Call for yob-plagued alleyway to be gated

Yobs are terrorising residents in a Black Country town by throwing beer cans at windows and being abusive, it has been claimed. Their homes back onto an alleyway.

People say they are are being plagued by youths smoking and drinking every Friday and Saturday night. Residents are now calling for the alleyway to be gated-off in a bid to stop the problems. Mother-of-one Carol Taylor, aged 59, Lovers Walk, Wednesbury, said: "I am quite scared by the whole situation because it is getting out of hand.

"We have youths coming down here at the back of our house smoking, drinking and urinating up against our wall.

"My mother was in the house on Saturday and she looked out of the window and saw somebody walking on our wall at the back of our house.

"I was worried that she could have had a heart attack if that happens again."

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said she was too scared to walk down the alleyway for fear of being attacked.

"I never used to lock my doors but I do now," she said. "We have had beer cans being thrown over our wall and we have heard all kinds of abusive words being used.

"I am scared to look over the wall and see what is happening because I am mindful that I could be targeted.

"I would like to see the alleyway gated-off because it causes so many problems - that would be the safest solution."

Wednesbury North Councillor Bill Archer said: "The message has to be quite clearly, that these kids should not be hanging around here doing this."

Sergeant Steph Haines from Wednesbury Police Station said: "We are aware of the issues in the area and we talking with youth services in Sandwell to try and provide them with something to do.

"We have increased patrols in the area as part of an on-going operation."

Cabinet member for safer communities, Councillor Derek Rowley said: "We need to make sure that we are working with youth services and have exhausted all other possibilities before considering a gating order.

"If nothing else appears to be working then that will be the last resort for us and it is something we will have to consider."