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I have been a tenant for six years and in that period have slowly lost all hope of any improvement in our living environment. I have made many phone calls and written many letters but have never even received a reply. In the last two years my living conditions have been the main cause of my depression, which has lead to bouts of anorexia. At present I am receiving anti-depressants and counselling as a result. Many thanks again for the support you have given Thomas Cooper. I have seen more positive improvement in the last three months than in six long years of "being put on hold" or "I'm afraid Mr Bates is out of the office". It is fabulous to see an individual making such a difference to such a jaded, despondent group of people. Nicola James l Thank you for your article on the Coombe House Initiative. I am a tenant of Coombe House and like many other residents of this borough I am extremely frustrated with the authorities of the way they treat council tenants. I had to wait nearly 10 years for my asbestos ceiling to be replaced. Please continue to keep the pressure up until the authorities become fully aware of their negligences. Thank you. D Simani ___________________________________________________________________________ From: M. Crisp [mailto:****] Firstly my congratulations on executing your website. People do need to know just how poorly behaved and wasteful our landlord really is. I wish you well in your endeavours. I speak as a tenant of Islington for eighteen years, most of which has been spent engaged in formal complaint and litigation of one kind or another. I am a resident of the often forgotten 'street estate' which gets no better treatment. I once dreamt of the day when I could lay down my pen and never again seek the protection of the county court, I do not feel that this day will ever arrive. I am currently enjoying a bit of a reputation as a 'difficult' member of the public. Who knows we might achieve something. I have attached a precis of my treatment by this authority
Yours, (TCHI - Note to visitors: Homes for Islington are a management company, not our Landord; Our landlord is still London Borough of Islington Council. One significant difference is, Homes for Islington are answerable to the council, but it is the landlord (Islington Counsil) against whom one issues legal proceedings for housing related injustices) ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Katie@****
Hi my name is Katie, and I am a trainee journalist from City I visited Market Estate last week and was horrified at the I realise youre a small organisation and may not Many Thanks, Katie ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Melanie McLean [mailto:***] Dear Mr Cooper, I read with some horror Tom Mackenzie's Gazette article on the Market Estate
and have just Could we meet to discuss how I can raise this with the Council to best effect? Yours sincerely, Melanie McLean Conservative PPC ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Tamara Arair[mailto:*****] Hello Thomas RE: Market Estate, and Coffee and Tea Evenings Will we start to plan a series of planning meetings for United Nations Day Spoke with Sedleigh Adams Guardian Angels today we could put together a one Would be Fantastic to be able to help jump start them for London. Looking DARE TO CARE ALWAYS SINCERLY YOURS Tamara x x Tamara Adair ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Chenies UK: [*****@aol.com] Dear Thomas Cooper, A fellow resident from our building very kindly showed me your e-mail, and I have put a link to it on the Chenies website. Iif you don't want the link, just let me know; it's very easy to change webpages with our HTML program. It's at: I think your website is very good, and I'm delighted to hear you were actually given an apology (something we've never managed to make them do, here). In fact, instead of apologising at the last Walkabout, the Patch Manager chucked me off it, saying I was a private tenant and had no right to be on the Walkabout. Has that ever happened to anyone in your building? It happened on Thursday, the incomplete minutes of the Walkabout arrived today, and I'm keeping the Camden New Journal informed about the situation; if they do write it up, I'll give them your website address as well. There are two parts to my website - historical and cultural items on one site and all the best,
historical website: ___________________________________________________________________________ From: METRA [mailto:metra@metra.org.uk] WITHOUT PREJUDICE Dear Keith
METRA would first say that anything relating to Sharon's quote comes from the Highbury and Islington Sharon was contacted by Mr Cooper, in relation to this The contents of the website with the photographs, seem I have had a complaint today by telephone that If you can get a formal response to this by Monday Your email will be forwarded to METRA members and our representatives for full consideration.
