Bathurst Carpet Court manager lives in Kelso and says it breaks his heart to see what is happening there.

Mr McEwen said his wife has to drive into Bathurst if she wants to go for a walk, children are being intimidated in the street and people are afraid to leave their homes.

Bins and even houses are set on fire, trees and plants are being ripped out of gardens and thrown on the ground to die plus dozens of other things are going on that are never reported because of fear of retribution.

“People don’t feel safe at night. A lot of it is alcohol fuelled,” Mr McEwen said.

“It’s a hopeless situation and by crikey it’s getting worse every day.”

Mr McEwen said people who have lived in the suburb all their lives are at breaking point, many of them choosing to just give up and move away – but not him.

“I like living in Kelso and I’ll be damned if I’ll move out,” Mr McEwen said.

“Many people live here because they don’t have a lot of money.

“They have meagre possessions but their houses are clean and tidy.

“They can’t afford to move. Where do you go when you’re elderly?”

Mr McEwen bought his house in the middle of Kelso four years ago when he moved here from Sydney because that was where he could afford to buy.

“Whoever you are, your house is your home,” he said.

“It’s what you work hard for and you have a right to feel safe in it.”

Mr McEwen said the local police and council do a great job but they don’t have the resources to effectively deal with the problem.

He said he believes overcoming Kelso’s problems is everyone’s responsibility.

“It will take everyone in Bathurst to solve this problem,” Mr McEwen said.

“It’s time to think outside the square.

“We need to set up a think-tank made up of the community, police and council. I’ve stepped forward because I want everyone get together and start speaking up.

“I don’t know what we can do but I do know we can’t do nothing.

“That criminal element has to be stopped.”

*** YOUR SAY: How can we solve the problems at Kelso? Contact us by email at editor.westernadvocate@ruralpress .com, by mail at PO Box 11, Bathurst 2795 or fax on 6332 2709.