In between the southern-most junctions Beverley Road and Princes Avenue sits Spring Bank, a one kilometre long stretch of cosmopolitanism where, as one man told me, you can find a person from nearly every country in world.
I spent an afternoon talking to the business owners and residents of Spring Bank and found that some in the area feel they’ve been ‘forgotten’. I visited a number of businesses on the street to ask them about the area, how it is, how it has changed, and perhaps most importantly, how it could improve.
When I asked people in the area for one thing they’d like to see change or one thing authorities could do to improve the area, the most prevalent response was people asking for a greater police presence.
Among those calling for more police in the area was Aval Mahmood, the owner of Aval Mobiles on Spring Bank. Aval spoke of how he wished police officers would come into his shop and other businesses along the street to check in and to see if there are any problems they are facing. He said that at the moment it feels as if Spring Bank is “forgotten and ignored.”
(Image: Donna Clifford/HullLive)
Despite the issues the street faces, Aval explained that there is a strong community spirit amongst the people and business owners on Spring Bank.
Aval’s call for a greater police presence was shared by Ismail Ibrahim from Madina Butchers who said: “There’s not enough officers for a long busy street like this.”
(Image: Donna Clifford/HullLive)
This sentiment was also shared by a woman who worked in a convenience store on the street. The woman, who did not want to be named, said that more police officers in the area would be her “number one priority.” She added that she believes the area has an issue with drug use. “I see zombies in the street,” she said.
Such conservations with Aval, Ismail, and others made me think about my recent to visit to Orchard Park where neighbourhood police officers are familiar faces in local shops. I walked around the estate with Humberside Police’s Sergeant Andy Waller, who would nip into shops and ask the workers if they’d had any trouble. This is exactly what Aval was calling for in Spring Bank.
With this in mind I contacted Humberside Police to see if they planned to increase the force’s presence on Spring Bank. Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Dave Lonsdale said: “We are committed to maintaining a visible policing presence across our communities, including the Spring Bank area, and we recognise how important this is to both residents and businesses.
“Working closely with our communities is key to building strong relationships and understanding their needs and priorities. Spring Bank is a vibrant and busy part of the city, with a strong community at its heart, and our local neighbourhood policing teams are proud to be part of that.
“Thanks to the recent uplift in neighbourhood policing investment through the Home Office, we look forward to further strengthening our local teams and proactive policing activity in key areas, including Spring Bank.
“Our officers continue to work closely with partners and engage with residents, workers and visitors to listen to concerns and take swift action to address any emerging issues.
“I would encourage anyone with concerns or information about crime to get in touch via our non-emergency 101 number.”
For more information about the local policing team in the Spring Bank area, click here
I also spoke to the owner of Dali Barbers, Edres Dzaie, who explained that another problem the area faces is the busy nature of the main road. As Spring Bank is a key route in and out of Hull for people west of the city centre, the road is often busy. This, Edres explained, can cause traffic issues and even accidents on the road.
(Image: Donna Clifford/HullLive)
As well as people telling me how they’d like the area to improve, people also spoke of a friendly, tight-knit community along Spring Bank. Finn Bentsson explained how he enjoys living in the area, he said: “Everyone says ‘ugh Spring Bank’, but there’s nothing wrong with Spring Bank.”
Finn also said that people in the area are largely very friendly, “it could be worse, it could be London,” he joked.
(Image: Donna Clifford/HullLive)
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