Residents are too scared to venture outdoors on a troubled town estate because of drug-taking and gang violence, it has been claimed.
The area of New Park Road in Castlefields and the nearby shopping precinct has become the scene of violent clashes between two gangs. The most recent incident involved the Canal Tavern bus shelter, which had a pane of glass smashed on Monday evening.
Volunteers from support group North Shrewsbury Friendly Neighbours have been forced to hold their meetings elsewhere, and drug-taking is said to be on the rise.
Julie Thomas, co-ordinator for the NSFN group, said: “I always make sure I go to the precinct with someone when it’s dark and never go on my own.” A resident on New Park Street, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I’ve had people sit on my front door steps taking drugs and my son found a needle there one day.”
Ward councillor Alan Mosley said he hoped that a joint working team set up between the police and Severnside Housing would ‘nip the problem in the bud’.
A spokeswoman for West Mercia Police said they and Severnside would be asking youngsters to sign contracts promising good behaviour. “The police are not aware of any rival gangs causing problems in the area,” she said.