Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Haringey's Warehouse Districts Under Threat?
An item at tonight's Council Cabinet meeting has thrown into question the future survival of Haringey's two warehouse districts and the artistic communities who live in them.
Both the Harringay Warehouse District and the Fountayne Road community now face an uncertain future following the publication of a Haringey Council report, "Tackling Unauthorised Living in Industrial Areas". (Report attached)
The report, which was discussed at the full cabinet of the Council today, recommends a two-year project costing £600,000 which will seek to deal with "the growing problem of unauthorised residential and live work uses in and around (the) Industrial Sites" in Haringey. The recommended process is "to establish a special multi-disciplinary team to fully investigate and address the problem through a combination of regulation, improvement, enforcement and, where necessary, prosecution".
The alarm bells were ringing for me since earlier in the week I had discovered that these areas are earmarked as being amongst those that will "will accommodate the majority of development in the borough over the next 20 years".
In Facebook and Twitter conversations this afternoon, warehouse residents shared their fears that the vibrancy their communities bring to the borough will be overlooked and their communities sanitised and destroyed.
In response to my Twitter requests to Council Leader Claire Kober this evening to protect these communities, Cllr Kober sought to offer some reassurance:
@harringayonline some people in unacceptable conditions. My concern is for safe, decent properties. No intention to undermine communities
@harringayonline no intention to damage what's good. Priority is to go after rogue landlords just as we do elsewhere in borough
When I asked if she would ensure that warehouse residents will be involved, the Council Leader replied:
@harringayonline don't see any problem involving residents. Will ask officers to consider how best to achieve
I very much hope that the approach the Council takes in this project will support these communities rather than beginning the process of whittling them away.
Tags for Forum Posts: local plan, local plan 2014, site allocation plan, warehouse district
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Permalink Reply by Jacqueline Hancher on
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The Noise Abatement Officer , that has visited the site , failed to bring any equipment to measure the alleged level of noise nuisance .
As far as I am aware Majorlink Ltd are the managing agent's and not the actual owner's .
If you have been distressed by the level of noise nuisance at Omega Works , I apologise on behalf of my own Tenant's and the Tenant's occupying the 55k sq m , that I do not have any control over .
However , I can assure you that I have made it quite clear to all my Tenant's, that any nuisance or antisocial behaviour by my Tenant's will not be tolerated , in writing .
I cannot be on site 24 hrs a day , therefore if you have genuine documentary evidence of any nuisance,noise pollution etc that my Tenant's are directly responsible for please forward this to my direct email jacqueline.hancher@yahoo.co.uk and I will take the required action against the individuals responsible .
I have repeatedly requested a security guard / care taker , and offered to pay pro rata for the cost. To date Majorlink have declined to discuss my suggestion ,or take any action .
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What was the date of this letter ?
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Permalink Reply by Sharon on
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Hi Eliane, if you read all of the threads you will see that there is history to this issue of noise, mess and nuisance coming from Omega which has given YEARS of sleepless nights to Jenny and others on Hermitage road who are directly opposite the warehouse gates. I'm think she is at the end of her tether and it seems unfair to come on and further have a pop at her. I feel for her as do a handful of us who live near warehouse communities. I live near you ( thanks for message...will reply) and contrary to your comment here I and my neighbours have had many a sleepless night on a rave night from bass sounds and drunkard visitors yelling in the early hours making their way home...
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Permalink Reply by matt on
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Sounds like an excellent idea Eliane. Sharon might be up for this. Much easier to start with two (or a few ) of you meeting for a coffee. Can progress wider if the need proves to be there.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Jenny, I'm glad you took the trouble to post this. I believe it's very helpful for people to have information about who's who and how a problem "jigsaw" fits together.
It also indicates that genuine efforts have been made to tackle the different problems. And that includes "brainstorming" sessions with councillors and Council officers. I rarely give Cllr Joe Goldberg compliments these days, but it seems that he took these problems seriously and deserves credit for that.
I've been involved in (and helped set up) similar sessions. They need time and work and rarely lead to quick solutions. A couple of times David Lammy MP has lent his support as well. (In the past David and his family experienced noise and other neighbour nuisance, so he was very supportive.) Though sometimes not even the MP can cut through knotty problems.
Involving the people directly affected can be harder still. Especially if there's a history of conflict and lack of trust. But it's usually vital to get solutions which "stick". One difference with the former factories/warehouses is the scale of the sites - with many more "units", residents, owners and conflicting interests involved.
