Vandalised and vermin filled Leeds housing block has closure order extended

Farnley House in Seacroft was closed by a landmark court ruling in February following 'persistent' anti-social behaviour and concerns about the condition of the building.

Issues arising from the private tower block, which is made up 12 flats and is in the wider complex of Kingsdale Court, resulted in 27 calls to the police in just six months.

An inspection of the building found a catalogue of issues, including dangerous and combustible rubbish which was attracting vermin.

All the ground floor flats were insecure and vandalised causing extensive damage and water running from broken pipes.

Communal and internal lighting was also missing or hanging down with exposed live wiring.

West Yorkshire Police and the Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team (LASBT) were granted a three-month Premises Closure Order for each flat in Farnley House at Leeds Magistrates in February.

As part of the Premises Closure Order, no one was allowed to access the flats.

Following concerns that that issues had still not been resolved, the order has now been extended for another three months.

A new closure order has also been granted at Gilstead House on the Kingsdale Court complex.

East Leeds Neighbourhood Policing Teams say they will continue to work with the council's Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team to eradicate criminal behaviour on the estate.

Speaking after the court ruling in February, Inspector Mick Preston, who heads the Leeds East Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "This building had become a magnet for crime and anti-social behaviour in the area and I'm sure those residents whose lives were being affected will welcome this really positive news of it being shut down.

"The granting of this latest order is yet another significant move forward in our ongoing partnership work to tackle the issues that impact the most on people in our communities."

Any residents suffering from anti-social behaviour can get in touch with LASBT in the following ways: To report in the daytime call 0113 222 4402 or out of hours on 0113 376 0337 (between 6pm and 3.30am).

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