking prospective Conservative Goole MP Andrew Percy why, as a Tory, he does not hold any 'sway' with the Conservative-controlled ERYC.
Mr Thompson also asked that Goole's Town Mayor, Cllr Jean Kitchen, should represent the whole of Goole and not just her ward, Goole North East.
Cllr Kitchen replied: "I was brought up in Shuffleton, so have naturally always taken an interest in the area. Cllr Beryl Beck-Taylor keeps me informed on the area, as do ERYC officers, and I am constantly in touch with police.
"Mr Thompson had the opportunity to stand for co-option onto the Town Council when there was a vacancy earlier this year. If co-opted, he could have voiced his concerns to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council."
Andrew Percy responded this week by inviting Mr Thompson to meet him, in order to discuss his concerns.
Mr Percy said: "I have, in the past, been subjected to similar abuse myself for daring to stand up to abusive youths on street corners. I am not a member of East Riding Council but I am certainly willing to meet with Mr Thompson and speak to him about these issues before taking these back to our councillors.
"I know that councillors of all parties are often frustrated from doing what they would like to do on so many issues because their hands are so often tied by some silly Government diktat.
"Sadly, there is little democracy in local democracy these days. Too much of what happens locally is decided in London. I would welcome the opportunity to spend some time with Mr Thompson and I can assure him that I will always do whatever I can to stand up for the rights of those who try to do the right thing in out society."
Ian Cawsey told the Goole Times this week: "I went to see the state of Richard Cooper Street late one Saturday night after Paul contacted me and I met with the Senior Management Team of East Riding of Yorkshire Council to stress that whatever their plans are for the area, they need to get on with it as soon as possible.
"I go back to the streets at least once a month and it is a grim and oppressive sight. The Council say there are still 12 properties they have not yet managed to acquire and the next stage is to progress to Compulsory Purchase of the remaining properties.
"The Council intends to approach this by establishing a preferred developer and then bringing forward a planning application, as an application has to be in place for a CPO to be agreed.
"They are about to commence this process and I have urged them to give this part of town their highest priority and to ensure the Government funding they have been allocated is spent in a way that transforms this part of the town and makes it an attractive and safe place for people to live in."
Published on 25th October 2007 in News.
Add to: Digg | del.icio.us | Reddit
Comments
Posted by Kevn Whiteley at 10:50:02 on 29 October 2007
Understand your problem the same goes for the Timms Mill Site. I emailed someone in a high position at GTC regarding Timms Mill last May although it was not in there remit they did reply (GOOLE IN BLOOM)K.. Hell do we need flowers or should we get this town sorted out ERC are you listening?
Comments are closed for this article.