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Nuisance youths an old problem for us
• RESIDENTS of Haverstock are terrified by the acts of sheer youth disorder, drug abuse and violence culminating in destruction of property, breaking of car windows and the intimidation of residents/local shopkeepers and customers in each and every corner of the ward.
These are the daily occurrences that need to be addressed urgently.
Youth congregations gather in Queen’s Crescent Market, Malden Road, St Silas, Penhurst, Denton, Shipton, Burmash, Crogsland and Belmont Street, and residents as well as local shopkeepers are bemused and frustrated that they do not get help when they call for assistance.
Housing patrol has recorded 663 calls for assistance due to youth disorder in Gospel Oak housing district, which includes Haverstock and Gospel Oak, for the period April 2006-March 2007 – this figure is alarmingly higher than the rest of the housing districts and has the implication of a resource requirement to address those anti-social behaviours.
In October 2006, Councillor Rawling had a walkabout in Haverstock and he saw devastation and destruction caused due to youth violence in Malden Road and Queen’s Crescent and promised to provide extra resources to combat those yob cultures, but later that appeared a false promise.
With summer looming, youth congregation, disorder and violence will increase disproportionately to the bewilderment of the residents of Haverstock.
They are fed-up listening to false promises of Cllr Rawling, and they want to see action to tackle anti-social behaviours in Haverstock before those youths hold the residents to ransom.
COUNCILLOR SYED HOQUE
Haverstock Ward
Camden Town Hall, WC1
• THE voters of Haverstock ward will doubtlessly want to know something about Matt Saunders, the Lib Dem hopeful for the council by-election on July 12.
No doubt he will want to explain to them why his party has put up the costs of home care and community meals and reduced the youth club nights at the community centre from three to one per week.
While he is at it, perhaps he could let us know why the recycling collections on council estates have been stopped, which means that the old and disabled have to carry their bottles and papers to collection points.
There is then the question of his views on the selling off of council flats in Haverstock.
No doubt he will want to echo the views of his party’s leader, Cllr Keith Moffitt, that “the new administration was not afraid to take tough decisions”.
Unfortunately, it is the old and vulnerable who have to bear the brunt of these tough decisions in the interests of keeping down the council tax.
Mr Saunders might also like to tell the voters exactly what has been his contribution to the area over the past, say, three years.
With this information, the voters in Haverstock will then be in a better position to make their choice on July 12.
MICK FARRANT
Oak Village, NW5
• I WAS interested to read the letters in last week’s Camden New Journal about crime and anti-social behaviour in Haverstock ward.
The Haverstock Labour candidate’s (Mike Katz) letter predictably blames the Liberal Democrats for failing to solve the problems, but these are
deep-rooted and longstanding.
What was the Labour party’s contribution to dealing with them during all their years in charge at the town hall?
His specific complaints are curious – that the new Liberal Democrat-led council has decided to carry on with Labour’s failed solutions, and that it is cutting youth services.
He is wrong on both counts.
The latest Camden budget provides £300,000 for 18 additional Police Community Support Officers across the borough.
The budget also increases youth service funding by £50,000, including £10,000 for a Gospel Oak group in Queen’s Crescent Community Centre, which runs music, dance and drama courses for young people.
The most effective way to counter anti-social behaviour is to work with young people, and to provide facilities and activities to help them stay out of trouble.
More visible patrols also make a difference to how safe people feel in the area.
It will take time for new approaches to work, but the new administration is making a start.
DUDLEY MILES
Camden Liberal Democrats
Belsize Park Gardens
NW3
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