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Quiet East Lothian street 'turned into a war zone' by council tenants, residents claim

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date07 March 2024
AuthorMarie Sharp
Publication titleEdinburghLive (Scotland)
East Lothian Council has had to take action after the previously quiet Middleshot Square, in Prestonpans, suddenly became a hot spot for antisocial behaviour

Before the trouble started there hadn't been a single complaint in the street for a decade.

And locals living on the square, where just over half the housing is council-owned, say they feel the local authority has 'dumped' troubled tenants on their doorstep.

One granddad, who has lived on the street for nearly 20 years, said the last two years has seen a string of incidents from threatening behaviour, cars being damaged and violent arguments breaking out which have been linked to the social housing.

A report on the situation produced by council officers revealed some of its own tenants, who have lived there for years, were now demanding a transfer out of the area because of the trouble.

The granddad, who did not want to be identified, said: "It has been like a war zone some nights, particularly at the weekend. It's alright for the council tenants not involved, they can ask to be move to another house.

"Those of us who own our homes are stuck here and don't feel safe."

East Lothian Council has now introduced a Local Letting Plan for the square, which is split into 53 council properties and 40 'right to buy' privately owned homes.

The plan states future vacancies in the street will not be given to tenants who are unemployed or have a history of antisocial behaviour or drugs or alcohol misuse.

A report on the introduction of the restrictions said: "Since February 2022 Middleshot Square has become an area that requires a bit more attention and resource from a housing management perspective.

"There has been a notable increase in ASB (antisocial behaviour) complaints and requests for transfers."

It added: "There are three properties that continually attract complaints in respect of condition and antisocial behaviour including drug misuse.

"Prior to February 2022 the area was stable, and the last recorded...

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