MAIDEN LANE ESTATE

NEW CAMPAIGN: ALL OUR HOMES.
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Cllr Fulbrook, Camden's housing supremo, has said: "Demolishing people's homes is not something that the new Labour administration would do." However . . .
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A message from the webmaster.
I have enjoyed setting up and running this estate website for all these years. As many of you know, I have particularly enjoyed tweaking the tails of over-mighty Camden Council officials! However, after seventeen years I will be leaving the estate and going to another flat elsewhere in the borough. I will therefore be bowing out in a week or two. If there is anyone who would like to take over and run this website do get in touch. You can use the fill-in form lower down this page to contact me. In the meantime, a farewell to Maiden Lane Estate and the good friends I have made here!

Peter Preston
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AGM: the EMB scrapes in.
The Maiden Lane Local Management Association held an Annual General Meeting on 13th October.

At the meeting, a motion to transfer responsibility for the repairs and maintenance of the estate fully back to the council was raised but no vote was allowed on the motion since there had been insufficient notification to the residents.

Six residents were then voted in to form the new EMB.

A further vote to allow the EMB to continue to represent the residents was passed by a narrow margin: ten votes for, seven votes against - with three abstentions.
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Policing Cantelowes:
Following the London riots, Camden police are mounting Operation Kirkin which involves 153 extra officers on patrol in the borough. Camden police tell us that through CCTV images more individuals involved in the riots have been identified in Camden than in any other London borough. Most of these people were found to be in possession of Class A drugs. These individuals are being interviewed and, where appropriate, brought before the courts.

Kentish Town Safer Neighbourhood Team is being merged with our own Cantelowes SNT. The police officer in charge is Sgt P. Ryan, telephone: 02087212756, e-mail: cantelowes.snt@met.police.uk.
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Peace at last?
Following nearly two years of severe anti-social behaviour, the residents of Broadfield Lane can look forward to some uninterrupted sleep at last. On 13th September, the noisiest resident in that block was sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended for one year, for contempt of court over the trouble caused.

A further hearing is scheduled this month. This website will keep you informed.
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A backwards look . . .
When the council first announced its plans to demolish half the estate there was a huge outcry. That was nearly four years ago. Under the original plans, 215 homes would have been demolished and the displaced residents would then have had to fight for replacement flats through the council's appalling bidding process - amid tens of thousands of homeless people on the waiting list. These replacement homes could have been anywhere in Camden - and they could have been in any condition, too: the term 'rat hole' might well have applied. There would have been precious little choice. A 'disturbance payment' of a thousand pounds was to have covered the costs of the move. And that would have been that. We can thank Cllr Braithwaite and his cronies for this horrendous demolition plan.

Save All Our Homes has fought these proposals on behalf of all the residents who faced demolition - and we have been 90% successful. From Rosebank Walk to Broadfield Lane the estate has been saved from demolition - including Elm Friars Walk, Linkwood and Allensbury Place. At present there is only a residual proposal to demolish the Maiden Lane 1-55 flats. Even here, we have made sure the residents would be offered replacement flats on the land presently occupied by the commercial site next to York Way and the estate. The compensation has also been increased nearly five-fold, largely due to our efforts.

It will be for the residents of Maiden Lane 1- 55 to decide their own future. They will not be bullied or lied to by the Council - not while All Our Homes is around! We will see to that. We will now wait to see what the Council has to offer in its new plans.
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The new proposal:
Below is the ground plan of the estate (with north at the top). The red line marks its boundaries. At the south east corner is the commercial site where nobody lives at present. On the eastern edge of the estate is the York Way entrance. Two small blocks are picked out in dark blue. These are the Maiden Lane 1 - 55 blocks which the Council proposes to demolish so as to allow the new development (in light blue) to be built. Note that Rosebank Walk, Linkwood, Allensbury Place, Elm Friars Walk and Broadfield Lane have all been saved from demolition - as have all the flats on Maiden Lane itself that are numbered 56 and upwards.

demo1.jpg ... Shift+R improves the quality of this image. CTRL+F5 reloads the whole page.

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The National Health Service:
Camden's 'Keep Our NHS Public' campaign is very active. (Click here for their website.) There was a public meeting on May 9th in the Town Hall. Frank Dobson, MP addressed the meeting. On 17th May, there was a London-wide demonstration against the government's plans for the NHS. It was reported in the national newspapers and on television.

