Is violence, swearing and criminal damage ruining Cleethorpes' reputation?
GUESTHOUSE owners in Cleethorpes say late-night violence, swearing and criminal damage is terrifying their guests and turning their lives into a "nightmare".
Since a number of former guesthouses along Isaac's Hill and Clee Road were sold to private landlords and converted into "houses of multiple occupancy", problems have been escalating.
-
Gateway: Some guesthouse owners on Isaac's Hill are concerned the violent incidents occurring in the area will affect tourism.
Now guesthouse owners and residents say their lives are being tormented by these occupants, many of whom have criminal records and were previously homeless.
They list a catalogue of incidents, including:
BLINDS & CURTAINS MADE 2 MEASURE WE COVER SCUNTHORPE & GRIMSBY...
View detailsHave a look at our website and view our fantastic new blinds! then you could book a free home visit were we show you more samples and help you choose your new blinds.www.grimsby-sunblinds.co.uk
Contact: 01472 809887
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
Fights outside their properties, often involving weapons.
People screaming in the streets in the early hours.
Car windows being smashed and paint work being scratched.
Missiles – such as stones and fire extinguishers – being thrown at other properties.
Ray Wilson, who has owned the four-star Aristocrat for four years, said: "Ourselves and neighbouring guesthouses have worked hard to achieve our ratings and we are trying our best to promote Cleethorpes.
"But it's difficult to encourage people to come here when our lives our being made a nightmare and we know our guests' cars are in danger.
"Guests who are coming back here at night feel threatened because these people are out in the street fighting, swearing and being aggressive.
"Isaac's Hill is meant to be the gateway to Cleethorpes, but many of these houses of multiple occupancy look disgusting and the occupants are bringing the area down."
Another guesthouse owner, who did not want to be named for fear of the repercussions, added: "If I could move away tomorrow, I would.
"It's got to the stage where I'm scared what my guests will be thinking, when they can hear the screaming and fighting outside.
"Most of them are too frightened to go outside in the street because these people are hanging around.
"It's going to ruin the reputation of Cleethorpes.
"What we really need is a CCTV camera on the island at the bottom of Isaac's Hill which can point in all four directions and catch what these people are doing."
A father-of-three, who lives in Clee Road, added: "It's got to the point where they are fighting so much we could end up with a riot on our hands. Sometimes there are 15 people out there.
"Thankfully, my children sleep at the back, but they have been woken up by it before and it scared them.
"It used to be manageable when it was just people from the pubs and clubs dropping litter and being rowdy, but now it's out of hand."
However, Mark Anglin, who owns one of the houses of multiple occupancy, says landlords cannot be blamed for the actions of their tenants.
"The perception is that landlords aren't bothered about who they have in their properties, but that isn't true," he added.
"We want tenants who look after the properties and pay their rent. And it's usually the ones who don't pay who cause trouble.
"We monitor our residents, but it's very difficult to get rid of them. Often they've got criminal convictions and if we kick them out we will be prosecuted.
"I've had incidents at my properties where police have been called, but they won't tell me what has happened because of data protection.
"It can take three months and £400 to get somebody kicked out.
"The trouble is, there are too many rules and regulations in favour of people who cause trouble and not enough to look after hard-working members of society like landlords."
An action plan has now been drawn up between council bosses and Humberside Police.
Deputy leader of NELC, Councillor Mick Burnett said: "Any impact on Cleethorpes businesses can have an impact on tourism, and the wellbeing of our residents is obviously a great concern to us. I want our businesses to be successful and, if they have problems, it is down to us to help them by working with them, the residents and the landlords of these properties."
Comments
by EnlightendOne
Friday, October 12 2012, 10:49PM
“Never hit the submit button before you intend to ...
But let's pretend that we are happy not to support the cuts that are necessary as a consequence of years of uncontrolled giveaways to this sector of society.”
by EnlightendOne
Friday, October 12 2012, 10:46PM
“Isn't it ironic - don't you think! The social underclass have an aspiration to move to suburbia and occupy property under a local housing allowance feeding profits for an uncontrolled private landlord with no interest in investment! Ironic - don't you think that people ejected from society are forced to occupy B&Bs in these areas as otherwise homeless and funded by the state to do so. Maybe the scum, the idle and the violent are infiltrating the suburbs - welcome to the housing benefit structure that allows this to happen, but hey let's pruned we are”
by kizzymeg
Friday, October 12 2012, 10:16PM
“As i commented on a public order/moral breakdown story a couple of weeks ago...it is nearly time for decent law abiding members of society to take action.The time for keyboard blustering is nearly up ,it is our and our childrens society and the time to preserve and enhance it for all of our futures is nearly upon us.”
by SWEET MEMORIES
Friday, October 12 2012, 7:37PM
“Wait a minute, crime is down in Cleethorpes. Or thats what the Telewag reported only a few days ago - obviously not true then.....”
by daveyw
Friday, October 12 2012, 6:20PM
“no ones safe from the scum when the greedy landlords aren't held to account but theyre all on housing benefit anyway so its regular easy cash right into the landlords account.ive noticed now these sub humans are been housed in decent areas instead of hidden away with their own kind and are blighting the lives of normal decent people more and more. i wouldnt say isaccs hill is the gateway to cleethorpes though ,esp with that eyesore on top of the heart foundation building.”
by markus250666
Friday, October 12 2012, 4:41PM
“The problem is not the council but the landlords themself's these HMO's on issics hill don't charge a deposit, its just a case of pay an admin fee and 2 weeks rent upfront and your in.thus opening the door to any jobless/homeless under 25's. its not a case of been vetted before given a tenantcy agreement assured for 6 month intervals without been checked first. yes the landlord wants people straight in because it pays the morgage gas electric ect ect. and the people that are the agent don't really care much just aslong as they get there cut for running the peoperty i.e repairs ect.”
by cleedale
Friday, October 12 2012, 4:35PM
“Great posts from Delboy and Horace!
Make sure that people get down to their area Forums to raise these issues AND to make sure that issues are followed up and resolved. They are attended by Police, Councillors, Council Officials etc.
Until everyone starts making noises BIGGER than the yobs - nothing will change. I live past the Wellow end of town and that too is getting bad, especially as this now seems like the centre of Gy/Clee and surrounding districts with all the facilities that have been built.”
by exeter44
Friday, October 12 2012, 3:33PM
“Blame the council as usual. They must be giving planning permission for the change use of the guest houses to house this scum. As usual - little thought of consequences of decision. How often do we get that?
Its not just affecting guest house trade. You wouldnt catch me out in the Isaacs Hill/High Street/St Peters Ave/Market Place/Seafront areas after dark.”
by THEAPPLE
Friday, October 12 2012, 12:25PM
“the question isnt, is it,as much as ,"has it" answer...= YES”
by JonathanGTFC
Friday, October 12 2012, 12:10PM
“The tenants will be 'vetted' to some extent, but you can't stalk them to for several weeks to ensure they don't have loud arguments with their partner during the early hours or if they like paying bills on time. There are certain things you can only find out when they are in situ.
Tenancy agreements are long winded and very difficult and expensive to enforce, as it says in the article it can take months of work. Unfortunately you can't just turf them out! If this is becoming a specific problem in this area then the landlords need to be lobbied into bringing in further rules and regulations, and follow them up. CCTV will acheive nothing.”