Residents ask council to clean up 'neglected' local road

PEOPLE LIVING ON UXBRIDGE ROAD, SHEPHERD'S BUSH, SAY THE AREA NO LONGER FEELS SAFE

- By BEN LYNCH

SHEPHERD'S BUSH residents are calling for further council investment to clean up part of a 'neglected' local road where they claim disrepair and crime has taken hold.

A petition to fix up Uxbridge Road had, at the time of writing, drawn almost 2,200 signatures, far beyond the 250 needed for it to be debated by Hammersmith and Fulham Council's Cabinet.

Nigel Singh, 65, one of the residents concerned, described the area as 'fantastic,' though told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): "This is a bigger issue that we need tackling so that we can live in a decent, peaceful area and feel safe. We don't feel safe in this area now. It's gone downhill over the years, and it's been neglected by the council."

Hammersmith and Fulham Council pointed to a wide range of work it is undertaking to improve Uxbridge Road.

This includes regular patrols by its Law Enforcement Team (LET), equating to an average of 2,400 a year, removing 96 graffiti tags and 68 flyposters since April 1, and making improvements to shopfronts, such as paying for two businesses to have artwork painted onto their shutters.

A council spokesperson said the local authority is taking 'real action' and is “determined to work with local residents and businesses to make Uxbridge Road an even better place to live, work and socialise.”

The residents backing the petition claim part of Uxbridge Road, a key highway running from Shepherd's Bush towards Uxbridge in Hillingdon, has fallen into decline due to a combination of limited investment and enforcement.

Noor, who lives in Shepherd's Bush and started the petition though did not want to give her full name, said she was taken aback by issues after moving into her home two years ago.

She said: "Having moved [to the area I] became quite shocked quite quickly at the level of drug addicts that were openly on the street.