This problem has been fixed.
Problem with fence behind sunderland mount flats
Reported anonymously at 19:30, Mon 30 March 2009; the map was not used so pin location may be inaccurate
Sent to Lewisham Borough Council 5 minutes later
Dear Sirs,
I am concerned about the fence behind Sunderland Mount flats on Sunderland Road, Perry Vale, SE23 which borders the gardens of the houses at the upper end of Trilby Road (I live at 60 Trilby Road SE23 2DN). There are two problems.
Firstly young children from the flats (or their friends) have taken to climbing on the fence and dropping down into the narrow space between the fence and the fences at the back of the gardens of Trilby Road. The space between the fences is used literally as a rat run (and also by foxes and cats), it also contains a fair amount of rubbish. It is dangerous for the children to climb on the fence and dangerous when they try to climb back over it from the gap between the two fences. Behind my house the fence is broken and children squeeze through the broken panel to crawl behind my garden.
The second problem also arises from the low height of the fence. Teenagers play football on the ground behind Sunderland Mount using the fence behind nos 60 and 62 Trilby Road as a goal (exactly where the council has fixed a sign saying no ball games). This damages the fence. It also damages our property when balls are kicked over the fence, two windows have been broken at the back of my house in the past couple of years, one from a football the other from a stone thrown by some children (both incidents were reported to the local police). MY own fence has been damaged by children climbing over it to get their balls back. It is unfair on the teenagers from the flats and the residents of Trilby Road that the potential for aggravation should exist because of a fence.
May I suggest a solution? The fence should be raised in height by a couple of feet. This should prevent the danger to younger children from climbing on it and should reduce the number of footballs (or other missiles)that fly into the gardens of the Trilby Road houses. Whether or not an alternative site can be found for football games is a question for the council but if games are to continue behind Sunderland Mount I think other local residents should be afforded some protection .
I should emphasise that the various children/teenagers from the flats are in the main well behaved and respond when asked to get down from the fence, but the temptation for adventure is usually too strong to resist.
I should be happy to discuss this issue with whoever is the responsible official.
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Updates
I have forwarded this to relevant staff in Lewisham Homes, asking them to look into raising the height of the fence.
I have now received this: -- I am pleased to advise that Repairs Services have approved to extend the height of the fence to overcome the ball game issues and children climbing the fence. Works are planned for either 22 or 23 April and completed by this week. -- ...from the Director of Property Services at Lewisham Homes
I have had a very helpful response from Councillor Paschoud; some-one from the council came to discuss the problem and teh fence has been repaired and raised in height. There is still a portion behind number 62 Trilby Road which needs attention but I expect that will be fixed soon.
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