Mum is 'picked on'

Published 25 Mar 2010 09:58

By Ewan McInnes

A FURIOUS mum says her daughter's life has been made a living hell by a neighbour who is alleged to have reported her to the anti-social behaviour team 80 TIMES in just six months.

Shy Kelly Bryant has been accused of being a noisy tenant.

However, her mother Marianne says the complaints amount to harassment

And she claims that Kelly appears to be the target of victimisation simply because she is young.

Kelly, 20, shares her council-owned flat in Aurs Road, Barrhead, with her partner and their daughter.

She has lived there for two years, but Marianne says the complaints only started in October last year.

The reports, which work out on average around five a week, are believed to have been for making too much noise and for having parties.

However, Marianne insists that Kelly has lived a quiet and settled life since giving birth to Leah two years ago.

She said: "We are all absolutely stressed out about this."

Marianne is also angry over what she sees at the lack of action by East Renfrewshire Council in sorting the dispute out.

The neighbour - who is believed to have made the claims against Kelly - is said to be uncooperative when the council's anti-social behaviour wardens have attended the address to check the noise levels.

Marianne, who lives in Victoria Road, Barrhead, claims meetings have been arranged to try and resolve the dispute, but on each occasion the neighbour in question has refused to turn up.

The 42-year-old told the News: "[The neighbour] has been phoning the police saying Kelly is displaying anti-social behaviour and is always having parties, but Kelly is in my house every day.

"My daughter heard [the neighbour] saying to another neighbour 'if you keep at them we will get rid of them'.

"Everyone but [the neighbour] gets on with Kelly. It is because she is only 20, that is why she is getting picked on"

Marianne claims: "[This neighbour] has basically said they don't want young people in the street and that Kelly is ruining [the neighbour's] health, but this situation is actually damaging Kelly's health.

"Kelly just wants to resolve this situation so she, her partner and daughter can live in peace. Our lawyer is astonished that the council hasn't acted further on this and I know this has really affected Kelly."

A spokesman for the council pointed out it could not comment on individual cases, but insisted they will always investigate any complaints of anti-social behaviour.

He said: "We would stress that anyone making a complaint of noise caused by a neighbour must be willing to allow our officers to fully investigate that complaint to see if it is justified.

"The mediation service which we provide also needs to be fully followed through by all the parties involved especially in situations where the initial conflict may be the result of factors such as a new tenant moving into a property where other tenants or home owners have been there for a long time, or where, for example, age or other cultural differences may call for tolerance and mutual respect to overcome any perceived difficulties."

The spokesman added: "We will always investigate complaints with an initial goal of helping residents resolve them so that people can live peacefully together."

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This article appeared in Barrhead News 24 Mar 10

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