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News

Mum says living in Staner Court council flat in Ramsgate feels like ‘social experiment’

By: Millie Bowles mbowles@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 21 April 2024

Updated: 11:08, 21 April 2024

A mum says she feels like she’s living in a social experiment due to the violence, noise and antisocial behaviour at her high-rise block of flats.

Grace Palmer was moved into Staner Court in Ramsgate with her toddler Paddy by Thanet District Council in January after being on the housing register for 13 months.

The 22-year-old claims that constant noise, fighting and barking dogs keep her and her young son up every night.

She told KentOnline: “There was fighting the first time I moved in, and I thought it could be a one-off.

“But no, it is all the time. It’s brutal.”

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The level of chaos within the walls of Staner Court - where 94% of the flats are rented social housing - has left Miss Palmer stunned.

“It feels like a social experiment,” she said.

Grace Palmer, pictured with two-year-old son Paddy, says living in her council high-rise flat at Staner Court in Ramsgate is like a social experiment. Picture: Grace Palmer

“I’ve heard people doing NOS [nitrous oxide] balloons, and it’s so loud it’s like someone is spraying deodorant in your ear.

“We have been woken up with hammers on our ceiling and loud music at 5am.”

Adding to the disruption is the constant barking of dogs.

She says there is an “insane” amount of pitbull-type breeds, which she worries the owners cannot control.

“They will rip someone’s face off, and I have to possibly go near them with my child,” she said.

The mum says noise and antisocial behaviour is constant at Staner Court in Ramsgate

One worrying incident was captured on ring doorbell footage.

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In the clip, two women can be heard arguing and shouting.

Police have confirmed they were called and officers are currently investigating a reported assault.

Miss Palmer, who has autism, has asked Thanet District Council to move her several times, but says the authority is “not doing anything”.

“I’ve passed on emails from my GP about my diagnosis and why it’s bad for me here, but they just ignore me,” she said.

“I don’t think high-rises are fit for purpose anymore…”

The stay-at-home mum says the noise is so bad that two-year-old Paddy is up “at least three times an hour”, through the night.

She has resorted to sleeping on an air bed in the living room, as the racket is worse over her bedroom.

Miss Palmer fears sleep deprivation is affecting her son’s development.

“He was chatting loads when we lived with my parents and then he just completely stopped talking when we moved here,” she said.

“He hears them fighting and scrapping, and he's awake all night, every night.”

The Ramsgate mum says Thanet District Council will not move her

She is also concerned about how living in the block is going to affect Paddy in the future.

“You get gangs of kids loitering in hallways and stuff. I don't want that for him,” she said.

“I'm too scared to take him anywhere.

“We don’t leave the flat, because I’ve got constant paranoia about what is going to happen next. I don’t feel safe here.”

In the few months they have lived at Staner Court, the fire alarm has gone off five times.

“I believed I had to accept it, or else I would be put back on the list…”

“I've had to carry Paddy down 11 flights of stairs with smoke alarms going off, crying my eyes out,” Miss Palmer said.

“I had to have diazepam after that because I thought we were going to burn to death in our sleep - we are on the 11th floor.”

When bidding for the council flat, Miss Palmer says she was 13th in the queue but was offered the place.

She recognises that many people spend years on the register, and is thankful she has a roof over her head.

“I am so grateful that I've got housing, but it's not suitable at all,” she said.

Grace Palmer says there is constant fighting and barking dogs at Staner Court in Ramsgate

“I strongly believe there were 12 other households that were probably far more suited.

“Things weren't good at home before I moved here, so that's the reason I took the flat with no hesitation.

“I believed I had to accept it, or else I would be put back on the list.

“I want the best for my son but I quickly realised this is not good for him.”

Miss Palmer says she has nowhere else to live and is receiving little to no communication from the council.

She added: “I don’t think high-rises are fit for purpose anymore.

“We should be looking after our own, but I feel like those on the housing register are just shoved in tower blocks.”

A Thanet District Council spokesperson said: “All reports of anti-social behaviour are taken seriously, as we understand the effect that this can have on tenants and neighbouring properties.

“We will not hesitate to involve partner agencies when necessary, to ensure suitable action is taken to protect the wellbeing of all our tenants.

”We are not able to comment on individual cases, but can confirm that we consider all requests from tenants to be transferred from their current home.”

They added that people’s medical issues are taken into account when housing is allocated.

”People living in council and housing association properties can also sign up to be considered for a mutual exchange via Home Swapper,” they added.

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