Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Front garden dug up and concreted without notice
We are seeking some advice please.
We got home from work yesterday to find that our entire front shared garden had been dug up and half of it cemented for the installment of a bin refuse. There are three flats in our building - two privately owned (we're private), and one council. Neither of the private owners were notified of this work, which was apparently done at the request of the council tenant living in the ground flat. The building freehold is owned by the council.
When we moved in two years ago we cleared the garden of weeds, dug it over, and had been looking after it since. I planted a large number of bulbs and perennial plants over the course of last year, ready for spring. All of these are now gone.
We have lodged a formal complaint with Homes For Haringey but were told they could not stop work until they had investigated the complaint and would "rectify" the situation if found to be at fault. How can you replace a season's worth of growing?
I'm wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences? And if there is anything that you think we should be doing?
Thanks!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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How annoying. This adds to concerns I've heard before about the treatment of private leaseholders in Council freehold property - not just in Haringey but more generally. I'd have thought there must be some sort of action/support group by now out there on the webs.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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Permalink Reply by Sarah_24 on
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You might need these lot instead...http://www.haringeyleaseholders.org.uk/
HfH are notorious to deal with and I'm not sure if they recognise the HLCG but I believe they do recognise the Haringey Leaseholders Association.
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Permalink Reply by pamish on
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This goes against all the advice that open space in front gardens is part of the overall drainage for an area and should not be concreted over, especially for car parking. At the very least they should be using gravel or another permeable surface. Tell the builders to stop until this has been examined. The arrogance of not even contacting 2/3 of the people living there is outrageous. Who votes for the HfH governors?
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It has a board but no idea how it it elected. Current membership below
Chair (interim): Keith Jenkins, Independent Expert
Vice Chair: Phil Goodwin, Resident Representative
Paula Goodwin, Resident Representative
Adzowa Kwabla-Oklikah, Resident Representative
Leon Serieux, Resident Representative
Georgina Walters, Equalities Champion, Resident Representative
Laurie White, Resident Representative
Cllr David Browne, Council Representative
Cllr Isidoros Diakides, Council Representative
Cllr Sophie Erskine, Council Representative
Cllr Juliet Solomon, Council Representative
Cllr Anne Stennett, Council Representative
Jenny Coombs, Independent Expert
Tom McGregor, Independent Expert
John Morris, Resident Involvement Champion, Independent Expert
Jon Wardle, co-opted Board member
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Michael, you wrote that you've: "No idea how it is elected."
Only the tenant and leaseholder reps are elected. The councillor members are appointed by the party whips. (I was a board member - until I became whip-free at which point I was replaced). The Independent experts are appointed by the Board.
Some information and mugshots on the Homes for Haringey website here.
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There should be something in your lease about consultation to works or "improvements" (ie not repairs) to common parts. Also, I think there is a statutory right to consultation about any works likely to cost each household £250. Lease might be able to advise: http://www.lease-advice.org
Should they have got planning permission? http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/pavingfr...
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Thank you everyone for your helpful comments and suggestions. I, too, was speechless, and devastated to lose all of the hours of work and careful planning, not to mention about £200 worth of plants and bulbs. I'm also a firm believer in maintaining whatever green space we can for the sake of the environment - certainly not more cement to house garbage :(
I'll be following up on the links/groups sent through. Thanks again.
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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There are five Councillors on the Board. Make their life hell until you get a result. Good luck.
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Interesting to look at Haringey's own planning guidance on parking in front gardens which aims to regulate this to reduce the risks of flooding and pollution. While in this case the paving over is for a different purpose it would seem to go against the spirit of the policy as the cumulative impact of what seems like a minor change can be considerable (below)
SPG 1b Parking in Front Gardens
Please note that as a result of changes in the legislation SPG 1b has now been amended to include the following;-
In October 2008 the Department of Communities and Local Government issued new planning guidance. The permitted development rights that previously allowed householders to pave their front garden with hard standing (or other impermeable materials) without planning permission have now changed. This is in order to reduce the impact of this type of development on flooding and on pollution of watercourses. From October 2008, property owners who want to pave over their front garden with hard standing (or other impermeable materials) in excess of 5m2 require planning permission.
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Permalink Reply by Karen Alexander on
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Sorry to hear this. Happy to help if you want to drop me an email with your address and some more details - karen.alexander.haringeylibdems@gmail.com
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