The Andrew Lansley rap:

Andrew Lansley, MP is the government's Health Secretary. There is now an Andrew Lansley rap which takes the lid off the government plans for the NHS. Click here to view this rap.
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Housing Minister announces £2 billion funds.
The Coalition Government's Housing Minister announced recently that £2 billion would be made available for estates like ours which need to be brought up to the Decent Homes Standard. If Camden Council gets its act together it could apply for the £17.4 million needed to regenerate Maiden Lane Estate - without the need for anyone's home to be demolished at all.

See "Lobbying Parliament" below.

Click here and here for the original web items.
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A Waste of Time And Money.
Save All Our Homes leafleted the whole estate several months ago. Our leaflet carried a message from Dave Barnes, a former Maiden Lane estate manager exposing the huge waste in the council's failed attempts to fix our roofs and windows. Six million pounds appears to have been thrown away. Take a look at the articles below on this website and you will see what we mean.
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Dave Barnes Writes:
"During my sixteen years as an estate manager at Maiden Lane I saw millions of pounds thrown at the myriad problems across the estate. Most of this was a total waste, which included new roofs that leaked at the first rainfall and complete windows and frames that fell out shortly after installation. The problem is that the council and its senior management have little or no idea how to manage and enforce the terms and conditions of contracts, large or small. Hence their recent plans for wholesale demolition of what is essentially a structurally sound estate. Let's hope the new administration can get a grip, but don't hold your breath as they also presided over years of mismanagement, wholesale waste and decline."

Dave Barnes, as well as being an estate manager on Maiden Lane Estate was for many years a councillor in the neighbouring borough of Islington.
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What next for Save All Our Homes?
The threat of demolition affecting up to 215 decent families has receded but there remains a great deal more to do. This campaign intends to monitor the plans that the Regeneration Team comes up with - to make sure there's no backsliding by Council officers. But we hope to do more than just that.

We are aware that the estate is in a sorry condition. We also know that many residents are suffering because their homes have been neglected for so long by Council officials. We plan to keep the pressure on these officials by preparing a Neglect Dossier.

This dossier will be an illustrated record of all the neglect that Council officials have allowed to happen - both on the outside of our homes and in the interiors. For this purpose we will change the name of our campaign. It will now be known as All Our Homes to emphasise this new purpose.
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New campaign: All Our Homes

The Neglect Dossier.
Below you can see a fill-in form. The new anti-neglect campaign invites you to use it to tell us about any neglect that you have suffered at the hands of Council officials. We will then compile a dossier on it all and we will pursue the Council officers responsible.

If you are suffering from anti-social behaviour from your neighbour, if your flat is overcrowded, if your roof leaks or if your drains are blocked - we want to hear from you.

Use the form below to tell us what you want to feature in the Neglect Dossier:

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Neglect
The first pictures in our Neglect Dossier are published below. They speak for themselves. The Council must act and ACT NOW! More pictures will be published shortly. Keep watching this website. If you have a problem in your home that the Council is neglecting or if you have any photos you would like to appear on the website get in contact.

Subsidence

Fungal stains

Cracks indicating subsidence have appeared on the main Maiden Lane block. The mildewed and stained walls of the block near York Way are a disgrace - they have been like this for years.

Never cleaned

Grime

Windows on this stairwell tower have never been cleaned at all. Grime on the upper section of this wall is a disgrace. It, too, has never been cleaned.

Peeling paint

Rust stains

The paint is peeling off this walkway. In winter the residue makes it mildewed and slimy underfoot. Rust stains make this play area unsightly. They have been like this for years.

Job abandoned

Never cleaned

The painting job which followed a car's engine fire was abandoned half way. The wall near Allensbury Place has never been cleaned in spite of the fact that the EMB bought a high-pressure cleaner to do jobs like this.

Job unfinished

Cracks ignored

The painting of these railings has also been left unfinished. Cracks in the concrete and stained walls have been left to make the estate unsightly.

Flowers killed

Water damage

Spring flowers used to bloom in this planter. However, the council stupidly covered the area with a tarpaulin - and then with woodchips. The snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils underneath were thus killed off - to leave this desert. Since then, however, Maiden Lane Community Enterprises have replanted the area and there should now be a good display for the summer. A crack in this concrete roof has been left for years. As a result water drips through and further damages the structure.

