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by Sarah
Marshall

Police have successfully applied to
magistrates to have a council flat boarded up and the tenant, a
24-year-old woman, evicted.

Neighbours say they have suffered
more than two years of loud parties, increased anti-social
behaviour and underage drinking.

Ashford magistrates granted an
order to police for the flat, at 7 Priory Way, Tenterden, be closed
and the council tenant, Cerrie Sims, evicted.

It is the first time this type of
court order has been applied for by police in Kent.

Neighbour Gillian Mackenzie said:
"It’s been hell, simply hell, there’s no other way of describing it
and it’s made so many people ill."

Sgt Rachel McNeil, part of the
Tenterden neighbourhood team, said: "The house in Priory Way has
been the most problematic address in the Tenterden area, accounting
for a large proportion of anti-social behaviour issues such as
under-age drinking, loud music and excessive noise and rubbish
littering the surrounding area."

PC Steve Gamble, who investigates
anti-social behaviour in Ashford, said: "There have been parties
going on just about every night of the week in the flat. They’ve
been going on until 1am, 2am, sometimes 3am, and not only at
weekends but during the week too. There’s been drinking, people
coming and going from the flat and some residents had to listen to
people vomiting in the streets."

The police acted after a four-month
investigation and, along with Ashford Borough Council, turned up at
the property and served a court order on Ms Sims on Monday.

The police said that Ms Sims seemed
surprised despite officers holding numerous meetings with her and
warning that they would take action.

For more on this story, see
Thursday's Kentish Express