Pensioner pelted with stones and people living in fear in shadow of derelict buildings

Published date22 January 2022
Ainsdale ATC is a derelict group of buildings that sit behind Sandbrook Road in Ainsdale

The buildings, owned by Sefton Council, have been the subject of anti-social behaviour, with residents claiming to have seen children running across the roofs.

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Lorna, who did not want to give her surname, lives on Sandbrook Road with the buildings directly behind her home. She has a fence around her garden, although that hasn't always been there.

The 74-year-old told the ECHO : "We get a lot of problems, we've had endless problems. Luckily I have a fence but I never did [previously]. The children used to throw stones at me. Since I've had the fence they've tried breaking through it."

Going out on to her patio in her garden, she points out the different buildings that see children running across the roofs.

She said: "The thumping late at night come from them running across the roofs. The police have been coming here more regularly but I have complained and phoned the police before.

"I'm surprised there haven't been worse problems here. The children climb on the roofs on that site then jump from side to side, and they try to break into the roofs as well. It's unbelievable. It's frightening. These children are not frightened of you.

"You should see the abuse I've had because unfortunately, I don't keep quiet. I'll stand here and shout 'oi, what's going on'. The other night I came out and I couldn't see them but I still shouted because of the way they were banging to try and get in. Then it went quiet because they couldn't see me either."

Lorna says groups of three to five are usually targeting the buildings.

Since moving into her house in July 2020, Lorna has been plagued with having to watch those jumping from roof to roof and attempting to break in. She also claims that the buildings have been the subject of arson on more than one occasion, most recently on Saturday, January 15.

She said: "They've tried to light fires and they did light a fire once but I reported it. It was near the entrance where they lit a fire. The last thing we need is a fire. All the trees here would burn lovely. It's frightening.

"My neighbour doesn't even have a fence, his trees are his fence and in winter, when the trees have no leaves, they can get into his yard very easily. It's definitely a nightmare. It's not safe. I worry about the children because if any youngster gets hurt there or gets...

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