Concrete tiles

Leaking roofs

A bird's eye view reveals the Council's neglect. The concrete tiles here have been moved and not replaced. They now resemble a rubble field rather than a roof. Is it any wonder that these roofs leak?

Yet more grime

Never used

Grime on this wall at St Paul's Crescent: has it ever been cleaned? The Old People's Centre at Allensbury Place has never been used for old people in over fifteen years.

Drug dealing 1

Drug dealing 2

Drug-dealing takes place in these two locations: 1. the passageway by the railway line on the western side of the estate and 2. the passageway between the small Maiden Lane block and York Way. The police have been informed but why has the Council not acted? (If you witness anything suspicious in these locations phone the police on 02074041212)

Matters raised by All Our Homes on behalf of residents:

All Our Homes has begun to help residents of the estate who write in to this webpage with their problems. Among the problems raised so far have been:

1. Anti-social behaviour in Elm Friars Walk.

2. The Council allocations policy as it affects relatives of residents already living on the estate.

3. Rat infestation.

4. The allocation of flats to anti-social tenants has been challenged on behalf of the decent residents in Broadfield Lane.

5. The unco-operative attitude of both the Housing Patrol and the Weekend Noise Service has been raised with the Council.

6. Drug dealing in Elm Friars walk.

7. Water leaks: Water from an upstairs flat was allowed to damage this ceiling for over six months.

Water leak

Electrical danger

Water even flooded in through the electrical fitting in the ceiling. This was highly dangerous, of course.

Leaking roof

Striplight

In yet another resident's flat, water comes through a leaking roof whenever it rains. Rainwater ruins this ceiling and even collects inside the electric striplight. The danger is unimaginable. This has been reported many times to the Council but nothing has been done.
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LEAVE YOUR OWN VIEWS ON OUR BLOG BELOW:

"Absolutely great! Maiden Lane Estate needs an honest voice."

- Jacqui Crimmins, former EMB Chairwoman.

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"It's about time we fought back. UNITE AND FIGHT!"

- Hugh McDade, former EMB Chairman.

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"There is no rush. We have waited this long, we will wait till Camden has the money.

"HANDS OFF OUR LAND, CAMDEN! You can have your industrial estate. BUT HANDS OFF OUR LAND, CAMDEN!"

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"Why would you demolish this classic piece of social housing . . . it must not happen . . . I loved it the first time I saw it fifteen years ago and I love it even more today . . . I would like to live there myself some day."

- Tim Brightmore

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"Keep up the good work! What an outrage! [by the Lib Dem/Tory Camden administration] £14 million underspend, a wilful refusal last year to put up the Council tax in line with general inflation, massive cuts in the voluntary sector ... and then this 'sale of the family silver' approach to housing management."

- Cllr Julian Fulbrook, Chair of Housing.

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"Even the previous Labour Council baulked at the idea of demolition as an option to regenerate our estate during the last round of PFI privatisation proposals. This new Con-Dem administration seems to care little for our needs and rights, rather prefering to sell-off, slash & burn public assets and services. SAY NO, NOW!!!"

Rob McWilliam, former EMB Chairman.

"They can find the money to offer to residents to move out because they want to bring in the demolition teams. That won't be cheap - and then they'll get the developers to come in to make a start. Don't think they will stop at just one or two blocks. This land is worth a cool mint, all they are thinking of is how much money they can make by doing this to us - that way they will wash their hands of the able-bodied and the few disabled people that live here. Remember, the council sold off the section of our housing that had been reserved for sick and disabled people. Now they only have a few adapted flats left. They have the proceeds sitting in the bank earning them even more money. Why can't they use it to fix our homes and our surroundings? Instead, they want to use it to bribe residents to leave their homes. Remember what happened to the disabled woman (in the CNJ. See above). The council got her out of her adapted flat saying it badly needed repairs. She hoped to move back within six months, but instead, when she opened her newspaper, she discovered the council had sold her home at auction for £715.000. She was then placed in a rathole by council officials and is still waiting for rehousing. Open your eyes, people, we have rights! Don't believe anything they tell you, work it out for yourselves. The private developers will pay over the top for this piece of real estate. It's worth a fortune. Allowing them to bring the bulldozers onto our estate will mean they have won. They themselves wouldn't want to live on a building site but that's what they are banking on us doing. They are hoping that we'll get fed up once the bulldozers start and concede to their terms. A great big NO to demolition of our estate!"

