POLICE and a housing association say they are working to tackle issues of antisocial behaviour and vandalism that residents of a Rhyl street say are making their lives “hell”.

Residents of South Avenue say they need help to tackle the issue and fear for the safety of themselves, their families and their properties.

Wales & West, the housing association responsible for some of the properties concerned, said is aware of the ongoing issues on South Avenue.

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One resident, Rosa Tomassi-Bella, 44, said her life has been a "nightmare" since moving into her home four years ago.

She added that police are frequently present on the street, and said she felt obliged install her own closed circuit television system (CCTV) at her home for her own protection.

Rosa showed the Journal footage of youths climbing on to the roofs of vehicles, arguing and fighting in the middle of the road, and attempting to smash windows of houses.

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“I started contacting social services and the police a few years ago but nothing was changing, so then I also started contacting Wales & West over a year ago and they denied there was any issue”, she said.

“Afterwards, things escalated, to the point that I had to install CCTV.

"However, nothing is changing, and I feel like we’re being let down.”

Rosa says she has voiced her concerns, with some of the issues she believes to be fuelled by drug and alcohol abuse, to Wales & West, Denbighshire Council's social services, and North Wales Police.

A meeting with Wales & West was due to be held on April 17, she added, but was subsequently postponed.

She added: “The police are in the street more or less weekly, yet still nothing changes; (but) the police officers that we’ve spoken to have been brilliant and really supportive.

“My biggest complaint and concern is with Wales & West and social services; we have not heard from social services in months.”

Rosa lives with her husband and two adult sons, both of whom have autism, while her three stepchildren spend roughly half of the week at their South Avenue home.

But she said her stepchildren worry about visiting her for fear that their cars will be vandalised while they are parked in the street.

Her sons feel unable to even open their curtains due to the anxiety they feel, she added.

Rosa added: “There are children hanging around on the street, throwing eggs and rocks at some of the neighbours’ homes, smashing windows, causing criminal damage to cars. It’s just an ongoing nuisance.

“My major concern is my boys. They have been accused of terrible things by these neighbours, even though they don’t leave the house without me.

“These ongoing issues date back to way before I moved here, yet nothing’s changing.”

A second South Avenue resident, who has lived on the street for longer than Rosa, said issues of antisocial behaviour have been prevalent for seven years.

The resident also alleged that incidents of drug abuse and vandalism have taken place.

They said: “We have lived in hell, on and off but mostly on, for seven years.

“We’ve lived here since 1999, and until seven years ago, the worst thing we suffered from was children playing football (in the street).

“You can’t leave your windows open because of the cannabis smell. I’m asthmatic, and when my partner is at work, I’m here on my own, which is terrifying.

“Gradually, it’s got worse and worse. There’s noise until 2-3am, there’s fighting in the street… the police are here almost every day."

North Wales Police said the force is aware of South Avenue residents’ concerns.

A North Wales Police spokesperson added: “Local officers are aware of the ongoing issues in South Avenue.

“The Neighbourhood Policing Team continue to focus on reducing the effects of antisocial behaviour on the local community.”

A Wales & West spokesperson added: “We have have arranged to meet with residents in South Avenue to discuss their concerns regarding antisocial behaviour, and continue to work with North Wales Police and Denbighshire County Council to address these issues.”

Denbighshire County Council declined to comment.

  • North Wales Police confirmed that a 14-year-old male has been charged in relation to one incident of criminal damage to a motor vehicle in South Avenue. He is due to appear at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court next week.