Prestonpans: Middleshot Square described as ‘war zone’ by residents

East Lothian Council has had to take action after the previously quiet Middleshot Square in Prestonpans suddenly became a hotspot for anti-social behaviour.

Before the trouble started, there had not been a single complaint on the street for a decade.

And residents living on the square, where just over half the housing is council-owned, say that they feel the local authority has "dumped" troubled tenants on their doorstep.

One grandfather, who has lived on the street for nearly 20 years, said that the last two years has seen a string of incidents – including threatening behaviour, cars being damaged and violent arguments breaking out – which have been linked to the social housing.

A report on the situation produced by council officers revealed that some of its own tenants, who had lived there for years, were now demanding a transfer out of the area because of the trouble.

Middleshot Square, Prestonpans

The grandfather, who did not want to be identified, said: “It has been like a war zone some nights, particularly at the weekend.

"It’s alright for the council tenants not involved, they can ask to be moved to another house.

“Those of us who own our homes are stuck here and don’t feel safe.”

East Lothian Council has now introduced a local letting plan for the square, which is split into 53 council properties and 40 ‘right to buy’ privately owned homes.

The plan states that future vacancies on the street will not be given to tenants who are unemployed or have a history of anti-social behaviour or drug or alcohol misuse.

'Notable increase'

A report on the introduction of the restrictions said: “Since February 2022,Middleshot Square has become an area that requires a bit more attention and resource from a housing management perspective.

“There has been a notable increase in ASB (anti-social behaviour) complaints and requests for transfers.”

It added: “There are three properties that continually attract complaints in respect of condition and anti-social behaviour, including drug misuse.

“Prior to February 2022, the area was stable and the last recorded complaint was 2012. Tenants and residents are now complaining on a regular basis.

“There have been two serious assaults over the past few months.

"Tenants who have lived there for years now want to move because of the anti-social behaviour.”

Police reports on incidents in the street revealed that they had increased from 50 recorded in 2021/22  and 2020/21 to 85 in 2022/23.

That included three drugs incidents in the most recent year recorded compared to none in the previous years, and 19 domestic incidents compared to just six in 2020/21

'Dumped the worst tenants'

One female council tenant living on the street said that she had asked to be moved out of the area because of the problems.

She said: “Many of us have lived here happily for years and thought this would be where our kids would grow up, it was so nice. But now we just want out.

“It feels like the council has dumped the worst tenants they have on us.”

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said that tenants at the centre of issues in the square were being dealt with through its anti-social behaviour policy and the local letting plan was brought in to improve the street for other residents.

They said: “The benefit of this plan is to ensure going forward any vacancies will be allocated to applicants with no history of ASB, dependency issues and who are economically active, which should prevent an increase in complaints and increase demand for this area.

“The lettings plan will operate alongside other initiatives such as upgrades to the communal stairs in our blocks that will make the area more attractive and appealing to current and future residents.”