The Horrors of basement excavations and extension works in Belsize

Whilst out campaigning and talking to many of you yesterday I have picked up a disturbingly high level of case-work all to do with property basement excavations and extensions in and around our wonderful leafy and normally quiet neighbourhood. It appears that not only are planning permissions now due to the changes introduced by Conservatives to local laws having become more relaxed with local consultations to our local areas appearing to be cavalierly dealt with by Camden local planning officers who to be fair are over stretched and overworked due to reductions in there numbers, in relation to affected local neighbouring properties.

What is so sad is that the lives of many of our long standing Belsize citizens now in retirement and naturally wishing to enjoy the tranquility of their Belsize homes are being "bulldozed" into a frenzy of required complaints and potential legal challenges to these property developers that have in recent years moved into Hampstead, Frognal and Fitzjohns and Belsize with apparent alarming ease as a way to earn higher rates of returns on monies that receive virtually nothing from the banks. Most of these repackaged homes are not actually lived in whilst these works can last many months or years.

Some examples of the issues that I have picked up yesterday are:

Concrete sludge being dumped into street drains, causing blockage and local flooding with very expensive repairs being required to be actioned by Camden council services.

Excessive environmental noise and dust pollution to local area. Some residents have reported to me that sound recording meters designed to measure noise have recorded at times in well in excess 100db of sound and this is in a residential area. By way of an example I have researched that close proximity to a jet on take off is around 120db!

One of the biggest complaints however is hours of building works being extended by contractors outside of the consulted permitted times, again with total disregard to local residents who may me home retired or those many residents who seek to work from home locations who find that they are unable to do so for months if not years with out disruption from noise pollution.

I had another particularly sad example last week of two older retired homeowners living in a row of three houses, where the middle house owner (who naturally does not actually live there) wish to develop an over the garden extension between the two very lovely gardens who will not only lose their valued garden views and being able to exchange in dialogue but have a virtual brick wall out house for a view with loss of security by enabling would be criminals to cross over the erected garden house roofs to enter upper level windows.

On this particular example it is hoped that by pending legal mitigation will be prevented from happening!

I would love to share actual examples with you but for legal reasons must refrain from doing so as most are or may enter a legal proceedings.

It is clear that I will have a busy time with Camden council planning officers next week after the holidays.

It is hard to be photographed in leafy Belsize without someone recognising their own house. So in the avoidance of any doubt the background in my photograph bears no relation to this piece.

The case of the missing “MeLoveSushi” scooters in Belsize!

Corporate responsibilities of Business and Belsize

Having chaired the recent Belsize SNT Police panel public meeting of 16 Sep’09. A rather surprising fact emerged that the small chain of “MeLoveSushi” restaurants has had rather a lot of delivery scooters stolen by joy riders and being dumped in and around the Belsize area, causing considerable concern for local public safety in the Belsize area.

What is particularly concerning is that the restaurant appears not to be taking either the problem or the security of these vehicles seriously.

It was of the opinion of all those who attended the "SNT Public" meeting that there is a "duty of care" by all business such as “MeLoveSushi” towards the local community to secure and make safe their delivery vehicles. Incidentally the driving and parking of these vehicles in what is a public "walk way" at Swiss Cottage Market is rather suspect too.

Therefore, I like to remind the chain that corporate responsibility means exactly that, having a "duty of care" towards the local community and minimising Health and Safety risks to the public caused by operational delivery vehicles.

Author: Nigel Rumble

Advisory to all residents in high rise properties like Chalcots

The Secretary of State has asked the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser, Sir Ken Knight, to provide an independent overview of progress with the fire investigations at Lakanal House, Havil Street, Camberwell on Friday 3 July. Sir Ken will report back to the Secretary of State on progress and emerging findings as a matter of urgency.

Sir Ken’s Terms of Reference for his report include the fire safety matters applicable to this building and operational procedures and practices undertaken by London Fire Brigade at this incident.

Until this work is complete I would appreciate your authority offering some reassurance to tenants.

There are practical measures that you could take such as reminding tenants how to protect themselves from fire, this includes having a working smoke alarm and regularly testing it. If tenants are concerned they can contact their local FRA and the Fire Kills website http://firekills.direct.gov.uk has plenty of up to date fire safety information.

The Chalcots "Where Are We"

CHALCOTS: With all what has been going on in Belsize with 133+ children in Camden without primary school places and the near collapse of the Government one may wonder what is happening to the Chalcots with "mould" and other serious problems reported in previous blogs.

So here is a timely update. After many high level meetings with Camden who still has yet to officially report back on all of the concerns raised by representatives of residents through the Housing and Adult Social Care Scrutiny and Hampstead DMC. Through the Operational Forum meeting, which meets monthly with representatives from all sides, it was stated by the PFIC CEO that on the question of “mould” that samples would be taken from THREE flats only and then for the rest of the 717 properties it would be up to the residents to report any re-occurring “mould” for a “TWELVE” month period.

