Tudor Street in Cardiff has definitely gained local fame over the years - but it hasn't always been for the most honourable reasons.
The street is just a stone's throw from the gleaming high rise buildings of Central Square but it's fair to say it has appeared a little grubby and unloved in times gone by.
According to residents and businesses, prostitutes once lined alongside the river nearby while drug dealers and users also inhabited the street and added to the crime in the area, something which those locally say is still a problem to this day.
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Despite its convenient location and a reduction in crime, its formerly shabby appearance had made it difficult to see the deep-rooted character and history in this Victorian terrace.
But one of Cardiff's most notorious streets is slowly getting a makeover.
It was great news for many to hear in July 2021 that Cardiff Council would start work on the street and become one way, due to a new multi-million-pound scheme.
The new scheme will widen the pavements for pedestrians, create a new two-way segregated cycle lane, sustainable drainage with rain gardens, LED street lights, a new pedestrian crossing and on-street parking for customers.
The shops on the street will also see new shop fronts, windows and a fresh coat of paint to improve the appearance of the area and encourage more visitors.
Cardiff council aims to complete the scheme in July 2022.
However, the residents and business owners nesting on the street have mixed opinions on the changing face of Tudor Street.
With a well-known history of crime and homelessness, some say the council is 'focusing on the wrong problem.'
Harvi Patel, is the proprietor of Texaco Garage on the street. He has been working at the garage for over forty years and has watched the street slowly deteriorate.
Harvi said: "When I walk into the street now, it feels fresh - you can tell it is improving here now.
"This is the first in years that any money has been spent into Tudor Street so obviously this is a big lifter for us.
"It's nice to see the roads are getting improved. Whether or not this project will change the opinion of this street, we will have to wait to see people use it and that will tell the real story.
But Harvi said some issues remain stemming from temporary accommodation on the street owned by Cardiff Council which is used to house the homeless.
Crime, however, has steadily reduced over time.
In November 2020, there were 22 crimes reported on the street, with the majority relating to drugs, public order, anti-social behaviour and 'other theft'.
In November 2021, 20 crimes were reported on the street. There were seven violence and sexual offences, two counts of burglary, four counts of anti-social behaviour and public order and seven other 'all other crime' which was reported.
Harvi said: "The bottom line is they should have spoke to the shopkeepers about how they think the area could be improved.
"If they listened to our stories, half of the drug problems would be gone. We could nip the behaviour of the young kids dealing around here in the bud."
Harvi says the crime has led to a decline in people visiting in the past, which has been made even worse by the roadworks.
He said: "I know a lot of people refused to walk down here. There used to always be two or three police cars by the court.
"Some of them were regular customers and now they have passed away because of their drug use.
"Tudor Street is part of the city centre and it's great that money is being spent so that it reflects that.
"Maybe if they improve the surveillance in the area, that will also help reduce crime in the area.
"This was needed for a long time. I'm sure we will all appreciate it more when it's been done. What remains to be seen is how the businesses do after that, especially with Covid. There are a lot of challenges."
Seeing the street change is just as refreshing to the new business owners on the street, as it is to the more established ones.
Abdul Miah opened up his business, Yummies Desserts, on the road in June 2021.
Little did he know, two months later, the street his dessert parlour was blooming on would be transformed.
Abdul said: "In terms of previous knowledge of the place, Tudor Street was never seen as more than just a link into town.
"In terms of anti-social behaviour, I didn't know much about it until I got the property because it was quite manic. You couldn't leave anything outside because it will get nicked.
"It's a good thing that the council are trying to develop the road because it has got a lot of potential and is obviously so close to town and there's a lot of different businesses here.
"If they regenerate the street the right way by keeping it two-way and doing the modernisation they are doing - then it will be very good for businesses and create a lot of attraction to the area."
Abdul says he has noticed a decrease in anti-social behaviour in the area since opening up Yummies.
He said: "It has calmed down quite a bit so I think the council are definitely going in the right direction with this project. A lot of it has been completed already. The only nightmare at the moment is the process of having to wait for it all to change!"
Abdul, who grew up in nearby Canton, says even before the regeneration, the street had come a long way and change looked promising.
Abdul said: "There wasn't many options on the road - there was a few hair salons and one fast food shop and a petrol station. There wasn't much there and it was genuinely what people described as just the rundown road.
Saying it was was "full of anti-social behaviour", he added: "It was just seen more as a link road to town but I feel like over the years, more businesses have gone there and it is going in the right direction 100%."
Agnes Bartulewicz is a resident on Tudor Street who remembers a completely different image of the street when she first moved in 15 years ago.
Agnes said: "Back in the days, there was lots of prostitutes by the river. It was famous for it. You would have loads of weird guys coming in to the street. The council have stopped that but it was only about eight or nine years ago.