METRA ___________________________________________________________________________ Buckhurst House, The Coombe House Initiative September 10th 2004 RE: ISLINGTON REPAIR LINE - CAXTON ISLINGTON To Whom It May Concern: On the 25th August I rang Islington’s repair line at 9.15am. I asked them to send someone out to repair our shower pump. They gave me a job-number 255 7145, and said that someone would call at 4.45. A plumber called, said that he was here to fix the shower pump. He was uncertain of how he would open the tiled facing panel. My Husband showed him the two screws, but he broke some of the tiles, then undid the screws and the panel came out. He said that he needed to take the number of the pump back to the office. I rang the Islington repair line on 3rd September, and was on the phone for ¾ hour (12-12.45pm). I was put from one person to another. I spoke to five different people and none of them knew who the workman, who took the number of the shower pump on Aug 25th was. I was given another job number (261 4587). I had explained that it was a shower pump that needed to be fixed. On the 9th September they sent out another man who arrived at 4.30pm. He came to (GUESS WHAT?) “…fix the lights again!”. I rang Caxton Islington and told them that it was the shower pump, but they told me that Islington repair line had said that it was an electric light, and put us back to the repair line. I also asked Caxton Islington about the mystery tile smasher of August 25th, but they hadn’t a clue. The latest workman from Caxton Islington now has the shower pump number with him. The next appointment is Monday 13th September, but I don’t know how long I will have to wait to have the shower fixed the way things have gone so far. We have had no shower since the 25th August until now. My husband has had a hip replacement and has a damaged spine. Yours faithfully, Christine - Buckhurst House resident
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From: Coombe House (east) Resident [mailto:******] dear sir/madam i was very concerned on receiving your recent leaflet with reguard to 3% asbestos being found within artex coated ceilings, on watching a recent television documentry i am supposed to believe that asbestos is not dangerous unless disdurbed, well the fact is that part of the ceiling in my bathroom is very flakey and has been since i moved into this flat just over 2 years ago, i infact done a mutual exchange with my sister, and have been steadly doing my place up, i have'nt actually touched my bathroom as yet as i am still not sure what i want to do with it. i would be very grateful if you could advise me as to what my options are, for example should someone from the council be sent out to firstly inspect and secondly and more importantly report on any possible dangers to mine and my familys future health with particular attention being paid to my bathroom ceiling. i would be very grateful for your prompt reply. thankingyou ******************, <see the TCHI asbestos leaflet Monday 6th September 2004 in our Arcvive of Public Notices> ___________________________________________________________________________ From: The Coombe House Initiative - 2004 Subject: Disgusting Living Conditions - If you think you've seen it all before... YOU HAVEN'T! Dear recipient, If this is your first contact from TCHI, welcome to disgusting living conditions in London Borough of Islington. We welcome new recipients including those from the ODPM. We will happily consider any suggested additions or amendments. What is very clear is that certainly some amends need to be made to the previously abandoned community of Islington's Market Estate. Today marks four years since the tragic accident in a communal area of the Market Estate which caused the death of 12 year old Christopher Pullen Disgusting Living Conditions - If you think you've seen it all before... YOU HAVEN'T! These conditions are best viewed first hand, but given the variety of hazards including discarded hypodermic needles, it's far safer to click the link below.... www.tchi.org.uk/me Yours faithfully ___________________________________________________________________________ Disability Awareness Education
17th August 2004 Mr. T. Cooper - The Coombe House Initiative Dear Sir Further to our discussion, I am very pleased to see that many issues relating to tenants and the LBI (landlord) relationship, which during the life of my tenancy has been void of any respect to humanity is finally surfacing as a result of TCHI campaign. LBI’s housing department’s policy is simple. Ignore the tenant’s complaints and they will fade away. Over the last three years, I have complained over right of access for disabled people and the very elderly to Holland Walk, and I am still waiting for a response. At present disabled people in wheelchairs or on crutches and callipers with limited walking capability like myself cannot easily access the said building. By definition and according to both Disability Discrimination Act and also the articles of the European Human Rights, Holland Walk must be accessible without causing any form of degradation to the disabled person that might have any bearing on the disability. Would you kindly look into this problem so that we can get an official response as to why they have ignored my complaints and have done nothing about it? Yet another issue, which is even more important, is the way the department communicates with tenants and collects information from them. It is well known psychological fact, which can be verified by the institute of psychology and psychoanalysis that people do not express their true response in the format of forms and letters sent out to them owing to the fear of not knowing who will be reading them. A change of practice is necessary. The department ought to understand human behaviour and accordingly communicate with tenants on a personal level on a weekly or fortnightly basis at a local accessible point when tenant of a locality would express their complaints and provide the information needed to the authority. This interaction should be more personal and friendly nature that would encourage the tenants to express themselves without any fear. Unless this need is recognised, and appropriate steps taken to change the existing methods of obtaining information from tenants, the percentage response is very low and obviously not true representation of majority tenant’s views and wishes. Finally I wish you more success on your campaign. Yours truly, D. Simani ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Eastern Suburbs [mailto:BEST_Council@hotmail.com]
We are a tenant group in Sydney.
Administrator Ph: 02 9314 1040 From: HCCTAC [mailto:hcctac@optusnet.com.au]
I am sorry to see that Community Housing can be just as disgraceful everywhere. We have similar problems in Australia but I applaud your innovative way of bringing it to the Public's attention, bet it made them sit up and take notice. Good Luck with the Repairs Jo Allen ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Thomas J. Cooper On Behalf Of The Coombe House Initiative (tjc@tchi.org.uk)
