FixMyStreet is a website where the public can submit complaints about problems in their neighbourhood. The site then sends these to the appropriate local authority.
So, here are some of the most regularly reported issues in Romford from December 2024 and January 2025.
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The most recent source of irritation has come from bus timetables missing from their frames at Romford Bus Station.
A total of four complaints were registered about the absent timetables, with three made since January 10.
Among those missing were sheets for the 103, 498, 499, 651 and N15 services.
Eastern Avenue is the most complained-about road in Romford across December and January, registering 18 separate complaints to date.
A total of four of these were due to illuminated road signs or street lights not working, two were about dead animals on the road, while another two were for fallen barriers blocking pedestrian paths.
Complaints were also made about electrical cabinet doors swinging open, with one resident writing “it’s dangerous and swings open on people”.
Other sources of woe in Eastern Avenue were potholes, traffic lights being stuck on red, and faded road markings.
Advertising hoardings also caused a stir, with one person reporting a smashed advertising board at a bus stop exposing “jagged metal edges”.
Another report claimed one board was emitting too much light, making it “unsafe at night for drivers”.
Bus stops across Romford were another prominent source of aggravation.
One stop in London Road was reported to have “mud stains all over” while another stop in the same street had graffiti on it.
A total of three separate complaints were made about graffiti on stops down Mawney Road on January 15 alone.
Another stop in Victoria Road was reported to have a “door hanging off”.
One unfortunate person on January 6 went as far as to type their complaint about a leaky roof in Eastern Avenue, writing that they were “currently standing under the bus stop, getting dripped on whilst trying to stay out of the rain”.
Worse yet, it appears these complaints may not even have reached the relevant departments.
A Havering Council spokesperson said: “FixMyStreet is not a system we use.
“We encourage residents to report issues directly to us via our easy-to-use customer service and enquiry website pages, which means the reports are logged on to our system and reach the relevant service teams directly.
“Our service teams and contractors are out in Romford and all our town centres cleaning, plus clearing up graffiti and responding to reports such as fly-tipping.
“We also have a road and pavement improvement scheme, which includes repairing potholes.
“Through our Where We Live campaign, we encourage residents and community groups to work with us to make Havering a cleaner and safer place to be and empower communities to take pride in Where We Live.
“The campaign, as well as showing how our council services carry out their daily duties and respond to reports from residents, also aims to empower our communities to have pride and to help us by not dropping litter and get involved in activities that will help us keep the borough cleaner.”
