Following Southampton Labour MP’s Satvir Kaur calls that protests had “crossed a line” metal fencing has been erected around Highfield House Hotel, but the hotel-residents are still able to walk around at leisure and into the adjacent Avondale Court sheltered housing.
Website HousingCare.org describes Avondale Court as an age-exclusive, socially rented housing complex. Residents must be 60 or over to be accepted for one of the 28 one-bedroom flats. A part-time Sheltered Housing Officer is on duty weekday mornings, and all flats are linked to a 24-hour Careline alarm service for emergency support for the residents.
The Avondale Court residents say the new fencing doesn’t help to protect them or their quality of life. Residents claim asylum seekers housed in the hotel are breaking into their building and have reported multiple incidents to the police, saying they don’t feel safe. The police have handed out window alarms to Avondale Court residents after complaints, but for many, that’s not enough. “I’ve reported breaks ins to the police five times and they been once. I never go out after dark, I sit with other residents because I feel scared,” said one woman, who asked not to be named. “They’re outside every night smoking cannabis and I’m sick of the smell of it.”
Others described a string of anti-social behaviour, from urinating in the trees, against the building, riding delivery bikes late at night, to discarding takeaway bags by throwing them into the trees when they return. “They kicked our door in. People have no idea what’s going on and we’re frightened to push it too far in case they evict us,” said another resident.
“It’s been going on for years, ,” said one resident. “As soon as it gets dark they go into our car park and we dont feel safe going out. They’re out there drinking and smoking all night. They’ve broken into our sheds, I dont like going out at all now to be honest, my son tells me I need to go out but I dont like to at all”
The sheltered housing is owned by Sovereign Housing Association and Southampton Council is the licensing and social care authority that holds jurisdiction.
I’ve got some great videos of that place. Find me on YouTube, just type my name and Highfield House.