Forum Topic

Perryn Road - be alert

Just thought I would advise that a retired lady I know was mugged on her doorstep in Perryn Road on Wednesday at about midday.  A man completely dressed in black, wearing a hoody (so she has no idea of what he looks like) followed her up the garden path and snatched her bag from her shoulder. He ran off, got on to a mountain bike and road north up Perryn Road towards the footbridge.  She rang the police, who said they would search in the direction of his escape and then come to see her.  Twenty minutes later, they came to her house with her bag.  it had been left on the footbridge, after her cash had been removed.They told her to tell people to be alert , as something similar had happened recently in the same road, also in the middle of the day. It is a very quiet spot at that time of day, which makes the elderly particularly vulnerable.

Vivienne Duggan ● 6091d34 Comments

It would be interesting if the Police could let us know how many times 'criminals' use this footbridge for escaping from their crimes.And we all know of the present drug dealing which takes place near the flowerbeds Goldsmith Avenue/St.Dunstans Avenue.Perhaps the time has come to close the footbridge?

Dee Cook ● 6091d

But would that not inconvenience all those who use it without criminal intent?

Vivienne Duggan ● 6091d

My mother had her bag snatched off her as she got out of her car, ouside our house (again on Perryn Road) on Christmas Eve. The police seemed to have some idea who did it, but unfortunately my mother was not able to give much of a description.

Martin Lovick ● 6091d

Perhaps a survey needs to be carried out.The throwing of items on the railway line from the bridge also used to be a problem.I wonder what the cost of keeping it open, ie, maintenance, street lighting is?  No small sum I suspect.

Dee Cook ● 6091d

It is very well used - I passed three people and a dog walking the other direction this morning. It does need to be better lit and I am constantly campaigning for this - but the incident in question was in daylight so that's irrelevent.Of course we should not close a very useful facility - what sort of message does that send?Should we close Goldsmith Avenue at the top end too because boys on bikes are seen up there? I rather think not.The drug dealing round the flower beds is pretty rare - much less than it was, I believe, when there was a phone box. I've never seen it as it happens and I to and fro all the time. We would do better with a greater public presence rather than a lesser one so if anyone else would like to help with my rather sporadic and inexpert maintenance of the flower beds, that would be a great step foward.Maybe, Doris, you could turn out with a trowel and help with making that spot more beautiful. I would think you doing that could well deter any potential drug dealers - I have never been offered toke nor tab when doing the weeding and watering.

Sara Nathan ● 6091d

'I have never been offered toke nor tab when doing the weeding and watering'what about Levington or Miracle Gro????

Jeremy Thorpe-Woods ● 6091d

Nope, nothing - not even help.The occasional smart remark and even more seldom supportive one.

Sara Nathan ● 6091d

'North up Perryn Road towards the footbridge'.I have to say that when I read this I thought Vivienne was talking about the bridge over the A40.It seems another reader thought something else. Bag snatchers on Acton's Millionaire's Row have a couple of options when it comes to footbridge escape.Handy when you're trying to evade Police cars, except in this case unfortunately there weren't any. But have you ever tried to 'cycle' over the bridge from Perryn to Goldsmith Road? You're not going to be doing much riding. There are two sets of very steep steps. I would have thought the bridge over the A40 provides a a better escape for bikes. It's further away and because it has ramps, you can actually cycle it.

Hayes Thompson ● 6090d

I know it's hard to remember things when you are attacked and robbed, but that description could apply to thousands of young 'Men' in the Acton area.

John Pollastrini ● 6090d

I read it as the bridge over the A40 as well.

Jen Morty ● 6090d

I hope you are all correct and it was the new A40 footbridge that was culpable in this case - will at least spike Doris's campaign to close our ratehr useful one...and no chance of closing that one - it must have cost hundreds of thousands and very recently.

Sara Nathan ● 6090d

Yes , it was the bridge over the A40.  That is why I said he headed north up Perryn Road.Yes that description could apply to many young men in Acton - the point of the post was that the police thought people should be alert to the fact that this sort of thing had happened more than once, at the same time of day, in the same area. It does not mean that  every young man on a mountain bike is a potential attacker.I also think it was rather reassuring that the police were so prompt

Vivienne Duggan ● 6088d

Sara, I do not have a 'campaign' afoot.  But some people may have the same opinion about this sometimes 'anti-social' thoroughfare.  Speak to the people who live in the adjoining house.  A survey would be useful. Perhaps something that the Acton Ward Forum could pay for.  Or perhaps it is worthly of an agenda iten.The flower beds, as I am sure you will remember, are constantly de-littered by myself each morning.  The endless cans/bottles, etc, left by those who spend time standing around there are placed kerbside ready for the road sweeper to pick up later in the day - as the Council does not appear to have the beds on their cleansing schedule.The vegetation, will be cut back when the weather permits, as it was done so last year. Someone else hacks at it (not me).  But this is better done with proper cutting equipment.

