‘Troublesome tenants’ are behind ASB rise - councillor

Police stress they have ploughed extra resources into battling ASB. An officer was assaulted on the Centurion Park Estate earlier this month amid allegations of fights and drug dealing.

There are claims of ongoing issues in the Banks Street/Bull Ring area, despite police issuing community protection notices on seven individuals arrested after recent trouble.

Now, town councillor Alan Lockwood is calling for tougher action and says that in his opinion, police appear to be more interested in ‘stopping people going to Skegness’ than they are in tackling ASB.

He said: “Things are getting pretty bad in Horncastle at the moment.

“I’ve been banging on with the police about the situation in Banks Street and not making many friends on the force.

“After all the angst caused by the incidents on the night in April (Banks Street), the police have dropped all charges.

“There’s no orders restricting the occupants’ movements - or any night time curfew- hence they are creating havoc for the locals again.

“Similarly to Centurion Park, drugs are behind all of this.

“I have had reports of dealing being done openly at the end of Banks Street, but yet again nothing is being done by the police - it appears stopping people going to Skegness is higher up the priority list than drug dealing.

“I also have a feeling, which I am going to investigate, that there is a great deal of collusion going on between the housing associations, ELDC social care and other local landlords when it comes to placing troublesome tenants, and Horncastle is bearing the brunt of it at the moment.

“I intend seeking FOI about various things from ELDC.”

Coun Lockwood’s claims brought a swift response from ELDC, which described his allegation that they were involved in collusion as ‘nonsense.’

Portfolio Holder for Communities, Coun Wendy Bowkett, said: “We support people to access accommodation across the whole of East Lindsey.

“This includes supporting people to access privately rented accommodation and also by advertising social housing properties through our housing register.

“Any suggestion that we are colluding to house so-called ‘troublesome tenants’ in Horncastle is nonsense.

“We consider the specific circumstances of every case, including the needs and wishes of those who wish to remain in a specific area to which 
they have a local connection.

“In any case, where we are made aware of any support needs, convictions or risks, we routinely disclose these to the landlord in order for them to consider if they still wish to offer a tenancy.

“In terms of individuals being considered for a property on our housing register, we would expect the social housing provider to undertake their own checks.

“Additionally, in line with our allocations policy, anybody with a history of serious anti-social behaviour may be excluded from the housing register altogether.

“If anybody is concerned about antisocial behaviour please contact us on 01507 601111 or by emailing [email protected]. Alternatively, if the property is owned by a housing association, they can be contacted directly.”

Coun Lockwood also revealed he had emailed his concerns about ASB - and ‘troublesome tenants’ being accommodated in the town - to Wolds Division Inspector Sarah Constantine.

The News contacted Insp Constantine but she said she had nothing to add to her earlier statements about on-going police efforts to combat anti social behaviour.

Insp Constantine previously said that extra patrols were taking place.

• Editor’s note: Horncastle Town Council has asked us to point out Coun Lockwood’s comments are ‘personal’ and are not endorsed in any way by the council.