A general point: learning from what works, or partly works, or fails, is part of the process of building knowledge for the future. Which is harder when key staff get other jobs or are victims of cuts. And when there's a change in councillors or staff. So in April I will suggest to the new Council that some of these "interventions" may be useful case studies published on the Council's website. So that people could learn what's possible. And that it's not necessary to put up with misery. But also that there are serious constraints about what local Councils can do. Especially when some developers, or landlords, or other residents are not co-operative and determined to break the rules come what may.
Case studies from other Councils would be valuable as well. Good ideas should be shared. Though that will need a new Council led by different people, who understand and can foster a learning culture. There's no reason why Haringey should always be ten or twenty years behind the best.
(Tottenham Hale ward councillor)
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Permalink Reply by ingo pless on
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We did it on Arena, established a residents' group and circulated a code of conduct for leaseholders, different circumstances for each site though.
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Rights to Peaceful Enjoyment
Dear David
I have been writing to you , about various interruptions and severe nuisance at Omega Works , 167 Hermitage Rd , N4 1LZ ,since your syndicate purchased the property .
The issues are as follows .
* Noise pollution
A Unacceptable and disruptive noise caused by parties and events that to the best of my knowledge have not received the necessary required license from the Council. On site and on the road ,as visitors exit the front gates of Omega Works .
B Supplying misinformation related to noise pollution and nuisance , to residents directly opposite the gates at Omega Works and the neighbouring areas , in a blatant attempt to cause me further disruption at work and in my private life .
My Tenant's have been notified in writing that their AST Contracts and Lease's will be revoked , following the unauthorised Party, held in Unit 10 C and on the roof, of 10 A-D Omega Works , in August 2012 ,if there is any breach's of their terms and conditions of their contracts , their registered deposits will be confiscated .
Frank Fitzpatrick the Leaseholder, at the time of this incident, of Unit 10C Omega Works , has had his Lease revoked and is no longer at Omega Works .
C Supplying misinformation that could be deemed as deformation of character and slanderous , in attempt to escape legal penalties and defer blame.
* Refuse
A Inadequate refuse receptacles , for the 22 Units that you let to Residential & Commercial Tenants . The continued mismanagement of discarded building materials dumped in the yard , and under the stairs , to the front elevation of my property , by your appointed contractor's and Tenant's when restructuring individual units owned and managed by your various companies Topfling Ltd and Majorlink .
B Litter in the yard and surrounding environs of Omega Works , after unauthorised parties and events.
C Fly tipping as a result of the gates remaining open 24 hrs per day .
D Failure of notifying Tenant's that the bins contracted by me from Veolia are for the sole use of 10A-D Omega Works .
The Unit known as he Cowshed put approximately 6 black bags of mixed waste in my recycling bin . This incurs an additional surcharge to my account with Veolia .
E Supplying misinformation to Haringey Council relating to refuse issues , to escape prosecution and fines .
F Supplying misinformation to residents directly opposite the gates at Omega , stating that Unit 10 A- D are responsible for noise pollution and breach of peace etc.
In a manner that could be considered defamatory and slanderous in a further attempt to interfere with my personal business activities and disrupt my private life ie supplying my private telephone details to unhappy Residents directly opposite the gates at Omega Works .
Dilapidations
A As you are aware I am land locked and have no jurisdiction over the communal yard , external railings ,walls or gate. These parts of the property have fallen into disrepair and are in need of urgent attention , as the residents opposite the gates of Omega Works are distressed by the poor appearance of the property .
I have offered to assist you with the improvement of these , by organising the assistance of our mutual Tenant's , who kindly agreed to work for free , if you provided the materials , however to date ,you have only managed to erect a small screen to a proportion of the property .
Martin the on site representative of your company told me last week that he liked the railings just as they are .
B The communal yard is full of potholes ?
C The exterior of the left side of Omega Works, from the gates , is in an unsightly condition. I have further, offered to organise renovation of this area , assisted by our Tenant's , if you supplied the materials , yet again, you have decided to decline this offer .
Security
A I suggested at least 4 years ago that we should have gates with a touch pad entrance lock, so that the gates to Omega Works could be kept closed . Martin's response was that it was to expensive .
B I suggested that we could employ a security guard / caretaker at Omega Works , over 4 years ago , to manage the ongoing issues relating to refuse, noise pollution from unauthorised parties etc . I also offered to contribute pro rata for this expense . To date you have declined .
