STINKING rubbish, flies and squalor are causing heartache for a Weymouth mother who said she is ‘living in fear’ due to anti-social behaviour at her block of flats.
Brenda Dench House resident Rosie West says she is taking medication for depression and anxiety as a result of ‘revolting’ communal areas that make her anxious for the health of her two young sons.
The Echo visited Rosie at the Magna Housing Association property and witnessed how the main door to the flats is broken, allowing anyone to walk in off the street.
There was a strong stench of rubbish and urine in the hallway, which was swarming with flies, while a smashed window had been boarded up.
Ms West said she has become a recluse and is too ashamed to invite guests round.
"I'm basically a shut in," she said. "I only go out if I need to do shopping. I can't stand taking the kids through the hallway. My oldest son, who is almost four, knows something isn't quite right here."
Rosie showed the Echo the main source of the strong stench - the bin store - a cupboard under the stairs where residents must leave their rubbish for collection. A cloud of flies swarmed out as soon as the door was opened, whilst the bin store ventilation draft opens out near Ms West's son's bedroom window.
"I don't want my children breathing this air. It's revolting," she said. "I suffer severe mental health issues including depression and anxiety. I used to cope without medication but since moving here four years ago I've been on medication - basically I'm in fear of my life."
Despite CCTV being installed, Rosie said her dad, who has heart problems, was beaten up by people taking drugs in the hallway.
"My father and I had been out for dinner on the evening. On returning to the flats we walked in on three or four men taking drugs in the hallway.
"My dad asked them to leave and got a beating - we didn't report it to the police because we just wanted to go to bed at that point, with no drama. We've given up hope of anything being done."
Photos taken by Ms West also allegedly show evidence of drugs and paraphernalia in communal areas.
"If my son had picked up those drugs thinking it was sweets or sugar and swallowed it, I don't think he would have survived," she said. "I get with covid things are slower but Magna needs to do something."
Christine Boland, head of Housing Services at Magna Housing Association, said: "We are so sorry for the distress that this has caused our customers. It is certainly not acceptable and we are in contact with Dorset Waste Partnership to resolve this. In the meantime, our caretakers are carrying out additional cleaning of the communal area and disposing of any rubbish that has built up.
"The safety and security of our customers is a priority for us and are taking this situation very seriously. We have now assessed the latest damage and will be repairing it as a priority as well as following up all reports of anti-social behaviour. We will continue to monitor the situation and we are grateful that our customers have raised these with us."
A Dorset Police spokesperson said: “We would encourage anyone who sees suspected drug-related behaviour to please report it to Dorset Police. This can be done by either calling 101, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or online at www.dorset.police.uk.
“We use all reports of incidents to gain an intelligence picture and gather necessary evidence to target drugs misuse and safeguard vulnerable people.”
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