Residents call for quicker response and more coordinated approach

Residents in Acton are criticising Ealing Council for not acting quickly enough to deal with substandard accomodation and say they fear there are many other such properties in the area.

It's now been revealed that the house at 116 Avenue Road, formerly a carpet warehouse, was operating without proper planning permission. The 70-bed property described as a 'slum' in the BBC One Show report, exposed "Dickensian and appalling" conditions.

A council spokesperson has said '' The council is urgently investigating enforcement action to tackle the unacceptable living conditions on site.''

Gareth Sinclair lives on Avenue Road and says last year there was a raid at 144 Avenue Road in which they uncovered extensive 'beds-in-sheds' .

He says locals have long suspected things weren't above board at number 116.  ''Suspicions were aroused about two years ago when the property had a lick of external paint and two side doors were knocked through on to adjacent neighbours property and it was believed then that they had no planning permission for this.''

Heathfield road property  and    same property at night (bunkbeds in rooms)

Neighbours believe another property,on Heathfield Road just around the corner from Avenue Road, is being used in the same way. They say they have tried to raise the issue with the Council, even supplying photographic evidence, but so far no action has been taken.

Mr Sinclair says: ''It absolutely feels that the Council has no co-ordinated joined up strategic approach in dealing with this blight in an otherwise lovely area and is doing precious little to communicate its plan to local residents.''

The Mill Park Residents Association have been discussing their concerns and what action they can take.

Ealing Council say 19 Heathfield Road and 144 Avenue Road were among three properties visited as part of the recent operation with partners from the police and UKBA. Because this is a live and ongoing investigation they can't share any further details.

(updated) 5th February 2016