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Three cheers for Cheshire Peaks and Plains

Vic Barlow
20/ 9/2006

IMAGINE the plight of law-abiding residents plagued by unruly, disrespectful yobs for years on end? Tenants of Macclesfield Borough Council suffered this for decades but not any more.

Cheshire Peaks and Plains, who took over the borough's housing stock less than a month ago, will not tolerate anti-social behaviour and have already served an injunction on one disruptive Macclesfield family, threatening jail.

Tim Pinder, Cheshire Peak's chief executive, says his organisation will not allow residents to feel threatened in their own homes and promises more injunctions.

He said: "We inherited these complaints from the council - but it seems they never thought to take out an injunction. (Now there's a surprise.)

"An injunction is a quick way of taking action and giving relief to those bothered by anti-social behaviour. We are really clamping down and encourage anyone to come forward and report this kind of behaviour. Their identities will remain anonymous."

According to residents the neighbourhood has been a lot quieter since the injunction. A local mother said: "It's nice to feel they are on top of this. I do feel safer."

Well, three cheers for Peaks and Plains for doing in one month what MBC failed to do in a decade. Fortunately Mr Pinder isn't saddled with a chamber full of dithering councillors and has no intention of allowing a handful of unruly tenants to make everyone's life a misery.

If Peaks and Plains wipe out anti-social behaviour in their tenanted houses I shall not begrudge them one penny of the measly £3k per home they paid to take over MBC's property portfolio.

We've all had a bellyful of irresponsible parents that don't give a damn who their kids terrorise. These families have come to believe there are no consequences for their appalling behaviour. Cheshire Peaks and Plains beg to differ.

Mr Pinder is showing the leadership Macclesfield Borough Council so desperately lacks. Instead of debating, deliberating and dithering he's taking action and bringing much-needed relief to beleaguered residents.

Could this be the rebirth of law and order on our streets?

I'd like to think so.

• THE views expressed on this page are those of Vic Barlow and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Express.