Elderly residents on Canella Drive in Norris Green, Liverpool, say they have been 'living in fear' for five years after a space around an electricity substation became a dumping ground and a magnet for intimidating antisocial behaviour. The quiet street, mainly occupied by older residents seeking a peaceful retirement, has been transformed into a nightmare.
Substation site attracts gangs and fly-tipping
The area in question houses an electricity substation surrounded by land. Five years ago, fencing that secured the site blew down in a storm and has never been replaced. Since then, the space has become a hotspot for antisocial behaviour, with gangs of youths congregating, smoking cannabis, and climbing on the substation roof. Residents, all in their late 60s or early 70s, spoke to the ECHO on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
One resident said: 'We have been fighting this for five years. The wind blew the gates down five years ago. We got onto the council. I actually put temporary barriers across them to try and stop the kids going in and sitting off, smoking pot all the time. It's been terrible. We've had so many incidents. There has been people dumping fly-tipping. We came out to confront one man who pulled up in a van and stopped him trying to dump a load of furniture and white goods.'
Residents report intimidation and health hazards
Another resident added: 'The kids climbing on top of it is really scary. We are all in our seventies and it is intimidating. We have seen so much going on there. One time we saw a man having a poo in there, we also saw a binman having a wee there.'
A resident living closest to the substation said: 'They go on top of my shed in my garden, smoking and running up and down. It is so nerve-wracking when they are doing that. I came out into the back garden recently and saw them, I didn't want to say anything to them unless they attacked me. On Bonfire night last year, they were setting fireworks off here. They just see it as waste ground. Others do as well, they fling their dog poo bags in there.'
Fear for safety and summer holidays
The same resident added: 'We are scared to go to sleep at night. We are really worried about the summer holidays when the kids will be hanging out here every day.'
The residents, who all live in homes managed by Torus housing association, say they have been 'fobbed off' by authorities when seeking help. The substation is owned by a company called Last Mile (formerly Energetics), while the surrounding land is owned by Liverpool City Council. The council told the ECHO it is in contact with the company and asking for action to secure the area.
MP calls for urgent action
Liverpool Walton MP Dan Carden, who has been approached by residents, said: 'No resident should feel unsafe in their own home, and there are understandable worries about children gaining access to electrical infrastructure and putting themselves at risk. My office has raised the matter with Liverpool City Council, which confirmed that it has ownership of the site and is contacting the energy company to resolve security issues. The priority is making the area safe and ensuring local people can enjoy peace of mind in their neighbourhood.'
