A charity boss has condemned a shabby area in Dudley as abandoned, claiming it attracts yobs, drug users, and prostitutes. Harmesh Raan, operations manager at Headway Black Country, says Dudley Council has failed to clean up a street blighted by fly-tipping, despite repeated requests to protect vulnerable clients.
Rubbish, including used condoms and needles, is piling up on Church Street at the rear of the Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre. This has led to rat infestations and other problems for the charity, which supports people recovering from head injuries.
Mr Raan explained: 'When the council built the leisure centre at the bottom of Martin Hill Street, they blocked off Church Street so you can no longer walk through it. As a result, that little area has become a fly-tipping hotspot.' The eyesore is located behind Headway's building, near their car park exit.
He added: 'When we leave during the winter months, sadly we've seen people taking drugs, we've had other people who are not wearing any clothes on occasion because of certain activities they are engaging in. There is a number of frightening activities taking place just on our doorstep which really the council is refusing to handle.'
Mr Raan said he had asked the council to install CCTV, but they refused. After requests for the site to be cleared, council staff 'arrive and disappear without doing anything'.
Cllr Damian Corfield, Dudley cabinet member for neighbourhoods, responded: 'We take any reports of antisocial behaviour and drug abuse very seriously. We will investigate these reports with our police partners, who would lead on any investigations related to criminal activity, and will take robust action if required under our zero tolerance approach to antisocial behaviour in our homes and communities.'
Mr Raan emphasised the impact on Headway's clients: 'It's a health and safety issue. We need to remember we're talking about vulnerable individuals. Something that many struggle with is their connection with other people. So what individuals see can have a huge impact on them and really affect their emotional well-being. When people enter or leave Headway, to have them exposed to anything that's going to really be a detriment to their health, that is something that is sadly out of our control.'
