August 2, 2018 3.51 pm This story is over 67 months old

Lincoln council wants to close trouble hotspot

Public consultation underway
A four-week consultation over proposals to close a local ASBO hotspot is open to the public. Photo: Joseph Verney for The Lincolnite

The City of Lincoln Council is looking to close a local anti-social behaviour hotspot.

The idea is to gate off St Peter’s Passage, which connects Mint Lane with the High Street, due to a number of health and safety complaints received by the council.

National and independent traders in Lincoln previously said they were “fed up” with the use of the passageway for drug taking and anti-social behaviour.

Problems have been highlighted over the last year relating to drug use and discarded paraphernalia at St Peter’s Passage, which is also being used as a toilet with strong smells of urine.

In 2015 a similar consultation was launched, but the response to closure plans and consultation back then was low and those who did respond wanted it to remain open as it was a “historic passageway”.

Francesca Bell, Public Protection, Anti-Social Behaviour and Licensing Service Manager at City of Lincoln Council, said: “It seems that the passage is being used as a toilet, smelling particularly strong of urine and traces of human faeces which pose a health and safety risk to the public, our employees and other partner agencies that access the passage.

“Complaints have been made relating to the condition of St Peter’s Passage for a number of years and a significant increase has been highlighted over the last 12 months relating to drug use and discarded paraphernalia.

“We pride ourselves in being a vibrant and welcoming city, and the sight of St Peters Passage is not a reflection on Lincoln.”

The proposition will now be open to public consultation online here until Wednesday, August 29.