Having been asked by a number of residents form The Upper Hilldrop Estate to represent them on the TCHI website, I offered to assemble a webpage if they supplied the content (match-motivation). ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Natalie***@aol.com Dear Thomas I read with interest your update and am shocked to see that the anti-social behaviour appears to be on the increase. In fact where I live there seems to be an increase in youths (some very young) being out very late at night. Being the school holidays I appreciate that some may feel that it is acceptable for young children to be out late at night. One questions, not only some of the parents but the authorities as the children may be at risk (particularly the young ones who cycle down Camden/Parkhurst on bicycles in the dark with no lights on). It is at times like this I feel lucky not to have children in this area. Good luck with your on-going campaign. I await your next update. Natalie. ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Thomas J. Cooper [mailto:tjc@tchi.org.uk] Dear Mr Hitchins, Thank you for your prompt response to my email. Whilst it is interesting to learn the aim of Islington's policy, it would have been more useful to find out what the details of that policy are. I note that management of housing issues now falls under the jurisdiction of Homes for Islington, but surely they should be implementing existing council policy until such time as they have developed their own. Handing over responsibility to an external agency and then saying that, although there was a clear council policy, now there is no policy, really won't do. Far from closing down Housing Associations, we wish to establish a new T&RA since our existing one has lapsed due to non-compliance with its own constitution. Obviously we would want the new Association to be recognised by the Council / Homes for Islington, and so we were anxious to know what criteria we would have to meet - particularly in respect of what proportion of residents would be required to be members. Other authorities, for example Wandsworth, have this set at 20% as per their 27 page information pack "Setting Up a Residents' Association". I have the current equivalent (received 2nd June) from Islington Council "Induction Pack (Tenants and Residents Associations)", but this only states on page 5 that "Formal recognition of TRAs is the responsibility of area housing offices." The only requirements listed are: Nowhere does it specify that the TRA must represent a reasonable proportion of the residents. The only figure mentioned in the Model Constitution is that quorum is set at 15 people. Hence, seemingly, 15 people could get together and represent the whole Lower Hilldrop Estate of over 200 homes - less than 8% - hardly a democratic situation. Please advise what the current situation is, who at the AHO is responsible for recognition and what is being done to stop other things from falling between the cracks where Homes for Islington have not yet decided their policy. Yours sincerely, Thomas. ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Steve Hitchins [mailto:Steve.Hitchins@islington.gov.uk] The Council’s policy is very clear but in the process of change. Since the management of all our housing stock and tenants moved out of the Council’s direct control some time must be afforded the Homes for Islington board as they develop not only tenant participation but involvement and the recognition of Tenants’ Associations. The aim of Islington’s policy is to promote involvement and engagement. FITA’s contract makes them responsible for setting up and to some extent supporting Tenants’ Associations. We are not in the business of closing any Housing Association down and their representation on Housing Panels is dependent on evidence of an Annual General Meeting. Historically these organisations have cycle lives and are dependent on a handful of willing volunteers to sustain their existence through good and bad. Inevitably major capital works or renewal problems on the estate motivate people to get involved. In general there is a limited role for such organisations. If one individual seeks to use any tenant representative group to back their own very personal agenda experience shows that it will not be sustained. People working together are far more effective. Steve Hitchins ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Thomas J. Cooper, On Behalf Of The Coombe House Initiative (tjc@tchi.org.uk) Dear recipient, You have received this email because your email address has been included in related correspondence with The Coombe House Initiative. If you believe that you are not a relevant recipient, please advise us by reply, and we will remove your address from this list. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. I have made numerous efforts to ascertain the "resident participation" policy and criteria that Islington Council use to determine a residents' organisation's right to recognition and inclusion in housing processes such as Islington's Area Housing Panel. I have made numerous calls to Council service provided numbers, and spoken to John Slaughter who believed that recognition was a council matter, some representatives at Holland Walk thought it might be FITA... I have compared the efforts that I have made to ascertain council policy in Islington, and Holland Walk Area Housing Office, to other London boroughs. I went on the wandsworth.gov site and navigated to resident involvement, I read of Wandsworth's aim of 60% involvement of residents, and policy of 20%. At the most recent, invalid AGM of the Lower Hilldrop and Saxonbury Court Tenants and Residents Association, there were 10 people (over a thousand live on this estate) representing 1% turnout, and a 100% affront to democracy. I have spoken with representatives of the Resident Involvement Team in Wandsworth (Manager is Mr. Lee Page) and there is no such ambiguity in Wandsworth on this issue. 20% resident membership or no recognition. This is not to exclude associations, but implement democracy! A meeting of residents has been called for July 6th, at the Hilldrop Community Centre where it is my hope that an effective, representative residents' association can be formed, or at least initiated. I believe that the residents will require an understanding of the requirements (and implications) of Council recognition. Can any copied parties offer anything concrete on this matter please? Your most prompt response would be appreciated, Thomas J. Cooper ___________________________________________________________________________ From: A J Benson [mailto:john-benson*******] Dear Sirs, I note on your site that you place a great deal of emphasis on passing complaints about council matters through the Tenants Association. In my experience, since the Tenants Associations are Council funded, they act solely as a buffer between Council staff and irate residents. By and large, (**** Chair, Holland Walk Area Housing Panel & FITA Co-ordinator) directs the formation, running and thrust of the Tenants Associations, so they tend to be of a uniform type. This is unhealthy! Further, they have a built-in delay system because the Council have 28 days to respond and there will be a further delay before the next meeting and then another 28 days... this can go on for ever. On the Palmers Estate, the realisation came in 1997 and other attempts to re-form an active Assoociation has been met with some sceptism and lack of interest, even though meetings are held. Nothing gets done. My advice is, take more direct action and pester the Council staff at Holland Walk, naming and shaming where possible. I did that by getting the Islington Gazette photographer to take pictures of a mountain of rubbish which had not been collected for months. Despite denials by Council staff, it was collected the day after the newspaper article and photograph appeared! Sincerely, John Benson ps I am still campaigning. I had a web site called Islington Newsletter which appeared weekly for 9 months and persuaded the Labour Party councillors to clear the derelict site opposite our block. I now have one at http://www.tufnell.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk which is also producing some "wake-up calls" about other problems. since there is another election in about 9 months and, this time, it is the Liberal Democrats who are at risk.. _____________________________________________________________________________ From: Upper Hilldrop resident[mailto:************] Subject: Re: Upper Hilldrop Estate Hi Thomas, I know how much time and energy it must take to keep your website updated and to keep campaigning. And the trouble is I simply haven't got space in my life at the moment to start a campaign on Upper Hilldrop estate. Though I would be willing to help you. I have been involved with the Tenants association UHTA (I've been to meetings) but its a very weak association that keeps stopping and starting. It hasn't really managed to pull itself together into an effective organisation. I'm a leaseholder who has lived on the estate for eight years and I'm concerned That huge amounts of money seem to spent on Major Works but not much work seems to have been done.
