The closure order was granted today, Wednesday March 21 2007, by magistrates at North Avon Magistrates Court after evidence had been submitted showing that 9 Great Leaze, Cadbury Heath, was the focus of drugs, nuisance and disorder.
Police officers and Merlin Housing Society will now visit the address, ask the current tenant to leave and seal the property to ensure that no-one else can use it. The order will enable Merlin Housing Society to gain possession of the property during the three month period in which it is sealed.
This is the 3rd closure order to be granted in South Gloucestershire using the powers contained in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.
The action was taken with the full support of the Safer South Gloucestershire Community Safety and Drugs Partnership and Merlin Housing Society, who together responded to numerous appeals from people in the area to do something about the problem property and gathered the necessary evidence to put before the magistrates.
Sector Inspector Angus Krouwel of Avon and Somerset police, said: “Many local residents have spoken to the police, Merlin Housing Society and Safer South Gloucestershire’s anti social behaviour team about the problems caused by this address.
“From police reports we know that between 50 and 60 people have visited the address during a six hour period, all using a communal pathway.
“Neighbours have reported a great deal of noise, shouting and screaming, constant banging of the reinforced gate at the entrance and mopeds driving up and down the pathway to the doorway.
“We know that the majority of callers have been going to the address for short periods of time and known dealers have been seen frequently there.
“The behaviour by the resident and visitors to 9 Great Leaze has clearly had a significant effect on the quality of life for the other residents in the area.
“We are taking this action with the full support of the local community, who have provided the police and partner agencies with information about the activities – information we can use to help them and make them their community safer.
“We are committed in South Gloucestershire to improving the life for communities and ridding them of the menace of drug dealing and anti social behaviour.
Philippa Isbell, of Safer South Gloucestershire’s anti social behaviour team, said: “This closure wouldn’t have been possible without us working in partnership with the police, Merlin Housing Society and other key agencies to address the issues and use the powers available to us to secure the order.
We are very grateful to members of the local community who have given us their help and time. This order will help restore order to their area and to take away the daily stress to which they’ve been subjected.”
Sonia Key, Merlin Society’s newly-appointed Anti-Social Behaviour Manager said “This is an example of Merlin’s zero tolerance to drug dealing in our properties, and we have worked with the police and Safer South Gloucestershire to relieve the community of this intolerable crime, which devastates people’s lives”.
ENDS