Ivy has intruded into Patricia Graves's shed in Woodford Green (l-r) Patricia Graves and MP Iain Duncan Smith

Woodford Green MP demands TfL sorts out overgrown ivy ruining resident’s shed

Alistair Kleebauer, Senior reporter Monday, October 22, 2012
11:19 AM

A Woodford Green woman wants Transport for London [TfL] to take responsibility for ivy which has overgrown into her property before her shed begins to resemble something from The Day of the Triffids.

Patricia Graves and MP Iain Duncan Smith next to the crack in her shed floor and the intruding ivy

The home of Patricia Graves, 60, in Kings Avenue, borders the bank of the Central Line at the rear of her garden.

Last August, she discovered ivy protruding from the bank and into her shed through its plastic roof and the shed’s cement floor now has a mysterious four foot crack.

On Friday, she enlisted Chingford and Woodford Green MP Iain Duncan Smith in her bid to get the London transport body to take responsibility.

She said: “The ivy is on my roof. The roof is damaged and the ivy is coming through.

“I want someone to say whose fault it is and stop the stuff coming into my shed so I can use it.”

TfL sent a tree expert to view the overgrowth and told Ms Graves “it wasn’t their fault”, she said.

She cannot go onto the bank to clear it herself as there is security fencing along the rear of her property.

She said: “We can’t go through to clear anything because it’s like Colditz.”

Mr Duncan Smith felt the crack was caused by the bank subsiding.

He said: “It’s clearly coming from the bank somewhere. “There’s nothing below from your garden.”

He jokingly referred to the similarities with the 1950s science fiction tale The Day of the Triffids, in which aggressive plants take over the world, when viewing the problem.

And he said he would contact TfL to push them for action.

He said: “We’re going to demand a structural engineer to get a proper assessment.”

Phil Hufton, London Underground’s asset performance director, said: “We are aware of Mrs Graves’ concerns and we will be contacting her to investigate this matter and take appropriate action.

“Work is already underway to trim back trees and plants along this stretch of the Central Line by her home.”