I have heard that several of the residents in some of the other blocks (I'm in Dugdale House) on the estate are living in unacceptable conditions, damp walls. broken entry systems etc though I'm not up to speed on who these people are. (**** Upper Hilldrop Resident). ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Ilario***** Subject: Dalmeny Avenue: Who would be willing to help? - I would! Dear Thomas Kids from Holloway school use the garden, the stairs, the roof of bramber house every time we have a little bit of sun and they decide to bunking off school. My neighbours in bramber are unfortuly are all old man except one the resident of kimble house choose to live indoor and ignore(the are terrified riprococion) the resident of dalmeny ave some time I hear somebody complain to the kids but also the get bad severe bursts of abuse. Estate Services Officer!?
A lot of time .Not a thing as change. I am tired but I WONT GIVE UP, Ciao, ILARIO ___________________________________________________________________________
From: Kash Pandya [mailto:**@audit-commission.gov.uk] (District Auditor and Relationship Manager) Dear Mr Cooper Rowland Little has referred your enquiry to me because I am the Audit Commission's Relationship Manager and District Auditor for the London Borough of Islington. As part of our inspections and performance audit work, we do consider the state of the Council's housing stock and the steps/arrangements made or being made to maintain and improve it. An inspection of the Council's ALMO arrangements is planned for later on this year. I have reviewed your website and have decided that it contains material relevant for us to consider for our inspection process. Accordingly, I have referred your concerns to my housing inspector colleagues to consider when undertaking this planned ALMO Inspection. You might also be interested to note that the last inspection of housing repairs at Islington was undertaken in October 2002. More information on this might be obtained from the Audit Commission website www.audit-commission.gov.uk I hope the above is helpful and thank you for drawing these matters to my attention. Yours sincerely ___________________________________________________________________________ www.tchi.org.uk I am Thomas Cooper, founder of The Coombe House Initiative. I have been an active member of LH&SCT&RA since 1998. I served as secretary from March 2003-March 2004. I previously attended an AHP meeting as a “representative”, but was still unable to vote with the voting card being held by another representative of our “TA”. I realised then, that our tenant consultation process is nothing more than a disguise for disregarding any actual tenant action to address scandalous mismanagement of both funds and services resulting in squalor and hardship borough wide. Arguably, we have not had a valid, representative, tenants association in years (since “the Council” refused to recognise our chosen committee some years ago). Our “votes” have been cast at AHP meetings by a man who has accused our community of smashing-up our own properties. It seems that through all those years of deprivation and neglect, while we believed that we were being represented, we were in fact being misrepresented in a most sinister manner. Our current “committee” of which I am an “elected” member, was “elected” without a quorum at the Annual General Meeting. This false representation is not new to our tenants association, and has in the past even been endorsed by FITA (fraternity of Invalid Tenants Associations) representatives. Since leafleting our properties in early April, newspaper reports about our “PROTEST WEBSITE”, subsequent supporting signatures, and cash donations, we have seen more significant changes around Coombe House, and The Lower Hilldrop Estate than we have for several years. THE ACTION DOES NOT STOP HERE - IT STARTS! Our current Initiatives are addressing many areas of service and process failures, of which the AHP and the Tenant Compaq Funding “System” are but two. I have called for a complete review of the processes and procedures that are clearly failing on a borough-wide scale. The Coombe House Initiative would like an official comment from Holland walk AHP, on the issues raised by TCHI’s website (www.tchi.org.uk) with particular reference to the “tenant consultation processes”, and mismanagement of funds and resources. I have lodged a complaint with the local government ombudsman, and initiated dialogue with The Audit Commission. Please visit our website for more information, and to pledge your support for a full review of the failing processes that result in such social deprivation as exposed at Coombe House on April 6th 2004. If your motivation is genuinely to improve housing services and living conditions; if you care about other communities as well as your own – we are on the same side!!! Yours in social-solidarity Thomas J. Cooper Founder & Chair ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Thomas J. Cooper [mailto:tjc@tchi.org.uk] I was surprised to read the comments from the Leader of Islington Council, Steve Hitchins, in the article by Ollie Lane “A Tale of Two Cities” (Pg 5) in last week’s Gazette. His explanation for poverty and deprivation in his borough was to cite high unemployment across the whole of London. This obviously makes no sense, otherwise every London borough would be in the same situation. Thomas J. Cooper The Coombe House Initiative ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Thomas J. Cooper [mailto:tjc@tchi.org.uk]
I became so enraged through frustration at the relentless neglect by Islington Council / Homes for Islington of the block-section in which I live, that I launched a website to graphically expose the disgusting living conditions that resulted directly. Whilst there have been some improvements since publishing; dialogue is now in progress, I would value your considered response. I particularly invite your comments on the lack of any effective monitoring of "services". www.tchi.org.uk Yours faithfully, Thomas J. Cooper. For and on behalf of The Coombe House Initiative - 2004
Email: tjc@tchi.org.uk ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Thomas J. Cooper [mailto:tjc@tchi.org.uk] Subject: The Coombe House Initiative - Website updated 30/04/2004 Dear listed recipient, The Latest News on our website shows varying degrees of response, from people and departments Also, there has been a failure to acknowledge the serious indication of WIDER FAILING PROCESSES! Please view our Latest News (and linked documents) from the links on our new Welcome/Home page at:
Thomas J. Cooper Email: tjc@tchi.org.uk
