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SEVEN sisters ... residents are concerned
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'Shocking' pattern of suicides at town flats
Laura Shannon22/ 3/2008
SUICIDES, anti-social behaviour and an urgent need for repair work have become major concerns for residents of College Bank.
A recent death has prompted the residents’ and tenants’ association to question what action is being taken to improve the area.
Councillor Farooq Ahmed backed up the claims saying four people had jumped to their deaths from the multi-storey town centre blocks in less than two years.
A representative from the residents’ association told Rochdale Township committee: "Anti-social behaviour, nuisance neighbours and repairs need addressing by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH).
"The suicide rate has gone up and there was one just last week or so.
"When are representatives of RBH going to take real action for people on our estate?"
Cllr Ahmed agreed there were real problems in the area and said a meeting with RBH had proved fruitless.
He said: "There was a meeting with RBH staff but, to be honest, nothing came of it.
"There have been four deaths in two years and it is shocking when you see this kind of thing.
"RBH should take responsibility and people should not be placed in a high-rise flat when there is a risk to their safety."
These claims come only weeks after Cllr Pat Flynn revealed a woman with mental health problems who had talked of suicide was offered accommodation at College Bank.
The story came out at a policy overview committee meeting where the option to give homeless people only one reasonable offer of accommodation was discussed.
Residents of the flats have also had to pay for out-of-order security systems affected by floods in January.
Councillor Elwyn Watkins, chairman of the committee, called for swift action.
He said: "As councillors we take it very seriously when people are mucked around with housing.
"Councillors will start to get more aggressive with this if there is no answer soon."
Andrew Kearney, spokesman for College Bank tenants’ and residents’ association said: "Organising a signing of our petition has been like shelling peas. Once people found out about it they all wanted to sign.
"Virtually everyone on this estate is sick and tired of RBH’s impotence."
RBH’s local housing manager for Rochdale North Bev Pickston said: "To date we have not had any complaints whatsoever from College Bank tenants with regard to repairs.
"In fact, we are on target and the repairs service is very efficient.
"As with many areas there is a concern about anti-social behaviour with particular focus on youth.
"We realise this behaviour will adversely affect the lives of tenants and residents and that is why we have ongoing measures to try and reduce the problem."
Most recent 2 of 7 user comments
I think nice semi detached homes with gardens would suffice as people need breathing space.
Has anyone ever thought of the horror of a depressed person jumping off these flats and hitting someone else?
It can happen as far fetched as it sounds, so this is now a health and safety issue surely. As the figures show four people in two years are commiting suicide, it only takes one person at the bottom in the wrong place at the wrong time to be killed too.
If a person jumps of Healey dell viaduct it's highly unlikely they will land on another person, but these are town centre flats and lots of people are around.
Sorry to be depressive but this will happen one day until it is addressed and these tower blocks are knocked to the ground.
My condolences to the families who have suffered loss in this way, but a medical check should be carried out on people renting these flats, and no person with a history of mental illness should be ever allowed to be housed in high rise flats.
Housing officers in this Borough, you dont need a degree it's common sense.
26/03/2008 at 23:46
Got an opinion you want to share?Do you think Rochdale is unfairly portrayed in the national media?
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