Gravesend: Dumped vehicles mar views over River Thames

ANGRY residents whose riverside homes overlook a mountain of disused cars cannot believe others are living in a semi-tropical paradise, in Gravesend.

Mo Butters, 49, of Mark Lane, said she was green with envy after seeing computer engineer, Dave Brown, relaxing under a tropical palm tree in his garden in last week's News Shopper.

She says while he has been busy growing tropical plants she has spent 15 years trying to get a breakers yard to shift a three-storey wall of rusting cars towering above her garden.

The part-time hairdresser used to have stunning views of Tilbury, across the river, now she only sees decaying car shells.

She said: "MP Chris Pond says he wants to turn Gravesend into the English Riviera. He should come down here and sort this out first."

Mo Butters, also fears a fire in the yard could shoot debris through her living room or bedroom window, 10 metres away.

She said: "It is a massive safety hazard. When shock absorbers catch light, they explode and could fly right through my window, sending shattered glass everywhere. It's like waiting for a bomb to go off."

Three homes back onto the Denton Wharf Car Breakers, which has around 100 cars piled up in it at any one time and employs six members of staff.

Manager of Denton Wharf Car Breakers, Brian Martin, said: "We take out engines before they are stacked up so they are made as safe as possible. But we are running a car breaking business, of course it is not going to be everyone's favourite view."

The Environment Agency which assess safety has been informed of Mo Butters' fears.

Southern region Environment Agency spokesman Jo Warburton said: "We have received a complaint about the site and have been liaising with that member of the public. We will be investigating the matter further."

July 8, 2002 17:00