Neighbours Georgia Price and Caitlyn Clarke, who live in flats at the recently renovated 1902 building in the Horsefair, have said they are scared for the safety of their young children after finding “crack pipes” and “needles” in the hallways and stairs.
Ms Price said that the apartment block, which is managed by housing association Citizen, attracts antisocial behaviour and claims that drug users have “quite literally taken over the communal areas”. She has also shared photos of blood spattered on the stairs and faeces on the floor.
Ms Price, aged 26, said she’s that her boy Harley-James once picked up a “crack pipe.”
She said: “My little boy is absolutely petrified to be here.
“We’ve had needles in my pram. My little boy has picked up a crack pipe.”
A discarded syringe (Image: Georgia Price)
Ms Price and Ms Clarke are trying to find new homes and have said it’s “not safe for our children.” Ms Price said she is looking to relocate using the local authority’s Home Choice Plus service.
She added: “It’s just gone beyond a joke now. We have been fighting the same battle since we moved in”.
Ms Clarke, aged 22, lives with her son Remi who is two in March. She said living in the block of flats is “horrendous”.
“I’m having to take my son past people injecting on the stairs”, she said.
Blood on the stairs (Image: Georgia Price)
“The amount of police presence that we have at the block, and it still doesn’t change what’s going on.
“It’s scary when you have people banging on doors at 2 ‘o’clock in the morning.
“Living in this block has just made me really anxious. I never leave my flat it’s scary”.
Ms Price shared a photo of a sign that has been posted on walls at the apartment block.
It says: “Citizen and West Mercia Police are working together to prevent incidents of anti-social behaviour occurring within these premises.
“The following is prohibited in all Citizen properties: illicit drug use, illicit drug dealing, storage of illicit drugs, smoking in the communal areas, sleeping in the communal areas, drinking alcohol in the communal areas, forcing/wedging the main doors open, any behaviour which will cause alarm and distress to others.
“West Mercia Police Safer Neighbourhood Team will be doing regular visits, along with Citizen representatives. If we believe you should not be on these premises, you will be asked to leave”.
Director of housing care and support at Citizen, Peter Gill, said: “We are aware of the anti-social behaviour at the 1902 building in the Horsefair and have been working hard with our partners to resolve these issues. Due to the current situation, we are unable to comment further on this incident while the police conduct their investigation.
“If any of our customers experience anti-social behaviour we need you to report it to us. If you witness a crime, make sure you contact the police on 999.”
Faeces on the floor (Image: Georgia Price)
Senior PCSO Andy Stevens said: “We are aware of some recent issues with anti-social behaviour at the 1902 building and have been proactively working with Citizen Housing to speak to the individuals responsible as well as residents living at the address for wider reassurance.
“We have also been signing them up to our Neighbourhood Matters messaging service so they can stay informed about what’s going on in the Horsefair area.
“We will continue to work with our partners and residents to address any further anti-social behaviour but if anyone has any information or concerns in the meantime they are welcome to contact me at andrew.stevens@westmercia.police.uk.”
The 1902 building was previously a carpet warehouse in the Horsefair. The renovation was part of a project between Vistry Partnerships and Citizen, bringing more affordable homes to the Churchfields.