Scrap Value Could Cause Injury
The London Borough of Bexley is again asking the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour on the borough's highways, following the most recent spate of drain-cover thefts from Bexley's streets.
The industrial cast-iron grids are commonly used to cover drains in gutters at the sides of roads. Leaving the drains exposed causes a serious safety hazard for both pedestrians and vehicles.
Cllr Peter Craske, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "Leaving these deep chambers exposed is extremely dangerous and could lead to serious injury. A small child or partially sighted person, could fall into it, and become trapped below the road. If a vehicle's wheel hits the exposed chamber, it could result in a serious accident. The consequences of this thoughtless act don't bear thinking about."
The estimated scrap value of the drain covers is about £2. The cost for Bexley to replace the covers, which includes removing the old frame, re-laying a new frame, installing a new cover and re-instating the surrounding tarmac is about £250 per drain. Last year the Council spent £33,000 replacing stolen covers with new lightweight versions, which have a hinged mechanism and carry identity marks.
An emergency crew has been mobilised to replace the stolen covers, but the Council fears that unless the culprit is caught quickly, replacement costs could escalate again to thousands of pounds.
Tony Hughes, the Council's Head of Area Teams, said: "I urge all drivers and pedestrians, particularly vulnerable groups, such as children and older people, to be aware of this problem when they use the road."
The Council is taking the matter very seriously and has reported the incidents to the police. Members of the public are asked to report any suspicious activity to the police, including the registration numbers of vehicles believed to be involved. All calls will be taken in confidence. After similar reported incidents last year, and surveillance operations, police made several arrests.
The Council is determined to stop this thoughtless act and will not hesitate to prosecute the offenders once arrests have been made.
To report further incidents call the London Borough of Bexley’s Highways and Amenities Team on 020 8303 7777 (24-hours).
