DISRUPTIVE neighbours will find themselves under the spotlight under plans unveiled by Trafford Council.

The Housing Department is setting up a dedicated team to work on a 'Nuisance Strategy' and has recruited a specialist housing solicitor, to focus on existing laws to stop nuisance, measures to prevent problems happening in the first place and new ideas such as support for witnesses, use of professional witnesses and mediation.

Chairman of Housing and Environmental Services, Bernice Garlick, said: "We all know that the kind of problems we're trying to tackle can have a huge effect on people's quality of life. It is only a minority who behave in this way and we want to develop a range of services that not only tackle problems but aim to prevent them starting in the first place."

Legal action taken so far includes:

a tenant from Chatsworth Road in Stretford evicted because of unreasonable behaviour by her and visitors.

an injunction against a tenant on Buxton Crescent in Sale Moor to stop further nuisance, vandalism and intimidation.

In Woodsend Green in Urmston an injunction to prevent a member of a tenants' household making further threats towards neighbours.

In December 1998, a possession order was granted against a tenant in a high rise flat in Stretford Court because of nuisance she, her son and visitors caused to neighbours.

Ken Ivatt, Director of Housing and Environmental Services, said: "If any Trafford tenants have comments or ideas they wish to make, they should get in touch with their tenants' association or local housing office.'

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