A clampdown on antisocial behaviour in part of Grantham has resulted in a respite for residents after South Kesteven District Council secured the closure of a council flat.
It comes after months of anti-social behaviour affecting the wider community and is effective for the three months of the Closure Order obtained through the courts.
The Order restricts who can visit there in the future and means that the tenant and other named individuals cannot return without facing the possibility of arrest.
The address it at the Riverside complex in Grantham, a mixture of SKDC-operated sheltered and general needs properties.
Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, Cllr Phil Dilks, said: “This was such a relief to other residents that some actually came out to thank our Housing staff, Neighbourhoods team and Safer Streets staff here at SKDC, and our partners from Lincolnshire Police.
“The relief when this property was made secure was obvious to everyone.
“As a responsible landlord, SKDC has a duty to support all our tenants to deal with any kind of problem that can arise. They should be confident and comfortable reporting issues to Council or the Police, knowing that we will take appropriate action to achieve results.
“Our Tenancy Services team has worked hard on this for almost three years, conducting patrols and gathering evidence – and then standing up in court to explain that evidence to the magistrates. They deserve a good deal of credit for making everyone’s community feel so much safer.
“The court reviewed the evidence, including that that the tenant has known vulnerabilities, and taking everything into account agreed that we were doing the right thing and at the same time taking a reasonable and proportionate stance following an equality and proportionality assessment.
“We are now pursuing further action on the back of this possession order and once the property is recovered, we will be able to re-let it to another reputable tenant.”
The Full Closure Order was granted at Boston Magistrates Court under the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 with support from Lincolnshire County Council’s legal services team.
The tenant will be assessed under Section 188 of the Homelessness Reduction Act and if deemed to be in priority need will he be provided with temporary accommodation.
A copy of the ruling is displayed outside the property and anyone breaching it could be arrested and, if found guilty, face a punishment of up to 51 weeks in prison and/or an unlimited fine.