Flats being demolished in Solomons Passage SE15

[FiFiBrit]

I live in one of the blocks due to be demolished and I'm devasted my whole life has turned on its head. I cannot get in touch with anyone from Wandle despite assurances that they are "here to help" it's a disgrace. somebody wake me up from this nightmare please.........

[MarkT]

Renata, I must question your statement:

"There have been changes in legislation since planning permission was first gained for the properties. The new numbers 44 and 46 will need to follow the Southwark and London plan."

What is this this change in legislation? As I understand the situation Southwark Council was supposed to follow the London Plan when these blocks were approved, but did not do so. Recent approvals around East Dulwich show that it still does not do so. In the specification of height and density for developments, the London Plan has not changed. Clearly the legislation you refer to is consistently disregarded.

Perhaps the point you are making is that the London Plan limits re-development in this location to 4 storeys and accordingly a far lower density than exists; i.e fewer dwellings.

If the Council and the owners were to make a binding commitment with regard to long-term and intermediate rehousing of the residents directly affected and to the replacement of these shoddy buildings with quality affordable housing, this might be a good argument, in this instance, for exceeding the London Plan densities.

MarkT

[buggie]

Were there not changes to the regulations following the fatal fire in the block of flats in Camberwell?

Utterly terrible situation & hope that appropriate support is offered by those at fault.

Am aghast that such newly built flats were so poorly made.

[James Barber]

Hi MarkT,

In the circumstances I'd be amazed if a like for like design but properly built would have any problems getting planning permission. The only change I can think of is taller buildings which I hope this terrible sorry state won't be used to justify.

[Charles Notice]

I do find this thread quite depressing.

There are 3943 views and very very few comments, 54 in total. Which represents a few outside posters and residents who find themselves caught up in this disaster.

There is complete silence from those who should be commenting, Wandle, Eleanor Kelly,Chief Executive, Leader Peter John and Harriet Harman.

Renata Hamvas was asked to confirm the position regarding Building Control and whether Southwark Council had a responsibility to sign all building works off. What did they do?

Silence. If I say nothing it will go away.

Having spent time in senior management with local Councils if a Cllrs enquiry or Members enquiry is sent in it is replied to in days. Why this delay?

Now Cllr Barber has made comment which is no more than I have said something, not any offer of help.

Lets hope that Southwark News can do a full in depth investigation but as it does not seem to be of much local interest I will not hold my breath. I hope I am wrong.

It does seem that petty and trivial matters are of more importance and garner greater a response including marching in the street, M & S than around 85 flats to be destroyed and many many peoples lives destroyed.

Even prolific posters on this forum are keeping their heads down regarding this matter.

Says a lot about the neighbourhood.

If a greater written response was shown this would not be swept under the carpet hoping it will die a death.

As I said very very depressing.

[LondonMix]

I agree it is depressing-- especially in light of the furor that was generated for a private toy shop having its rent increased.

How people were ready to take to the streets over that and yet appear largely indifferent to the plight of so many people in their community reveals a shocking set of priorities.

[Penguin68]

This is a local forum, it is not any sort of official channel, and nobody is obliged or required to respond on this forum 'officially' - we are lucky that a number of local councilors do chose to use this channel to inform, but they don't have to. What is important is what Wandle (and the Council) is actually saying officially to the tenants and (part) owners in the blocks, and more important, what they are actually doing, rather than just saying.

It is good to hear what this is (when there is anything to report) and no doubt when the full story does come out, and if the council has under-performed etc. - this may manifest itself in the ballot box (eventually).

And prolific posters may be 'keeping their heads down' because there isn't yet enough of the story out there to make useful (or even troll-like) statements.

[BrandNewGuy]

The toy shop thing was perceived by those campaigning (rightly or wrongly) that public pressure might have made the landlord relent or comnpromise, hence being noisy about it. In this case, as an 'outsider' I'm not sure what I'm supposed to add. Proper process needs to root out what went wrong and to punish those at fault. I could add a 'me too' post about how terrible it is ? which it is ? but I don't think fifty posts like that are going to be particularly useful. These residents need information, political support and action ? more power to them.