"The crime has always been there, it's close to town so there's always people walking around. The most problematic thing has to be the homelessness in the area.
"I feel like they are regenerating the street but the problem hasn't even finished yet, they are just starting another one.
"When I leave my house, I can't even cross the road without several people on drugs shouting and screaming at me. They are completely off their rocker and you don't know what they can and can't do. It's quite dangerous."
Agnes is happy Tudor Street is being regenerated but says work must be done to eliminate the crime in the area.
She said: "Perhaps if they want this area regenerated and seen as a shopping street, they should relocate the court and other places around the area.
"I know you can have crime anywhere. I've never been scared walking in Riverside before until all the trouble came when they started moving people into that court. I don't know if it's the same in other areas of Cardiff.
"It doesn't matter how pretty the street will look, it's going to be the same problem just with some nice houses and shop fronts around. It just lowers everything down."
However, Agnes admits the area has improved over time.
She said: "It used to be worse. The appearance of the area doesn't bother me. The buildings are great.
"I get there are always going to be places popping out with people doing and selling drugs. I just feel like the street hasn't improved for me personally when I don't feel safe near my own home.
"Maybe they should improve on the camera system as I think that would benefit people more.
"You can't even cross the road with the roadworks nowadays so you're forced to go head by head with them while they shout at you. It's so dangerous."
Councillor Caro Wild for Riverside admits that anti-social behaviour has been a 'problem in the area for some time', particularly because of 'the close proximity to hostel accommodation'.
Cllr Wild said: "We know the police, outreach workers, and local charities are doing what they can to support these people – but we sympathise with local businesses and residents for whom it effects.
"We are really pleased to see the Welsh Government and the Council focusing investment in South Riverside – and along with residents we’re really looking forward to seeing the project completed, making the area much improved.
Once the scheme is complete, and more workers are back to work in the central square offices, we expect to see an improvement."
As well as antisocial behaviour, business owners on the street have also suffered from the roadworks since the street has been dug up and made one way.
Harvi, who says he usually gets 300 to 400 customers daily, now says his garage is "completely dead" and urges residents to help support him and other businesses in the area.
He said: "The one-way system and the works all over the pavement make it dangerous for people to walk through. No new customers know how to find us."
He, like many business owners on the street, is feeling pessimistic about the future, especially as the work will carry on through to next year.
He said: "The works have made it difficult for customers to come but also for us to run our shop. My internet disappeared for a week and the electric also cuts out. I am still struggling to get my computers online.
"Every time I come in to my garage now, my heart breaks."
When Abdul opened up the only desert parlour on the street, it was thriving full of people queuing to buy shakes, cookie dough and doughnuts.
Yet a few months after, the tall construction happening just outside his shop led to many customers believing Yummies Deserts, as well as the other businesses on the street, were closed.
Abdul said: "When we opened, despite Covid, we had a good flow of people coming in.
"Then a month or so into the business, they closed the road and made it one-way. That's affected our footfall and business completely and we've actually gone down in profit quite a bit.
"We have our takeaway deliveries but it's been a nuisance for people who are coming to collect the food.
"It makes it difficult for anyone to park up on the road, even our delivery drivers.
"Being a new business - it has just made everything a lot more tough. We are looking forward for the road to reopen again in the summer."
A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: "We are aware of concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour in Tudor Street, particularly in Litchfield Court. Such unacceptable behaviour can prove intimidating and unpleasant for residents.
"Robustly tackling these issues remain a daily priority for local officers and there are regular patrols both in uniform and plain-clothes. As always we would be very keen to hear from residents who can provide information on those responsible for crime and anti-social behaviour.
"We continue to work with Cardiff Council to find longer-term solutions to tackle anti-social behaviour and criminal activity. Anyone with information is asked to please contact South Wales Police on 101, via direct message on social media, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, and always 999 if a crime is taking place."
A council spokesperson said: “The council is ploughing around £5 million of funding into regeneration and transport improvements on Tudor Street and its surrounding area to create an attractive shopping area for the local community and visitors to Riverside.
“Significant improvements have already been made to business premises and this element is now in its final phase. The regeneration work aims to enhance the gateway into south Riverside from the city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods with better street lighting, wider pavements, improved pedestrian crossings, a new two-way, segregated cycle lane, more trees and new rain gardens.
“A total of 29 businesses on Tudor Street are receiving 95% funding towards the significant transformation of their premises, the investment aims to secure the future of the street through attracting more residents and visitors to the area and helping businesses to grow and succeed.
Unfortunately the scale of these works does come hand in hand with a certain element of disruption and we acknowledge concerns raised. We are working closely with businesses to try to minimise disruption and have offered information and advice on support available to them during this time.”
The regeneration scheme for Tudor Street aims to be completed by mid 2022.
