Residents urged to help combat drugs in Chester suburb

Oct 15 2008 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

RESIDENTS are encouraged to report incidents of drug-dealing and vandalism taking place in a Chester suburb.

The Flookersbrook Trust, an independent body which looks after plantations along Hoole Road and fronting Flookersbrook, is worried about issues in that area relating to groups of young people.

Drug-dealing on the street is prevalent, there have been cases of damage being caused and groups of young people gather, often drinking alcohol.

A recent meeting of the trust was attended by police sergeant Juliet Bryant along with a community support officer. The police will be sending a patrol car to the area on occasion but stressed that resources are allocated according to the number of complaints they receive.

A trust spokesman said: “By complaints they do not just mean a specific crime but gatherings of youths with alcohol, suspected drug dealing and the times it is occurring. The more complaints they receive the more help they will be authorised to give.”

One suggestion by Mark Hughes, a resident of Ashby Place with professional expertise in the CCTV field, was to install cameras at the entrance to Flookersbrook and Ashby Place. He is going to investigate the options.

Householders are encouraged to report incidents of anti-social behaviour to the city council on 01244 402477 and Cheshire police on 0845 458 0000.