Crayford couple's anger at living next to 'disgusting eyesore' (From News Shopper)

Crayford couple's anger at living next to 'disgusting eyesore'

5:27pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in News By Sam Christie

A CRAYFORD couple living next to an abandoned fire-ravaged housing development taken over by gangs of unruly teenagers are demanding answers.

Deby and Sean Milligan’s house and garden in Green Place backs onto the half-built High Street project which has been left to rot since the developer stopped work about three years ago.

The couple say they are fed up with looking at the “disgusting eyesore” and say groups of teenagers are using their garden as a cut through to the hide out.

Mother-of-two Mrs Milligan told News Shopper: “We’re just about at our wits end.

“Kids get in the building and are up to no good, as the pungent smells that come from there could send you to space.

“I couldn’t care less if they bloody fell off and hurt themselves, but it’s the fact it’s encroaching on our property.

In 2008 Bexley Council granted planning permission for the 3x3 bed town houses, 2x2 bed flats and 7x1 bed flats to be built subject to a number of conditions.

Work began shortly after but came to an abrupt halt due to financial issues before fire broke out.

Since then the Milligans and other residents in Green Place have been left in the dark.

The 42-year-old credit control manager said: “The council don’t want to know, we get passed from pillar to post. They say it’s safe, but it’s a disgusting eyesore.

“I’ve been in touch with my MP but he says there’s nothing he can do about it.

“No one wants to accept responsibility, I’m at the end of my tether.

“There’s no way we can sell out property.”

A Bexley Council spokeswoman said: “A neighbour has recently contacted us to complain about the building and we have since written to the developer to ascertain their timescale for proceeding with the development and will see if there is anything we can do to assist with this.

“We understand it is the applicant’s intention to continue with construction at some point and recently the council has approved many of the details that were required at the time of planning permission being granted.”