Shuffleton gang threat disputed

Published on 1st November 2007 in News

A Goole town councillor and a local neighbourhood watch co-ordinator have both responded to last week's claims that the Shuffleton area of the town is under threat from 'gangs' of youths.

Last week Goole resident Paul Thompson told how a recent Sunday evening walk through the condemned Richard Cooper Street and Phoenix Street left him feeling intimidated by gangs of youths. He hit out at East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) and local politicians for allowing the situation to escalate, ruining the lives of residents elsewhere in the Shuffleton area of Goole.

But this week Gordon Crook, Phoenix Street resident and co-ordinator of the Goole Neighbourhood Watch mobile patrol unit, claimed that the problem had been blown out of proportion.

"The youngsters in the area can be boisterous but if you treat them with respect, they are fine," said Mr Crook this week.

"It is how you approach these youngsters that matters and it doesn't look to me like there is a problem. My biggest worry is that the young ones that are drinking around here could injure themselves. It is dangerous to drink too much."

Mr Crook added: "The main problem in the area is with drug addicts. Two streets are up for demolition here and until the Council makes a decision on what it is going to do, there will always be a problem."

Goole Town councillor for the town's east ward, Kevin Flynn, backed Mr Crook's response to the Shuffleton area concerns.

Cllr Flynn told the Goole Times: "I think the language used by Mr Thompson was a little emotive: there are problems with anti-social behaviour in other areas of Goole as well.

"Richard Cooper Street and Phoenix Street are more or less derelict, and will be a magnet for some vandalism, but it is important to get something sorted to avoid people being attracted to that."