Residents in Malyons Road in Ladywell have had enough of forklift trucks, articulated lorries, and road blockages.
They are up in arms over the old garage site (62-72 Ladywell Road) at the end of Malyons Road which they say is now being used as a storage and distribution centre for fast food outlets across south London.
“It’s a nightmare. We are being plagued by huge lorries, parked up at the end of Malyons Road, restricting car access to the houses and nearby flats, as forklift trucks ferry pallets of drinks, sauces, burgers and fries into the storage site” said one.
“It’s time the police and council took action.”
Residents suspect the site is being used as the main distribution centre for Metro’s Fried Chicken shops given some of the labelling on the boxes there.
The old garage site has long been an eyesore in Ladywell and is now in the conservation area.
Two people died in a fire in the long neglected site in 2015, prompting calls for the site to be developed.
Applications to turn the site into a car wash were rejected in 2004 and the site remained garages, although residents say a car repair business was running there for some time.
“That changed when a bigger white storage building was set up on the site in 2023,” explains a resident. “That’s when the lorries started arriving.”
The council granted a retrospective planning application for the retention of the swhite torage building in February 2025 despite objections from local residents.
Local people were disappointed with the decision to allow the temporary two year use of the storage facilities.
But they hoped the restrictions the planners’ attached to the permission would keep the number of deliveries under control.
Sadly the restrictions have been ignored and abused by the people using the site.
Articulated lorries, specifically excluded by planning officers, regularly park in Malyons Road and unload.
The planning decision clearly stated Malyons Road should not “be allowed to be used for the loading and unloading of vehicles”.
In addition, Malyons Road should not be blocked for the loading and unloading of any delivery vehicles.
Planners recommended that deliveries should be by vans and should be restricted to between 7am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 1pm on Saturday but NOT during school drop-off and collection hours
The application was for the storage of goods on pallets before they are sent on to two local supermarkets.
But local residents say two local supermarkets do not need huge deliveries in articulated lorries. “Not even the local Sainsbury needs them,” they add.
Residents say when they complain to the men unloading the trucks all they get is abuse.
“It’s all got out of hand,” said another.
“Today the road was blocked from 8.50am to almost 1.30pm. It’s Saturday … why should they be allowed to do that? The council needs to get this under control.”