Archive for April, 2010

Plans to introduce a ‘No Cold Calling Zone’ on Weir Estate and surrounding areas, has stalled due to the impending local and general elections. Trading Standards had been set to introduce the scheme during April, which will prevent nuisance and unwanted cold callers to residents properties.

Weir Estate has been included in the scheme which was meant to have been introduced by Lambeth’s Trading Standards but following intervention from Lambeth Councils legal department who scuppered the roll out over concerns it could interfere with law surrounding local elections which are due to take place on 6th May.

Local councillors, who campaigned to secure a no cold calling zone for the area, would be involved in its introduction across the ward and due to strict ‘purdah’ guidance to local councils under the Local Government Act 1986.
The zone will principally prevent elderly and vulnerable residents from being victims of cold caller’s intent on committing crime while also giving all residents peace of mind from disturbance at their homes by any cold callers from energy suppliers, to people selling goods. Residents will receive a pack informing them how to report breaches of the zone which will take in Weir and Radbourne Roads as well as connecting streets.

Trading standards supported by the local police and Lambeth Council will carry out sanctions against offenders breaching the zone which will also be signalled by signs in the area.

Trading Standards Manager, Robert Gardner explains “We were due to launch the scheme in early April but have had recent legal advice to delay the scheme until after the election. I hope this does not cause too much inconvenience but we are ready with the signs prepared and advice packs and will launch in early May.”

The plans were formulated following concerns raised by local residents to Labour’s Thornton Councillors who then had to ensure Weir Estate was included in the scheme as it was initially left out of the original designed area. The support for the scheme across the affected area in the zone is said to be ‘high’ and therefore will be rolled out following the elections.

There are already two No cold Calling Zones working well in Lambeth in Streatham Vale and parts of the Thurlow Park Ward.

Weir Estate Residents Association supports the scheme and the association will make every effort to ensure that residents are well informed of how it works as well as ensuring the scheme is enforced by the authorities. Residents can also inform trading standards over cold callers in the interim period and should report anyone mis-selling goods on the doorstep as well as the usual safety advice provided by the police particularly to elderly such as using door chains, not letting people in, checking ID with any company or organisation who they claim to belong to and not buying goods unless you are absolutely sure.

The biggest single and in-depth inquiry undertaken by Weir Estate Residents Association is to be undertaken with an investigation into the mobile phone masts and base stations which have been on the top of blocks since 1991.

The inquiry is to look at the future of the masts and base stations on two blocks, Jewell and Dan Bryant Houses, as the contracts for them are up for renewal this year and next year. It hopes to be able to provide a conclusive recommendation to residents in order to answer concerns raised about the effects of the masts radiation levels coming from the antennas. It also seeks to look at both sides of the debate and answer many of questions such as is there any known cases of poor health relating to the masts to if they are removed will they impact on the mobile signal of residents as well as many others; making it the single biggest matter looked at by WERA.

Weir Estate Residents Association is working with several external agencies such as the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Ofcom and the Department for Health.  It aims to obtain as much information as possible before members and those living on the estate make a decision on whether the masts stay or are removed in the future and before deciding whether a new agreement should be signed.

This will be the biggest study undertaken by executive officers led by Chair, Dave McEvoy into the known facts regarding masts which have sparked concerns among some people nationwide, despite numerous reports and scientific studies so far suggesting there is no evidence that the radiation from masts or base stations has any impact on the health or wellbeing of human beings, this however remains being subject to constant scrutiny and debate.

WERA has also requested that the radiation levels are audited by Ofcom, who oversee masts and base stations throughout the country in order to establish whether they are within agreed levels with the HPA and World Health Organisation. Previous studies carried out suggest the equipment operates at much lower than international agreed levels of radiation omitted.

The two base stations are shared between mobile phone operators, T-Mobile and Orange have been sited on the estate for nearly 20 years, of which following pressure of WERA members in previous years, the income comes direct to the association for improvements to the estate.

However, WERA now seeks to provide as near conclusive evidence as possible to decide the future on the masts which some residents oppose. Despite this Chair Dave McEvoy insisted “We must address this and provide as much information and base our decisions on fact and evidence. We must not base our verdict on the masts based on fear, media speculation or bias.”

A report will be compiled with a recommendation by the executive of WERA based on the evidence obtained from the various organisations responsible for the installation and monitoring of Masts output on a national and international level. Dave added “Either way the evidence falls I can assure residents we will seek to act in their best interests as well as taking appropriate action and hearing their views once the evidence and facts are available, as so they are informed adequately, if the evidence and facts suggest there is cause for concern, then we will do all we can to see them removed, however the income and improvements they brought to the estate over the past two decades, it would be reckless to remove them if there is no such facts to suggest they are harmful”

In previous years, WERA has contributed the funds generated from having the masts to The Weir Link, to the building of the play park. To date there is no reported or known cases that anyone on the estate or nationally has suffered as a result of living close by a mast or mobile phone base station.

The issue itself is widely investigated by scientists and experts both nationally and internationally and there is new guidance and information due to be published later this year.

The aerials which are 19.8 meters tall had planning permission granted despite some residents concerns.  It is understood an independent audit of the strength of signal coming from them has never been tested one thing the enquiry seeks to change. The enquiry will also look at if there had been any known increases with the department of health in such things as Cancer or leukaemia in children. It hopes to be able to provide the latest and most in-depth information possible before presenting its findings. Mr McEvoy wouldn’t say how long this would take only commenting “It will take as long as it takes until we are satisfied one way or the other we have conclusively looked at every possibility before making any recommendations to those living on the estate and those who are concerned.”

