Action demand over garages (From thisisoxfordshire)

Action demand over garages

9:00am Friday 8th September 2006 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

Neighbourhood Watch leader Tony Greenfield is demanding action over derelict garages blighting his Oxford estate.

Mr Greenfield, 61, said rent increases introduced between 2000 and 2002 forced many residents to stop using their garages, and now estimates that 39 out of 48 in his area are no longer being let.

As a result, many have become derelict, and a magnet for drug addicts and vandals.

The self-employed gas engineer toured the garage blocks near his home in Raymund Road, Old Marston, to get photographic evidence of the deterioration.

Some have weeds and trees growing in front of them, while others have doors missing or are damaged.

Mr Greenfield said: "I rented one of these garages for 15 years until the Lib Dems increased the rents overnight by almost 50 per cent, which forced many of us to vacate the garages, and we have never returned.

"In my case alone the council has lost thousands of pounds of income and that is just one garage."

He added that the council spent £15,000 on re-roofing 12 garages in his street five years ago but two empty garages were not secured, and this led to an arson attack.

"Despite the council being told, nothing was done to fix these, so vandals lit a fire, which damaged the majority of the garages," Mr Greenfield said.

"Since then, further damage has been done, and three new doors have been replaced but not painted, and there has been no weed control whatsoever.

"This sorry state of affairs is being played out all over Oxford city, and someone is responsible for not ensuring these garages are put into good repair.

"There is talk that some garages will be demolished and proper use made of this land, but so far it is only talk.

"No-one in the council, it seems, has the business acumen, or real interest, to turn this around. It is a disgraceful waste of our money."

City council executive member for housing Patrick Murray said the Lib Dems, who control the council, were now trying to convert derelict garage sites into affordable housing, where sites were large enough to accommodate at least 10 new homes.

He said: "When garages become a magnet for antisocial behaviour we will try to convert them into new homes, and this has already taken place in other parts of the city.

"We are currently conducting a review of all the garage sites in Oxford, and those in Marston will be included in that.

"A report will be presented to the housing advisory board in the next few months."

He added proposals to build homes on garage sites in Holland Place, Cowley, Dynham Place, Wood Farm, Kempson Crescent, and Boundary Brook Road, Littlemore, were at the planning stage.

If permission is granted, building work could start before Christmas.