Smethwick High Street Plagued by Break-Ins and Fly-Tipping as HMO Decision Looms
Business owners in Smethwick are voicing serious concerns about ongoing problems including break-ins, parking issues, and fly-tipping as a controversial HMO development hangs in the balance. Despite £20 million in government funding earmarked for regenerating the town over the next decade, locals say existing problems on the High Street have been ignored for too long.
Controversial HMO Proposal Could Worsen Street Issues
The proposed 11-bed house of multiple occupation was rejected by Sandwell Council last year amid warnings it would turn parts of the borough into slums. However, a government inspector could still overturn the decision following an appeal launched earlier this year. Residents previously warned the HMO would make everything 100 times worse on a street already plagued by overflowing bins, rats, and blocked drains.
One takeaway owner stated: Smethwick is a fantastic place. It's wrong to just call it a slum or a dump, but any or all of the problems here are of the council's own doing.
Daily Challenges and Safety Concerns for Local Businesses
Shop staff report daily street drinking and drug-taking behind premises, with some too scared to venture outside after 6pm. The narrow Victoria Avenue has been dubbed a death road due to dangerous traffic conditions.
A shop owner warned: Somebody will be killed there one day, for sure. There's no space for parking here as it is for the people here already and they want to put another 20-odd people here?
Business owners have been forced to install extra security measures, with one saying they've had to put locks on doors during the day to prevent homeless people from trying to enter. The combination of these issues has created a challenging environment for local enterprises striving to thrive in the area.