This is in my opinion a disgrace, as I have stated in my previous blogs on “mould” and the problem of the “windows”, I feel that residents deserve better treatment.
I will continue to campaign for this better treatment and to receive acknowledgement that a serious problem exists.

I have received further news that I cannot yet blog about which is as vital and carries a significant H&S risk if unchecked. However, the implications of this particular matter which for legal reasons I cannot go into fully here presents a picture of a Camden Housing department which I have already stated for its failure to deliver "value for money", let alone quality of provision and adding to this an inability to monitor the capital works in the “regeneration” projects on matters of vital H&S standards. As soon as I am legally free to discuss these matters I will inform here in my blog fully the details. Rest assured however, that I will continue to actively campaign to get to the “truth” on these serious matters involving H&S standards.

Author: Nigel Rumble

We were wrong, says the Met

The Metropolitan Police is apologising to press photographers covering last week's G20 protests after BJP questioned why they had been prevented from covering a key incident during clashes outside the Bank of England.

According to photographers contacted by BJP, police ordered them to move away from the action, citing Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986, as they prepared a charge on demonstrators using police dogs.

The incident occurred while police were looking to move and arrest demonstrators last Thursday (02 April), and is thought to be the first time Section 14 has been used to corral journalists.

Section 14 gives police the power to impose conditions on assemblies 'to prevent serious public disorder, serious criminal damage or serious disruption to the life of the community'. Under the act, the police can impose the location and duration of a public assembly, as well as the number of people taking part in it.

It is not, however, designed to prevent photographers reporting on events.

'There was a whole group of journalists by Bank tube station at one point,' photographer (and chairman of the British Press Photographers' Association) Jeff Moore tells BJP. 'Officers were using police dogs on one side to snatch and arrest people on the other side. The police walked up to us and asked us to move away or we would be arrested under Section 14 of the Public Order Act. When we protested the decision, we were given the number of a press officer who only sympathised with us and said it was a police matter,' says Moore. 'Once the operation was over, they put us in a lovely spot, but it was too late and too far away.'

As we reported on our website (BJP-Online.com/news) last week, the move was officially protested the following day by the National Union of Journalists and the British Press Photographers' Association, who also condemned authorities for preventing journalists from leaving the Bank area after police formed a cordon around the demonstration for several hours.

After BJP put these complaints to the Met, a spokeswoman admitted Section 14 was wrongly applied. 'It was used to get people to leave an area,' she told BJP. 'It should not have been used specifically against photographers, and they should have been able to stay (in the immediate area) after showing their press cards. The Metropolitan Police apologises if that was not the case.'

The apology comes after both the NUJ and BPPA praised police communication with journalists on the day, but cited a number of incidents about which they remain concerned.

'We're unhappy that photographers were pinned in with the demonstrators during the Bank protests,' says NUJ freelance organiser John Toner. 'It appeared that if photographers wanted to leave the area, they first had to agree to be photographed. We find this unacceptable,' he says.

The Met spokeswoman told BJP that up to 6000 demonstrators, 200 were intent on causing trouble, so police officers were charged with obtaining the best evidence of the worst offences, leading them to take photos of anyone leaving the area, even press photographers'.

The NUJ hopes to discuss these matters with police during an official debrief in a few weeks time. 'Overall, the police were helpful,' says Toner, 'but there were these very serious and unacceptable problems and we intend to take these up.'

There were also unconfirmed reports of officers using the Terrorism Act 2000 to force protestors at the 'Climate Camp' demonstration in Bishopsgate to delete their images of police officers.

Source: BJP 8th April 2009

Primrose Hill and Belsize February 2009!

I could not resist the temptation on that only too brief Sunday and Monday of "real" snow for 18 years to get out there with my daughter on the piste of Primrose!

For my daughter this was the first time to experience snow, she loved every moment of it.

As for myself, I remember only too well the last occasion in London 18 years ago when I found myself snowed in my Baker Street office.

I seem to recall then that it was apparently the wrong kind of snow as far as British Rail was concerned! Now in 2009 it was the wrong kind of quantity! It makes me very proud of our British traditions to blame the weather! I don't ever remember being without public transport of some kind or the other whilst on holiday in the Ski resort of Gstad or Zermat in Switzerland. The Swiss do what comes natural and that is to plan for the snow and anticipate the ice, but then they have had rather more practice at it every year for whole seasons long.

What a pity that as global warming is taking its hold not only is the polar ice caps melting at an alarming rate, but also the winter paradise of the Alps is facing increased ice melts and industrial pollution from cars and industry not in Switzerland itself but from the heavily polluted atmosphere that deliver contaminates which are concentrated in the ice and snow. This is not a very well known or publicised fact in Switzerland but there is a team that sets out every year from the University of Bern to investigate the worsening pollution. But it acts as a strong reminder that CO2 global warming is touching all wildernesses and not just the capital cities.

Author: Nigel Rumble 17 February 2009

BLACK MOULD (FUNGUS) hits the Chalcots PFI £150M project

Black mould (Fungus) growing on the NEW window frames hits the £150M PFI "Chalcots" project. This serious and potentially hazardous situation has continued to become worse due to the moisture condensation during these cold and dump winter nights.

