Pessimistic know it all gets proved wrong.
The latest community meeting has come and gone, and for the
most part it was great. One of the best turnouts we’ve had, so no need for me
to stomp off in a self righteous sulk. We’ve also had notice that demolition
will begin in a couple of weeks so I’ve taken a few pictures to start charting
progress. Also giant house spiders have started invading my house, but that’s
not really relevant I just wanted to share.
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| aaaarrrrrrrgggghhhhh . . |
The meeting was very interesting, some new faces and some
familiar ones. People are very concerned about the state of the neighbourhood,
and I don’t blame them. Emotions were running high, a bit of a cliché for a
community meeting, but watching your street become increasingly neglected with
what seems like no hope of anything being done to ease the situation can lead
to hot heads and frayed tempers.
However we had representatives from the police, Leeds City
Council and housing associations so all in all there were nearly 20 people
present. Some were a little disruptive, but I fully appreciate that they felt
frustrated at how things have been delayed. Though I don’t want to invalidate
anyone’s anxieties, and I agree that the community meeting is a good place to raise
your issues, share your problems and express your frustration, criminal
activity has to be formally reported to the police for it to be tackled. I also
appreciate that regular foot patrols reassure residents, but unless the cops
actually happen upon someone doing something criminal as they walk by, then
they’re mostly just a PR exercise. My eyesight’s pretty shoddy, but even I can
see a high visibility vest mooching up the street towards me, and I suspect
that your average neighbourhood scrote can do the same.
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| preparing for demolition |
Crime needs to be formally reported, if you’re seeing it and
not reporting it you are not helping to resolve it. I also understand that fear
of retaliation stops people, but I’ve filmed people nicking metal railings, stood
up in court to give evidence, given statements to the police, kept noise
diaries, rung the police and gone into the street to challenge antisocial and
criminal behaviour; I’m not brave, quite the opposite, but when pushed I can
stand up for myself, sort of, and I’ve yet to be threatened with any
retaliation.
Residents it seems have also been doing some good stuff,
tidying up the streets which are quite frankly looking like shit at the moment.
It’s not gone unnoticed and people are very grateful. Also someone’s dumped some lovely asbestos in
one of the bin yards, which has hopefully been removed by now. Also alarmingly
enough, there is asbestos in some of the houses that are going to be
demolished, so let’s hope the HASMAT suits are broken out for that portion of
the demolition.
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| what the streets near me might have looked like when they were built |
Well that’s it for now, I’ve added some images here and on the pictures page, and I’ll keep adding as the demolition progresses, so if you’re interested keep your eyes peeled.
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| Half of my street is being prepared for demolition |
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| just waiting for the wrecking ball . . . |