For and on behalf of The Coombe House Initiative - 2004 ___________________________________________________________________________
From: Maxine [mailto:***] Subject: Your site - Thank you
Max. Thank you for bringing this to the public eye. ___________________________________________________________________________ From: David Higgon [*******] Dear Coombe House Initiative and Mr Cooper, I came across your site via a sponsored link on Google when browsing the internet. Having been the Vice Chairman of the Woking Close Recognised Tenants Association I was naturally curious to see what your site was about. Having taken your online tour of the estate, I have to say that I was appalled at the conditions you have to live in and couldn't help but compare them to those on my own estate. We come under Wandsworth Borough Council with one of the lowest Council Tax rates in London, unlike Islington which I believe has one of the highest. This makes it all the more difficult to understand why your conditions are so poor, since Islington should be in a better position to afford adequate maintenance. Some years ago our estate was also suffering, though it had never got to the state that yours is in presently. Stairwells went uncleaned for weeks, lightbulbs blew and were not replaced, and we, like you, have had trouble with leaking balconies. Eventually the residents formed a tenants association to try to get action. On further investigation it turned out that most of our services had been contracted out by the council, and that it was the contractors who were failing to supply the services they had agreed with the council. Of course it was also the council's fault in that there was inadequate monitoring of their contractors to make sure that their schedules were being followed. Wandsworth Council then effectively blamed us for not monitoring performance and said that we should be reporting things to the council whenever the contractors defaulted! It sounds like Islington is giving you the same run around. Rather than beat our heads against a brick wall with the council, we did monitor the contractors' performance. We got the schedules of what work was supposed to be done from the council and then noted every time work was not done. Things turned out to be so bad that the contractors were replaced. At this stage the council were forced to buck their ideas up as well and started to monitor the work properly. We are now in the situation where offensive graffiti is removed within 24 hours (and non-offensive graffiti within 3 days) - unlike the 9 years you've had to live with spray paint on your walls - it's hardly credible that Islington have done nothing to remove the graffiti in all this time, and only over painted one letter in the half-baked view that that makes it less offensive! A patrol tours our estate once a day and checks such things as defective lighting and reports this back to the council. Within a few days the replacements are fitted. Certainly there is a role for residents to report matters to the council, but first and foremost the council should be monitoring their own housing stock. How Islington have let your lift get into the state where it is literally falling apart is beyond me. It's not going to get any better of its own accord, and the longer it's left, the more expensive the repair is going to be. It's so short-sighted to do nothing - the block needs a lift one way or another, so either you spend little and often in keeping everything in good repair, or else you let it deteriorate into a dangerous state and then have to spend a fortune to replace the whole system - or use the favourite council ploy of letting it deteriorate and then claiming you haven't enough funds to replace it! And which is nicer for the tenants? A decline into the atrocious conditions you have at the moment, followed by a face lift, followed by more years of depressing degradation, or a continually clean and pleasant environment for all to enjoy. Thankfully we have turned the corner with our estate and most of our problems have been solved. I can only wish you luck in your own struggle with Islington Council to achieve the decent living conditions that everyone has the right to expect. Yours sincerely, David Higgon ___________________________________________________________________________
Tuesday 20th April 2004 Mr Thomas Cooper Dear Mr Cooper, Re: 41 – 70 Coombe House, Lower Hilldrop Estate, N19 Following on from our initial meeting on the 6th April 2004, and your subsequent development and publication of your ‘Web-site’, I have been asked to respond to you on the points raised by yourself and fellow residents of 41-70 Coombe House. As a number of the concerns highlighted, apply to the whole estate and are not just restricted to Coombe House, I have liased with both the existing TRA and my Senior Area Housing Manager when considering my response. Before doing so, I visited Coombe House again on Thursday 15th April 2004, along with a number of my colleagues. Also present were Sophia Lall, Estate Services Officer, Richard Berwick, Anti-social Officer, Martin Door, Assistant Caretaker Manager and the two members of Caretaking staff. It is clear that the vast majority of the issues raised by you are quite valid, albeit I do not accept some of the commentary that goes with them. Accordingly, I would like to apologies on behalf of the Holland Walk office, for our failings to date and would seek to move forward more positively in identifying and implementing solutions to the estate problems. Door Entry System It is clear that the current door entry system to Coombe House, does not operate effectively, and is of a design that is easily vandalised. I have arranged for orders to be placed to make good the current system, but clearly there is a need to look at the eventual replacement of the system. While we recognise the problems at Coombe House, it should also be noted that a borough wide survey revealed that 70% of the door entry systems in Islington require some form of modification or upgrading. Coombe and Buckhurst House have been identified as a priority locally, within the Holland Walk area, should funding be identified centrally for such works across the borough. We would of course, along with residents, be looking for a more secure fob system, that provides enhanced security and is less prone to vandalism. As soon as we receive further information relating to the funding position, we will of course pass this onto you. Lift 841 – 41-70 Coombe House With regards to the lift problems, I have been in contact with Mr Wayne Oliver, who is the senior lift engineer at Islington building solutions. I detailed all of the issues you raised in relation to this particular lift, and he