Turnpike Lane Flood

Oh my word. 2:30 Friday and heavy rain caused a flash flood where Turnpike Lane meets Wood Green High Road. As I walked through puddles on the pavement the stench was unbearable and I could barely stay upright as it was like walking on ice-slippery and greasy!  I looked down and could see human excrement over a considerably large stretch of the pedestrian path!!!  

I walked back to my Mum’s house. I phoned Haringey Council Environmental Health and was told it was nothing to do with them. It was the responsibility of Thames Water and they had been called and were in attendance.  

I walked back to Turnpike Lane to check: no Thames Water. I phoned Haringey Council again telling them Thames Water were not in evidence. I was told (again) it was the responsibility of Thames Water and by being on the phone I was holding up other callers. “But I’m a concerned member of the public. This is an environmental health issue. Someone needs to come and corden off the pavement.  You could phone Thames Water.” Response: “You’re blocking the phone line. This can be reported online.”

I walked back to my Mum’s and phoned Thames Water. No, it had not been reported. Oh dear, I said, someone at Haringey Council Environmental Health has been telling mistruths I replied. Thames Water reported the issue and told me they would attend within 2 hours. The engineer phoned to tell me he would arrive within 40 minutes. I suspect the road will be partly closed and this will impact on my bus ride home. 

Lesson: Haringey Council work within the small remit of each department-like Fordist methods of production.. It appears staff are not willing to go the extra mile to address unpleasant issues in the borough. The staff with whom I had dealings had no conception of the danger to the public of human waste. Haringey staff make use of the “online” option which dehumanises telephone callers.