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
Jenny, whatever you think of Jacqueline, doesn't she deserve credit for coming on HoL? And for sharing information, posting correspondence, giving her views, and at least offering to discuss how to help solve the problems raised.
In the same way I see it as positive that people post on HoL giving their own personal perspectives. As the old saying goes: "only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches".
Just as helpful is Ingo's posting of the list of sensible rules developed to build good relations among "warehouse" residents and with their neighbours. Nobody naively suggests such rules are a panacea to solve every problem with goodwill alone. But they can assist.
I don't see the same level of openness and willingness to discuss issues by some other parties in this. Okay, not everyone sees HoL or other websites as the obvious or best forum to solve problems. But wouldn't it be nice to see very occasional participation by, for example, other landlords/owners; Haringey Waste Management service and senior staff responsible for the Noise Team; and from Veolia? Also the three ward councillors; Claire Kober, Joe Goldberg, and Cllr Dhiren Basu.
(Tottenham Hale ward councillor)
Alan, Jaqueline posted on here to threaten Jenny with legal action. She has subsequently refused to accept responsibility for the disruption and abuse suffered by neighbours at the hands of her tenants. She has also refused to answer the question as to whether she has permission to let out her properties as residences or is doing so illegally. I am pleased that she has started posting because I find her posts interesting but I don't think she gets much credit for the content.
Once again, she has brought all of this on herself..
Dear Alan
Would it be possible for you to ask for ' A Vote Of No Confidence' , in the Ward Councillor's responsible for the lack of services at Omega Works , on behalf of Council Tax Residents at Omega Works ?
Thank you
Hannie, please have a look at this page about Commercial Waste on Haringey's website. Apologies if I'm pointing to stuff you already know very well.
I'm curious to learn how the Council treats live/work units for waste purposes. What have they told you?
Dear Jacqueline Hancher,
Thank you for your e-mail received on 14th March 2014. I can confirm that I have booked for a crew to be deployed within the next working day to collect your outstanding recycling which has been logged under job reference number 1483789, and your missed refuse collection has been logged under job reference number 1483802.
I can confirm I have highlighted your concerns regarding insufficient wheelie bins to the relevant department and you will be contacted in due course with appropriate action taken. Your query has been logged under job reference number 1483787.
Once again thank you for your e-mail and should you have any further queries/complaints please do not hesitate to contact us on 020 8885 7700 between 8.30am to 5.30pm (Monday – Friday) or alternatively via email at enquiries.haringey@veolia.co.uk
Regards
Hi Jacqueline, I've posted before that, as a councillor I know very well that sorting out these knotty problems isn't easy. Different land titles; different freeholders; leaseholders and tenants. Adjacent properties affected by noise. Some people temporary; some long-term residents. Different values and expectations about standards of behaviour. etc and more etc. With the sheer number of units involved adding another few skins to these particular onions.
I've made some general suggestions based on what people have said. But to go further would need coming and looking and talking to people. And then seeing - on the ground - what works and what doesn't. Which I assume is what Joe Goldberg has done - and maybe the other two as well.
So I'm not expressing "No Confidence" or even speculating about the involvement of the three Seven Sisters ward councillors. My suggestion was simple: that it would be helpful if they came on HoL and posted information in this thread.
But rather than focus on who is to blame , I'm hoping the contacts made through HoL will lead to effective collaboration.
Large organisations with large numbers of people causing a noise nuisance to the neighbours? It happens - and can be resolved - anywhere. I'm sure you know Kenwood House and the lawn where for years concerts took place near the lakeside.
Idyllic? Perfect place for outdoor music? I'd have thought so. But some people objected. Including actor Warren Mitchell.
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