'It's too scary!' Crime-ridden neighbourhood deserted as empty properties set for 'demolition'
WATCH: Patrick Christys reflects on one of Britain's 'darkest' days
GB News
Residents of an East London borough have spoken of fears of being stabbed and robbed as their area faces a major redevelopment.
Harold Hill, in Romford, has seen an abandoned housing development has gone up in flames twice in the past year, with rows of boarded-up shops and major chains deserting the once-bustling area.
Sandra Wyatt, manager of The Alderman pub said: "One of my eldest granddaughters is 14, she's told to come home straight after school. It's too scary. You hear of crime so much, people being stabbed or phones being nicked."
The pub, along with the rest of the Farnham and Hilldene estate near Harold Hill town centre, is set to be demolished as part of a regeneration scheme. The first phase will see the pub and nearby flats in Chippenham Road replaced by 150 new homes.
Fareham Road in Harold Hill
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The Alderman pub in Harold Hill
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Wyatt, who has managed the pub for 10 years, worries about her regular customers. "For many people this is the only place they can chat to people," she told MyLondon.
"A lot don't even drink, they sit down for a few hours and have a cup of tea or coffee. Elderly people often come here in the morning for this reason. But we're the last ones clinging on."
Police data reveals Harold Hill experiences more violent crime than surrounding areas, with Heaton and Gooshays recording 61 and 57 violent and sexual offences respectively last October.
These figures are more than double those reported in Harold Wood and match levels seen in Romford town centre.
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The Pompadours pub stood derelict for years before being partially demolished
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Estate agent Rosemary Dawson says elderly residents remain traumatised by the death of 78-year-old Bernard Fowler, who was beaten to death at Harold Wood station last February.
"Many elderly people, and I include myself in this bracket, are too scared to walk the streets when it's dark," she told MyLondon. Emma Cooke, owner of F Cooke pie and mash shop on Farnham Road, has witnessed the area's decline firsthand.
"Just look at all the shops closing. We used to have three banks, and now there's only a TSB. Why would anyone come shopping here?" she said.
"There were queues out the door for NatWest and Santander, but then they were closed. Those people in queues would then come here, or go to the butchers or do their weekly shop. That doesn't happen now," Cooke added.
A row of Boarded up houses in Chippenham Road
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The area has lost major retailers including Woolworths, with other businesses following suit.
A Havering Council spokesman said empty properties have been secured to prevent anti-social behaviour and will be demolished "as soon as possible" under the Harold Hill master plan.
The council launched its Clear Hold Build initiative in December 2023 to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour in the area.
The scheme appears to be working, with reported offences down by 50 per cent in Farnham Road and nearby areas.
"We fully support and are working with the residents and businesses of Harold Hill with any concerns they raise with us," the spokesman added.
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