It's Ute wild west
Wallsend residents fed up with anti-social behaviour at swimming centre
• AMELIA PARROTT _ @amelia_parrott
he car park at Wallsend Swimming Centre has become a haven for hoons and hooligans, drinking alcohol, having sex and blasting loud music into the wee hours, to the dismay oflocal residents. Frances Street resident, Bruce Shoesmith said the trouble began almost two months ago when Newcastle City Council stopped turning the lights in the car park on at night. He said he had seen as many as 20 drivers, mostly P-platers, gather in the car park at once, staying until 3am and leaving behind packets of tablets, beer bottles and used condoms. "The residents are just sick of it," Mr Shoesmith said. "Each of us has rung the Council at least five times and every time they say the same thing, 'We'll look into it.' "If they don't do something soon, I'm going to go to Bunnings, buy a length of chain and start blocking the entrance to the car park each night and unlocking it each morning." Mr Shoesmith told the Post he had had his car broken into twice since the lights had been off and thieves had made off with $600 worth of tools associated with Mr Shoesmith's business. "If we call the police about the noise or people doing burnouts in the car park, it's a good two hours before anyone comes." "We're fed up."
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Frances Street resident. Bruce Shoesmlth shows an empty packet of codeine tablets and lighters found in the Wallsend Swimming Centre car park
A spokesperson from Newcastle City Council told the Post last Friday that the lights appeared to be faulty and an electrician had been on site to attempt to rectify the probably. "The lights in question are very old (circa 1973) and this may be a contributing factor." The spokesperson said Council was also looking into a more permanent solution to address the anti-social behaviour taking place in the car park. "Council is investigating whether putting gates
on the car park may be the best cost alternative to resolve the problem in the longer term. "Although, this needs to be carefully considered because it is used by the community when accessing that end of Federal Park and even by learner drivers during the off season. "Council was not aware of this matter until advised by Mr Shoesmith and encourages the public to report issues as soon as they are noticed to ensure they are rectified promptly."
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