Residents fight back to tackle Boscombe's problems (From Bournemouth Echo)

Residents fight back to tackle Boscombe's problems

7:00pm Tuesday 7th July 2009 in

By Emma Joseph »

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RESIDENTS and traders in Boscombe are joining forces in a bid to rid the area of its problems.

Those living in working in and around Roumelia Lane say Boscombe has been blighted by crime for years, but that the latest string of violent incidents – which left one man fighting for his life – is the last straw.

They are now demanding the council and police take action to make their lives safer.

Channel Photography Studio owner Phil Morland, said: “The council has intended CCTV lots of times but it’s never happened and I feel there’s an insufficient level of policing.

“To my knowledge there’s been four violent attacks along the lane in the last six months. These are major crimes and it’s affecting our wellbeing and our ability to trade.

“Something needs to be done about it.”

Harry Seccombe owns The Cellar Bar, which backs onto Roumelia Lane.

He said: “Potentially in five years’ time this area could be lovely but the police need to do something.

“Roumelia Lane has no street lighting and lots of little niches where people can hide.

“There’s a number of active and very obvious drug dealers around which is only going to encourage people that want that sort of thing to come to the area.

“We should get them out and say we don’t put up with it in Boscombe. The kind of message they’re sending out is that you can get away with it in Boscombe. It should be the reverse of that.

“Residents should have a decent standard of living. I think sometimes they forget people live here.”

Dez has lived in Roumelia Lane since 2001 and said the last few years have been “chaotic”.“The precinct is out of bounds for anti-social behaviour so it gets forced to the lane where it’s not seen and it’s tolerated by the police. I never feel safe.”

Residents and traders will be meeting with police and local councillors to voice their concerns outside Rosie’s Café in Roumelia Lane at 7pm on Wednesday, July 15.

Comments(14)

eggilicious says...
8:04pm Tue 7 Jul 09

i say its not just boscombe its landsdown to!!
I'm 21 and i work at asda i don't feel safe walking to work on my own because Drunks n druggies hang around landsdown all day and night. Today i was on my way back from work and just about to cross the road by texco on my phone, some drunk jumped out at me started having a go he then spat on my let shouting on and on in my face, i was so scared and upset i called to police. I'm sick of having to worry when i leave my house! its wrong something needs to be done! i think they should move the drugs unit away from this area, move it somewhere out of the way so they cant cause problems. all the problems come from the unit i just cant understand why they want it in the middle of the town its making bournemouth and boscombe look dirty!something needs to be done because its NOT on!