Neighbourhood Watch group set up for North Station Road Colchester

Labour's Mike Lilley is forming a new Neighbourhood Watch scheme for residents in the North Station Road area of the town in response to concerns.

Mr Lilley, who lives in the area, said he was constantly being flagged down by residents who know he is on Colchester Council to ask if there was anything he could do to help.

Although he represents Old Heath and Hythe on the authority, Mr Lilley is the council’s former public safety chief and decided to step in and do something.

He said: “Every day residents are asking me if I can do anything and I’ve been picking up a lot of issues.

“Given my background in the crime portfolio I decided to put myself forward and do it.

“It will launch in two weeks and we will start reporting incidents from then.

“It will cover Causton Road, Albert Street, North Station Road and the riverside cottages but I am open to anyone from the area joining and potentially expanding it.”

Mr Lilley said residents’ main concerns were over a spike in incidents of drug dealing, street drinking, shoplifting and general antisocial behaviour taking place in the area, which is part of an official conservation area.

North Station Road is part of a conservation area

He said: “There are a lot of issues with drinking and drugs. Drug dealing in the area is pretty blatant.

“Dealers meet near here because you’re close to Castle Park and they can escape if they need to.

“They are using the illegal black scooters to get about.

“There’s a lot of drug dealing outside the riverside cottages and across the road.

“People have been knocking on the doors of the riverside cottages and asking for money as well as banging on the windows.

“The police have been putting on extra patrols in the area but the problem is they have limited resources and they won’t last forever.”

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Last month, the Gazette reported residents’ concerns over the nearby Riverside Office Centre becoming a hotbed for antisocial behaviour, litter and drug-taking.

Four empty office blocks at the site are set to be turned into social housing flats after a developer received planning permission.

Some of the nearby shops have already expressed an interest in joining the Neighbourhood Watch scheme with shoplifting a recurring issue.

Mr Lilley will be distributing leaflets with more information and has urged residents interested in joining to get in touch.

If you are interested, email northstation.nhw@gmail.com.