Residents of Erskine Terrace say they are “living a nightmare” as rowdy behaviour, loud noise coming from the bars and shops at the nearby shopping centre, and an influx of visitors at all hours continue to disturb their peace — leaving many sleepless and deeply frustrated.
According to residents, the situation has worsened in recent months, with buses and taxis dropping off visitors throughout the night. The disturbances peak during long weekends, public holidays, and especially the festive season, when what should be a quiet residential neighbourhood turns into what residents describe as “total chaos.”
Ward 26 councillor, Sharmaine Sewshanker, said she has been inundated with complaints from residents who feel neglected by law enforcement and abandoned by authorities.
“The residents of Erskine Terrace are at their wits’ end. Buses and taxis arrive at all hours of the night, disturbing the working-class families who live here. I have submitted several written complaints from residents to Metro Police, but it’s been two weeks and I still haven’t received a response,” she said.
Sewshanker explained that the lack of visible policing and enforcement of municipal bylaws is fuelling the problem, and she is calling for urgent intervention.
“We are asking for regular patrols and proper enforcement of nuisance bylaws. Visible policing is always a deterrent, and we need more peace officers or foot patrols deployed to the area,” she added.
The councillor said the issues have been raised repeatedly at Community Policing Forum (CPF) meetings, but there has been little progress. Meanwhile, the area has also become a hotspot for crime and social decay.
“Erskine Terrace has become a haven for the homeless, with drug use and prostitution on the rise. My biggest concern is for the safety of the neighbourhood’s children. The park is their only playground, and it’s not right for them to grow up in an environment where crime and grime are normalised,” Sewshanker said.
She urged residents to report any disturbances or illegal activities to the city’s emergency call centre by dialling 031 361 0000, and to request a reference number when doing so.
“Once residents have a reference number, they can send it to me so I can escalate the matter further,” Sewshanker added.
Residents say they hope their continued calls for help will eventually result in action — before their once peaceful neighbourhood becomes completely unlivable.
