RESIDENTS have backed a campaign for the “desperately needed” clean up of a South Woodford subway.

After Councillor Felicity Banks was last week told by Transport for London (TFL) that they could not extend funding for the regeneration of George Lane to include work on the South Woodford station subway, residents living nearby have echoed her concerns.

Pat King, 81, of Pulteney Road, said: “A clean up has been desperately needed for a long while and I know the store holder who sells fruit and veg just outside the station has asked the council to come down a few times because of the smell.

“It puts people off and they did promise they would look at it but nothing seems to have happened.

“They sweep it down but they don't always sweep the gullies, which are often filled with cigarette buts, and I think people use it as a urinal after the pubs close.

“The bridge at the station is currently being revived also so everybody has to walk down there now.”

Ann Master, also of Pulteney Road, said: “There's a lot of broken windows there which London Underground used to replace but now I think they've stopped because it just keeps happening.

“There's also a lot of graffiti but the CCTV cameras should see them doing that.”

Cllr Felicity Banks, who raised the issue at a Transport Liaison Group meeting at Ilford Town Hall last week, said: “It's a real disappointment as TFL said they didn't have enough money to do any extra work than the £1.7million plan for George Lane, and that they were even having to cut back on some existing projects.

“It just seems ridiculous to spend all that money on one part of the lane but leave another.”

A spokeswoman for Redbridge Council said: "The investment being made in South Woodford includes works in George Lane both sides of the station, with extensive repaving and other improvements intended to enhance the local environment, especially for pedestrians.

"This budget doesn't include any monies for works to the TfL owned subway and they have recently confirmed that they have no immediate proposals or funds to undertake such works.

"Cleansing of the subway is a Council responsibility and arrangements have been made to increase the frequency of washing in recognition of the misuse which occurs there, graffiti removal works will continue on a responsive basis."