Residents of Baguley Crescent, a social housing estate in Greater Manchester, say they feel let down by authorities over persistent issues. Problems reported include fly-tipping, anti-social behaviour, and a condemned building, with residents stating little improvement has been seen despite years of complaints.
The area recently experienced a fatal fire on 7 November, in which 67-year-old David Mills died in his flat. Greater Manchester Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances, and the fire service is investigating the cause. Patrick Connelly, an 80-year-old resident in the same apartment block, reported water damage to his flat from the firefighting efforts.
Patrick Connelly, who has lived on Baguley Crescent for 17 years, stated his cooker had not worked for almost 10 years and he had asked to move multiple times due to anti-social behaviour. Great Places Housing, his social landlord, said customers are responsible for providing their own appliances but may receive assistance. They also stated that kitchen and bathroom upgrades were carried out in 2022/23, with a survey last year finding them in good condition.
Another Great Places tenant, David Gilifillian, 50, reported living without a washing machine and wanting a larger flat for his girlfriend and son. Great Places said they would visit his home to identify solutions for the washing machine issue and noted his housing priority is set by the local authority.
A multi-agency "day of action" in the summer cleared a burnt-out caravan, an abandoned car, and tonnes of fly-tipped waste. However, recent visits found more abandoned mattresses, refrigerators, and sofas. Bury Council stated they are continuing to tackle fly-tipping with live cameras and more frequent waste bin emptying.