Farnworth Green: Residents Fear for Safety

0:00On March 15th, a brand new housing development in Farnworth, called Farnworth Green, was meant to spark the town's revival. Finish late last year after two years of building, it has 97 flats and townhouses that are all rented out. But residents say gangs of young people in Balaklava are making life miserable with constant anti-social behavior right outside their doors. Incidents keep piling up from break ins and attempted robberies to stones thrown at people plus racial and sexual abuse in public spaces. Just recently, vandals ripped out plants and a tree in the communal square and hurled them through open windows and onto balconies. Folks feel too scared to go out after 5 pm, especially near the nearby shops. Residents are fed up and talking about leaving when their one year leases end. At a community meeting earlier this month, one tin and worn, it could lead to someone taking matters into their own hands. People of color have shared stories of targeted slurs and attacks, saying they just want

1:01to feel safe walking a short distance to the supermarket. Police from Greater Manchester have rode out a new town center team and held that meeting to hear complaints directly. They're pushing residents to report every incident online or with video evidence, promising to review data and deploy more resources. The site's management company is teaming up with them too, avoiding private security that might not cut it. The developer behind the project calls it a once in a generation chance for farm worth that's now at risk. With better reporting and police action in play, officials hope to turn things around and keep this fresh start on track for everyone involved.