confirmed that all lifts in Islington are serviced on a monthly basis in order to ensure continued, safe operation. The lift contractor is required to report any problems to the client side lift engineers for action as appropriate. We are currently trying to establish if this process has been followed, however in the meantime an order has been raised for the contractor to attend site, and replace parts as necessary. These will include replacement of the missing panels, floor level indicators and missing section of skirting/edging. We have also requested replacement of 2No. diffusers inside the lift to increase lighting levels. As yet, I do not have firm dates for work, but I will arrange for these to be forwarded as soon as they have been confirmed. Mr Oliver also confirmed that lift 841 is not due for replacement in the near future. It was installed in 1991 and is expected to be in service for a further 10 years. At my request, Mr Oliver supplied the breakdown history for the last 2-year period, and this details only 4 breakdowns during this time. I have attached a copy of this for your information Any future lift maintenance issues of concern to residents, should be reported directly to the Repair Line on free phone 0800 694 3344 Block Lighting On visiting your block on 6th April, I was appalled to find every light within the lobby area was either smashed or defective. This relates almost exclusively to the current anti-social behaviour problems affecting Coombe House and the estate in general. Clearly replacing like for like will result in repeated vandalism and for this reason, Sophia Lall met with Hector Burke who is an electrical engineer on 16.04.04. The purpose of this meeting was to look at alternative and more robust light fittings, that could be installed in the lobby areas and would be resistant to such vandalism. He has been asked to treat this as a priority, and once again both Sophia Lall and myself will be monitoring this to minimise any possible delay in installation. We will of course keep you informed in relation to order numbers and timescales. The following repair items were also discussed when we met, and have been actioned as follows Miscellaneous Open inspection chamber to rear of 42 Coombe House – Emergency repair order raised to make safe as previous attempt inadequate. Brickwork to edges of chamber to be built up and cover re-instated. (Completed) Tiled surfaces the lobby areas – The policy during recent years has often been to ‘make safe’ as opposed to repair. However, I concede that repair attempts to date have been poor, and we have now arranged for replacement of up to 5 square metres of tiling. This work will take place within the next two weeks Water egress through balcony ceilings – As part of the Tenant Compact scheme for 2003/2004, the defective areas of balcony asphalt affecting the 3rd Floor at Coombe House were identified for remedial work. A number of sections were replaced at considerable cost and the project officer Kim Farrelly will now look at whether any of this work has failed and needs to be remedied. If additional work is highlighted, then clearly funding will need to be identified to put this right Fitting of locks to communal windows – We have also arranged for locks to be fitted to the first floor communal windows, where access may be possible to the lobby roof area. This should assist in minimising further instances of theft from resident’s balconies. Even considering this improvement, I would strongly recommend that residents make appropriate storage arrangements for valuable items. Again, I am awaiting confirmation of order numbers and definite timescale. I will forward then as soon as they become available. Provision of facility for bulk items – Your comments on this issue are somewhat misleading. It was our intention to provide a purpose built facility for bulk waste items in the lower part of Coombe House. Unfortunately, the planning application for this project was turned down, and several influential members of the TRA were strongly against the proposed development at that time. Part of the proposals included the reinstatement of steps between the upper and lower levels of Coombe House. Once it became clear that residents were against this scheme, the funding was allocated to alternative projects. However, we have recently completed works to an alternative site, adjacent to the Copenhagen public house, which include the provision of a steel container for the storage of bulk items awaiting collection. Your Caretakers have now been instructed to use this facility, and not to leave unwanted items at the previous collection point (outside electrical intake rooms, opposite 41-70 Coombe Hs) Moss on balconies - I have also discussed the problem of moss affecting the brickwork on the balconies, with colleagues. Whilst I am unable to confirm whether treatment has taken place in the past, we do feel this could be removed with the use of a high-pressure hose. Accordingly, I am currently looking to use such a resource to treat an area within the next two weeks. If successful, areas can then be properly treated following moss removal. Open service box – Your final picture of an elevated trunking box, is believed to be the responsibility of Telewest. I will be liasing directly with them to ensure it is secured Caretaking Services Clearly there are a number of Caretaking problems, and those listed below are those that will be addressed in the immediate future. Martin Door, Assistant Caretaker Manager will be supervising this work, and should you wish to contact him, he is available directly on 020 7527 7470 • Padlock to be reinstated to access gates from Hilldrop Road. Clearly, the gate and floor tiles covered in paint are totally unacceptable. Caretaking resources have been allocated to paint out and clean the graffiti on the estate, and will also be used to remedy this area. This will happen during the next two weeks, and again all Caretaking work is being supervised by Martin Door. As I mentioned previously, the two Caretakers currently responsible for the area were in attendance on 15th April, and I made it clear to them that the current standards are unacceptable. Many of the items listed above may have already been completed and I will be re-inspecting the area on Friday 23rd April 2004. I expect to find a significant improvement, and you are quite welcome to meet with me at this time should you so wish. In order to bring Coombe House and the rest of the estate up to an acceptable standard of cleanliness, it has been agreed to provide an additional Caretaking resource, for an initial period of 3 months. The ongoing anti-social behaviour problems on the whole