'Please close our crime magnet alleyway'

More than 700 people have signed a petition to close a 'crime magnet' alleyway where a 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted last month.

Katharine Williams has lived near the path between Manse Road and Gladstone Street for 13 years and said it is often full of human faeces and rubbish.

Williams said it's 'torture' living next to the alleyway because of the anti-social behaviour, such as drug-use and drinking, that goes on there all hours of the day.

A spokesperson for Telford and Wrekin Council said: "We understand the concerns of residents, but are unable to close the route as it is a legally designated public right of way and does not meet the legal criteria for closure."

Williams said she feels like she as to be home at certain times to prevent people using the alleyway from kicking down her garden fence - something she says happens regularly.

"Nearly every day I'll get my fence panels kicked in or I'll get abuse shouted at me. I've even had a bin of glass thrown in my garden."

She said she's spent 'thousands' replacing fence posts every year since she moved to the area 13 years ago, and that she often comes home to strangers in her garden.

"Even my kids have started to watch the garden because they're anxious about it."

Paul Savage has lived in the area for 25 years and currently lives opposite the alley. He is one of the people behind the petition to close it.

He said he believes that the alley is a space in the community that is unsafe for women and girls, especially at night.

Savage added that he doesn't feel comfortable letting his daughters and granddaughters walk down the path between Gladstone Street and Manse Road without him.

"We want to reduce crime, we want to make the environment safe for women and girls and we want to reduce the risk of assault. You reduce risk by closing alleyways like this ... it's been used elsewhere in the country."

"I think if we can close this alleyway it will reduce the risk that women and girls are exposed to."

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