Residents on Runcorn road want meeting amid MPs claims street is blighted with crime
Sarah Pochin has said the road has been blighted with violence
Residents on a Runcorn road are calling for a meeting with their local MP - as they hit back at her claims that their street is blighted with anti-social behaviour, violence and potential domestic abuse caused by 'illegal immigrants'.
Reform politician Sarah Pochin put a video on social media saying that she had received 'disturbing reports' - which also included rubbish being 'strewn' in the street.
However, a host of residents on the road have reacted angrily and say her claims are untrue.
An open letter was sent last week on behalf of some local residents, but the man who sent it - Robert Littler - says he has not received a direct reply, just another video put on social media by Ms Pochin, in which she hit back at the criticism - criticising what she called 'personal attacks' and 'political smears'.
The politician also said in the video that police hadn't come out when such issues had been reported to them, but Cheshire Police say they have received no such reports.
Robert, who has lived off this road for around 30 years, said:
"I was really annoyed at the post she put on her social media, so I thought somebody needs to call her out on this because it was less than truthful and so I thought if I write an open letter then at least I might get a reply and at least force a debate where she could come and speak to us (but) that's not what's happened at all.
"We've all now been told that we're the ones smearing and lying about the area. I sent it to the Chief Constable, I sent it to the Crime Commissioner and his deputies so that they could get involved and see exactly what she's saying and ho0w this area is being pulled down by our MP who is meant to represent us.
"It's not about politics, it's about truth versus lies and about right vs wrong."
Joe and Melissa, who have lived on this road for 20 years, said:
"I don't recognise what she says. She's taking smaller incidents like somebody kicked the shutter on a door, and saying we're living in fear and we're terrified to go out and there's violence in the street and it's just not true. That is the main thing, what she's saying is just not true.
"It just felt very unjust and I've always felt very lucky to live here in that it's quiet and safe. I've always lived in Runcorn, I grew up on some of the housing estates in Runcorn and I love it here - it's nice people and I don't want it painted as something that it isn't."
We have reached out to Ms Pochin for further comment.