There are fears a Swindon estate could become a crime hotspot with three sets of car park lights out of action.

One resident is now taking action over the issues at Carver Close in Stratton.

Stephen Bayliss previously complained about the same lights breaking in 2019 and says they were only repaired after a ‘year-long battle’.

He is concerned that the darkness could attract crime to the housing estate and that the broken lights will make it harder for CCTV to be used to follow up crimes.

Not everyone agrees with him, with some people in the ground floor flats reportedly glad that the light is not coming through their curtains at night.

Stephen responded: “If anyone says it is great, it is not. They would not be saying that if they got attacked.

“They are there for a reason.”

Swindon Advertiser:

He is especially concerned for the safety of vulnerable people and women on the estate.

Recently, police reported a spate of thefts from cars in north Swindon, with a warning put to residents.

The lights have previously been described as being in a "no man’s land" by Stephen.

He said both the council and the housing association claimed to not be responsible or uncertain of ownership.

An SNG housing association spokesperson has said: “The lighting at Carver Close is maintained in one section by a management company and by SNG for a separate area. 

“We have instructed the management company to assess the lights in their section and we have raised a job for our electricians to inspect our section.”

The management company is Strata Management Company. It further employs the services of HML to manage the estate and car park.

An HML spokesperson asked that maintenance issues be sent directly to HML.

Strata Management Company have no public contact details available.

Swindon Advertiser: Stephen Bayliss, of Carver Close, Stratton

When the lights went out in 2019, Bellway said that they were "working to establish the most efficient way for the lights to be maintained for the benefit of the residents going forward".

But an anonymous resident told the newspaper that they were only fixed after the Adver got involved.

Studies have shown that good street lighting reduces crime. 

Dr Brandon C. Welsh and Dr David P. Farrington wrote in a 2008 study: “Results of this review indicate that improved street lighting significantly reduces crime. 

“This lends support for the continued use of improved street lighting to prevent crime in public space.”