The 386-metre alleyway between Spring Grove Road and the Bus Garage remains a key route, maintained by Hounslow Highways until 2037. However, it is said that despite regular cleansing and good lighting, the path suffers from:
- Persistent fly-tipping: Concentrated near damaged private boundaries
- Anti-social behaviour (ASB): Including street drinking and suspected drug use.
- Underreporting: Only two official police reports were made last year, hindering enforcement efforts.
Short-term action
The council recently coordinated a multi-agency Action Day in partnership with Hounslow Highways, Safer Communities and Neighbourhood Enforcement teams which focused on:
- Targeted clean-up activity
- Visible enforcement presence
- Improving signage and installing QR codes to make reporting fly-tipping and ASB easier.
Holding landowners accountable
The footpath is bordered by a mix of landowners, including Transport for London, a private landowner and a registered housing provider. Parts of the recurring waste problem relate to adjoining private land.
The council will formally engage relevant landowners and, where necessary, issue Community Protection Warnings (CPWs) and Community Protection Notices (CPNs), which can carry financial penalties if land is not cleared and properly secured. While the council could intervene directly, doing so would incur full costs to the public purse.
Longer-term considerations
There are currently no robust barriers preventing waste from reappearing. Installation of new fencing could provide a more permanent solution, although this would require significant investment — potentially up to £150,000.