Dee Cook ● 6087d

Sara, I do not have a 'campaign' afoot.  But some people may have the same opinion about this sometimes 'anti-social' thoroughfare.  Speak to the people who live in the adjoining house.  A survey would be useful. Perhaps something that the Acton Ward Forum could pay for.  Or perhaps it is worthly of an agenda iten.The flower beds, as I am sure you will remember, are constantly de-littered by myself each morning.  The endless cans/bottles, etc, left by those who spend time standing around there are placed kerbside ready for the road sweeper to pick up later in the day - as the Council does not appear to have the beds on their cleansing schedule.The vegetation, will be cut back when the weather permits, as it was done so last year. Someone else hacks at it (not me).  But this is better done with proper cutting equipment.

Dee Cook ● 6087d

I hack it unscientifically and I think a couple of other CCA people do too...garden equipment works fine - and pick out litter in warmer weather than now.Surely you don't just put the cans etc in the gutter? I wondered why it was such a mess. It's only swept twice a week and often looks unsightly but I didn't realise that was the resulte of your actions.Can't see the point of a survey myslef - lots of work for little reward.

Sara Nathan ● 6087d

Maybe a litter bin placed there would help?

The Editor ● 6087d

Crikey - that's a bit constructive.Wouldn't it just be used to stash the drugs between trades?

Sara Nathan ● 6087d

Dear Editor,This area has been dumping ground for a very long time.  A litter bin (actually suggested by a drug dealer I spoke to) would attract household waste as it would be so convenient to drop it off at this location on the way to work.  It would also attract other large household waste.  No, not a litter bin please - we need less litter bins not more.Sara,If you think I am going to carry other people's debris to the nearest litter bin on my way to work you are mistaken.  The cans, vodka bottles, etc, are placed where they are in order to draw attention to the problem we have at this location.As a street watcher, might I suggest you mention this problem to the local Envirocrime Officer, who is empowered to fine those responsible for this anti-social behaviour.And yes, I have reported this myself.

Dee Cook ● 6086d

Why would someone carry household waste out with them on the way to work to put in a public bin,  surely the simpler solution is to put household waste in the bin in the house?! I think a bin in an area where it seems needed is a splendid idea.Also I cannot see the logic in transferring rubbish from a flower bed to the kerb/gutter,  rubbish clearly should not be dumped in the flower bed.  But I would have thought it would get kicked around and spread along the pavement and road if it's just left on the kerb.

Jen Morty ● 6085d

Couldn't agree with you more Jen.In fact the one person maybe should be reported to streetwatchers is Doris - that self-confessed litterer of the highway.There's already a bin at the level crossing. I suppose Doris could dumpt the results of her bed-cleansing there instead.

Sara Nathan ● 6085d

Doris!  Dee?

Jen Morty ● 6085d

same thing

Sara Nathan ● 6085d

ah ok

Jen Morty ● 6085d

I got a puncture thanks to one of the  bottles being left by the curb and then (I assume) some humorist throwing it on the road.Can't see why a bin wouldn't solve the problem: and I can't see why Dee chooses to exascerbate it

Jeremy Thorpe-Woods ● 6085d

Before this gets out of control (it is also completely off-topic), can I make a suggestion? That a bin is tested (you've made me write a passive sentence as I've no idea who's responsible for getting a bin put there - perhaps a streetwatcher could do it). Trying a bin out is the only way to know if it works or not. If it doesn't, someone can take it away. As if by magic.Some people would rather go round and round in circles in  these forum posts than see real-world solutions. I know. I've seen it before.  I wouldn't mind so much but I get a notification every time a new post comes along. I know, I could turn that off. Only I quite like being involved. I just wish sometimes it was a little more productive. Bye now.

Hayes Thompson ● 6085d

So why don't all of those who are interested request a bin...Could ask at the Ward forum on Feb 10th - but I won't be there so someone else would need to do thatThose of us who are streetwatchers can ask there. Anyone who knows a counciller could email them (I think Vlod may be a tad fed up with me so maybe someoen else)Other ideas?

Sara Nathan ● 6085d

Dee's a street watcher isn't she.

Mavis Walker ● 6085d

I think the charm of these posts is that they go way off topic. And I'm not sure the forum needs policemen... self appointed or otherwise

Jeremy Thorpe-Woods ● 6084d

Spoken like a true ActonW3 forum regular

Hayes Thompson ● 6084d

not such a regular.... but even if I was I don't think it would be something to be ashamed of.

Jeremy Thorpe-Woods ● 6084d

Fairly patronising calling the forum 'charming', but then what do you expect from a planner? I was merely trying to move things on, athough not in a Police 'move along' way. I'm no forum policeman. So I found your 'policing the forum' comment utterly bizarre. However clever you tried to be about it.

Hayes Thompson ● 6043d

erm right Hayes... This sounds a tad personal, which is odd and more than a little creepy seeing as I'm pretty sure I don't know you. And what on earth has being a planner got to do with it (do you know what one is? and why do you assume I am one?).Sounds like you have some baggage you want to unload, feel free.

Jeremy Thorpe-Woods ● 6042d

Sorry to hear this is an ongoing concern:- if it were in Southfield Ward Cllrs Harvey Rose, Gary Malcolm or Andrew Steed would no doubt have managed a solution for the Perryn Road residents.

Colin Clark ● 6042d

Sorry Jeremy, still not sure what you meant by 'forum policemen'

Hayes Thompson ● 6041d