New Malden Residents’ Association is celebrating a “victory” for those living in St James’ Close who for the past eight months have been wakened by “flashing” adverts on the A3.

Last January residents were “startled” to see copper tree artwork being installed on the Malden roundabout, followed by three by 12 metre illuminated screens over the A3.

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Planning permission for the adverts had been given to Transport for London (TfL) by the Neighbourhood Committee (MCNC) of Kingston Council in October 2014.

However, after pressure from the Residents’ Association, TfL has enforced a 10pm curfew on the bright adverts.

Maureen Papangelou, of St James’ Close, said: “When we saw them go up in January we didn’t know what they were for, and then they switched the lights on and it was like Las Vegas, it was so bright.

“The adverts changed all the time and woke us up in the night- I had to spend a large amount on shutters and screening garden plants to help me sleep.

“My son contacted New Malden Residents’ Association to see if they could help.

“I’m so grateful to Liz and Frances from the Residents’ Association.

“They came down here to meet TfL and kept pursuing them for answers, and now we have got the outcome we needed.”

Liz Meerabeau, chair of NMRA, said: “This is a brilliant result for local democracy, and a credit to our secretary, Frances Marsh, who has pursued the issue doggedly for months.

“We are pleased that TfL has finally taken action to turn off the screen at night, but concerned that the scheme went ahead without a technical report on the light levels, even though the planning committee had made that a condition for approval.

“And we are still puzzled why the area was classified as a ‘generally urban area with mixed recreational and commercial land use with high night-time activity’.

“Why didn’t RBK pick this up? The only night-time activity is cars on the A3- and people at home trying to get some sleep.”

TfL has been contacted for comment.