Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Unstable wall in the passageway, any advice welcome
So so sorry neighbours for the passageway being blocked off between duckett road and mattison road, as my wall looks unstable and so the council came and did that yesterday. Although seems a lot of people are squeezing past anyway. But that’s their choice. But I know it’s a massive inconvenience going all the way round.
I’m just so horrified as I had no idea, and feel so irresponsible. Basically having not gone past that way for months, I got a letter last wkend from the council telling me they had seen on inspecting it in July (3months earlier) that it was defective and potentially dangerous. And gave me 5days to sort it which is tomorrow and impossible. If not they threaten to put an entry on the land charge register against my property, making it harder to sale(their words not mine)
im so upset and angry, that they sat on it for 3months before advising me. When I spoke to someone this morning, their excuse was they had trouble locating the freeholder/leaseholder. Despite the fact thiat it’s myself whom has been here 17y on the electoral registers and should have taken them 30secs to find me, or else drop a letter in. So I suspect they can’t substantiate their threats
Has anyone else any advice how to manage this, and is there any chance that the council have partial responsibility as it’s along a private freeway. It’s a massive job, and I don’t know how I’m meant to find £10-15,000 to sort this.
meanwhile I’ve arranged builders to hopefully knock it down on Saturday once I finish work. Awful.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter
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What a huge headache Tigha. The matter of insufficient and unreasonably short notice could be taken up with a local Councillor, which may at least delay an entry on the Land Charge Register. In my experience, staff employed by Haringey Council do not always look hard when they want to contact a resident. Do staff exert reasonable or sufficient care and do their line-managers care? Enough or at all?
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Permalink Reply by Guygreen
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I would phone and speak to them asap and explain the situation from your side and that of course you will make it safe but need some time to do it.
The council is often more reasonable in person than when setting out their official position in writing.
Just letting them know you are a reasonable and responsible person often goes a long way.
There are also some more cost effective ways to rebuild than in old style brick, but yes, whatever you do it is a serious undertaking.
Good luck.
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Permalink Reply by Zena Brabazon
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Dear Tigha
I have just seen your post. Could you please email me directly with your name and address so I can chase this up properly tomorrow with the officers. Meanwhile I am contacting the Director of Planning - Building Control is part of the Planning Service. My email address is: zena.brabazon@haringey.gov.uk
Best wishes,
Zena
Zena Brabazon
Cllr Harringay ward
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Tigha, I would take up Cllr. Brabazon's prompt offer of help (yesterday, in this thread). A model response by a Ward Councillor!
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Permalink Reply by Matt
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Noticed the blocked passage this morning on the school run, with as you say a stream of parents and children using the passage regardless.
Frankly if the council is this worried about the danger, they should have both put a notice as to why the passage is closed off, and done so more effectively than a couple of cones and a small plastic barrier, easily circumvented.
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Permalink Reply by tigha
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For anyone still reading this. I have had both a very experienced bricklayer and a very experienced builder round, whom both agreed the wall doesn’t look like it’s going to fall down in the next 10-15years. But the council seemed to have panicked, and blocked it off, having realised they forgot to tell me 3months earlier what the knew. Seems my bush I inherited to keep off invaders, has damaged the wall. And we have now spent all day taking that down, so the pressure is off the wall
there is a plan in place, but it’s going to take time to arrange skips etc, to dismantle 5,000 bricks, once the tree surgeon has been to totally get rid of the tree
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But the council seemed to have panicked, and blocked it off, having realised they forgot to tell me 3months earlier what the knew.
Building Control seem able to blow hot and cold.
Some years ago I reported a long and particularly high retaining wall that is—or was—leaning at a frightening angle. It was directly above a pedestrian alleyway. The answer came back from the Council's Building Control Department, along much along same lines as your experienced tradesmen.
I was surprised at BC's claim that that leaning wall would be good for many more years to come …
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Hi Tigha
I contacted the most senior officers in Planning and the relevant department who should be following up on the situation. Let me know if they have contacted you directly. They have your contact details.
It seems to me that your builder's assessment should be shared with building control. Maybe an independent assessment would settle the matter one way or the other regarding the future of the wall?
Best wishes,
Zena
Zena Brabazon
Cllr, Harringay ward
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I am not a surveyor but I did walk past the wall today. At the northern end it is possible to see that it is out of true, but not by much. I estimate the height to be about two metres and at the top, it may be out of a true vertical by about two inches. Which suggests a lean of maybe one and a half degrees.
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