BUSINESS owners have blasted developers for leaving them in the shadows of scaffolding for over four years and turning their street into a ghost town.
Locals in Croydon, South London, say they have been trapped in a newbuild nightmare that has left their shops on life support.
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Half of St George’s Walk, a 1960s shopping parade crammed with independents, was demolished in 2018 for redevelopment.
The south side of the complex was torn down to make way for a new public square and hundreds of flats as part of a £500million overhaul piloted by R&F Properties.
But the promise of a facelift for the area has fell flat, as residents complained construction has been at a standstill for four years.
There is no sign of the three tower blocks that were set to replace the iconic Nestle Tower – which is still covered in monster scaffolding.
The 25-storey building has been abandoned since the firm quit the borough in 2012 to move its offices to Manor Royal in Crawley.
R&F started work in 2019 to transform it into more than 200 flats – but work came to a halt some time the following year.
But the huge scaffolding has stayed up on the 250ft tower ever since, despite residents complaining of the eyesore.
A string of businesses that say they are clinging onto survival sit on the street below on the remaining half of St George’s Walk.
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Merchants said the area has been marred by the stagnant redevelopment, which has instead invited a host of anti-social behaviour.
Locals explained the ugly scaffolding has also dwindled footfall, as passersby don’t even know they are still there.
The lack of parking nearby has also impacted the number of customers, according to Hauwa Mohammed.
The business owner, who runs African food store Big Wharf, told MyLondon: “It is very, very quiet here now and it is run down.
“People use the far end as a toilet.
“People get cross with us saying how can they come and shop when there is nowhere to park without going all the way to the Whitgift Centre.
“I would like to know what the future [for St George’s Walk] is and if there is a way I would like to stay here.”
Moshin Akbary echoed her complaints, explaining his firm MailSmart has slumped as potential customers don’t know he is still operating.
He explained there has been a significant decline in the last five years since he took over, spurred on by anti-social behaviour.
Moshin fumed: “With the barriers up people can’t see it is open, other businesses here have very poor footfall.
“My customers even find it hard to find [us] sometimes, everyone finds it difficult to come here.
“There is anti-social behaviour and graffiti damage to shop fronts.
“We don’t mind children coming here to play but we don’t like people who come here to smoke and do graffiti and vandalism.
“There is still no development and I think the council should do more to help us here.”
He called for Croydon Council to add some parking spots with a 30-minute limit to help boost traffic for local businesses.
One anonymous resident also took aim at the council, claiming it has stood idly by while yobs takeover and accelerate the area’s demise.
They also urged officials to encourage R&F to continue with construction and get rid of the eyesore scaffolding.
They told MyLondon: “The local authority needs to push them to do something, Croydon Council used to come and clean here but they don’t any more.
“Now people come and urinate in the arcade, it is unacceptable and it is affecting our small businesses here.”
Pete Joel, a director at gym My PT, admitted although his business doesn’t rely on passing trade, it would be in trouble if it did.
He said: “When we first moved in, Nestle was still operating so the footfall was amazing.
“The location is great for our business as we don’t rely on footfall, otherwise we wouldn’t be existing.”
However, Joel said the low rent prices in the area have allowed his business to grow – as they have now taken over four units.
The personal trainer said he still has hope St George’s Walk can be saved, but it needs an injection of “people and a bit of life.”
Focus has now fallen on the reason why R&F suddenly downed tools, with rumours circulating claiming asbestos was found in the Nestle Tower that would cost £4million to remove.
However, these claims have not been substantiated.
Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, confessed he is also desperate to see the redevelopment resume, but said his hands were currently tied.
He explained: “I have had R&F in here and I’ve been there, they are saying that they plan on redeveloping that site.
“It is important we get it moving, it is a key own centre site.”
The mayor said the only option for the council to take control of the site would be to issue a compulsory purchase order.
Mr Perry added: “At the moment I am working with the existing owners to get them to redevelop their sites. It is a huge mixed use site that would bring jobs and housing to the town centre.”
The Sun Online has contacted R&F for comment.
