Social tensions rise in Page Hall where some residents reportedly continue to flout coronavirus restrictions

South Yorkshire Police delivered lockdown leaflets to homes in Page Hall last week in an attempt to explain the rules of social distancing after large groups of people were pictured congregating in a park on Wensley Street.

And residents have received a letter from Royal Mail who say they are experiencing issues in delivering mail to the area as residents “congregating in the street”, are preventing staff from being able to maintain an appropriate social distance.

Frustrated resident Glen Williams, 57, claims it is the area’s Roma Slovak population who are causing issues and are putting others at risk of contracting coronavirus by not adhering to the government’s rules as set out by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

He said: “All the Roma Slovak community are just carrying on as normal; driving round in their cars, going into different properties and visiting friends, they’re out on the street, and the kids are playing on the street.

"We're being isolated because they aren’t taking any notice of the government instructions. We’re the only ones that have had letters from the police and also from the Post Office.

“All you have to do is drive around Page Hall, especially at the shops, there’ll be about 30 people stood there ignoring social distancing.

“We’re all at home because the companies we work for have closed down. A lady that lives up the street is a nurse and she has to walk down the street.

“When a police car drives down they all go in but as soon as it drives off they all come back out.”

South Yorkshire Police says it has deployed officers to disperse gatherings and groups since the lockdown announcement last Monday.

A force spokesperson said: “We are working closely with all our communities to inform, encourage and support them to adhere with the restrictions.

“On the whole, we are seeing that the majority of communities in South Yorkshire are following the new guidelines. As a last resort, where people fail to comply, we will move to enforcement using the legislation available to us.”