[LondonMix]

I disagree. I know that what is said on here is monitored. If there is enough public outcry and statements of support, it too will influence how Southwark and others proceed.

[spider69]

London Mix

Agree 100%.

A large public outcry will not allow this matter to go away which I suspect they are hoping it will.

Many many "Why has this been allowed to happen" will rattle bureaucratic complacency and gain a response.

[sleepy-li]

I have viewed this thread many times without commenting but its not because I don't care, this is so awful it just makes me feel very sad for those involved and frustrated that I can offer little to help.

Maybe this needs a bigger audience than a local forum - I tweeted a link to it yesterday but with little response - but maybe twitter, facebook etc might bring more a response from people who should/could actually do something helpful, rather than my well meaning but ultimately useless sympathy....

[hpsaucey]

I'm not sure why there hasn't been much response. Perhaps because so little is known ...

I am an affected resident, with children at local primary shcool (and one about to go to secondary).

I am hoping that behind the scenes perhaps Council, Councillors, Wandle etc. are all talking and trying to find the best way forward for residents. I have so far seen no evidence that this is happening. Very little info has been given to residents so far, about what is, in effect, tearing communities up and creating an unbelievable amount of stress and upheaval for those whom social housing in its various forms was meant to be designed to provide some security for.

Perhaps one for the new mayor to cut his teeth on?

HP

[steveo]

This is the same council who just randomly asked my daughter/us/me for sixteen grand for some electrics work that they can't really explain or justify

[hpsaucey]

Well - you've gotta hope! I find it amazing that there is nothing on Wandle's website about this. The CEO has tweeted that she is looking forward to working with Sadiq Khan to tackle London's housing crisis! Starting in Solomon's Passage wouldn't be a bad idea.

[buddug]

I have filed a Freedom of Information request to Southwark Council with several questions to ascertain whether their building control officers signed this development off. I also asked if the blocks had a fire escape route/exit or fire alarms at the time, and if not, why was it given council approval, especially in light of the terrible Lakanal House fire in Camberwell in 2009. I will hear within a few days. Meanwhile, I had this reply from Southwark Council's press officer Kim Hooper:

"Our building control officers visited the site and did the inspections that are within their remit, which is around issues during construction", and she added, bafflingly: "As explained in my previous emails, it is not the council who ?sign off? (as you put it) the condition of the finished building."

Equally baffling - and worrying - she wrote: " It must be emphasised that Building regulations are minimum standards, which do not deal with quality but are about the building process." She then includes the following as part of building control's remit: "To secure the health, safety welfare and convenience of people in and around the buildings and people who may be affected by the buildings."

She concluded by saying it is Wandle I should be contacting, as they are responsible for the 'condition' of the building.

[spider69]

Press Officer?

Why not Head of Service replying. This is why people should post to raise the pressure. Renata Hamvas where are you.

Spin!! Lets pass the buck

[OD]

Like many others I have been viewing this thread, this state of affairs is disgusting, I feel for the tenants/owners and their families. It is clear that Wandle have put out statements that have not materialised with those living in those blocks and Southwark have gone AWOL.

My suggestion to help raise the profile of these issues to at the very least add pressure to getting responses/answers and help is to contact BBC London Radio. As a daily listener of this radio station particularly the morning and drive time shows I have heard similar stories of irresponsible housing associations being brought to book and action being taken due to the fact that tenants got the story taken up on the radio.

I also think that if people can; they should use twitter in direct response to the latest tweet by their CEO as that will also bring attention to whats happening.

[buddug]

Spider69: I'm a member of the press and will be writing a news article about this situation. Since the press officer's strange reply, I have put in a Freedom of Info request to the appropriate department and copied in Eleanor Kelly, Gerri Scott and Peter John. I now have to wait for the reply. If I am not satisfied with it, I then have to file one more request internally for an appeal, and if still no answers, I can appeal to the independent Information Commissioner's Office. You will not get anything from the head of service. The press officer will have taken instruction from them in formulating her reply to me. I am still, unsurprisingly, awaiting answers from Wandle. If they do not reply soon, I shall simply say they did not reply to my questions.

