• VICTORIA Gedge, a resident of Biddestone Road, refers in her letter (Object the closure of a vital path in N7, July 3) to the extinguishment order that is currently being publicised in the area regarding the closure of the Pollard Close estate to the public.

I am a resident of Pollard Close and would like to set the story straight.

The “vital” path referred to runs down the side of someone’s home which is urinated on every day; to the extent that the smell is permeating the walls and going in to their home.

This has been reported numerous times to the police and Islington Council. The council are trying to resolve the issue.

On this “vital” path a woman was knocked down by a moped and ended up in ICU for three weeks. It’s constantly used as a cut-through by delivery drivers and bicycles. There have also been burglaries.

As well as the public, who may use it as a cut-through for three or four minutes a day, it is regularly used by drug dealers and users. In fact, the whole of Pollard Close estate is suffering and has been suffering for a number of years.

You see, it’s not just this public path but the whole estate which is used for drug buying / selling / taking, going to the toilet, dumping rubbish etc. This happens at different times of the day and night.

People come in to our gardens to sleep, have sex, take items, take drugs, go through our bins, go through items they have stolen.

We also have a block of flats which is regularly used for more of the same. So, it’s wider issue than just the ‘vital’ path.

The residents of Pollard Close joined forces in 2018 and have been working with the council / police / anti-social behaviour teams to try to resolve this issue over the last two years; in fact we have been reporting it for the last six.

So the extinguishment order is a last resort after trying CCTV and other restriction options. However, they did not work due to the footprint of the estate.

Please believe me when I say we have tried everything.

Pedestrians will be redirected to Biddestone Park and, in fact, it is probably better for anyone who has difficulty walking or wheelchair users.

What Ms Gedge omitted to mention is there are three sets of kissing gates to navigate on the Pollard Close path – Biddestone Park is clear.

I have spoken to council representatives and have been informed that they are in discussions with various departments and propose to ensure the park has better lighting for the darker days. Subject to residents’ approval, the park could be opened longer too.

With regard to the advertising of the notice, it has been done in the same way as any other notice advertised by the council. It’s a shame it’s all happened during the lockdown, but it was in no way underhand.

The residents of Pollard Close are committed to working with the neighbourhood and community to improve our area.

This issue is everywhere and it won’t go away unless we all work together. We would ask that our neighbours support this order so that we can move forward.

Messages of support can also be sent to: laura.avery@islington.gov.uk

ARMI PALLAI
Pollard Close, N7