Wildwood: Crime ridden?!

[Andreas Rex]

I saw this story in the Newsletter last week, and it's on Stafford Post's website today too. Apparently plans to install a cash point at Somerfield on Wildwood have been shelved due to the high crime levels on the 'troubled' estate. 'Major problems with crime' is a description I never thought i'd hear connected to Wildwood; many of my mates grew up there, I spent a lot of time there as a kid (and in The Wildwood pub as a yoof), and I generally regard it as one of the better parts of Stafford. Is this a common view of the place? I don't remember the last time I saw an article in the local rags about any trouble on Wildwood, yet you can open the Chronic/Newsletter/Post each week and see stories about other estates in Stafford (not mentioning any names) where they have big problems with drugs, burglary, street theft etc, and they do have cash points outside their shops!

 

[db]

yeah, i reacted the same when i read that story.. i spent the latter years of my growing up 'pon wildwood, and my old dears still live there.. it surely has to be one of the most crime/trouble free estates in stafford

 

[Astro Boy]

Apparently plans to install a cash point at Somerfield on Wildwood have been shelved due to the high crime levels on the 'troubled' estate.

Is this a fooking joke?

 

[Andreas Rex]

Apparently plans to install a cash point at Somerfield on Wildwood have been shelved due to the high crime levels on the 'troubled' estate.

Is this a fooking joke?

Closer to the truth than we thought??

Next they'll be telling us that Walton on the Hill is awash with crack! I have to go all the way to Brocton for mine

 

[Moley]

I've heard from a few residents in Wildwood that they have been experiencing alot of anti-social behaviour. There were alot of houses up for sale (this year) at the back of wildwood some of them quite nice with terrific views of the countryside however they were situated near to the park area and apparently it's a nightmare there in the evenings and at night with yoofs being dicks constantly harassing the residents. When we were looking to move earlier in the year we considered there and everyone we spoke to about it disuaded us from considering it. They told us we would better staying put rather than moving there, to our shock.

I think areas in Stafford have their good moments and bad ones, depends upon the local yoof at the time.

 

[wildwood]

Yes we are having problems lately... which in comparison to other areas aren't bad.... but to us (Wildwood residents) it's a bit of a shock.

It's mainly teenager trouble... running amok on kids parks, throwing things at windows, knock and run etc etc.... There was a car in the next street to us which had half a tree hanging out its boot lid window one morning last week.. the ring road around the estate was also blockaded with various branches/logs as one point just near the park entrance.

Quite often some nights there can be 25-30 kids hanging round Somerfield... which could be seen as intimidating, especially if there was to be a cash machine.

As I say, it's nothing that bad, certainly nowhere near as bad as the newspaper article paints it, but in comparison to Wildwood's relatively trouble free past it is becoming a problem.

 

[Augustus Gloop]

It has its scallywags the same as any other estate but I certainly wouldn't paint it as a bad area.

An old school friend of mine is often seen wandering around Wildwood, often ending up in town or wherever he can scab some booze/cigs/whatever.

Nearly gave me a fright the other day when I was coming out of Somerfield with my son. Appeared alongside me on a bike (!!??) and tried to have a closer look at the little un. A few words were quickly exchanged....

A real shame really as he was a decent enough lad at school. Made some wrong decisions it seems and could use a bit of help now.

Anyone on here who knows me should know who I'm referring to.

 

[wildwood]

I think I know who you mean... think he's been mentioned briefly on here before.

 

[Augustus Gloop]

Wouldn't surprise me one or two know who he is, one or two probably wish they didn't too.

 

[Andreas Rex]

Hmmm....maybe it's worse than I thought...

Teen mob in rule of terror

and there's more...here's a letter from a Wildwood resident to the Newsletter. I had to re-read the list of areas a couple of times cos this is so incredibly juxtaposed to the memories I have about all of these places.

 

[bongus]

its because of the never ending loop...it sends folks insane trying to find the way out of the place

 

[Astro Boy]

Hmmm....maybe it's worse than I thought...

examples of anti social behavior

Were we that bad? Hmmm, I doubt it. The press maybe printing over exaggerated accounts of residents who are telling one side of the story. Hang on, hang on - by no means am I justifying the behavior of this pack of youths. There are some very valid points in the article about intoxication and the potential for assault. Im sure it must be terrible for residents to look forward to the weekend in such a way. Im sure it must be as equally frustrating seeing nothing being done about it.

Its a lovely area. It makes me feel slightly ill to think that these places and homes are being abused in such a way - especially since I have an emotional attachment to the area. This is a blatant disregard for surroundings and civil responsibilities. Yes, everyone is accountable. What can be done? Surely this ever increasing desire to take matters into our own hands is not the way forward. How can we possibly condone vigilantism? We cannot. Not here.

EDIT: Well, reading this the day after - am feeling a little sheepish. Have recently been affected by crime and am still raging about it. Check out the rantathon. MissT has a good point here.

:peace: x

 

[Andreas Rex]

Another week, another story about bad tings a'gwarn in Wildwood and Walton on the Hill.

Feral teens in wrecking blitz

 

[wildwood]

Well here we go again.. silly season has started.!!

A few days after the year 11 leavers ball.... tonight there's been 50+ "kids" down the playing fields.

At least 3 police cars seen speeding around the perimeter... including a huge riot van.

A "CSO" and police officer on foot.

Numerous teens grouped at the top of my street at 11pm...

One football kicked into neighbours car at about 11.30pm...

I love this time of year weather wise, but it's obvious warning that trouble is brewing again on Wildwood for the next few months

 

[FooFighter]

Next time I'm up at Wildwood I'll be on the lookout for yoofs with concealed footballs

 

[tekkers]

The people of Wildwood arent used the problems like this so they seem to be big to us, but to other areas they are nothing. The thing is most of the trouble makers arent from Wildwood or the surrounding estates but they come up to Wildwood to cause trouble. Theres relitivley little problem.

 

[tek-monkey]

Well, you say its not people from your area, but then lots of people say that. I certainly saw no difference growing up in the actions of people from council estates and those from the posh areas. Main difference was the posh kids could afford more/better drugs.

 

[MISS T]

Have you seen the awesome boy/man made area of complete indulgence that is the used for BMX stylee stunts the whole place blew me away, aerial slides, ramps etc. Years have been spent by young kids developing this space, Tenshon proudly told our 5yr old how when he was a kid, he began constructing a mud ramp or two, Finbar being more impressed by the hundred odd that exist now.

 

[Moley]

The people of Wildwood arent used the problems like this so they seem to be big to us, but to other areas they are nothing. The thing is most of the trouble makers arent from Wildwood or the surrounding estates but they come up to Wildwood to cause trouble. Theres relitivley little problem.

Mmmmh, very high opinion of the area, after all isn't Wildwood an estate with different sized houses to accomodate people from different economic backgrounds. Last time I looked the house prices there weren't all that expensive and certainly no different to other lesser areas of Stafford (which indicates that it isn't that desirable), only difference is there aren't gangs of youths (in these lesser areas) terrorising residents and making houses unsellable. Gangs of youths don't tend to migrate too far to cause agro and tend to stick to area that they reside in, they only do this when some eejit from the DVLA gives them a license and then go out and spend 50 quid on a n reg punto....