More CCTV at this city centre car park as motorists raise concerns over drug-taking and 'intimidating' teenagers

Security measures are being stepped up at a city centre car park to combat complaints of drug-taking and anti-social behaviour at the facility.

Additional CCTV cameras have been installed at Hanley's John Street multi-storey where motorists say they feel 'unnerved' when returning to their vehicles in the evening.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which owns the facility, say there are also patrols in the evening while outdated cameras have been replaced.

Councillor Daniel Jellyman, cabinet member for regeneration, infrastructure and heritage, said: "There’s been visible economic growth in the city centre in recent years, particularly at the Smithfield development where more than 1,000 office workers are now based.

"This has given a real positive boost to footfall and businesses, and one of the other knock-on effects we have seen is that car parks in the city centre are busier now, particularly John Street car park.

CCTV has been installed on the stairs of the John Street multi-storey car park, in Hanley

"The safety and cleanliness of our car parks are a top priority, and we are constantly looking at ways we can improve the facilities. There has always been security cameras at John Street car park but we’ve listened to feedback from customers and have carried out a planned investment in upgrading, modernising and improving the coverage of the cameras.

"We also have regular security patrols in the area during the evening and the team can respond to incidents.”

The improved cameras feature in a number of places including stairwells, where drivers say they have witnessed drug taking. Concerns had been raised over the fact security staff go home at 7pm - despite the car park being open until as late as 11pm.

Motorists have welcomed the improvements being carried out. Kelly Price works in Hanley and says her colleagues would have a chaperone to go with them to the car park due to the lack of security.

The 45-year-old, from Silverdale, said: "There's a lot of kids running around on the stairs at night especially in the winter. So I think more cameras are good.

"You feel more vulnerable in the winter time because it's really dark when you're leaving work and a lot of my colleagues were having chaperones to go with them to the car park because of kids drinking on the stairs and being verbally abusive to people.

Motorists had complained of drug-taking and intimidating behaviour on the stairs of the John Street multi-storey car park, in Hanley

"I think having more CCTV is better because when security go home there's nobody to report it to. I only work across the road but as soon as I'm on the car park at night time it can be a bit intimidating if there's a group of teenagers and you're on your own.

"It makes you feel a bit on edge because they don't move for you on the stairs so you have to stand and wait and it's awful. The CCTV helps me feel a bit better if security have gone home.

"And my car has been hit on here as well so the CCTV will help with people's insurance."

Katrina Banks, aged 49, from Leek, said: "Improved CCTV is absolutely a good idea. I've seen people on the stairwells doing drugs, and kids smoking when I've come back to my car late on at night. Your vehicle can be the only one on that level so it's a bit unnerving.

Motorists say they are pleased that CCTV has been installed at John Street multi-storey car park, in Hanley

"I really appreciate the additional security because it's a deterrent. Security go home at 7pm and even when they're in they are on the bottom floor and if you're on the top it's a long way.

"I still think security should be here until the car park closes but until that happens more CCTV is good."

Hristo Damyanov, aged 26, from Hanley, added: "The cameras will hopefully deter people from hanging around on the stairs, so it's a good idea if it stops that."

Follow StokeonTrentLive

Download our app - You can download our free app for iPhone and iPad from Apple's App Store, or get the Android version from Google Play.

Follow StokeonTrentLive on Facebook - Like our Facebook page to get the latest news in your feed and join in the lively discussions in the comments. Click here to give it a like!

Follow us on Twitter - For breaking news and the latest stories, click here to follow SOTLive on Twitter.

Follow us on Instagram - Featuring pictures past and present from across Stoke-on-Trent, North Staffordshire & South Cheshire - and if you tag us in your posts, we could repost your picture on our page! We also put the latest news in our Instagram Stories. Click here to follow StokeonTrentLive on Instagram.