‘Do we have to be blown up before we see some action?’ Blaze sparks protests over car park (From Enfield Independent)

‘Do we have to be blown up before we see some action?’ Blaze sparks protests over car park

2:24pm Wednesday 2nd August 2006

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By Emma Hutchings

Residents of two blocks of flats in New Southgate are calling for their hell-hole' underground car park to be sealed off following a suspected arson attack on Sunday night.

Families were forced to flee from their homes in Dandford House and Mason House, in Ladderswood Way, at 11pm after a blaze broke out in the car park which has become a den for drug addicts and yobs torching cars. Residents were not allowed to return to their homes until the all-clear was given at 1.30am.

Police had already declared the car park a no-go' area, and now Enfield Council is being called on to block off the car park.

Sue Way, 45, of Dandford House, said: "It's like a hell-hole down there. Every couple of weeks there's an incident.

"The council keeps saying it is going to block up the main entrance, but we've been hearing that for the last year.

"We've even said give us the bricks and we'll block it up ourselves'.

"The stairs and flats were filled with smoke on Sunday. There's a main gas pipe in the car park and we're concerned that if it goes up the flats are going with it."

Chris Symons, 20, of Dandford House, said: "Everyone around here wants something done about it. Police have said it's dangerous to go down there because it's too concealed."

A 70-year-old resident of Mason House, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's like an open house people dump their rubbish and cars there.

"We live in fear because one day this place is going to blow up and the council doesn't do anything. The authority said it would install CCTV by last April, but has not. This council should be exposed."

Sgt Lawrence Knight, from Southgate's Safer Neighbourhoods team, is urging residents to contact him with any information about Sunday's fire and past incidents.

He said: "It's a nightmare down there. It seems a bit unfair on the residents.

"If anybody in that neighbourhood can ring and give us information about what's going on, it will give us ammunition to go to the council."

A council spokesperson said the car park's vehicle entrances have been temporarily blocked off and security improvements are in the pipeline.

Barriers are due to be placed at entrances to the car park allowing admittance to resident vehicles only, but a timetable for works has not been set.

Anyone with any information can call Sgt Knight on 07920 233 783.

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