Residents and local business owners in Edinburgh are ‘living in fear’ as Bonfire night looms.
In recent years, violent disorder has escalated in areas including Niddrie, Gracemount and Broomhouse. Last year saw yobs target police officers with fireworks and petrol bombs.
Ahead of Guy Fawkes Night on November 5, Edinburgh Live spoke with various residents and shopkeepers in Niddrie. Locals raised concerns following the damage the events of the last few years have inflicted on the community, reports Edinburgh Live.
Niddrie is among the areas included in both Police Scotland’s dispersal zones and Edinburgh Council’s Firework Control Zones. This means setting off fireworks will no longer be permitted unless displays are licensed through the local authority.
The crackdown will last from November 1-10 and has been announced in a bid to tackle antisocial behaviour. Three other areas – Seafield, Balerno and Calton Hill – are also controlled zones.
On Wednesday, October 30, locals in Niddrie and shop workers spoke out on last year’s disorder, with many saying they are already fearing a repeat of scenes which saw four officers injured and untold damage and destruction dealt to the area.
Discarded fireworks were also seen nearby, having been set off in recent days, with locals claiming buses have been targeted by projectiles in recent weeks as well as rocks.
Malek, who works in Day To Day on the corner of Craigmillar Castle Road said: “I mean you heard what happened last year, it was in the paper everywhere. Last year police came and we shut early and this year is going to be the exact same.”
Gemma, a worker at Shammah Grocers just off Niddrie Mains Road added: “It’s very scary and last year we also closed early so I think this year will be the same. It seems like kids join in because they have nothing to do and the group just gets bigger.
“I don’t live in the area but I don’t like to see the place like this. The road was closed and police were everywhere last year.”
One particular street, Hay Drive, saw a large group of masked youths gather before aiming projectiles and fireworks at riot police.
Mr Akbar, who works in Day-Today on the corner of the street, said: “Two years ago they damaged our shop and so we are planning to close early this year. Police say they’re doing more patrolling this year but the last couple of nights people have been firing stuff at cars. There are used fireworks and sparklers sitting on the grass outside.”
Locals also voiced their concern about similar scenes taking place this year, many of whom have lived in Niddrie their entire lives and claim the violence is fairly new.
Many also slammed those responsible and claimed it gives the area a bad name from those who live further afield.
Christine Graham, 67, said: “Especially the carry on last year was ridiculous, we had all the police vans they were backed up here at Lidl. When we were bairns we did it of course but nothing like this, it’s only gotten worse in the last two years.
“People think Niddrie is a bad place but it’s not, all the carry on is from more people moving to Niddrie or kids coming from other parts of Edinburgh. My grandson was at a Hearts game I think last year and he had to go along the Wisp to go home as the road was shut off by police.”
Another local woman, Lesley Sibbald, 50, admitted she is “dreading” this year’s Bonfire Night and the thought of violence erupting on her doorstep again has made her incredibly worried.
She commented: “It was horrendous. I’m dreading it this year, It frightens me actually.
“The police just don’t know what to do with them, I mean they were in healthy numbers. It’s only been recently. I’ve lived in Niddrie for 50 years and I’ve never known it to be like that this.
“There’s loads of good people here and it’s a shame for the kids who live here. Parents can’t take them out to enjoy the night. I can feel myself getting anxious and even though the police were there I didn’t feel reassured.
“I don’t know how the police will contain it this year, I think the teens have come from other areas cause there were far too many of them. It gives Niddrie such a bad name and bad disruption.”
Police officers will also be on high alert for other areas of the city after the force released a list of dispersal zones. In a statement, Police Scotland said it believes groups of people may cause alarm or distress to members of the public.
The zones give officers the power to remove a person or group from a specific area is they are causing, or likely to cause, alarm or distress to members of the public.
The dispersal zones will be in place within Gorgie, Saughton, Oxgangs, Liberton, Gilmerton, Gracemount, Portobello, Niddrie, Moredun, Muirhouse, Craigentinny, Pilton and Edinburgh City Centre. It will be enforceable from 2pm on November 1 to midnight on November 5.
Jimmy, 75, who lives between Niddrie and Fort Kinnaird, claims antisocial behaviour has already kicked off in the area in recent weeks with fireworks and other items being launched at buses.
He added: “My friend was telling me they were throwing bangers at bus drivers the other day. Some of them just have no brains and they just destroy their own neighbourhood.
“They’re just trouble makers, it’s a shame really. We used to go to Meadowbank for the display but I think that’s all stopped now. I remember they had a bus full of police dressed in normal clothes ready to jump out and grab them.”
A community camp fire event is also taking place at Sandy’s Community Centre on Craigmillar Castle Avenue in the response to last year’s disorder and the ban on individual firework displays.
Live music, food and drink and a projector show of fireworks are all planned for a free family-fun evening, with gates opening at 5pm.
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