Residents living in two city high-rise blocks – one of which was the scene of an alleged murder earlier this year – say they are scared to use communal areas because of anti-social behaviour.
In April 20-year-old Scott Hector was stabbed to death in Marischal Court. An 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy have since appeared in court in connection with the incident.
Now those living in the building and neighbouring Virginia Court say they are fearful of using facilities in the blocks.
They claim communal areas are regularly the venue for late-night parties, with security doors broken, windows smashed and drink and drugs consumed in plain sight.
Jack McLean, who lives in Virginia Court and is chairman of the residents’ association for the buildings, said many people are living in fear.
High-rise problems ‘widespread’
“It’s incredibly frustrating,” he said.
“There have been issues around the buildings with anti-social behaviour for a long time.
“The council is bringing in new measures like cameras, replacing the doors and trying to make it more secure. But the people who are doing this are determined to find a way in.
“When things get vandalised they do get fixed, but then they get vandalised again. It’s a cycle that goes round and round.
“People should not have to be afraid to use the laundry rooms but they are. It seems to be a problem which is widespread across all the high-rises.”
The two buildings share a communal laundry room on the ground floor of Virginia Court, which has become a hub for gathering yobs.
Many of the washing machines and tumble dryers have been wrecked by vandals, leaving them unusable.
When we visited to speak to residents, most of the washing machines and all the tumble driers had been broken, with evidence attempts had been made to get money out of them.
Buildings ‘a lot worse’
Norman King, who has lived in Marischal Court since it was built more than half a century ago, led a residents’ organisation for 15 years in the 1980s and 90s.
He said the high-rise buildings – which have been granted listed status by Historic Environment Scotland, although Aberdeen City Council has appealed – were “really nice” for many years, but claimed conditions have deteriorated.
“It has got a lot worse over the last 20 years,” he said.
“The shared areas like the laundry room are really bad. People go in there to have parties and they wreck the machines.
“People are now not using these areas because they are living in fear. It has really deteriorated.”
We spoke to other residents in the high-rise blocks who also said they were fearful of using some parts of the buildings – particularly late at night, when they claimed the issue is at its worst.
Aberdeen City Council told us it carries out “regular engagement” with residents in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour.
The local authority added it works to provide activities for young people to prevent the issue.
“As a result of the work we have put into the community over the last few months, we have received a lot of positive feedback from residents who tell us they are feeling much safer and more at ease living in their local community,” a council spokeswoman said.
“Residents are beginning to regain pride in where they are living after a spate of crime and anti-social behaviour. Our work with partners is ongoing and we continue to have regular engagement with residents.”
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “We would encourage anyone with any concerns about antisocial behaviour to report it to police, by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency.”
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