‘We need help!’ Residents at Rushden Greenway face damage to properties caused by anti-social behaviour

Panels have been displaced and damaged, meaning there is exposed access to their gardens which back on to the Greenway, a busy walking route connecting the town centre with homes in Paddocks Road.

The residents, who did not want to be named, admit to being ‘frightened’ after being awoken and constantly ‘on alert’ when they hear noises from the Greenway.

One of the residents said: “The council don’t appear to show much interest in the dilemma, have been approached for help in the installation of security fencing for the two properties affected, yet appear to be unable to offer this solution while being able to finance other projects.

“It’s a waste of time repairing it. Every little noise you’re on alert.

“While we understand there’s no money, they’re fobbing us off. It has to stop, we need help.”

Another added: “As well as affecting people who live in these houses, it’s affecting us because you wake up in the middle of the night thinking ‘what can we do to help?’.

“There isn’t the will for them [North Northamptonshire Council] to help us, it’s just not there.

“They could shuffle finances around, this is urgent, this is affecting people’s mental health.”

Damage to the fencing has persisted for weeks, with the most recent incident taking place on Sunday (March 8).

A North Northants Council (NNC) spokesperson said: “The council are aware of a number of reports over a period of time about repeated criminal damage to rear boundaries of two properties backing on to a section of the Greenway.

“We understand the significant distress to the households impacted and we are doing all we can to help the residents, within the council’s remit.

“Unfortunately, at this stage, additional fencing is not something we can provide for various reasons including land responsibility and long-term maintenance. However, vegetation is being allowed to grow out to form a thicker, natural barrier.

“As a council, we have introduced weekly patrols along this section of the Greenway and Northamptonshire Police are also patrolling. All reports to us and the police are being monitored collectively so we can track patterns, levels of damage and impact.

“We will continue to work the residents impacted and the police to try and find a resolution to the issue.”

However, residents whose homes back on to the Greenway say the measure to grow out a ‘natural barrier’ isn’t enough, and that there must be a sufficient and durable barrier between the Greenway.

The route, which was previously a railway line, is frequently used throughout the day by people walking between the town centre and other areas of Rushden.

Metal fencing was installed at a cost of £3,800 after a fire in the area burned two houses’ fences down, as well as other parts of the garden, but in the time since the metal fencing has been repeatedly attacked, causing whole panels to be dislodged.

Residents, many of whom are elderly, have been forced to prop up the fencing using bricks, wood pallets and other items to make sure their gardens are separated from the public footpath.

A resident added: “It’s happening regularly now. It’s got to the point where panels are pushed through and it’s very hard to put back into place and it’s exposing the gardens.

“The two women are in tears, they’re frightened to death to go into their garden because they don’t know what to expect. It’s causing a great deal of anxiety and distress to them, and there’s nothing they can do about it.

“Nobody seems interested in resolving the situation.”

Gen Kitchen, MP for Wellingborough and Rushden, said: “Anti-social behaviour on the Greenway is an issue that comes up repeatedly at my Youth Group Roundtable and was also raised with me during a patrol with the Street Pastors I recently attended.

“I have been working with the residents featured in this story whose properties back on to the Greenway and I have raised the issue with the police and North Northamptonshire Council. The police have committed to carrying out more patrols in the area but unless the perpetrators are caught in the act there is little more they can do.

“We have been working behind the scenes for several months to try to get the local authority to install some sort of security fencing along the back of the two properties that are worst affected. As this has been refused, we are now publicly calling on them to do the right thing and protect these properties. Similar fencing is in place at other parts of the Greenway and would prevent the attacks we have seen recently.”