TWO conservation areas in Fulham are at risk of being blighted by rubbish, street clutter or decay, according to English Heritage.

Colehill Gardens and Central Fulham are among hundreds of supposedly protected sites to make the charity's annual Heritage at Risk register.

The main problems are caused by home-owners being allowed to add

unsightly extensions or improvements to their houses and councils failing to keep streets clean and clutter-free, says Dr Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage.

He said: "We want councils to protect small but important original details such as windows, doors and front gardens. Lose these and slowly but inevitably you lose the character and the history that made the area special in the first place."

The main threats to conservation areas are listed as: [25cf] Plastic doors and windows

[25cf] Poorly maintained roads and pavements [25cf] Street clutter [25cf] Unsightly satellite dishes [25cf] Advertisements

English Heritage wants councils to enforce conservation laws and encourge owners to sell up or restore run-down buildings.

Dr Thurley added: "Millions of us live in, work in, pass through or visit conservation areas. They are the centres of historic towns and villages and the local heritage which gives England its distinctiveness." ..SUPL: