Samantha Jones says there is frequent drug-taking, muggings, violence and public sexual intercourse on the Girdlestone Estate’s walkways

A RESIDENT in Archway has complained that inadequate and unsafe living conditions across her housing estate are being ignored and neglected by Islington Council.

Samantha Jones, who lives with her 10 children in Salisbury Walk in the Girdlestone Estate, said that frequent drug-taking, muggings, violence and public sexual intercourse on the estate’s walkways is making “their lives hell”. Ms Jones has lived in the same flat on the estate since 2008 but said that since 2010 it has been plagued by problems that are not being addressed. She said that her mental health has completely deteriorated as a result.

Just last week, she said, she saw somebody injecting drugs into their genitalia in broad daylight outside the estate’s children’s playground. She added that crime across the estate is rampant, and in an incident last year she had a kitten stolen by somebody on the estate.

She added that she and her neighbours have made frequent requests to the Islington Council for an increased police presence on the estate, but felt like their needs were slipping through the cracks.

Islington Council recognised Girdlestone Estate as a “safer space” area, meaning it aims to place more resources and attention into protecting residents on the estate. In March, it said it would be increasing Community Police patrols through the estate. It also said it intended to install “temporary CCTV” on the estate but could not do so yet due to “long waiting lists”.

Ms Jones told the Tribune: “We were promised more community police here, and CCTV, by the council, but you don’t ever see any police round here, unless they’re chasing somebody through the estate.

Ms Jones says many flats are infested with damp and mould

“We just don’t feel safe living here, I’ve taken my kids to play in the park and found needles in the bushes, for God’s sake. We’ve all reported our concerns to the council so many times, but they just don’t care about us here. We see this stuff on a daily basis, but no one is protecting us.

“I just want out. I’m looking for places in Kent, Essex, Surrey, Portsmouth… anywhere that isn’t riddled with crime.”

To make matters worse, Ms Jones’s flat where she lives with her children has been infested with damp and mould since she moved in. She told the Tribune that practically the entire estate had similar issues in their flats, which were again going untreated by the council.

She said: “Since I moved in in 2008 I’ve had mould, damp, and ventilation issues throughout my flat. It’s started getting on to the clothes of my children. I know it’s a whole estate problem because when I go to the lower ground garages the smell punches through.

“Again, I keep reporting it to the council who told me that it isn’t an urgent problem to sort because it is ‘condensation’ and not structural mould. I had to buy a £280 dehumidifier out of my own money because the council won’t help me with it.”

An Islington Council spokesperson said: “The council has carried out extensive work, alongside partners, to improve the safety of Girdlestone Estate, including increased police presence and patrols by the Safer Neighbourhood Team, direct action at problem­atic addresses, outreach to vulnerable residents, and the installation of new lighting CCTV cameras.

“The action we take is informed by intelligence provided to us, and we encourage residents to report anti-social behaviour.”

They said they encourage residents to report incidents to the police; or contact Crime­stoppers anonymously on 0800 55511 or via www.met.police.uk/report; or report anti-social behaviour to the council’s ASB line on 020 7527 7272 or at www.islington.gov.uk/reportASB