Residents 'petrified' after security door removal

A resident who wished to remain anonymous said local teenagers had previously vandalised the security doors at his flats in Mosborough

Tenants of a block of council flats have said that they have felt "petrified" of anti-social behaviour since security doors were removed from communal corridors.

Tony Downing, a Sheffield city councillor, said the doors were taken away from the Westfield complex on Short Brook Drive in Mosborough at the end of last year because of the excessive cost of repairs following vandalism.

As a result, one resident said teenagers now roamed freely through the building "intimidating residents".

Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts said "We can all accept that there are challenges facing both the council and the area, but removing communal doors is just managing decline."

The security doors were removed from flats on Short Brook Drive because the cost of constant repairs was becoming too high

The decision to remove the security doors came from a recommendation by Sheffield City Council housing officers. According to Mr Downing, he and the other local councillors "reluctantly" agreed to the measure on the understanding that it would be a "trial".

"I personally wasn't happy about it. It is our job to protect the public but we do also have to take into consideration the cost of daily repairs," he said.

Rubbish is piled up outside the lifts in several of the corridors at the Westfield flats

Speaking to the BBC, an anonymous resident who has been living in the block for nine years said he was "ashamed" to bring his children to visit and "too scared" to let them outside the flat in the evening.

"The security door to enter my block is broken. Kids ripped the magnets and metal plates off.

"The rest of the doors have been taken out so they just come off the street banging on windows. They smoke drugs in the stairwell.

"We've had blood on the walls, rubbish everywhere. It's a horrible place to live."

Betts confirmed that he had visited the Westfield flats and found the decision to remove the doors "baffling".

"Our councillors need to be advocating for us, not agreeing to measures that will make areas less safe and encourage arson and anti-social behaviour."

There is concern that mould from the ceilings on communal corridors is seeping into residents' flats

As well as security concerns the resident highlighted the ongoing issues with the state of the building.

"The flats are crumbling. They could do with taking them down really and starting again.

"There's mould everywhere on the ceiling; it seeps into properties through the cracks at the frames.

"There are exposed wires along the landing. It's just not safe."

Sheffield City Council and South Yorkshire Police have been approached for a comment but have not yet provided a response.

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