Police initially shut down 69A Somerville Road back in October 2025 with a three-month closing order prohibiting anyone except for the occupant and emergency services from entering the property.
A second closure order was placed on the Walcot flat but it seems it has not served as a deterrent as multiple people have been prosecuted for breaching the orders since October, including Leon Symonds, 39, of Latton Close, Penhill, and Paul Donachie, 44, of no fixed abode.
Kerry Duggan, 38, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a community protection notice on two occasions this year by allowing visitors to congregate in communal areas, stairwell lobbies and the garden at the flat.
She was fined £40 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 5.
Residents have expressed concerns that drug dealing is persistently plaguing their neighbourhood and they believe the flat is being used as a base for this anti-social behaviour, with people “coming and going”, shouting and arguing, along with suspected prostitution and public urination.
One resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the Adver it “feels that however many times people in the neighbourhood are reporting issues to the police and the council” nothing is being done.
They said: “It is tiresome and stressful to live with this happening right on the doorstep, on a daily basis.”
They said there have been at least two occasions where they have reported to the police suspected drug dealing.
They added: “We appreciate the police are busy, but sometimes it makes us wonder why nothing is done.”
Meanwhile, another local said they had reported people on the premises around 10-15 times over the Christmas period.
“We have witnessed taking drugs, sexual relations and urinating in the garden”, they explained, adding that one man reportedly ignored the closure order and he was back inside the property within five hours of it being granted at court.
A flat in Walcot is continuing to plague a neighbourhood amid concerns of anti-social behaviour (Image: Google Maps)
As reported by The Sun, other neighbours claim they have been exposed to public sex acts taking place in the garden, against windows and near garages.
It was also reported that a tent appeared in the communal garden shortly after the banning order was imposed, with people being seen there around Christmas time and criminality taking place “in plain sight”.
Neighbour Peter Rowland told the tabloid newspaper that the street was “like a f***ing soap opera” and he has been faced with “crack heads” knocking on his door thinking they are at 69A.
He said there was a “spray of blood on the ceiling” on one occasion after drugs had been used which was later painted over.
At the time, a Wiltshire Police spokesperson said: “A closure order is in place at 69A Somerville Road in a bid to reduce anti-social behaviour and safeguard the occupant. We will continue to respond to reports of any breaches of the order and make regular proactive checks at the address.
“We are also working with Swindon Borough Council to formulate a long term solution.”
