Residents near a derelict Beckenham house express frustration over graffiti and rising antisocial behaviour affecting their community
Beckenham: Neighbours living next to a rundown house are feeling pretty miserable. This place, Conifer House, has been empty for three years and is now a hotspot for graffiti and trouble.
Marko, who’s been living next door for two decades, says it’s really gone downhill. He mentioned that people have been breaking in and stealing plumbing. It’s a real shame because it could be a nice block of flats if someone would just fix it up.
Back in May 2022, a fire wrecked the upper part of the building. The fire brigade had to send six engines and about 40 firefighters to tackle the blaze. It was a big deal, and they think it started from a firework.
Another neighbour recalled how they called the fire brigade when they saw the flames. They had to close the road and use a massive cherry picker to get to the fire. It was quite the scene!
The owner of the building, Enfield High Street Limited, tried to get planning permission to turn it into flats, but the council said no. They felt it would be too much for the area and wouldn’t fit in.
One resident, who’s lived nearby for over 25 years, said the last tenants moved out in December 2021, and things have only gotten worse since then. They mentioned that the communal areas were already in bad shape back then.
With wooden panels blowing around during storms and graffiti everywhere, it’s no wonder the neighbours are fed up. They’ve been dealing with all sorts of issues, including smashed windows and noise from youths hanging around.
Local councillor Chloe-Jane Ross has heard the complaints and wants the council to step up and deal with these long-term empty homes. She said it’s causing real misery for the people living nearby.
On the other hand, Conservative Councillor Yvonne Bear said she wasn’t aware of the issues at Conifer House but promised to look into it. The police have also issued warnings to the owner to secure the place better.
It’s clear that the community is hoping for some action soon. They just want their neighbourhood back to normal.