We have more newsletters. The seaside town of Deal is said to be experiencing an unsettling surge of youth vandalism and antisocial behaviour, leaving some locals feeling besieged and distressed. Troublemakers, some as young as 10, have reportedly transformed the area into their own playground of havoc - breaking windows, starting fires, and bullying anyone who opposes them. And at the epicentre of the latest turmoil are derelict former care homes on Mill Road, a haunting shell left to decay after being deemed "inadequate" by the Care Quality Commission in This dilapidated site has become a hotspot for trouble.
Despite numerous efforts to fortify the premises, including building tall fences and boarding up windows, the youths manage to find a way in.
Locals describe their town as being under siege. Residents who challenge the youths have reported facing retaliation including verbal abuse and bottles thrown at their homes, reports the Express. One resident explained that children were using an old fire escape to enter the building and engage in vandalism. Theatre worker Leigh Everitt, 59, has witnessed the disorder extend to her place of work.
She detailed instances where children burst into the theatre during performances, roamed freely, and even confronted staff with threats. Ninety-one-year-old Doreen Greenup had a summer to forget, referring to it as a "nightmare".
In response, Dover District Council has taken measures to secure the derelict complex. High fences are in place, windows boarded up, and a security firm now patrols the area regularly. Plans are also underway to redevelop the site into a housing project, though delays have left residents wondering when relief will come. Meanwhile, police have urged residents to report incidents and assured them that efforts to tackle the issue are ongoing. We continue to look into both applications and no decisions have been made at this time.
