Stanmore residents have “serious concerns” over the safety of an alleyway.
The alleyway between Sandymount Avenue and Stanmore Broadway on London Road has been an ongoing issue for locals in the area.
The trees are overhung, some at head height or below and the bushes are overgrown.
During wet weather the fallen foliage becomes a slipping hazard and the trees being so overgrown, block the lights lining the alley at night.
The properties bordering the alley are private.
Litter is being thrown over the wire fencing along the alleyway that the Harrow Council cleaners are unable to clear.
Councillor for Canons, Ameet Jogia supported a motion about the cleaning of the alleyway, which his colleagues put forward and was rejected.
Cllr Ammet said: “It’s not fair for residents to have to clean up themselves, I’ve been out with them a number of times.
“We’ve had issues with the freeholders next door, it’s on private property and a lot of rubbish gathers there, unfortunately.”
Cleaners sent from the council collected eight industrial bags of rubbish full of leaves, bottles, clothes, and glass from the alleyway on November 29.
“How long is it going to stay clean for, its until it gets dirty again,” the cllr said.
A Stanmore resident, Stuart Rose said: “You’ve never seen anything like it, even the rats are running away.
“It is unsightly and hazardous as it is attracting rats the size of cats, who then venture into the alleyway itself.”
Stuart himself has been up and down the alley with his own shears trying to make some improvements.
Stanmore resident, Suzanne Benjamin said: “I tried to get environmental health to deal with this, but they insist it is private land. I have spoken to the managing agents who have wiped their hands of this.
“No one who can do something about this, cares. I am not the first resident to have tried and failed. This has gone on for many years.”
Another Stanmore resident who did not wish to be named said: “I’m grateful to our cllr for organising a non-scheduled clean, but this is an expense of the taxpayer. Over the past year, it has got in a worse state.
“Many times, with residents having to do litter picks on a voluntary basis. There is also a whole mattress and lots of litter behind the fence which attracts more fly-tipping.”
A Harrow Council spokesperson said: “The public footpath was cleaned yesterday. We will be increasing our Environmental Enforcement patrols in relation to littering offences in the area. The trees at this site are in private ownership. Network management was requested on 8 October, to serve an enforcement notice on the properties.”
You can sign the petition created by Suzanne here.
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