‘Hell’ of illegal garage (From News Shopper)

‘Hell’ of illegal garage

10:12am Tuesday 19th July 2005

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AN ILLEGAL garage is to be closed after making residents' lives a "living hell".

People living in Marischal Road, Lewisham, have put up with noise, fumes and access problems to their properties for the past eight months.

The lock-up garage, which was used for storage, was taken over as an illegal car repair business in November last year.

Now Lewisham Council planning officers are to take action after receiving complaints from residents.

At a planning committee meeting on July 13 Tim Utterbridge, a neighbour of the lock-up, detailed the torrent of abuse he and other residents suffered at the hands of the people running the garage.

The 41-year-old of Marishal Road, Lewisham, said: "They refuse to move their cars out of the way when we ask and they intimidate and bully us.

"All their repair work takes place outside my drive and all over the pavement. Our quality of life has deteriorated in this area.

"It's not just us, residents living at Johnstone House can't get in and out of their cul-de-sac and refuse bin vehicles or ambulances can't get down there either."

Councillors agreed to take the necessary legal action to stop the use of the lock-up garage because of the detrimental impact to the residential character of the area.

Ward councillor Andrew Milton said at the meeting: "From my own experience I have been intimidated by workers.

"I had the opportunity to take a photo' of the garage when one of the workers threatened me saying remember my face and I'll remember yours'."

Members confirmed the police would be involved when serving the enforcement notice to the company, which will take effect in October.

The company, which has the right to appeal, will then have a month to comply.

A 68-year-old pensioner, who lives opposite the garage at Purelake Mews and does not want to be named, said: "It's been a living hell.

"The sooner they go the better."

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