Locals say they are sick of repeated fires, smashed windows and closed roads following the anti-social behaviour.
Finn Macdiarmid reports.
Finn Macdiarmid reports.
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00:00This school has been abandoned since 2022, but as you can see, young people still enter
00:11the derelict and potentially dangerous building. St John Fisher's school has been the location of
00:16repeated fires and antisocial behaviour ever since it's shut. Because of the repeated fires,
00:21Ordnance Street frequently sees fire crews and road closures, which can disturb local residents.
00:26My mother-in-law lives there, so she always sees people inside and the broken glasses,
00:32windows and firing, about four or five times fire so far, so that's no good.
00:39Polish car and everything on the middle of the road closed the traffic. So obviously,
00:45because of, I mean, not only me, all around here.
00:50Well, it's not mostly me really, it's other people living here,
00:54it comes down about six or half, six. If you see a police up there,
01:01cut the road off, then they'll have to turn around and come back another way.
01:05We were talking to locals outside the former school's gate when we heard young voices yelling
01:10and the sounds of objects being thrown or destroyed coming from inside the building.
01:14We also spotted the young people peeking out of high windows, running through corridors,
01:23pulling on parts of the building and we heard the sounds of spray paint cans.
01:27The young people noticed us and began shouting abuse that we can't repeat.
01:32Once we analysed the footage, we spotted one of the individuals on the roof was holding a hatchet in his hand.
01:38According to locals, this behaviour isn't rare and young people often gain access to the abandoned school.
01:44Kent Fire and Rescue Service say,
01:45We are actively working closely with schools, local authorities and emergency services across
01:50Kent and Medway to raise awareness of the dangers of entering derelict buildings.
01:54Remember, it is simply not safe to enter a derelict building and doing so may put yourself and others at risk.
02:00We also reached out to Utopia Homes who own the site, but they did not comment on the situation.
02:05Well, locals on Ordnance Street say they just want their row to stay safe and free from further fires,
02:11with some calling for the building to be removed, rebuilt and put to a better use rather than staying derelict.
02:16Finn McDermid for KMTV in Chatham.