Archive for November, 2009

A homeless rough sleeper who took up residence in the Weir Link’s bike shed has finally been removed from the estate and sectioned under the mental health act, after a year long battle by WERA, some residents and Lambeth Council.

The homeless man who has been taken into a psychiatric unit to be assessed, took to sleeping on the estate a year ago when a number of squatters were evicted from neighbouring estate, Limerick Close.

‘Tyrone’ as the man is known to residents, was said to be disturbing a number of residents and their children in the early hours of the morning by shouting and laughing to himself.

With a joint effort from WERA and Lambeth Council’s Community Safety Unit, the rough sleeper who is known to have had a local connection to the area as well as a mental health condition has now been sectioned, giving some residents their first nights peace since his arrival a year ago. He was also known to deposit his human waste in the recycling bins and store rubbish in and around the estate.

Concerns were raised shortly after he started sleeping in the bike shed which is next to The Weir Link Centre and Nursery.

Despite attempts by the local police and that of the authorities, he remained on the estate angering some residents as well as causing sleepless nights. 

Following numerous meetings and discussions amongst Lambeth Council and Lambeth Living as well as a mental health team, an assessment of his mental state has been carried out and Tyrone has now been taken into hospital as so he can potentially get treatment for his illness, much to the delight of those residents living close by.

WERA’s Treasurer, Sue Cranmer, who has also lived with the disturbance caused by the rough sleeper over the past year spoke of her relief and delight that he has now been taken off the estate “Up until yesterday I have been the only resident to log complaints regarding this man. People hear him, but say nothing. His behaviour has been totally unacceptable, when residents like me and their children are being woken up from 4.30am onwards almost every day for the past year it becomes increasingly frustrating, and you lose sympathy with the person and their situation.”

However, Miss Cranmer added “We wish the best for Tyrone, and hope he accepts the help that he needs. I am sure my neighbours will agree at looking forward to a peaceful evening and a restful night!! We are pleased this has finally come to an end. WERA would like to thank Eugenia Anderson from Lambeth Council’s Community Safety Unit, for her hard work to remove Tyrone off the estate and get him the care he needs”

Efforts had been made by Thames Outreach and the local police to encourage Tyrone to go into a hostel but he had refused saying he wanted to be out in the open, however his constant disturbances became too much for some residents. Residents were asked to come forward with information however many failed to respond, despite being affected by his behaviour.

Residents waiting for their new Windows will not have to wait much longer, as the dates for each block has been announced by contractor, Breyer Group plc, at a recent WERA General Meeting.

With the finishing touches being made to the Pilot Flat at Weir House, the long awaited new windows and doors will arrive and installation will start at Weir House the week commencing 24th November.

Despite late additions to the works, such as repairs to the metal work and wrangling over paint finishes, works are to roll out across the estate giving residents relief from the cold weather though residents will experience some chilly days as the programme of works is not due to finish until early next year.

The dates for the work to each block have been confirmed, residents are asked to bare in mind these are all Week Commencing dates and that there will be a break in December due to the Christmas Holiday:

Weir: November 2009
West: 30th November 2009
Olding: 30th November 2009
Jewell: 7th December 2009
Glanville: 14th December 2009
CHRISTMAS Holiday 18th December 2009
Quennel: 25th January 2010
Dan Bryant’s: 18th January 2010

Many works are still on going and all blocks have been jet washed, despite a very poor attendance by residents at the meeting, Breyer Group officials and Lambeth Living’s Major Works Team gave a full update to the association.

The Pilot Flat, the home of Mr and Mrs Broderick, have had all their windows installed and they have said how delighted they are with them. Two windows in the bathroom and toilet had to be changed in order to make them easier to open. This took place last Tuesday. All Ballot forms for the uniformed door colour choices have been returned and the result for Olding, Quennel, Weir and West will be announced soon.

Appointments for installations will be made by the Breyer Group Resident Liaison Officer, Shuzna Begum in the coming weeks. Residents will be contacted when these are available.

WERA’s Chair who has been working for some time to get the new windows for the estate has spoke of his delight that at the news, “The programme is moving forward and residents can now look forward to finally getting their long overdue new windows and doors. WERA has worked hard with the much appreciated and valued help from our ward councillors to get them and this shows what a residents Association can do.”

