We're sick of drug dealing, knives, sex in cars and loud music say Oldbury residents

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Residents living next to a council-run car park in the Black Country say they are being forced to endure loud late-night music, drug-dealing, fireworks, and people having sex in cars.

People living around Imran Way, Oldbury, which backs on to the West Bromwich Street car park say that in one month alone they reported 13 incidents to the police and another 21 to the CCTV control centre.

But they say that despite repeated promises from the authorities, nothing has been done.

They are now calling for a barrier to be installed on the car park at night, when it does not need to be used.

Kul Johal, who lives nearby, said he hoped the situation would improve when CCTV was installed, but if anything it had got worse.

“We have to live with individuals engaging in sexual activity in cars parked directly outside our homes, drug dealing, and individuals smoking cannabis, with the smell regularly entering our homes,” he said.

“We have to live with loud music being played from vehicles into the early hours of the morning, as well as car-racing and vehicles performing dangerous manoeuvres such as ‘doughnuts’, and off-road motorbikes racing within the car park.

“There are parties involving large groups of people in the early hours of the morning, and music with bass so loud that it can be felt vibrating through our homes,” he added.

Mr Johal said fireworks were often being set off in the direction of houses, particularly around Guy Fawkes’ Night and Diwali. On one occasion the details of a suspected drink driver were passed on to police, but as far as he was aware, no action had been taken.

He said: “They keep having meetings to discuss it, but nothing ever happens.

“The car park is for a council building nearby, and there is no reason for anyone to use it after 10 o’clock, so the obvious solution would be to close it. It was closed for a short while before, and there was no trouble at all.

“All they need to do is put a barrier down.”

A spokesman for Sandwell Council said: “Anti-social behaviour is not acceptable and we are working with the residents and West Midlands Police to tackle these issues.

“As a result of the concerns raised, CCTV was deployed to help us capture evidence and we are meeting with residents later this month to discuss further action.”

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said the force was aware of concerns raised about West Bromwich Street car park, and neighbourhood officers were monitoring the area.

“We're committed to keeping our communities safe and now have a dedicated neighbourhood officer in the ward to help tackle crime and anti-social behaviour at a community level,” he said.

“They work as part of the wider team of neighbourhood officers and were established as part of the Government's ‘neighbourhood policing guarantee’.

“We're grateful for information we receive as we can then work with our council partners, alongside the wider community, to fully understand and address any concerns.”

Anybody witnessing anti-social behaviour can report it by telephoning 101.