Nouncells Cross residents raise alarm over security, fire safety and services at Stroud flats

A resident at Nouncells Cross in Stroud has delivered a damning verdict on living conditions at the block of flats, raising concerns about alleged anti-social behaviour, security, fire safety and the services provided to residents.

The unnamed resident told Stroud Times that frustration had been growing over what they described as a lack of action on a number of ongoing issues. Their concerns include an anti-social behaviour case which they claim was closed despite an ongoing police investigation.

The resident also alleged that communal fire doors had not been properly maintained. They said broken soft-close mechanisms meant the doors slammed whenever they were used.

Security and anti-social behaviour concerns

Security at the building was another major concern. The resident claimed that the main entrance lock had been faulty for several months, potentially allowing unauthorised people to enter.

They also alleged that people experiencing homelessness had been sleeping in communal areas and claimed that some had been smoking inside the building.

Stroud District Council said it had no outstanding repair reports relating to the main entrance lock, but said it would inspect all entrance doors following the concerns raised.

“We are investing £1.8 million to improve the Nouncells Cross flats and residents’ safety and security is our highest priority.”

The council said the building is covered by CCTV and that it works with police and StreetLink when concerns about unauthorised access are raised. It encouraged residents not to allow unknown people into the building and to report security or anti-social behaviour issues.

For non-urgent anti-social behaviour, residents can report incidents online through the council’s report-it service or call its out-of-hours ASB Hotline on 0800 075 6699. The council said reports would be recorded, passed to the relevant team on the next working day and followed up with necessary action. It said police should be called in an emergency.

Questions over cleaning, gardening and communal facilities

The resident also questioned why service charges continued to be collected, claiming there had been no cleaner since tiles were removed from the communal hallway several weeks earlier. They further claimed that much of the gardening work was being carried out by volunteers.

The council said communal cleaning remained in place, with cleaning carried out weekly during summer and twice weekly during winter. It acknowledged that recent works had caused some disruption but said the service had not been withdrawn.

It also said grounds maintenance continued to be provided by its contractor. A resident-led gardening group, supported by the council, carries out voluntary planting and enhancement activities, it added.

Another issue raised was the continued provision of a communal satellite dish. The resident questioned why people were contributing towards the service when, they said, residents had their own Wi-Fi packages.

The council said residents with a Sky subscription can receive the service through the communal dish, meaning individual satellite dishes are not required. It said this helps maintain the appearance of the building and allows residents to access television services if they choose.

Temporary site office explained

The resident also questioned the use of a council-owned flat as a site office. They asked who was paying for the accommodation and whether the property could instead be made available to somebody on the housing waiting list.

They also questioned why a dedicated flat was needed when the council already had substantial office facilities, particularly because work at the building had allegedly stopped for several months before recently resuming.

The council said the vacant flat was being used as a temporary site office and as a base for the Tenant Liaison Officer during the refurbishment. It said this gave residents a point of contact while the works were under way.

According to the council, roofing works were temporarily paused while surveys relating to bats were completed, although other refurbishment work continued.

The resident said they wanted the issues brought into the public domain because of growing frustration among people living at Nouncells Cross. The council said communal fire doors are inspected quarterly, with defects repaired, and that it continues to monitor and maintain them.