We live in shadow of iconic arena… but we're terrified of leaving homes, neighbours are a nightmare & parking is hell | The Sun
DRUG dealers and yobs have forced residents in a 14-storey tower block to become "prisoners in their own homes".
Gangs of youths who do not live in the tower block have now taken over, leaving the front door open for their mates to come in, locals claim.
Residents spoke of a lack of security, blocked drains and grotty conditions at Norton Tower in the heart of Birmingham.
The council block is in the shadow of the nearby Utilita Arena where stars such as Elton John perform to thousands.
Outspoken long term resident Fredrick Balding is now locked in a battle with the council to carry out essential repairs to "make it a safer place for us all” and is calling on them to re-instate security cameras he claims they ripped down.
The jobless 55-year-old single man has lived at Norton Tower in the heart of Birmingham for 27 years.
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Home is a ground floor flat which he has always loved but insisted: “Issues started getting worse during the Covid pandemic and have spiralled ever since."
Fredrick said: “A lot of the residents are too sacred to go out of their properties. It’s like they’re prisoners in their own homes.
“I’ve had my windows smashed in and it took the council six weeks to replace them.
“It was probably the yobs, who I’m sure are up to no good and are even buying and selling drugs, but we’ll never know because there are no security cameras.
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“I had my own but it was broken and then when I replaced it I was made to take it down.
"I’ve been threatened by another tenant over the community garden because those working in and running the vegetable patch think they own it and don’t want others using it.
“It is ridiculous, and whenever I complain to the council they don’t want to know.
Fredrick claims the block – which was built in 1969 and boasts an enviable location with a sought-after B1 postcode – is plagued with problems that the local authority “can’t be bothered to address”.
He has also heard rumours that the tower – one of four neighbouring blocks – is destined for demolition but said tenants don’t want to see it flattened, just fixed.
Fredrick, who suffers from a back disability and lives on benefits, said locals are “keen to keep their prime location flats”.
The no-nonsense tenant, who acts an an unofficial spokesperson for fellow residents, told how the had a catalogue of issues over security, safety, parking and policing.
He told how community officers occasionally patrolled the block and gardens but “not regularly enough,” adding: “Some of us feel unsafe living here.”
One of his grumbles is the lack of parking spaces and although he is not a driver, he said people in cars couldn’t visit him because there was “absolutely nowhere to park”.
He went on: “There are a lot of issues”, before reeling off: “Blocked drains, wonky and unsafe paving slabs.
“The council can do it the easy and polite way and get things fixed or they’ll have to put up with me ranting at them.”
Fredrick, who also suffers with anxiety and depression, added: “It’s unacceptable that the council is leaving issues to get worse. They’re not stepping up. It’s gone downhill.
“We’ve been targeted by youths.
“Gangs of them who don’t even live here have been wedging open the front buzzer-controlled door with a large stone, as people are coming and going and hanging around the block getting up to all sorts of mischief.”
He added: "We get outsiders that come and think there’s a free car park but residents can't park and we're paying council tax. It's ridiculous.
"People come in late at night and at a weekend and we know they’re doing drug dealing. We have to live here. It does make people feel uneasy being in the block and knowing that they’re hanging about.
“We’d like to see a parking barrier to control who is coming in and out.”
A Birmingham City Council said: "The parking scheme and the barrier at Norton Tower are operated by a private company and we have contacted them regarding the issues raised.
"Regarding outstanding repairs claims, we have no responsive repairs currently outstanding apart from three repairs from May currently issued for the block which are being completed.
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"However, if there are any other outstanding repairs, we encourage tenants to report them to us. If people have had their properties broken into or witnessed drug taking or anti-social behaviour, they should report it to the police immediately."
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