‘Our kids are not trouble’

By Gemma Hockey

THREE mothers have defended their children’s right to play freely after claims of abuse by a Clairval Estate resident.

Linda Smith, Heidi Nicholls and a third mother who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of a backlash, said claims by Alan Lowndes that his family was being victimised by teenagers were one-sided.

Mr Lowndes, 43, accused children living on the estate of smashing glass bottles, breaking his gate and kicking a football against his windows. But Mrs Smith, 47, who has two teenage daughters and a 21-year-old, said Mr Lowndes had provoked the children.

‘We had eggs thrown at our car by him and we have proof it was him,’ she said. ‘No one else has a problem with our children on the estate.

‘There are a lot of youngsters who come down here and all our kids get on well, but by the way he speaks to them he is bringing it on himself,’ she said.

Mrs Smith, who has lived in the area for 15 years, said she did not want people to think her children and others on the estate were ‘trouble’.

‘I just don’t want people thinking that this estate is bad because it isn’t and there are a lot of good people who live here,’ she said.

All three mums have written letters to the Housing Department, but are still waiting for a reply.

Housing said it was aware of the situation but declined to comment.

Mrs Nicholls, 33, who has daughters aged 16, 14 and 11 and lives next door to Mr Lowndes, said she too has had problems with her neighbour. ‘He threw eggs at my bathroom window,’ she said.

Mrs Nicholls, who has lived on the estate for 10 years, contacted the police but no further action was taken.

She said children do hang around the telephone box outside Mr Lowndes’ house but they have done so for some time.

‘The only way they are going to solve that problem is by getting rid of the telephone box,’ she said.

A spokesman for the police urged anyone experiencing anti-social behaviour problems to contact them, report their concerns and allow an officer to deal with the problem.

‘We would discourage anyone from taking their own steps to resolve these types of problem, for this kind of action may only increase issues and invite additional problems,’ he said.