Helensburgh residents beg for help over anti-social yobs at block of flats

Three tenants at Maitland Court contacted the Advertiser last week to raise concern at people urinating, vomiting and leaving human waste in one close on the East Princes Street side of the block, and dumping drug paraphernalia, broken glass and other litter in the area.

They complained that a communal bin at the block has not been replaced after its contents were recently set on fire – with one resident saying she had spotted rats in the common area outside her home.

Residents at Maitland Court in Helensburgh are pleading with their landlord to do more to tackle anti-social behaviour by members of the public (Photo - Tom Watt)

All the residents who contacted the Advertiser to raise their concerns are tenants of Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA).

One of the residents said she had been complaining for years but kept being told ACHA was unwilling to pay for improvements, such as a secure entry system, without getting the owner-occupiers in the block to contribute their share of the cost.

She said: “Our close is treated like a toilet. Not a weekend goes by without me finding human excrement.

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“Someone recently set fire to a bin outside my close and it’s never been replaced, and this morning I saw a rat near the bin.

“I feel as if the landlord isn’t taking any responsibility for it. I’m at the end of my tether.”

Another tenant, who also asked not to be named, said: “I’ve lived here for three and a half years and there have always been issues at the bottom part of the close. It stinks of wee and there’s broken glass everywhere.

Residents at Maitland Court in Helensburgh are pleading with their landlord to do more to tackle anti-social behaviour by members of the public (Photo - Tom Watt)

“I’ve got a young child and it’s just not safe for them. The tenants do their best but ACHA seems to think the problem is getting people who aren’t their tenants to pay their share of the cost for improvements.”

A third tenant said: “I have seen rats for nearly a year. I’ve complained to the council about it, but so far nothing has been done.

“There is mess that people leave in the close that residents have to clean up – urine, excrement, needles, vomit and broken bottles – not including the bad language we get from gangs of teenagers.”

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Alastair MacGregor, ACHA’s chief executive, said: “Our investment and housing and neighbourhood services teams are working on a number of options to try and resolve the issues currently being experienced with anti-social behaviour at Maitland Court.

“Due to the layout of the complex it is not just as simple as fitting a controlled entry system at one location, as this would not prevent access from another point within the complex.

“Once inside Maitland Court it is possible to move along common landings to other locations, therefore it means that we have to look at the whole complex to overcome this issue.

“As stated we are working on a number of options and hope to be consulting on these with the other owners in the complex for approval to progress works to the next stage.

“However, the success of any project of this nature is fully dependant on all owners in the block agreeing on the proposed works.

“Members of ACHA staff regularly carry out inspections at the block and action is taken on any issues that are within our control.

“We attend regular liaison meetings with partner agencies including Police Scotland and Argyll and Bute Council, and the ongoing issues at Maitland Court are discussed.

“We would continue to encourage all residents, tenants and owners alike, to continue to report any criminal activity to Police Scotland.”