Children spotted playing with 'toxic asbestos' in Croydon alleyway

A Croydon resident has warned that children are allegedly playing with dumped items riddled with asbestos in an alleyway - and says it has been going on for years.

Geoff Hall, who lives in Ockley Road, said he has repeatedly contacted Croydon Council and local representatives over asbestos sheeting he claims was left in a lane between Ockley Road and Ringwood Avenue following roof renovation works.

The lane runs behind several properties and, while privately owned by adjoining households, is accessible to the public.

Geoff (pictured) said the material has been there for at least five years (Image: Geoff Hall)

Geoff said the material has been there for at least five years and fears children could unknowingly put themselves at risk.

• READ MORE: Three Croydon businesses slapped with HUGE fines for hiring illegal staff

He told Your Local Guardian: "Between Ockley Road and Ringwood Avenue, there's a lane that goes behind the houses.

"The lane is privately owned, with each household owning a section of the land.

"There's asbestos sheeting that was dumped after a roof renovation in two locations.

The material Geoff claims is asbestos, which he says children have been playing around. (Image: Geoff Hall)

"They replaced their asbestos roof with a non-asbestos one and the old sheeting was dumped behind the garden dwellings in the lane itself."

Geoff said he approached the council about the issue and believes enforcement action was taken against one property owner but not another.

He added: "They served notice to one dwelling, and it was removed, but they refused to do it for the other dwelling.

"I can't fathom why they served one and not the other.

"Historically, it has been there for five or six years."

Area 1, where asbestos was previously located. A notice was served to the landowner and the asbestos was subsequently removed. (Image: Geoff Hall)

"From time to time, I see children making dens out of it and literally sitting underneath it.

"I've told the children not to do it because it's dangerous material.”

Geoff said he has contacted councillors, his MP and government representatives over the years to get the issue resolved.

"It was dumped before Covid – it's been a hell of a long time," he said. "I don't know what to do.”

The asbestos concerns form part of wider complaints about fly-tipping in the area.

Geoff claims more asbestos has been dumped further along the alleyway, alongside piles of fly-tipped waste (Image: Geoff Hall)

According to Broad Green ward councillors Tom Bowell and Aba Amoah, residents in Ockley Road, Westcombe Avenue, Ringwood Avenue, Dacre Road, Therapia Lane, Alfriston Avenue and Stonecroft Way have all raised concerns about rubbish being dumped in alleyways.

Geoff added: "Me and my wife moved in 2002 and what I used to do was clear the lane myself and take it to the dump.

"About 10 years ago I gave up as it kept appearing again because it's public access.

"Rubbish attracts rubbish. The asbestos is what I'm concerned about."

Councillors Bowell and Amoah said fly-tipping had become a persistent problem in several alleyways behind homes in the area.

They told Your Local Guardian: "In recent years these alleyways have become havens for fly-tipping.

A dead fox spotted in the alleyway behind homes in Ockley Road (Image: Geoff Hall)

"One of the challenges is that some people have access to them and continue dumping waste.”

The councillors said they have been working with residents to establish a community group and WhatsApp network to organise clean-up events and report incidents.

"The thing that has brought people together is the fly-tipping in these alleyways," they said.

"It's great that we're getting the community involved through litter picks every two weeks, but it shouldn't fall on them to do that.

"People are going into these alleyways and seeing filth every day."

The pair said they have also raised the asbestos issue with the council and are pushing for further action.

They added: "We've been encouraging residents to report every fly-tip they see.

"The residents have been battling with these issues for years.

"It's about shining a light on the problems and showing how much local people care about their community."

A spokesperson for Croydon Council said: “We have a zero-tolerance approach to people keeping hazardous waste on their land when it has the potential to impact residents.

"Responsibility for keeping private land clear, safe and secure rests with the landowners.

"If landowners do not remove hazardous waste, that could be an environmental or public health issue, the Council will take enforcement action by removing it and charging them.

“We have contacted the landowners on this site to remind them of their responsibilities and have asked them to take prompt action to remove and dispose of any asbestos-containing materials appropriately.

"We will continue to work with the landowners to secure a safe and lasting resolution to this matter.”