THE AGENT for the developers of a controversial new housing development has claimed opponents of the plans put lives at risk by sabotaging an advertising board.

The owners of 1-3 Station Parade in Wanstead were given permission to bulldoze existing buildings and build a three-story housing development on the site by the government's Planning Inspectorate, despite Redbridge Council initially rejected the plans.

The developer's agent Raj Madhani, of Helm Asset Management, has claimed that his firm's marketing board was tampered with in such a way that it could fall on people walking underneath at any time.

Mr Madhani said: “I know some people are narked off with the planning being given but whoever did this put the safety of the public at risk.

“I see so many mothers with babies in buggies and toddlers walking past, and there are elderly people and other members of the public who were in danger.

“A strong gust of wind could have toppled the board onto the pavement below and caused a serious injury or even fatality to pedestrians.”

“I would hope the person responsible feels totally ashamed and realises that his action was not justified in any way whatsoever, especially as it endangered innocent lives.”

The board has since been made safe, but residents and local businesspeople against the development have reacted scathingly to Mr Madhani's allegations.

Irene Butler, who runs a tanning salon on Station Parade, said: “What about the weather we've over the last few weeks? It's been blowing a gale. Could that not be the cause?

“I can't believe that anyone would take the risk of loosening it so that it might fall on someone. I don't know how anyone could have it on their conscience, if it fell it could have killed someone.

“No-one in their right mind would do it.

“They'd have to get a ladder up there or come up over the roof, so there's no chance they'd do it without being seen, even at 2 o'clock in the morning. It sounds like a load or rubbish.”

Jessica Adams, who lives in Malcolm Way, which just behind Station Parade said she found it hard to believe anyone would tamper with the sign.

Ms Adams said: “It just doesn't sounds like the kind of thing anyone around here would do. In fact it just sounds stupid.”