The beautiful terraced houses of 42-108 Hereford Road, north of Westbourne Grove were built around 1850. That section of the road was listed as ‘Grade II’ in 1987.
Around thirty properties on the listed part of Hereford Road have alarm boxes. Alarm boxes act as a deterrent to burglars, and they contain a bell or remote alarm.
There have been several burglaries on Hereford Road this year. As a result the residents of Hereford Road are keen to do all they can to deter burglars. The Police and Fire Brigade have advised residents as regards alarm boxes over the years. Some insurance companies will not insure properties that do not have alarm boxes.
A member of the public originally reported an unauthorised alarm box to the Council’s Planning Enforcement Team in 2013. Earlier this year the Council Planning Enforcement Team opened an investigation into about thirty alarm boxes on Hereford Road. The Council Planning Enforcement Team threatened fines if the residents refused to remove or move their alarm boxes. The Council believed that the alarm boxes have a harmful impact on the listed buildings, and on the Westbourne Conservation Area.
The Hereford Road Residents’ Association mounted an effective and efficient campaign in support of its residents. Eight residents made applications for retrospective listed building consent in relation to their alarm boxes.
Councillor Elcho spoke on behalf of the residents in the Planning Committee Meeting on 19th June 2018, consequently the recommendations of the Council Officers were overturned. The residents are allowed to keep their alarm boxes where they are, as long as they are painted white.