Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Tricky dealing as Kinleigh Folkard Hayward rides roughshod over community interest
(Retrospective Note: This image was a spoof version of the KFH masthead which was part of their 'Completely London' campaign in which they sought to portray themselves as community champions. See end of post for original masthead)
The claims of estate agents Kinleigh Folkard Hayward to being upstanding corporate citizens and even community champions are ringing very hollow in Harringay today.
Despite the proud boast of Kinleigh Folkard Hayward to be "bringing your city to life", the tricky dealings by the London estate agents seem to suggest that community interest and community wellbeing are of little concern to them.
Back in July this year, Salisbury boss Dave, heard rumours that the office premises next to Tesco, on the corner of St Ann's Road and Salisbury Road (originally leased for a KFH office), was to be sublet by Kinleigh Folkard Hayward to a betting shop operator.
There's strong awareness in the neighbourhood that we have about as many betting shops as any high street could bear. So I was keen to find an alternative letting solution. I'd heard about a couple of London examples recently when the community had approached either a betting shop operator, or a landlord and persuaded them not to open a betting shop. Given the case to be made for Green Lanes having a surfeit of betting shops, I suggested to Rob Chau of Harringay Traders that an approach be made to KFH.
I felt that there must be a solution that would satisfy KFH's legitimate commercial requirements whilst also delivering on community interest.
Rob picked up the baton and passed things over to the GLA team involved on the Green Lanes regeneration project. As summer progressed and turned to Autumn, all seemed to be going well. GLA supported plans had been hatched to let the shop and use it as a community pop-up space for an interim period.
About a week ago Rob told me that negotiations had progressed well and that the arrangements for a community pop-up shop were about to be finalised. Then out of the blue yesterday, the Haringey Council licensing team received an application for a licence to operate the premises as a betting shop.
My first thought was that perhaps the betting shop operator had made a speculative application in the hope that they would come to terms with KFH. I haven't completely abandoned hope of this being the case. We don't know for sure that it's not. But, when I spoke to Rob Chau early this morning he told me, "It's 90% certain that KFH have decided to lease to the betting shop. You don't submit a licensing application unless you're certain you have a premises to licence". Then Councillor Nilgun Canver told me, "Kinleigh Folkard Hayward abandoned our proposals and the licensing application is being progressed".
It seems like bad news. It seems like KFH could reasonably face accusations not only of riding roughshod over community interest, but also of what might at best be described as a rather tricky approach to negotiating with a local community.
Rob Chau commented, "I'm very disappointed. No one from KFH has bothered to visit. They just don't care. This is only a commercial issue for them."
"They've been very two-faced. They put on a community face and got involved in drawn out discussions and negotiations; with the other face, they did a deal against community interest.
I asked Dave at the Salisbury what he thought of the way KFH had conducted themselves, "I think it's disgusting. It's really disgusting. We really don't need another betting shop. I'm not happy at all"
Those of you who caught my angry tweets last night might suspect that I'm keen to see if we can get together as a community to fight this. You'd be right! I respect KFH's right to make a commercial decision, but there must be a way, where between them, the GLA, the Council and the community we can come up with a solution where we're all winners.
If KFH truly have shut the door on negotiation, then there are a range of options open for fighting this. More over the next few days.
Retrospective addition - KFH 'Completely London' masthead which was spoofed in the image at the top of this post.
Tags for Forum Posts: betting, gambling, kfh, kinleigh folkard hayward
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by L F T Snowflake on
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Sadly, I cannot make the meeting, but keep me informed about what you decide and I will do what I can.
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Permalink Reply by 0neckli7anyg4 on
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First things first, thank you for writing this article in the first place, as I live in the Coliseum building and had no idea that a Betting Shop was going to open on the ground floor until someone pointed me to it. Most residents/owners are now aware of the situation and extremely concerned of the implications in terms of safety as well as the impact this will have on the property prices in the building. We have contacted Paul Simon, which unfortunately manage the building, who basically said this was a commercial decision they had no objection to. Upon reading a slew of online articles on the subject, it would appear that there is nothing that can legally be done by the council or any other official body to prevent the opening of a tenth betting shop in this small part of Green Lanes. Following on your last post, I have to confirm that KFH have never informed the occupiers of the Coliseum of their decision to rent to a betting shop, which makes their 'caring' claims laughable at best. Also, who forced them to set such ridiculous prices (£85,000 per annum?!?): they knew perfectly what kind of business they could attract at that price. Hugh, would you mind communicating KFH's details so we could express our 'disagreement' to their commercial practices? Thanks again.
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I'm not jusitifying the actions of KFH in this matter, clearly something has gone on and people feel bitter...but can I just say (for what it's worth) that i've been selling my house through them and they have been fantastic, I just want it to be known, that we don't all think they are community destroying monsters that some are making out on here.
Ill retreat to my bunker now for the onslaught
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They might be great at selling your property, but you definitely don't want them managing a commercial unit in your building...
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no chris....want i dont want them to do is promise my property to the community......
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Permalink Reply by Paul on
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I have found out today that the planned betting shop will have three entrances! I would see that contributing to a great deal of hassle.
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There has been a temporary suspension. Insufficient material presented to committee.
Sorry I can't say how I know right now but its fact.
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Permalink Reply by Alison P on
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A temporary suspension to what Paul? To the application to Haringey?
Three entrances seems barmy!
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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It's procedural, Alison. The application has been rejected by the Council for purely procedural reasons. It changes nada.
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Not monsters, Ashley, but they, like any organisation should act with due regard for the interest of the community. On the present showing KFH don't.
I think to say that if a company is good at delivering the product or service that is their business then they should be let off the hook of social responsibility is more than just a little wide of the mark. If you take the principle underlying that statement and apply it to other instances of corporate shrugging of social responsibility, it really just doesn't stack up. (I'm purposely avoiding citing examples here).
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im not saying that kfh " is good at delivering the product or service that is their business then they should be let off the hook of social responsibility...."
im saying, i accept they may have upset members of the community, but in other areas they have been ok....just trying to add a little light and shade.....(im purposely avoiding getting involved in the original debate).
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I'm not seeking to judge them by the upset they cause, Ashley, but by whether or not they are acting with the proper consideration for the community that hosts their commercial asset.
The principle underlying my demand isn't in the least contentious or unreasonable. It's standard fodder and increasingly recognised as good business practice, conducive to commercial success. Have a look at Michael Porter's thinking on 'Shared Value", now accepted as everyday good practice in the world's best companies.
I don't vilify estate agents and never have. There are some excellent ones around who really care about the communities in which they are based. I judge tham by the same standards as I judge any other business and seek to hold them to account to the same set of principles as I'd apply elsewhere.
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