[intexasatthe moment]

I keep looking at this thread in despair not knowing what to do or advise

Can anyone think of another group of Housing Association ( or local authority for that matter ) tenants who have been involved in anything similar ? Who might offer advice ?

Any local celebreties who might raise the profile - I can only think of Jo Brand and Jenny Eclair ...

Has anyone contacted Shelter for advice/support ?http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice

Does the Housing Corporation still regulate Housing Associations ? They must have a code of practice for situations like this ?

I have to say I was depressed reading Wandle's information sheet ,especially this

"Impact on Wandle

The money we are going to spend on this project ? including buying back homes - will mean a reduction in the number of new homes we build and/or fewer improvements to our other homes. It is important that we are fair to residents of Solomon?s Passage and we have to protect the interests of all who live in our 7300 homes."

I understand the points they make but the comment ,in this context ( ie an explanatory note relating to Solomon's Passage ) doesn't give enough priority to those residents affected .I think the focus should be on the residents ,and a wishy washy "be fair to " doesn't do it for me . I don't think that the resident's of these flats should be thinking about protecting Wandle's other tenants . It's Wandle's responsibilty yes, but it's nothing to do with the resident's of SP and mustn't dilute Wandle's response to them .

[Mugglesworth]

I have sent a link to this thread to Private Eye, in the hope that they will investigate and get some exposure on a nationwide basis. Southwark has some 'form' with that magazine with regards Lakanal House, councillors' criminal records, Lend Lease sell-off and hospitality, etc.

ETA: I have been contacted by a reporter from Private Eye. As I have no specialist knowledge of the situation, I suggested that she contact via PM residents who have posted on this thread. Apologies to anyone who might find this an intrusion but I think that investigative journalism could shed some much-needed light on this.

[buddug]

Good idea. Though I've never seen anything about Southwark Council in Private Eye come to anything. Not even the Lakanal House story, unbelievably.

[intexasatthe moment]

worth a try muggle .Well done .

This bit from Wandle

"We are suggesting that we work together for residents to appoint an independent advisor. The advisor would work for residents and one of their jobs would be to check what we are saying is accurate. We are looking for residents who would like to be on a panel that first selects and then works with the advisor. "

sounds hopeful ,any residents tell us how it's going ?

[pipsky2008]

OD Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Like many others I have been viewing this thread,

> this state of affairs is disgusting, I feel for

> the tenants/owners and their families. It is

> clear that Wandle have put out statements that

> have not materialised with those living in those

> blocks and Southwark have gone AWOL.

>

> My suggestion to help raise the profile of these

> issues to at the very least add pressure to

> getting responses/answers and help is to contact

> BBC London Radio. As a daily listener of this

> radio station particularly the morning and drive

> time shows I have heard similar stories of

> irresponsible housing associations being brought

> to book and action being taken due to the fact

> that tenants got the story taken up on the radio.

>

> I also think that if people can; they should use

> twitter in direct response to the latest tweet by

> their CEO as that will also bring attention to

> whats happening.

I would counsel against going to social media at this point

There will be a complaint procedures in place within the housing association and Southwark Council which need to be responded to within fixed time limits.

It needs to be shown that this 'Due process' has been exhausted otherwise, should it go to law, a judge could through out the case if this process has not been gone through.

It is also worth mentioning that if you want a Councillor to respond, they should be addressed by name with a direct question or questions

[spider69]

Again will Renata Hamvas appear and say something?

[OD]

I take your point, but I don't agree.

Can any residents tell us if a complaints process was activated/being followed/come to an end?

pipsky2008 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>

> I would counsel against going to social media at

> this point

>

> There will be a complaint procedures in place

> within the housing association and Southwark

> Council which need to be responded to within fixed

> time limits.

>

> It needs to be shown that this 'Due process' has

> been exhausted otherwise, should it go to law, a

> judge could through out the case if this process

> has not been gone through.

>

> It is also worth mentioning that if you want a

> Councillor to respond, they should be addressed by

> name with a direct question or questions