‘People running round on the roof’: Disabled veteran fed up with lack of council support

A disabled veteran has been left fed up with his council after they failed to respond to his complaints of people running across his roof.

Derek Bergin, 66, of Clem Square, Woolwich, reported the disturbance to Greenwich council after he heard youths running over his bungalow roof last week.

He said: “The council told me to ring the repairs team. I called for repairs and they told me to ring tenancy services who told me to speak to occupied repairs.”

Mr Bergin, who suffers from arthritis and emphysema, lives in a row of bungalows specifically designed for disabled or elderly tenants.

This is the third time the former submariner has been woken up to the sound of people’s footsteps through his ceiling.

He has previously called the police, but after officers attended the incident they advised him to get in touch with the council.

He said: “I’ve had to go outside as a disabled person and confront the youth myself.

“The council just don’t seem to want to know. I don’t understand how they can say there is nothing they can do.

“It’s not like I can put anything up there to stop them doing it in case one of them gets injured.”

A spokesman from Greenwich council said they understood the “distress and anxiety” caused by antisocial behavior.

He said: “We all want to feel safe and secure in our own home, and we will be engaging with the resident to ensure he has our care and support. In an emergency, we would always encourage residents to report anti-social behaviour to the police.”

Pictured top: Derek Bergin has been left fed up after his council failed to respond to his complaints about antisocial behaviour (Picture: Derek Bergin)