The new "state-of-the-art" window metal frames (with poor internal thermal insulation) conduct heat from the warm inside surfaces to the colder outside surfaces. Therefore, all the inside metal frame surfaces become very COLD which acts as a condensing surface for the moisture in the air of resident homes.

It is believed that the condensates (upto 50ml per window) which collects on the lower window frame and window ceils is responsible for the development of black mould spores in the "silicon" sealant, which appears NOT to be the "anti-fungicidal" type which would have helped to control these bacterial growths.

It will be asked at the next PFIC meeting that all 710 properties be checked and repaired to comply with building regulations and Health and Safety legislation of mould spore prevention.

It is widely recognised by medical experts that mould spores are responsible for potentially causing allergic reactions and respiratory problems. Some moulds also produce mycotoxins that can pose serious health risks to humans and animals. Exposure to high levels of mycotoxins can lead to neurological problems and in some cases death. The health hazards produced by mould have been associated with sick building syndrome.
If you are concerned and wish to know more Read Wikipedia here, APSNET

The thermal efficiencies of the NEW window frames is thus compromised by not having any thermal insulation properties, heat (energy) is being conducted straight out from all the window frames in this £150M PFI scheme, this energy conservation inefficient and poor design requires an investigation at the highest level.

PFI Contract info here

Author: Nigel Rumble

Health and Safety on the Chalcots

The low levels of light to the entrance ways and underground car parking continues to be a very considerable concern to all residents in the vicinity of the Chalcots.

The situation has been currently under review for some time. Irrespective of whether the properties are responsibility of the PFIC group of companies or ultimately the Local Authority. It must be remembered that the Local Authority is the primary "Social Landlord" and the "Landlord" for all properties. Under Health and Safety Protocols and Security provision Protocols have a direct "Duty of Care" not only to all residents but also all residents in the Belsize area that may be affected as a "knock-on consequence" of the above mentioned low levels of lighting provision and inadequate security.

Common sense prevails at Camden's PFIC

I reported yesterday "if you (Camden) don’t have temporary lights installed by the end of the next day (4/12) then I will take the matter to the local MP". Glenda Jackson MP was contacted. Senior officers of Camden and the PFIC were instructed.

I had an "official" walk-about yesterday with all the senior staff connected with the PFIC so they could see first hand the problem areas.

As of 8:45am today I can report that Bray now has the emergency temporary lighting asked. All that remains is that a permanent solution is found for the lighting problems.

Strength of resident feeling on Chalcots "escalate"

I was present at an ad hock walk-about with an Camden Project Manager yesterday evening and on the subject of NO lighting on the entranceways to Bray, which has been a ongoing problem for many years.

A resident knowing the Project Manager clearly angered at the situation, said to the officer "if you don’t have temporary lights installed by the end of the next day (4/12) then I will take the matter to the local MP". The deadline set is now looming.

I have had so many complaints now from residents about this Health and Safety concern that MP Glenda Jackson has now been notified.

This is an outrage; even the local Police have reported the matter of inadequate lighting to the Patch Manager for the estate.

Camden PFI Chalcots December 2008

Where we are now in December 2008

Bray, the third of the five blocks making up the Chalcots estate is due to be signed off by the Independent Certifier (IC) 19th December.However, problems still remain in resident’s homes, such as leaking radiators, faulty windows and poorly regulated central heating controls, despite the IC sign off process. All the remaining problems will be transferred to the "snagging" process.Security remains a "key" concern of the residents at Bray and indeed the whole of the Chalcots.Inadequate lighting and no provision of a canopy to the entranceways continue to be a BIG concern for all residents.

Back in July 2008
I had written a summary of the “key” problem areas of the PFI process

1. Output Specification
2. Role of the Independent Certifier (IC)
3. Sign-off and snagging
Only the misapprehension of the role of the IC has now been addressed.It was hoped that with the correct levels of “direct” management pressure would the other issues have been addressed too.

Conclusion
Apart from the previous misapprehension that the role of the IC was to actually check all aspects of the finished “home” and check for essential Health and Safety certifications. We now know that the IC primary role is to sign-off, thereby starting the “unitary charge” process for release of “real” money from the PFIC bank to the contractor.

There is no real demonstratable change of the current implementation model.
It has to be said that PR skills have considerably improved on this PFI project.

I would also now add a new key "problem" PFI and non-PFI word to the list;

4. Communications
This refers to both the PFIC as well as the Local Authority, which are in many cases the worst offenders.

PFI at Chalcots - Third block due to complete

Bray, the third of the five blocks making up the Chalcots estate is due to be signed off by the Independent Certifier (IC) 19th December.

However, problems still remain in resident’s homes, such as leaking radiators, faulty windows and poorly regulated central heating controls, despite the IC sign off process. All the remaining problems will be transferred to the "snagging" process.

Security remains a "key" concern of the residents at Bray and indeed the whole of the Chalcots.

Inadequate lighting and no provision of a canopy to the entranceways continue to be a BIG concern for all residents.