You are aware that I issued Court proceedings, regarding these continual complaints and my right's as your direct neighbour over 4 years ago .
I have full documentary evidence of all my emails to you and your respective employees and photographs .
I formally hereby put you on notice that unless the matters that I have raised today in this email are not dealt with to my satisfaction and that of the adjoining residents who live opposite Omega Works ,that I will commence proceedings against you and your various companies and their director's in Court .
Yours sincerely
Jacqueline Hancher
Jacqueline Hancher
10A Omega Works
167 Hermitage Road
London
N4 1LZ
www.jacquelinehancher.com
I have sent the above letter in response to the posts on HOL relating to complaints from residents opposite the gates of Omega Works and any neighbouring residents , that have been affected by the issues relating to the management of the site .
I have sent a copy of this email to Jenny , Cllr Joe Goldberg ,Cllr Claire Kober, Derek Peace ( Haringey Noise Abatement Officer ) Mike Locke ( Majorlink) Martin ( Topsfling Ltd site Manager on behalf of Majorlink Ltd ),Myles Joyce ( Head of Planning Enforcement Haringey Council) ,Sumaya Nakamya ( Planning Enforcement Officer Harringey ) Festus.Akinboyewa (Officer in charge of refuse for this site at Haringey Council ) All Tenants at Unit 10 B-D Omega Works .
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Dear Alan
There is only,as far as I am aware, three parties responsible as Freeholder's in this Area , Provewell Ltd ( Askler Shullam) , Majorlink Ltd ( David Meir ) and myself .
The issue , I believe is the result of Unit's being let to Lease's , who sublet to many other individuals and Sub-Tenants , who fail to understand the sensitivities of local residents and ineffectually administrate the management of their Units .
Therefore the blame is correctly levied at the Land Owner's and I fully respect my personal responsibility , however as I have stated , I have been met with insurmountable brick walls .
As I have repeatedly stated both I and the large percentage of Tenant's at Omega are committed to help the residents that feel that they have genuine grievances relating to a Omega Works .
However , I am not prepared to tolerate continual slurs and comments , of which the intention is to fuel an already contentious predicament .
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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This is very interesting for the parallels here. From today's Grianuad.
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Permalink Reply by jenny on
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Dear Miss Long
Thanks for your enquiry regarding the above; I have visited the site and have reported the recycling waste to Veolia for collection. The rubbish in the forecourt is the responsibility of the owners/occupiers. However, we have established that this property is a mixed use property (residential and businesses). While businesses are required by law to make arrangement for their waste to be collected and disposed of lawfully, we are working with Veolia to identify which of the units are live work units or residential units with a view to providing the occupiers with suitable receptacles for their residual and recycling waste.
Also, regarding the accumulation of waste in the forecourt, in the past we have served statutory notices on the freeholders, occupiers and some of the businesses within the premises which led to improved cleanliness of the area, we are considering doing the same again.
I hope this information is helpful.
Neighbourhood Action Officer
One of the emails I recieved from Neighbour hood action)
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Dear Festus
Why are units registered for Council tax at Omega not provided with bins and a regular refuse collection ?
I would like a written response from you by email please.
Regards
Jacqui
Jenny ...Festus works for Haringey Council he knows exactly which Units at Omega are paying Council Tax and Business Rates .. He has been using this excuse ,since Omega came under his jurisdiction .
He has copies of the contracts for the two companies that are contracted to collect refuse on behalf of Units paying Business Rates . The names of both contracted refuse collectors are on the bins .
Ask the Rates Dept who is paying Business Rates & who is paying Council Tax , it is Public Information .
Email Joe Goldberg,Claire Kober,Myles Joyce etc , as follows
Under the Freedom of Information Act , I request all documents, letters,emails and copies of computer files and phone records relating to the payment of Business Rates and Council Tax at Omega Works 167 Hermitage Rd London N4 1LZ.
They legally have to respond within 21 days
Festus if clearly ineffectual in his capacity to deal with this matter and should be replaced , my contribution to Business Rates and your contribution to Council Tax is paid towards his wages and Joe Goldberg , Claire Kober , Myles Joyce etc .
How do you feel about that ?
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Permalink Reply by Takaokagiejin on
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Jaqueline, could you respond to my question please: do the units you own have planning permission for residential use and if so when was that granted? Thanks.
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