The estate has been waiting since the estate was built in 1952 for new windows and doors.

Cold Callers could finally be a thing of the past on Weir Estate and the Surrounding Area due to proposals which are to be considered by Residents under the No Cold Calling Zone (NCCZ) scheme which is already in place in four other wards in the Borough.

Those living on Emmanuel, Weir and Radbourne Roads are to be consulted by the partnership set up to introduce the scheme of Lambeth Trading Standards, Community Safety and The Metropolitan Police. The partnership have agreed to bring the scheme to Thornton Ward.  The already successful zones would prevent Distraction Burglaries and Bogus Traders from calling at residents homes at any time.

The area included under the NCCZ would be clearly sign posted throughout the ward and residents would have the power to report incidents to Trading Standards and the local Police.

This would also prevent residents being bombarded by nuisance cold callers which many residents have complained has become an all too regular occurrence and would see an end to residents being duped into buying goods and services they do not want.

With support and effort from Local Labour Councillor Lib Peck, Weir Estate would be included givingresidents peace of mind and security from being door stepped by anyone selling or promotinggoods and services.

However, the scheme which has worked in the four other areas of Lambeth will only get the go ahead if following consultation residents agree to the scheme. Consultation letters and forms are being sent to residents to engage their views on the proposal in the coming few weeks.

One resident reportedly living in Thornton Ward was cheated out of Five Hundred Pounds by a bogus door step trader whose work has been described as so poorly done that it had to be quickly corrected by another trader costing the resident a further Six Hundred Pounds.

Cold Calling which can see an increase in door step crime is designed to empower residents to have more control who calls at their properties and would be a welcomed safe guard for particularly the vulnerable and elderly. Should the scheme get the go ahead residents would get an information pack explaining the scheme and how they can act should they get any cold callers.

Robert Gardner, Trading Standards Manager at Lambeth Council has said of the scheme: “This scheme sends out a warning to the rip-off merchants that they are not welcome in the neighbourhood, and that they are being watched. The best you can say about most cold callers is that they are a nuisance. At worst they can be criminals and rogue traders who prey on the vulnerable. If there is clear support from the neighbourhood for a No Cold Calling Zone in the area we will roll it out”

The Remaining Anfield Close properties which are still getting their heating from the Communal Heating System and hot water from Immersion Boilers, are to join the fourteen properties that have had combi-boilers installed in October following the leak which left many residents in the cold and other flats experiencing problems.

The communal heating system which had heated more or less all council properties on Anfield Close until last month is to be phased out as the properties that remain on the communal system will now also get combi boilers.  Many residents in higher numbered flats have experienced difficulties since the heating was restored to them in October.  Flats one to fourteen that have had the new system have been delighted so far with the new heating which brought back much needed warmth.

Lambeth Living have met to discuss the issue and it is now felt that all remaining residents would benefit and it would be more economically viable to bring in the boilers to individually heat their homes.

Communal Heating which has been around for many years throughout Lambeth, and has meant those getting this form of heating have paid for it within their rent and service charges. The Communal Boiler is typically switched off at the start of the summer and switched back on by October as the winter draws in.

This year, as the communal system was booted up a substantial leak was found and several propertieswithin the block were left without warmth as the weather got colder. Emergency plans had to be put into place to bring much needed heating to resident’s homes.

Contractor, OCO Heating Services has once again been appointed to install all remaining flats with the new heating and hot water system.

Residents living in the remaining properties will be visited by Site Supervisor, John Spinks in order that measurements and all arrangements can be made. Residents who are now enjoying warmer homes have so far been delighted with the new combination boiler system and the conduct of the contractor.

WERA’s Chair, Dave McEvoy, is working closely with Lincoln Sampson, Lambeth Living’s Principal Heating Engineer and Mr Spinks, the Supervisor from OCO to ensure that all Anfield Close residents face as little disruption and have their concerns answered.

It is hoped all remaining flats will have the new and cost effective boilers in their homes before the end of November 2009.

So far, the installations to the fourteen flats affected has been smooth and without delay.

Residents who have any questions can contact the association for guidance, by clicking here.