Home to street drinkers, public urination and piles of litter - the sad decline of the former Morrisons store in Hounslow

The approach to a once-bustling supermarket in Hounslow has become an "eyesore", littered by empty bottles and reeking of urine.

That's according to angry residents, who have called for action over the "alarming decline" of the area outside the old Morrisons store, opposite Hounslow West Tube station.

The supermarket remains boarded up, having closed at the beginning of April, and locals say the car park and pavement outside have become a hangout for street drinkers.

The approach to the store, off Cavendish Parade, Bath Road, was littered with empty bottles and discarded food wrappers when getwestlondon visited on Thursday (June 16), as these photos show.

A number of rough sleepers are reported to be camping out there, and we have received complaints about public urination.

'Potential health hazard'

David Blackett, chairman of Heston Residents' Association, said: "Since the store closed a considerable amount of rubbish has accumulated. It is an absolute eyesore and I would suggest a potential health hazard."

" We are advised, via Keep Britain Tidy surveys, that the streets of the borough are cleaner but this always depends on the streets they survey.

"KBT would be horrified if they witnessed the above, so close to a major station on the Piccadilly line to Heathrow."

Mr Blackett said he had reported the mess to Hounslow Highways, Hounslow Council's street cleaning contractor, but no action appeared to have been taken.

The council said the close in question was cleaned by Hounslow Highways as far as the barrier, after which point it became private land.

Deputy Hounslow Council leader Amrit Mann said: "A community environment officer from Hounslow Highways carried out an inspection on Friday morning (June 17) to assess the quality of cleansing and found Cavendish Parade and Earl Haig Close to be free of litter, with the exception of some minor items of rubbish which were cleared up.

"Cavendish Parade, along with the rest of Bath Road, is litter-picked daily by Hounslow Highways, and staff additionally litter-pick in Earl Haig Close if required, up until the barrier that marks the end of the land boundary owned by the council."

"So far this month 124 fines have been issued for littering and spitting in this area. We will be undertaking further enforcement to deal with the issues highlighted including using council-funded police teams to speak to the rough sleepers and move them.

"We will also be speaking to the land owner to ensure this space is kept litter free and site security is improved to prevent these issues from reoccurring."

'Car park frequented by drug dealers'

Bill Gallup, who lives close to the now defunct store, also demanded action to clean up the site.

"The car park is used as a homeless haven and for the use and sale of drugs and the drinking of alcohol," he said.

"Alongside the shop there are mountains of rubbish and beer cans and the stench of urine is prolific.

"This is becoming a no-go area in the evenings, and Hounslow West is rapidly declining into a slum area."

Morrisons closed the store at the beginning of April, after bosses said they had failed to find a way to improve its "long-term viability".

Local MP Seema Malhotra had appealed for shoppers to come up with suggestions to boost business and save the store.

The future of the building remains unclear. getwestlondon understands that Morrisons still owns the building, or has a long lease on the premises, but the retailer has previously refused to comment on its plans for the site.

A spokeswoman for the firm said: "We maintain the site when required and have regular patrols by a security team to deter antisocial behaviour."