News
14-03-06, 05:52 AM
Madeleine Long had had enough. The noise from the thumping disco had made her evening unbearable and she was worried that the 300 or so youngsters in the community centre hall opposite - some said to be as young as 12 - were drinking and taking drugs.
So took she matters into her own hands.
Walking the short distance from her home to Fakenham Community Centre, Mrs Long she pushed her way through gyrating youngsters and on to the stage, taking over the microphone from the DJ.
Those with illegal substances had better leave now, she warned, because the police were on their way.
Police officers later turned up to close down the party but only after many youngsters had rushed to the exit.
Mrs Long, of Gladstone Road, Fakenham, said she acted because she was genuinely worried about the youngsters' safety, particularly as they were packed into the main hall like "sardines in a tin."
Now she is calling for the hall - in the centre of Fakenham and widely used by community groups - to be closed down while the whole situation is investigated.
Mrs Long says she acted on Saturday night because she could no longer stand the noise from the party.
"The sight that greeted me after I had pushed my way through that crowded hall was horrendous. I believe that some of the youngsters were as young as 12 and 13 and some were clutching beer glasses with alcohol in them," she said.
Mrs Long climbed onto the stage and announced she was closing down the party and the police were on their way.
"I warned them that the police were about to arrive and as soon as I said that a large number of youngsters made for the exit doors, presumably because they had illegal substances in their possession," she said.
The situation has also led to the immediate resignation of Fakenham Rector, the Rev Adrian Bell, from the management committee.
In his resignation letter Mr Bell said: "It seems that events of Saturday night broke numerous guidelines laid down by the Community Centre committee, the Gladstone Road Association (where the Rectory and Mrs Long's house are situated) and the North Norfolk District Council and caused immense concern to all the neighbours nearby."
"Our lives at the Rectory have now become quite unbearable at weekends with damage to our car, litter in the garden, abusive language and doorbell ringing. On Sunday morning I collected two sacks of rubbish from around the Centre, mostly of cans of lager and vodka/wine bottles used by some of the estimated 300 13- and 14-year-olds at the party".
Mr Bell said that he was pleased that the police acted quickly after he called them and closed the "gig" down.
Last night management committee chairman Tom Moore said an emergency private meeting of the committee had been called for Monday at 6.30pm when the whole situation is to be discussed.
Mr Moore, who said he believed some of the claims about the incident had been exaggerated, has also called for a police report to be available for the meeting. A statement would be issued afterwards.
The Community Centre is owned by North Norfolk District Council and is leased to the Fakenham and District Community Centre Ltd.
Last night the authority's legal services manager Emma Duncan confirmed it had received official complaints about the party and it took such matters very seriously. There would be a thorough investigations into all aspects of the management and hiring of the Centre to see whether or not conditions had been breached.
Inspector Clive Beesom, in charge of policing in the Fakenham area, confirmed that officers attended the Centre and closed down the party. He stressed that a thorough investigation would be carried out and he was particularly anxious to identify the person who booked the venue.
News Source
http://www.neighbourfromhell.co.uk/noisy_n...er_noisy_disco/ (http://www.neighbourfromhell.co.uk/noisy_neighbours/neighbour_acts_over_noisy_disco/)
So took she matters into her own hands.
Walking the short distance from her home to Fakenham Community Centre, Mrs Long she pushed her way through gyrating youngsters and on to the stage, taking over the microphone from the DJ.
Those with illegal substances had better leave now, she warned, because the police were on their way.
Police officers later turned up to close down the party but only after many youngsters had rushed to the exit.
Mrs Long, of Gladstone Road, Fakenham, said she acted because she was genuinely worried about the youngsters' safety, particularly as they were packed into the main hall like "sardines in a tin."
Now she is calling for the hall - in the centre of Fakenham and widely used by community groups - to be closed down while the whole situation is investigated.
Mrs Long says she acted on Saturday night because she could no longer stand the noise from the party.
"The sight that greeted me after I had pushed my way through that crowded hall was horrendous. I believe that some of the youngsters were as young as 12 and 13 and some were clutching beer glasses with alcohol in them," she said.
Mrs Long climbed onto the stage and announced she was closing down the party and the police were on their way.
"I warned them that the police were about to arrive and as soon as I said that a large number of youngsters made for the exit doors, presumably because they had illegal substances in their possession," she said.
The situation has also led to the immediate resignation of Fakenham Rector, the Rev Adrian Bell, from the management committee.
In his resignation letter Mr Bell said: "It seems that events of Saturday night broke numerous guidelines laid down by the Community Centre committee, the Gladstone Road Association (where the Rectory and Mrs Long's house are situated) and the North Norfolk District Council and caused immense concern to all the neighbours nearby."
"Our lives at the Rectory have now become quite unbearable at weekends with damage to our car, litter in the garden, abusive language and doorbell ringing. On Sunday morning I collected two sacks of rubbish from around the Centre, mostly of cans of lager and vodka/wine bottles used by some of the estimated 300 13- and 14-year-olds at the party".
Mr Bell said that he was pleased that the police acted quickly after he called them and closed the "gig" down.
Last night management committee chairman Tom Moore said an emergency private meeting of the committee had been called for Monday at 6.30pm when the whole situation is to be discussed.
Mr Moore, who said he believed some of the claims about the incident had been exaggerated, has also called for a police report to be available for the meeting. A statement would be issued afterwards.
The Community Centre is owned by North Norfolk District Council and is leased to the Fakenham and District Community Centre Ltd.
Last night the authority's legal services manager Emma Duncan confirmed it had received official complaints about the party and it took such matters very seriously. There would be a thorough investigations into all aspects of the management and hiring of the Centre to see whether or not conditions had been breached.
Inspector Clive Beesom, in charge of policing in the Fakenham area, confirmed that officers attended the Centre and closed down the party. He stressed that a thorough investigation would be carried out and he was particularly anxious to identify the person who booked the venue.
News Source
http://www.neighbourfromhell.co.uk/noisy_n...er_noisy_disco/ (http://www.neighbourfromhell.co.uk/noisy_neighbours/neighbour_acts_over_noisy_disco/)