Croydon Council is showing its zero-tolerance crackdown in action, crushing and destroying 13 untaxed and dangerous vehicles after residents complained about the actions of one garage owner whose behaviour has been blighting their street.
The dangerous, untaxed and unroadworthy vehicles were being dumped on Parchmore Road in Thornton Heath by the garage previously known locally as Balham Autos.
Following months of ignored warnings, the Council’s antisocial behaviour and enforcement teams stepped in to remove the vehicles that had been blocking parking spaces designed for residents, obstructing pavements and creating serious hazards.
Officers found cars without an engine parked on double yellow lines, vehicles without tax or doors, and others with sharp, exposed metal edges. Some were left blocking disabled bays, and there were reports of aggressive behaviour towards residents and Council staff when the garage was challenged.
Croydon Council has issued a Community Protection Notice (CPN) and a Section 16 Notice – a legal requirement for the business to provide full information about the vehicles and site operation carrying an unlimited fine if not complied with. The Council is also working with the Environment Agency on unlicensed scrap activity and the London Fire Brigade owing to fire safety concerns.
“Residents are right to be angry – and so am I. What has been happening on Parchmore Road is completely unacceptable. For too long, this garage has been allowed to dump dangerous, untaxed and unroadworthy vehicles on the street, blocking pavements and disabled bays, and making residents feel unsafe.
“I went down to Parchmore Road myself to meet residents, who have lived there for over 40 years and have had enough of seeing their street treated like a scrapyard.
“This type of illegal activity attracts more antisocial behaviour and fly-tipping – it tells others the rules do not matter. That is why I have taken a zero-tolerance approach. This is Broken Windows in action – tackling the signs of neglect before it grows into something worse.
“This is a focused, ongoing operation. The Council will not stand by while one garage blights an entire community.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
The Council will continue to monitor the site and surrounding area as part of the Mayor’s Cleaner Croydon campaign to reclaim streets, restore pride and make every community a place residents are proud to call home.