of Lower Hilldrop estate are currently taking up much of the Caretakers time, and help is clearly needed to address the current standards. It will also allow us to carry out minor repainting works, where graffiti cannot be removed, or is burned onto surfaces. Our Caretaker Manager, Julia Jennings is currently on annual leave until 26th April 2004, but on her return we will identify the member of staff and I envisage this additional resource commencing from Monday 3rd May. We have discussed with the TRA, albeit briefly, how the success or otherwise of this initiative can be best monitored, but it is designed to bring the estate up to an acceptable standard, which can then be maintained by the current staff again. Estate parking I acknowledge your comments regarding disabled parking facilities, and I will shortly be meeting with Dave Hutchison, Senior Estate Parking co-ordinator to discuss the possibility of designated disabled parking areas at Coombe House and how this could best work within our current policy. I will also request an increase in random patrols of Lower Hilldrop Estate, and any vehicle causing an obstruction can be clamped or removed. It may also be necessary for us to write vehicle owners, who repeatedly park inappropriately, and remind them of the terms of their parking conditions. Anti-social behaviour In common with a large number of our estates throughout the borough, there are currently anti social behaviour problems on Lower Hilldrop Estate. Richard Berwick our anti-social behaviour officer works closely with the local Police in an effort to identify culprits and take the necessary actions against them. Richard can be contacted directly on 020 7527 7697 to discuss any concerns. Alternatively, reports can be made anonymously on the confidential message line number which is 020 7527 7477. This message facility is checked daily for new reports.ib In addition, Police liaison meetings take place on a regular 6 weekly basis at Holland Walk and the current problems are scheduled for discussion and action when the group next meets on 6th May 2004. Officers from the Holland Walk office have previously discussed the problems with Holloway School and their pupils. They have met with staff and pupils in an attempt to agree joint solutions, but clearly there is a need to arrange a further meeting with the Head teacher. Finally I would like to offer my apologies on behalf of the Estate Services team for not addressing these problems sooner. I accept that the relevant officers should have remedied many of these issues, before residents were driven to such extreme measures, just to be heard. Please rest assured that I will be taking a great personal interest in the developments at Lower Hilldrop Estate in general, and Coombe House in particular over the coming months. I trust this information goes some way to resolving the problem areas for the residents of 41-70 Coombe House, but should you wish to discuss any estate issue, please contact me directly on 020 7527 7431 Stuart Fuller ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Thomas J. Cooper [mailto:tjc@tchi.org.uk] I am truly grateful for your assistance in this matter. May I sincerely apologise if there was a more elegant avenue of approach that I failed to consider, which would have yielded a response as immediate as "the loud screams for help" employed by the website. I would like to say that I gave the matter plenty of thought, but it is the issues to which I have given most thought. I have shared my thoughts and very well considered conclusions, but it seemed as though no logic or presentation could make my points understood by the people who could actually make a difference. I am very regretful of the tone that the website seemed, to me, to "need" to take. I wish to remove all "aggressive" references to Homes for Islington as soon as possible. I hope that the programme/specification/schedule of works promised for Tuesday 20th April 2004, will finally undermine the validity of the negative references. However, they will always be valid in their historical sense and will remain on the website in our archives. I do also care deeply about the many other communities around the borough in similarly desperate conditions. I am not seeking to advance the cause of TCHI unfairly by bullying tactics, and unfairly influence its priority above other communities in equal need. I must impress, however, that if there is a priority queuing system, Coombe House should have been placed on that list 10 years ago! Because of the broken promises of the last estate "face-lift", looking at a journal of events might give a false impression of the length of time this sorry state of affairs has been our prison. I do hope you understand that whilst I'm sure there are better ways, the website was the best way I "knew how". Although my occupation is IT and Internet (I personally provided numerous Islington funded services, with computer and connectivity solutions, on behalf of a contracted IT company), my academic background is in therapeutic counselling. Unfortunately, all the therapeutic counselling in the universe would not have improved the living conditions of my/our community. If I was a lawyer, I would most likely have employed skills from within that skillset. But I could not just do nothing - something had to be done: I did what I could. We are a diverse, yet respectful, and stable community; we are a supportive community who have played more than our part in the "tenant consultation" processes; anything less than a safe respectable environment at Coombe House, is less than we deserve. I thank you on behalf of our community for your assistance, and the new sense of hope that it has given us all; I thank you for your offer of further assistance if necessary. Yours sincerely, Thomas. ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Hitchins, Steve [mailto:Steve.Hitchins@islington.gov.uk] Dear Mr Cooper Thank you for your e-mail and the invitation to visit your web-site, which I have done. I have also contacted the Area Housing Office and your ward councillors. I understand that you have met with officers and a programme of works is being drawn and will be agreed with you and the Tenants & Residents Association will also obviously be involved. I am grateful for you bringing this to our attention. I have asked to be kept informed of the progress that Homes for Islington makes on these problems. Many thanks. Please don’t hesitate to contact any of us again. Steve Hitchins Leader, Islington Council ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Thomas J. Cooper [mailto:tjc@tchi.org.uk] Subject: RE: What it's REALLY like to live in Islington - THE TRUTH!
