A COUNCIL chief today called time on nuisance neighbours who blight York communities with antisocial behaviour.

Housing officer Neil McFarlane spoke out in the wake of the authority's court victory against persistent nuisance neighbour Nicola Brown.

He said a recent shake-up at City of York Council, with deputy chief executive Laura McGillivray made Safe City Champion, with the task of co-ordinating efforts to clamp down on antisocial yobs, signalled the authority's intention to tackle problems head-on.

City of York Council took legal action to try and evict young mum Miss Brown after she plagued Bramham Road in Acomb - triggering nearly 100 complaints from angry neighbours. They included complaints about late night noise, visits from criminals, and drug use at the property.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Press, Miss Brown, has been given one last chance to behave.

A judge, who backed the council's case that Miss Brown breached her tenancy, handed her a suspended two-year possession order.

If she is taken to court again, the council can apply to have her evicted immediately.

Speaking in the wake of the case, tenancy enforcement manager Mr McFarlane warned offenders: "We are working towards more effective ways of dealing with these problems at an earlier stage.

"Our aim is to build safer communities and to ensure that perpetrators of nuisance behaviour are dealt with quickly and effectively."

He said more eviction cases were in the pipeline, but since they could cost up £5,000 to bring to court, they needed to be "iron tight". About 300 nuisance neighbour complaints, of varying seriousness, are currently on the council's books.

He called on residents in similar situations to neighbours of Miss Brown to come forward. Four did in yesterday's case, three anonymously for fears of reprisals.

"While it's not always necessary for the public to disclose their identities in court, evidence given in the witness box can often be very compelling in persuading a court about the merits of a case," said Mr McFarlane, whose expanding team will soon be boosted by a new recruit.

City council leader Steve Galloway has staked his administration's reputation on solving the antisocial behaviour problem, along with the success of the York Pride campaign.

After yesterday's county court hearing in Leeds, Miss Brown, who denied the nuisance neighbour allegations, told the Evening Press: "I think I'm happy with the verdict. It should never have come to court."

Updated: 10:18 Thursday, April 29, 2004