Croydon Council improves lives of residents by closing Coulsdon drugs den (From Croydon Guardian)

Croydon Council improves lives of residents by closing Coulsdon drugs den

12:40pm Saturday 13th October 2012 in News

Croydon Council has improved the lives of residents by cracking down on anti-social behaviour and closing a flat in Coulsdon being used as a drugs den.

The property, 124 Goodenough Way, was compared to the television show Shameless while another said the home always smelt of drink and drugs, describing it as “doss house.”

Croydon Magistrates Court issued a three month order to prohibit anyone from entering or remaining at the address after hearing allegations the tenant Wendy Goode and her partner Lee Norfolk were abusive and intimidating to people living on the estate.

There were also claims made about drug taking in and around the property, as well as drunken behaviour and windows being smashed.

Residents told council officers that their lives had been “a nightmare” and reported “drunken gatherings, constant fighting and arguing, and drug dealing” around the flat.

When police and the council visited the property, they found drug paraphernalia, broken bottles, a nine inch kitchen knife hidden in bed drawers, a rubber mallet and meat cleaver, as well as dog faeces and urine on the floor.

To prevent a recurrence of the nuisance behaviour, the council sought to obtain a premises closure order to shut the flat for three months, while pursuing possession action.

It found the premises was the source of “significant and persistent disorder or serious nuisance” to members of the public.

The closure order was issued on October 2.

Councillor Dudley Mead, deputy leader of the council, said: “The council is delighted to have been granted this closure order and hopes residents can now live their lives in peace, without having to put up with anti-social behaviour like this, which is the scourge of communities.

“This was also a great example of the council working with the local police, specifically the Coulsdon East Safer Neighbourhood Team, to clamp down on anti-social behaviour.”