People living in a Hayes street fear a new ‘pocket park’ behind their homes will attract drinkers and yobs.
Neighbours in Cerne Close and Camden Avenue say they were not told about Hillingdon Council’s plans to create a park with a ‘meandering footpath’ directly behind their back gardens.
Last week, contractors moved in to clear overgrown bushes on the previously neglected area, around 200 metres long and 20 metres wide, before planting wild flowers and grass, and installing benches.
People living on both roads want an explanation from the council.
Mrs Raj Gaskarth, of Cerne Close, said: “The residents have had no input into this, and we will be affected.
“We all agree that this is not an appropriate place for a park.
“Trees have been cut down, and what was once home to lots of birds and wildlife is now destroyed.
“There will be just a wire fence separating the park from homes. It is wrong that we were not consulted.”
Neighbour Mr Solanki – who asked not to be named in full – said: “I have lived here 23 years, and we have never had any problems with the land. We have asked the council to cut the trees and bushes a couple of times, but that’s it.
“Our concern is that the park will be right by our gardens. It is such a secluded area, and people will be able to see into our houses.
“There will be benches so people can hang around, and we’ll get street drinkers. We think there will be a security issue, and there are a lot of elderly people living on these roads.
“I am now considering increasing the height of my garden fence to make sure no one can see into my property, or worse still climb over.”
Around 50 people have objected in a petition. They will probably be invited to present it to a cabinet member once the park is already in the ground, or close to completion.
The council put a small note about the work in the Yeading edition of Hillingdon People Locals, which said that the borough had made Cerne Close a priority for improvements because of anti-social behaviour.
In a response to complaints, Jamie Bell from Hillingdon’s Green Spaces team said the open space would be properly managed. He added that, because of concerns about anti-social behaviour, the gate would be closed in the evenings and police would be briefed to keep an eye on the park.
A council spokesman said: “We take anti-social behaviour very seriously in all of our parks and open spaces and we will act on any concerns that are raised to us as soon as possible.”
The homeowners have contacted their MP, John McDonnell, who called the work ‘municipal vandalism’.
“I am angry that the council has blundered in cutting down trees prior to the bird nesting season and destroying a wildlife area while making people’s homes less secure,” he said.
*Do you live in either of these roads? Do you have concerns too, or do you think a park would be a good addition to the area? Leave a comment below.
