"I thought I would die before it was closed", residents in Leeds celebrate after council closure order is made on vandal hotspot - after a 20 year campaign

A Public Spaces Protection Order has been made at an alleyway at in Murton Close by Leeds City Council which bans anyone from using the ginnel for three years.

It comes after 20 years of campaigning by residents and a catalogue of incidents - some of which eventually forced some residents to move out because they couldn't cope anymore.

A gate has been put at one end and a fence at the other making it out of bounds for anyone other than police and emergency workers or utility workers that need access to equipment.

Local resident, George Todd, 79, said: "I wrote a letter to the council 20 years ago but didn't think it would take this long. It started because of anti-social behaviour, I don't think it was so much drug dealing in those days, more anti-social behaviour and car crime - damage and theft from vehicles."

Some of the incidents he has listed and reported over the years include a woman having to permanently board up the windows on one side of her house because of stones being thrown at the property; a single parent and her child being huddled on the sofa terrified because they feared vandals would return; dog walkers leaving dog dirt in the ginnel and Murton Close; people who had bought takeaway food leaving litter in the ginnel and the street; people driving down the street to urinate in the ginnel and one woman who daren't get out of her car and go into her own house for 20 minutes while a drug deal was taking place.

Mr Todd said: "It has been a nightmare. I have had a few sleepless nights and going to meetings and making reports, it has been the bain of my life. We are a very close community, it is like one big family but some have left because they just couldn't take it anymore."

Around 12 years ago the order was applied for along with one at Kentmere Avenue and another one nearby. For some reason, the Murton Close one wasn't implemented and the process started again but delayed again this year due to the coronavirus situation.

Coun David Jenkins who represents the Killingbeck and Seacroft ward said: “This is a victory for diligence and persistence over 20 years whereby George Todd has fought a battle on behalf of his neighbours to reclaim their street from anti social behaviour which blighted their cul-de-sac."

Mr Todd, retired from the Merchant Navy and more latterly as a sales engineer said the difference in quality of life since the closure notice was tangible.

He added: "It has reduced by 80 to 90 per cent - it is unbelievable. There is still some dealing by vehicles but the anti-social behaviour is virtually nil. I said to my neighbours I would fight it until my dying breath but it was getting a bit too near. I couldn't have believed it would take 20 years."

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Laura Collins