With the amount of facts and evidence available from the reports published there is expected to be some substantial time before the findings are published.

The association has already rejected further aerials being placed on the estate at this stage and has agreed at a recent meeting no to enter into any renegotiations or asking Lambeth for the aerials to be removed until after its inquiry and a decision by the Association.

However, the final say will rest with Lambeth Council who owns the buildings and land of Weir Estate.

Weir Estate Residents Association could meet one its major priorities for 2010, early this year following a new link with Lambeth’s Youth Offending Service (YOS). The estate is set to become a project to paint the railings across the estate by young offenders as part of their community pay back.

WERA’s Chair has approached the service to rejuvenate the tired looking railings across the estate, which have not been painted for some time. The young people who have been given a community punishment order by a court for varying crimes from street robbery to theft, serve their order by working as part of YOS. Community Pay-Back is a way for young offenders to give back to society for their crime, serving between 5 and 35 hours a week. The youths are always supervised by members of the YOS, and are aged between 10 to 18 years old. Youths will start painting the railings by the play park, brightening the area for children after years of neglect has led to the appearance of railings looking tired and run down. The estate will be the first project of its type over this side of Lambeth.

WERA now aims to work with the Youth Offending Service supported by the Safer Neighbourhood Team to give a new lick of paint expected to start later on this month as part of the borough wide ‘Fresh View’ programme to improve Lambeth housing estates. This is then expected to continue across the estate to paint the other railings across the whole estate. Dave McEvoy, WERA’s Chair spoke of his excitement at the new partnership “Our estates appearance has already been transformed and we now want to grow upon this and continue to improve our estate for the benefit of residents. I am thrilled that we can do this by assisting young offenders to give back to the community.”

The railings now stand out as Lambeth Living does not have the funds to paint the railings. Weir Estate which has the lowest crime figures for the whole of Lambeth has the support of the local safer neighbourhood team, who believe this is a great way to change the face of the estate while giving young criminals the chance to re-pay their debt following conviction in court.

Residents can rest assured that anyone who is high risk will not be part of the programme and those on the project are supervised by members of Staff from the Youth Offending Team which is run by Lambeth Council.

During a recent meeting, a member of YOT assured WERA that “Most offenders just want to get on and do the task at hand and get their time over-with, this is a great project to allow them to do that”

WERA will now seek donations of materials from the business sector and local contractors. Fresh View takes place where contractors target an area to clean it up. Removing graffiti and cleaning of rubbish and recycling bins. However this time Weir will get its railings painted in order to brighten and improve the estate for residents for many years to come.

Chair, Dave McEvoy added “WERA is striving to make our estate the best it can be and this is one more step to really making the area we live in fantastic for all those who visit the estate.” He also urged residents to get involved and support the project.

Young Offenders will work for about six hours and will be welcomed into the Weir Link for refreshments as a kind good will gesture by the Centres Trustees.

Newspaper reports have suggested that, the controversial company managing residents housing in Lambeth will be dismissed in a year if it does not improve on its performance. Their performance has angered some residents and leaseholders, after what some say was an inconclusive consultation result.

The council’s Labour administration has said if it is re-elected in May, it would effectively give Lambeth Living 12 months to achieve a two star Audit Commission rating, or the Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) would be given the boot.  Should Lambeth Living achieve a two star rating this would unlock £250m of decent homes funding set aside by the Government – this is an equivalent of £8,000 to improve each council home with new kitchens and bathrooms to thousands of Lambeth homes.

Leader of the Council, Steve Reed said: “Council tenants and leaseholders have put up with substandard housing services for too long.  The decent homes funding is vital to turn around housing in Lambeth. If they do not get the two star rating within a year, they will be sacked, it’s that simple.” The crucial Audit Commission inspection is set to take place next summer. Brixton Hill Councillor and Leader of the current administration controlling Lambeth Council, Cllr Reed said ‘Lambeth Living would only be saved after a failed inspection if it was obvious a further inspection within six months would provide the two star rating.’ He commented he was however confident after discussions with ALMO bosses the target could and would be achieved. The ALMO has proved massively unpopular with tenants and leaseholders, who have seen the quality of housing services they receive, deteriorate over the years Lambeth Living has been operating Lambeth’s Housing stock.

It has also been previously rocked by a string of scandals including residents being charged twice for maintenance works, being vastly overcharged for bills, and with just two of over 100 tower blocks having valid fire safety certificates, said to be one of the worst records across London. A scathing Audit Commission report last year said housing had worsened under Lambeth Living.

Lambeth Living’s recently appointed Chair, Keith Hill remained upbeat despite the threat of Lambeth Living’s dismissal “Lambeth Council is quite right to insist on high standards from Lambeth Living. We look forward to responding to their tough demands, and we are confident that we can improve our performance in the direction of the two stars.”

Councillor Reed said whether the ALMO model would be scrapped should Lambeth Living be sacked would be subject to a public consultation.  He said much would depend on the £250m still being guaranteed if a Conservative Government was elected.

Many residents have complained of poor service from Lambeth Living after it was introduced in 2008. Leaseholders across the borough have also been left fuming after receiving bills for works and contracts that didn’t exist.

However, Lambeth Living is working hard to meet the targets set out by the government auditors. Many residents’ homes are in desperate need of works to bring their homes up to a decent living standard. Should they meet this standard in the next 12 months this will give them much needed income to carry out the works to homes.