TENANTS gathered in a north Hampshire street to protest about measures designed to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Around a dozen people took part in the protest at the entrance of Bromelia Close at 4pm on Monday, which lasted for about 45 minutes. The police said it was peaceful and “did not involve any criminal offences”.

Allan Johnson, 54, took part in the protest, which he said was a reaction to a letter sent to all residents in August by Safer North Hampshire, the community safety partnership, and Sentinel Housing Association.

The letter, seen by The Gazette, asks residents in Bromelia Close not to “loiter” outside their own homes, and to make sure their children play in back gardens rather than in the street.

The letter said complaints had been received about anti-social behaviour from some residents, and that failure to meet the requests could lead to measures including anti-social behaviour orders and even eviction, for those who are tenants of Sentinel Housing Association.

Mr Johnson said: “It’s over the top – it’s a curfew. They have certainly got a point about anti-social behaviour, but none of the children are allowed out now, and it just destroys the street. The whole character of the street has gone.”

Elizabeth Green, who also lives in the street, said: “My nine-year-old daughter is too frightened to play out, and when she sees a PCSO, she asks if they will take our house away.”

But Beth Holmyard, neighbourhood manager at Sentinel Housing Association, said there is a “history of reoccurring complaints in this area which are focused around a small number of residents causing anti-social behaviour”.

She added: “The intimidating behaviour and verbal abuse is causing a lot of distress for many other people who live there.

“Sometimes people don’t get on with their neighbours and kids fall out while they’re playing. But shouting and swearing at each other in the street really doesn’t help. We wanted to remind people that this sort of behaviour is not acceptable.”

She added that Sentinel has offered mediation to residents, and has asked people to record anti-social behaviour on diary sheets – offers no-one has taken up.

Councillor Ranil Jayawardena, deputy leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, part of the community safety partnership, said: “People have a right to feel safe and free from intimidation in the place where they live.

“The Safer North Hampshire team and our community safety patrollers have been working very closely with the police and the housing association to sort out the problems that are making life intolerable for people in this area.”

  • Do you have a view on this story? Have your say by writing to The Letters Editor, The Gazette, Pelton Road, Basingstoke, RG21 6XD, emailing editor@basingstokegazette.co.uk, or commenting online at basingstokegazette.co. uk/news.