Call for action over Featherstone woodland sex pests

More than 1,000 people living in Featherstone have signed a petition asking that something is done to tackle the problem, which involves people parking up at a lay by between Featherstone and Shareshill on the A460, before going into woodland off the busy road.

Residents say they have seen 'up to 10' cars parked in the layby at night and are asking for support from politicians and the police to tackle the issue.

A meeting was held at Featherstone and Hilton Community Centre, Baneberry Drive, to try and look at ways of tackling the problem, which has been labelled 'disgusting' by residents.

Speaking after the meeting, Jackie French, who has been helping to collect the 1,100 signatures so far, said: "People are really angry about this and rightly so.

"They want something done and to be honest they want it done quicker than what we are being told.

"It is disgusting and we have all seen what is happening there.

"We tried to patrol the area ourselves and at some points there was up to 10 cars at a time just left there while people went into the woods.

"The police have said that we can't do that any longer but we feel that any resolution to this is too slow at the moment."

Concerned residents have asked that the landowner of the woodland site cuts back or thins out bushes to make the site more visible and block off any trails, as well as asking police to carry out regular patrols and give out warning letters, while asking that the police and council work together to monitor the site in future.

MP Gavin Williamson, who represents South Staffordshire, said: "I think it was a really positive meeting, this is something that is going to take a lot of working together from different organisations and I think to have got everyone together today was positive.

"We are going to work towards making sure that this site is safe and secure, we will do everything we can to ensure that.

"It is clear that residents are not happy and they are right to feel that way, it was good for everyone to hear their thoughts today."

Frank Beardsmore, chairman of Featherstone Parish Council, said: "We have been working with the landowner, who agrees that something needs to be done, he has put up signs and tidied up the area.

"The support from residents to get this sorted has been great and having more than 1,000 signatures shows the strength of feeling behind what we are trying to do."