A crackdown on abandoned and unlicensed vehicles littering a Croydon street has just moved the issue on to nearby alleyways, residents claim.
People living in Kilmartin Avenue, Norbury have been complaining for years about abandoned or half-repaired cars clogging up their street. After the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) visited to report on the issue, Croydon Council took action to clear them.
Mayor Jason Perry said this was part of his “zero-tolerance approach to environmental crime and antisocial behaviour”.
However, locals say the intervention was years overdue, and local alleys are still being used to store and repair vehicles.
“Mr Perry is showboating on this now, trying to claim he has a zero tolerance on this kind of thing. We have been asking for this for years,” said one resident who has been active in pushing for action.
Late last month, the council removed three unlicensed vehicles that had been parked on the road for a long time. A new CCTV camera was also installed on an existing Transport for London (TfL) pole, monitoring Kilmartin Avenue from the adjoining London Road.
The LDRS revisited the street on August 6 to see whether the clean-up had made a difference and whether locals felt it had gone far enough. While residents acknowledged that conditions had improved, some said the issue has not been totally solved.
George Stewart, Membership Secretary of the Residents Association, said: “This peace won’t last, as the ploy is to gradually start pushing the boundaries once again.”
A key target of residents’ complaints is Dennis, a mechanic who operates a garage at the top of the road. Several locals told the LDRS that his on-street repairs contribute to issues with parking, noise, and antisocial behaviour.
While the council’s removal of abandoned cars has cleared space on the road, residents say the problem has simply moved out of sight, with alleyways now being used to store and work on unlicensed vehicles.
“I have seen Dennis working on a vehicle in the alleyway opposite the garage,” said Stewart. “In addition, a vehicle without number plates was being parked in the alleyway.
“This was no doubt to the chagrin of other motor businesses, because they are unable to access the rear of their buildings from the Kilmartin entrance. All this is not captured by the new camera.”
During the visit, the LDRS spotted two cars in an alleyway, which Dennis later confirmed were his. Dennis was also criticised for carrying out what locals claim are disruptive roadside repairs on Sundays, a practice he says he has now stopped.
Speaking to the LDRS, he welcomed the installation of CCTV, saying it could help deter drivers from parking on the red lines at the entrance to Kilmartin Avenue.
However, he denied that any of the cars removed by the council belonged to him and rejected claims that his business had been issued a Community Protection Warning by the council for unauthorised repairs on the public highway.
Residents disputed Croydon Council’s press release on the issue, claiming that measures like the new CCTV “were welcomed by residents at a recent community meeting.”
“None of us were aware of any meeting,” claimed one neighbour.
During the visit, the road was visibly clearer than in June, with fewer rundown vehicles cluttering the area. But people are convinced it won’t last. One resident said: “It’s quiet now, but let’s see what happens with it.
“I don’t think it will help that much in the long run, unless they continue to clamp down, everything will go back to normal.”
Following last month’s action, Mayor Perry said: “This is part of our zero-tolerance approach to environmental crime and antisocial behaviour. Residents in Norbury, and indeed across Croydon, should not have to put up with abandoned vehicles and illegal activity on their streets, and thanks to their persistence, we have been able to act.
“I am pleased that CCTV is now in place to help deter future problems and gather evidence to support further enforcement. This is how we build safer, cleaner, and more respectful neighbourhoods, one street at a time.
“I want to thank local residents for bringing this to our attention and encourage anyone witnessing antisocial behaviour to report it to us through [Croydon Council app] Love Clean Streets.”
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