COUNCILLOR Jason Stacey's statement that he asked for a "police hut" to be placed in the pedestrian under-pass at Greenford roundabout comes as no surprise to me.
If I had been responsible for a ward where such an incident had taken place, I would also have rushed to defend myself.
Greenford Green is in the remit of three council cabinet members, including the one responsible for the Environment and Street Services, but, judging by the state of the underpass, there is no danger of nepotism there.
The steps are too narrow and are badly damaged.
The mirrors that are supposed to warn you that someone is coming towards you from around the corner, are so badly scratched that they are simply pointless.
The drainage gratings are often displaced or broken and (if you are lucky) replaced with just a plank of wood.
Graffiti is covered with paint, which then peels and looks shabby.
I never go there at night so cannot comment on the state of the lighting.
Ealing Council has a notorious 'no go' area yet it seems it will be paying 'independent experts' to walk about with local residents to identify places that need improving as part of the Good For Greenford project.
I don't need an independent expert to point out broken pavements.
Perhaps if the money that has been spent on stickers and newsletters to promote the initiative, not to mention the banners displayed outside the town hall telling us that there is no increase in the council tax, had been spent on repairs, we could avoid this farce.
As for the police response to the suggestion that there has not been enough crime to justify a regular presence there, as far as those victims are concerned there have probably been two crimes too many.
Prevention would have been better than cure.
ALBERTINA McNEILL
Bennetts Avenue Greenford