- Diana McCleary, former EMB Treasurer.

"You should not trust any elected or paid council official. All are proven liars. Trust in yourselves alone. Do not fall for the consultation process, Camden Council will use it to lie to the outside world. Consultations are usually ignored by elected or unelected officials. Remember, if voting changed anything it would have been abolished a long time ago. My understanding is you have already had two large and expensive consultations where you voted against PFI - and an ALMO. How many more times do the Camden Council liars have to be told?"

- Anonymous blog entry.

"Well done for exposing the truth about how deviously Camden Council operates. "Consultations" are merely tick-box exercises with little meaning behind them. Be wary of some rotten tenants who parade themselves as 'representatives' - as they are equally devious and underhanded. Visit the "Corrupt Camden Council Website" to find out more."

- A Camden Resident

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"I was very interested to see your site. My Society (The Twentieth Century Society) has forwarded phase I of the Maiden Lane Estate to English Heritage for official Listing - but at the time did not consider your phase II worthy.

However, we still see Maiden Lane Estate phase II as a fundamentally successful piece of design - designed whilst the Council were still world class in their handling of public housing provision (seems a long time ago now).

We believe no planning decisions should be made until the Listing has been decided on and the Society oppose the demolition of phase II.

Please keep the Society informed as the campaign continues."

- Jon Wright, The Twentieth Century Society.

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"All Camden tenents should get together on an arranged day of protest and march to the Town Hall (ie. civil disobedience) .We should also bombard housing officers' and councillors' email addresses!"

- C. French
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"Good luck with your campaign!"

- Mandy Grey
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"Well done for exposing Pat Hayden! . . . . . . My own story is on the 'Pat Hayden Files' website. [See above.] Good luck to all of you!"

- John McKenna
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"I don't actually live in Maiden Lane Estate but live nearby and was very concerned when I heard about the threat to the estate. Is there any news regarding the threat? Is there anything local people can do to fight this or raise awareness etc?"

- B. Bennett.
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It is with some concern (and completely by accident) that I came across your website tonight featuring the threat to the Maiden Lane Estate. I wish this were the only example. In Greenwich and Kidbrooke the Ferrier Estate is being badly redeveloped at the cost of formerly secure housing and in Hammersmith and Fulham several estates are under threat from the policies of the Tory leader Stephen Greenhalgh. I link these issues simply to draw your attention to them knowing there is strength in numbers and in the hope that a cross London common association can be formed to fight such schemes in future.

- Paul Bird

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"Camden council is an appallingly bad landlord. Housing management is a law
unto itself and gets away with the most appalling abuses against residents
- this is not right and it is not acceptable to the many decent tenants we
have in Camden. Tenant participation is a bad joke with no signs of improving.
Our landlord wastes £2-3 MILLION pounds a year on this bad joke. The
council says it wants more tenants to 'participate' but this is a lie - they don't
because they are afraid that new tenants will come with new ideas and
challenge the rotten status quo. Crooked tenant 'reps' who have their greedy
snouts in the publicly-funded trough do not help matters."

- Tracy Morgan

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"I fear for the residents of Maiden Lane - you have appointed Solon
as your independent advisors - take a leaf out of our book - appoint TPAS
as soon as you can - they really stick up for tenants' rights!"

- Leroy Francis

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"Great site! It's comforting to know that some tenants are taking active
measures to fight against the rotten behaviour of Camden Council officers
and our so-called 'democratically elected representatives' - and their dodgy
deals. You are not alone! Come visit my site:
Camden Council Rotten Landlord."

- 'Ms Understood'
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 "I think the Council should get on with the work
                  and make it a good place to live - and make it look decent." 
- Richard Hammond

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	"To us who have been around on this estate for the past 18+ years the THEFT and fraudulent actions by Camden Council employees and Labour politicians has resulted in what we have today. People new to this place blame the new Lib Dems who now have political control but the real power in Camden is in the hands of non-elected council officers who have been there for years and who have robbed the working class of Camden of decent housing whilst looking after themselves and their cronies. How many of these live on estates like ours?" - Frank Thomas ___________________

Disclaimer: The campaign itself and the editor of this website are not responsible for the views expressed by correspondents to this blog nor for views expressed on linked websites.

Design by PP Web Design. July 17, 2009.