A resident who lives in the Moorside and Sholver area of Oldham said he is at his "wits' end" with his housing association after complaints about crime on his street are "ignored".
A man who lives on Hillside Close, a seemingly quiet road just off Sholver Lane, said he and his neighbours "live in fear" due to the high levels of anti-social behaviour and crime that is allegedly taking place "every day" on the street.
However, the resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said housing association First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO), which rents the properties on the close, has done little to improve residents' safety or attend to the matter.
FCHO told The Oldham Times that it is "aware" of residents' concerns and said it is working with Greater Manchester Police to investigate the area.
But since gaining the keys to his home two years ago, the resident said his family haven't had a moment's peace from the constant "havoc".
He claims there have been burglaries and drug 'drops' while some have been subject to attacks on their homes as well as racial and homophobic abuse.
Meanwhile, a police raid in November last year uncovered a firearm, amphetamine and drug paraphernalia inside the home of Jason Warren on the street.
Warren was sentenced to six years at Minshull Street Crown Court in January this year for a string of offences relating to drugs - and for the possession of a weapon - along with five others who were sentenced for their involvement in importing drugs from overseas.
But neighbours claim police are constantly called out to the street.
Another family was reportedly "driven out" of the area after their home was attacked and their windows were smashed.
The former tenant, who also wishes to remain anonymous, said he was concerned by the "lack of action from authorities, such as First Choice Homes Oldham and the police" and was forced to move out after a series of attacks and harassment.
"My kid's lives and my family's lives were made hell", he said, claiming that he was threatened with a hammer, dogs, and a BB gun.
He also found his CCTV cameras were damaged and his home was broken into, at which point FCHO put metal shutters on.
But the father said it was the final straw when he found his windows were smashed and he never took his children back to the property.
"It's just never ending and I know police and FCHO have done some things but it's nowhere near enough.
"I'm just so glad that we are away from it now but I feel sad and anxious for the remaining tenants and the community who have to deal with it", he added.
But for those who remain 'trapped' on the street, residents have since gone on to learn the cul-de-sac they call home has become the talk of the town.
The current resident continued: "I have been living in a living hell. The street is plagued with crime, anti-social behaviour and huge amounts of drug use.
"The police presence on this street is every week, if not daily.
"The whole street is like a warzone. Both me and my partner have been threatened that our home will be petrol bombed.
"I genuinely feel sorry for the disgruntled residents of Moorside and Sholver."
Email and Whatsapp correspondence with FCHO that have been shown to The Oldham Times reveal the man's complaints, which date as far back as September 2021, have gone unaddressed.
The complaints document 20 months of issues, from cannabis, and trashed communal areas with fly-tipped rubbish to shouting late at night and countless "drug runs".
Initially, the housing association wrote back and said its housing officer would conduct a home visit to one particular tenant in acknowledgement that "this behaviour needs to be dealt with".
The message also revealed another property on the street had been placed into a community protection warning and the housing association was seeking legal action.
But little more was done after that.
"We really need moving off this street", he pleaded, citing that he was fearful someone could be killed.
In one message, FCHO encouraged the neighbour to call the police about the petrol bomb threat, which he said he did and temporarily relocated from his home.
But he said nothing has been done and he has since called the force "several times" for various incidents.
Then in March last year, the housing association said it had served a possession claim on one of the abandoned properties and was reaching out to speak to residents about the matter.
But the neighbour said he is now at his "wits' end" and recently wrote to FCHO in April in one last desperate plea.
He said: "Houses have been broken into. Windows have been smashed.
"Police have found a gun and drugs in a property. We have been threatened our house will be burnt down.
"We are in fear, day in, day out. Our communal space has been ruined and all the fences and gates are broken.
"The actual nickname for the street in Moorside is Crackhead Close. Imagine being tarred with that brush.
"We are too scared to speak with police.
"I am begging you to help me find a new property. We do not feel safe in our homes and fear for our lives.
"It's not fair that those of us who go out to earn a living are paying full rent of £700 per month to live in this hell hole", he added.
A spokesperson for First Choice Homes Oldham said: “The safety, security and wellbeing of our customers is our priority, and we take all complaints of anti-social behaviour extremely seriously, especially where it impacts across the community and those who live in it.
“We are aware of concerns from residents in the area and our teams have been working closely with partner agencies including Greater Manchester Police to thoroughly investigate all the issues raised, in line with our Anti Social Behaviour policy.
“As this remains a live investigation, unfortunately we are unable to comment further. However, customers can be reassured that we are taking all appropriate action to deal with this situation.
“We will always act to protect the interests and safety of those who live in our homes and the wider community, and we encourage our customers and local community to report incidents of anti-social behaviour to us so we can take the necessary action."
Greater Manchester Police has been contacted for comment.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel