LOCAL LIB DEM COUNCILLOR APPALLED AT COUNCIL LIGHTING FAILURE

1.00.00am GMT Wed 26th Jan 2005

A resident who reported broken lights outside his property TWO years ago is still waiting for them to be fixed. Cllr Gary Malcolm, Southfield councillor, is representing the resident to try and get the council to fix the lights that they are responsible for maintaining.

LIB DEM COUNCILLORS APPALLED AT COUNCIL LIGHTING FAILURE

Upon hearing about the lighting problem, Cllr Gary Malcolm, spoke to the Director of Ealing Homes (the new name for the set of people who maintain council properties) to try and get them to fix the problem. Initially Ealing Homes said the lights were the responsibility of the Highways department, however a lighting map from the Highways department showed that the lights are the responsibility of Ealing Homes.

The area surrounding the set of three blocks of flats (207/217 ST Albans Avenue, W4) is covered in bushes that could give cover for muggers, especially if the level of lighting is lower than it should be.

Cllr Gary Malcolm said: "The council should treat residents with respect instead of trying to pass the buck from one department to another. Fear of crime is a real issue and good maintenance of lighting is crucial to making residents feel safer."

Gary Malcolm added: "The Liberal Democrats believe that residents should not have to keep phoning and writing to the Council for months and months to get a simple lighting problem fixed. The council should be ashamed of itself and offer the resident a full apology."