There was frustration and anger at a meeting of Bilton and Woodfield Residents’ Association last night about crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.
Residents voiced criticism towards North Yorkshire Police for a perceived lack of action over the issue.
The meeting was held at Bilton Grange United Reform Church and residents asked questions to a panel that included PC Brendan Frith from NYP, Bilton Conservative councillors Matt Scott and Paul Haslam, Liberal Democrat councillor and Mayor of Harrogate Trevor Chapman and Julia Stack from Harrogate Borough Council’s safer communities team.
It was chaired by Reverend Alan Crump who invited questions from around 30 residents that were in attendance.
The main topic of debate was anti-social behaviour and crime with several questions focusing on issues around the Woodfield Road and Albany Avenue areas of Bilton.
One person received a round of applause after they said the area had deteriorated.
“I’ve been on this street for 50 years and it’s never been like this. Good neighbours are moving out and we are sick of it”.
Another said:
“We’re stuck here but we’re not living the lives we want to live. Nothing gets done.”
Cllr Scott, whose Bilton ward includes Woodfield Road, said he is in regular contact with residents of Albany Avenue about what he called “a very complex situation”.
He added:
“There is an issue with tenants who don’t respect neighbours. That isn’t right. They are being let down by a small minority.”.
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Andrew Hart, the owner of Bilton’s post office, said the community police officers in Bilton were doing a “good job” but his reports of suspected drug dealing had been ignored. Other residents told the panel that they did not have faith that their reports to police would be followed up.
Mr Hart said:
“I sent names of drug dealers dealing crack to NYP. Did I get a response? No, nothing seems to happen and you feel like you’ve interrupted them.”
In response, PC Frith said the police often need more information before they can take action. Cllr Haslam also urged residents to report any suspected criminality to the police.
PC Frith said:
“We need a lot of information. If we want warrants for a drugs bust we need information from more than one person. We need to be sure that we will get results.”
Speeding
Also discussed was speeding in Bilton, with calls to make the whole of the Harrogate suburb a 20mph zone.
Cllr Scott said he was in favour of traffic calming measures in Bilton but there were obstacles to overcome.
“Getting a 20 mph zone is not as easy as I’d like it to be. I can’t wave a magic wand and get them.”
PC Frith reiterated that the public must report to the police issues of crime or anti-social behaviour, including speeding.
“We’ve had zero reports of speeding on Woodfield Road. We know it’s happening but we need reports.”
