Home / Crime and Justice / Residents Demand Alley Closure After Assault
Residents Demand Alley Closure After Assault
27 Mar
Summary
- Over 700 signatures petition for alley closure after assault.
- Resident reports constant abuse and fence damage for 13 years.
- Council cites public right of way for inability to close route.
A petition urging the closure of an alleyway, labeled a 'crime magnet,' has garnered over 700 signatures following a recent sexual assault. Residents describe the path between Manse Road and Gladstone Street as a persistent source of anti-social behavior, including drug use and vandalism.
One long-term resident has lived adjacent to the alley for 13 years, enduring regular abuse and damage to her garden fence, which she estimates has cost thousands to repair. She also reported strangers frequently entering her garden, causing anxiety for her children.
Another local, who has lived in the area for 25 years, initiated the petition. He emphasized the alley's unsafety for women and girls, particularly after dark, and expressed concern over the risks it poses. He believes closing such alleyways has proven effective in reducing crime and assault risks in other parts of the country.
A spokesperson for Telford and Wrekin Council acknowledged residents' concerns but stated the alley cannot be closed because it is a legally recognized public right of way and does not meet the legal thresholds for closure.
