A narrow footpath in one of London's most prestigious postcodes has transformed into a hazardous no-go zone, plagued by open drug use, violence, and anti-social behaviour, forcing terrified residents to take their safety into their own hands.
A Descent into Darkness and Fear
The 900-yard Billy Fury Way, a cut-through nestled between £1.5 million homes in West Hampstead, now presents a grim tableau of discarded needles, human waste, and used condoms. The situation has deteriorated sharply since October 2023, when a power cable fault left all 23 streetlights dark, plunging the route into perpetual shadow and providing cover for illicit activities.
Residents report that the alleyway, which runs past schools and railway tracks, has become a magnet for drug dealing and consumption. "I see people every day smoking crack," said Zoe Kemp, a local of 20 years. She now refuses to walk the path without carrying a hammer for protection, a sentiment echoed by others in the community who feel abandoned and unsafe.
Violent History and Present Dangers
The alley's troubled reputation is not new. In 2018, 18-year-old Michael Onabanjo suffered life-threatening injuries in an attack in a bin store backing onto the path, requiring lifesaving surgery and 52 stitches. Locals fear a similar, or worse, tragedy is imminent.
Sharon Henry, who lives in a ground-floor flat directly adjoining the alley, described a harrowing incident last summer where she heard desperate screams for help. "Someone was screaming like it was almost like a death scream," she recalled. She and neighbours hesitantly investigated to find a man on the ground, suspected of a drug overdose. Ms Henry warns that many use the path as a shortcut, unaware of the "potentially fatal consequences," noting the uneven paving risks a fall onto a discarded needle.
The problems extend beyond the alley itself. Intruders reportedly use fire door keys to break into apartment blocks, steal packages, and even take drugs inside residential buildings. "One man broke in and started threatening me… and then he wouldn't leave," Ms Henry stated.
Calls for Action and a Stalled Response
Despite repeated pleas from the community, basic requests to cut back the concealing shrubbery and clean the area have gone unaddressed. The central issue of the broken streetlights remains unresolved due to a complex bureaucratic and physical blockage. The power source is a UK Power Networks feeder pillar on Finchley Road, managed by Transport for London (TfL), which is currently inaccessible due to scaffolding.
Liberal Democrat councillor for West Hampstead, Janet Grauberg, said she has been pushing for action since the summer of 2024. "There shouldn't be 'no-go' areas in our city," she affirmed. A Camden Council spokesperson acknowledged the fault and stated they are working on installing solar lights as a temporary measure while urging TfL to fix the main issue. A TfL spokesperson confirmed the scaffolding has a valid permit and removal is not typically requested under such circumstances.
The alley's namesake, Sixties pop star Billy Fury, once recorded hits nearby. A mural erected in his honour in 2018 as part of a clean-up effort was repeatedly defaced and eventually removed—a symbol of the ongoing struggle for this corner of an otherwise affluent London neighbourhood, home to celebrities like Emma Thompson and Harry Styles. For residents like Zoe Kemp, the path that should connect the community now serves only to cut them off, shrouded in darkness and fear.
