From June 14, 1980 Women were afraid to walk in Kingston town centre after 6pm for fear of being mugged, according to a newly-formed residents' association.

Fears were so great that some single women without cars were becoming virtually housebound, a member of the Riverside Residents' Association told Kingston councillor, Joseph Wrigglesworth.

The association, which covered The Bittoms, Milner Road, South Lane, Woodbines Avenue, Denmark Road and Grove Crescent, lost no time telling Councillor Wrigglesworth the only councillor at the meeting what it thought about some of the council's policies and plans.

When Coun Wrigglesworth tried to list improvements in the town centre, which he said had been of benefit to the community, he was shouted down by people in the hall who insisted that such things as the Eden Walk shopping precinct did nothing to improve the environment and way of life of town centre residents.

Several speakers referred to the fact that there were now so few homes in the centre of the town that many people, especially women, were afraid to walk there after 6pm for fear of being mugged.

Others took up the call for an end to the spread of a concrete jungle of commerce in the town centre and the deterioration of amenities for residents such as the Coronation baths.

Coun Wrigglesworth pointed out that plans to improve traffic conditions in the area would be considered by the council's technical services committee.

Some items worrying people living in the area around County Hall were increased traffic especially of juggernauts going to The Bittoms cold store parking on pavements, the new car park and extension at County Hall, poor street lighting and the threat to the environment posed by a plan to build a multi-storey car park in Kingston Hall Road.

Suggestions by council officers included the possibility of seeking permission to close The Bittoms at its junction with Milner Road, to prevent traffic approaching the cold store along the narrower roads of the area.

ygordon@london.newsquest.co.uk