Dear Mr Richards, I founded The Coombe House Initiative last week (6-4-04), and launched the website on 8-4-2004. At this moment I suppose I am the sole administrator. Our relationship with the Lower Hilldrop & Saxonbury Court Tenants & Residents Association is assumed on the basis that Coombe House (Nos. 41-70) fall within their remit. After many years as a member, I served as secretary 2003-2004 but was unwilling to re-stand, due to the utter lack of any appreciable progress by the organisation (LH&SCT&RA) in its efforts to effect any improvements in this block-section. With regard to our membership - there is currently no such list. However, I have had overwhelming support from my fellow tenants and residents since leafleting our properties last weekend. I said that I was prepared to stand the "fight" alone if necessary, but that if we could raise, gather or find £30 we could buy our own domain (tchi.org.uk). I have been offered the full amount by a number of our community members. However, I stated that I would not accept any more than £5 per property (£2 less that the weekly charge for "Other Services" included in our rents), The domain is now active, with spare cash in the kitty, and pledges of further funding if necessary. I have committed to collecting signatures to support my/our mandate over the coming weekend. I have agreed with the coordinator of our community centre, that we may hold meetings there. In light of this I will be planning a number of events over the coming weeks and months that are intended to inform, and mobilise our community to effect change. I will advise you of these events, when arrangements are concretised. In addition to the support of my community members, I have been commended for my initiative by local Cllr Wally Burgess. Cllr Angela Brook is attending my home tomorrow at 11am to experience the situation for herself. Already, other Islington residents have expressed their horror on discovering the living conditions of their neighbouring community(s). With regard to our relationship with Homes for Islington - the only relationships in which "we" are interested, are productive ones - perhaps you could advise us on how to develop such a relationship? Though I would have thought that with the resources available to them (HFI), they would be better placed to establish such a rapport? Although TCHI does not have a telephone service (as yet) YOU may contact me on ******. Also, I am happy to meet with you and your colleagues at Holland Walk to discuss reasonable ways forward, and how we might transform the site into one of which HFI and TCHI could be proud. Yours Sincerely, Thomas. Thomas J. Cooper ___________________________________________________________________________
From: Richards, Edward [mailto:Edward.Richards@islington.gov.uk](Performance & Partnership Officer
- Holland Walk AHO) Subject: RE: What it's REALLY like to live in Islington - THE TRUTH!
Thank you for your email today about The Coombe House Initiative website. The Senior Area Housing Manager, Garry Bates, and myself have had a look at the website and it is clearly something we will need to reply to. Please be assured that it is a matter we are taking seriously and I can inform you that a full response will be provided by Tuesday 20th April. In the meantime I would be more than happy for you to contact me, either by email or on (020) 7527 7471, if you wish to do so. I would also be very grateful if you could provide me with some information about The Coombe House Initiative such as how many members it has, what (if any) relationship it has with the Lower Hilldrop and Saxonbury Court T&RA, and what sort of relationship it anticipates having with Homes for Islington. Yours sincerely, Edward Richards ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Burgess, Wally [mailto:Wally.Burgess@islington.gov.uk] (Labour Councillor - LBI, St. George's Ward)
Dear Thomas, Thanks for the reminder. Just to confirm that I visited the site this morning after your email of yesterday. You have indeed raised some serious issues - much of them with a long history. Let's hope your initiative will get things moving again. I'll do what I can. Best Regards,Wally WALLY BURGESS ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Thomas J. Cooper[mailto:tjc@tchi.org.uk]
What it's REALLY like to live in Islington - THE TRUTH! ___________________________________________________________________________ From : Brook, Angela <Angela.Brook@islington.gov.uk>(Lib Dem Councillor - LBI, St Georges Ward)
Subject : RE: Disgusting! Angela Brook ___________________________________________________________________________ From : Nicky James <----->
Subject : RE:TCHI - 2004 Much Love Nicky ___________________________________________________________________________ Philip Whitfield ****************
Subject : Disgusting! ___________________________________________________________________________ From : Samo Mouzoun ************
Subject : Coombe house
From *******@hotmail.com ___________________________________________________________________________ From : BBC Watchdog <watchdog@bbc.co.uk>
Subject : BBC Watchdog (Auto Reply Message) Once again, many thanks. BBC Watchdog ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Coombe House LBI [mailto:coombehousen7@hotmail.com] Subject: I know this is not your normal arena but...Compelling? - Devastating! PLEASE, if watchdog is not interested in addressing this ongoing criminal, rip-off, social disgrace, and systematic professional negligence and incompetence, could you please suggest a national TV, or news program, that might be able and willing to help? As will be self-evident from viewing the site, I am a man virtually alone in my determination (fellow residents have lost all hope!). I have neither the skills nor resources to effect a media campaign beyond my own knowledge area - IT and Internet. I really have tried to find contact information (email / phone No’s) for whistle-blowing media possibilities. So far I have only managed to speak to one journalist in a local newspaper who, by his own admission was disbelieving of my account until he viewed the website - Treat yourself! He said that he will seriously consider doing something on it and that if he had any questions he would call back next week. I believe I have tried every reasonable avenue, now I’m trying to think “outside the box” http://www.mindworkswonders.co.uk/tchi If you can't help me (us), who will? I am clearly enraged by the arrogance, and indifference, of Islington Council, but it's the apparent un-accountability of the untouchables that makes a life around here worthless, pointless and with regard to social regeneration if Islington Council are allowed to continue like this - hopeless! Thomas J. Cooper. If you would like to arrange an interview; if you have any questions - please call me Tel: ******* ___________________________________________________________________________ From: Coombe House LBI [mailto:coombehousen7@hotmail.com] Subject: What it's REALLY like to live in Islington - THE TRUTH! If you only visit one site today, make it the link below, and take the Eatate Tour! Thomas J. Cooper (Dip.PD.UNL.1997) For, and on behalf of: ___________________________________________________________________________ If you have any queries please contact us by emailing: contact@tchi.org.uk |
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