Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

High winds tear apart Harringay Passage

12:30am Sat 15/02/14 - high winds cause chaos for Harringay's Passage;

Luckily all is calm on Falkland Rd;

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on February 24, 2014 at 11:05

Tigha, the Council are responsible for maintaining property on land owned by the Council - including paving and walls. It also has powers to serve notices on owners when buildings are unsafe. And to do certain works and charge owners - but only after serving legal notices.

Your elderly neighbour without funds may wish to seek independent advice - e.g. from Age UK Haringey or the CAB.

One criticism of the Land Registry system is that the maps on title documents are sometimes unhelpful in showing ownership of boundary walls. (Unlike the often beautiful handwritten - in copperplate - deeds of the past.) However, the Council has a permanent record of what it holds as the legal owner, with maps which may be more helpful about walls.

Although my guess is that it's unlikely the Council owns the garden walls of private homes. I say this without any knowledge of the Passage. But simply because many decades ago I was a lawyer and would have made sure, when selling title to a house, that my client would have included ownership of, and responsibility for mending fences and walls.

Incidentally, looking at legal titles and responsibility for repairs might be another useful role for Friends of the Harringay Passage. And another reason why I'd advise my colleague Cllr Gina Adamou to reread Ed Miliband's Hugo Young lecture and rethink her opposition to this group.

(Tottenham Hale ward councillor until May 2014. Then an uncouncillor)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on February 24, 2014 at 16:23

Alan, although the maintenance of walls belonging to private property is not the responsibility of the local authority, ensuring the safety a council maintained public right of way is. In this case doesn't Haringey have the right and duty to ensure that those using a public right of way are not put at risk?

And as a PS regarding barbed/razor wire. A burglar who wants to get over this just throws over a bit of carpet. The ones who are really at risk are kids who are just having a general mucking around session. If someone is hurt by wire or broken glass isn't the person whose property it is liable? I vaguely remember this from doing Institute of Housing exams yonks ago.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by tigha on February 24, 2014 at 20:18

I have a 6foot fence and tressling on the top, which has basically been destroyed by people hopping over it- i assume by the evidence left in the garden- so not much of a deterorant- you may call my barbed wire- razor fence-= i think actually its brilliant and worth the money- and if a kid decides to try to climb over my wall, more fool them

I will stand up in court and happily state my case as a single middle age woman living on their own protecting my property- i think it is very easy for all of you to complain when you dont live on the passage way, in an area where police are constantly leafleting us about safety,security

telling us neighbours have been burgled

giving us free locks to get fitted

In fact in the morning when its daylight I will post you a picture of how creatively my lovely builder FLORIN has done it- a recommendation from here