Warndon car park 'so dark it is drawing dealers and doggers'

Residents at Snowshill Close in Warndon, Worcester say the car park, dubbed the darkest in the city, is so black at night they struggle to find the locks on their cars.

Couples (non-residents) are also said to be using the car park for sex romps while people living in the flats claim to have seen drug dealing.

SECURITY: Cllr Jill Desayrah has suggested a camera like this one, pictured elsewhere in Warndon, could be used to improve security in Snowshill Close but says the priority at the moment is lighting as the camera will not be much use without proper illumination (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

Residents have raised concerns with Platform Housing, which owns the car park, and West Mercia Police over the last two years. 

Barbara Bendall, 53, said: "We just want some light in our car park. It's alright now but when winter starts - and at night - there is no light."

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Miss Bendall said a lampost which provided illumination was removed to make way for a bigger car park and bungalows.

PARKED: A Volkswagen Golf which residents say has been abandoned in Snowshill Close in Warndon, Worcester (Image: James Connell/Newsquest)

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said during the day the car park was used for parking by parents and teachers from St Joseph's Catholic Primary School. She says sometimes she has waited over an hour for a parking space outside her home after a 12-hour shift.

She added: "It should be a residents-only car park. At night it's like a nightclub. We have doors slamming and drug dealing going on, music playing. How do I know somebody is not going to jump me, it's so dark? What about safety and security? That's got to be paramount. You can smell the drugs all hours of the day.

"Doggers are also using our car park. We don't want any dogging in our car park. It's happened at least twice. I could hear them having sex. My window was open."

Kevin Bendall, 27, said there was a Volkswagen Golf abandoned in the car park for three to four months, taking up a bay which could be used by residents and said he saw a drug deal as recently as Sunday night.

Warndon city councillor Jill Desayrah met with residents to discuss solutions which include illuminated bollards, residents-only parking and an entrance gate.

"I was truly shocked to hear of the extent of the antisocial behaviour that has accrued since the lights have gone including claims by residents of drug dealing and dogging. I have already raised it this morning with Platform Housing and I will follow up with them to address the lack of lighting security at this private car park," she said.

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: “We’re aware of concerns from residents of Snowshill Close in Warndon around anti-social behaviour and drug use.  We’re continuing to work with our partners, including Platform Housing, to address these issues.  Anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour should report it to the police via the ‘tell us about’ section of our website or by phoning 101.”

A spokesperson for Platform Housing said the pathways and roads are not owned or managed by them.

"This area is lived in by our customers and owner occupiers and therefore a gate or barrier to the car park wouldn’t be feasible as it cannot be managed effectively.

"If residents are witnessing dogging and drug dealing, we would advise them to report this to the police for them to take relevant action on", they said.

They will speak to partners at the county council and police to ask for their assistance with 'more regular patrols and any help with lighting the pathways etc'.