Double standards...

Nearly four months after our meeting with the Council and O'Donovans and not the slightest sign of feedback and support from the powers that be.

O’Donovans must be laughing at just how powerless we are. So, how do we, as local residents, get these very serious issues addressed and taken seriously by a council that seems to care little for this part of the borough. Even though the little incidents posted below mean that they can no longer deny that they happen, why would they worry? Nothing happens as a result of it.

But, the bigger issue is that by not addressing our very legitimate issues the council is condoning their practices - many of which mean breaking the law.

Double standards again...

- What's OK for businesses - is not OK for residents

- What's OK for this part of the borough - is not OK for the west...

As more and more people are crammed into this area and want to access Markfield Park, the schools, river, cafe and museum it is simply a matter of time before there is an accident. Yes, so far there hasn't been one - but O'Donovans have now expanded to another two sites and there have been plenty of near misses and hairy moments (including my own five year old nearly going under a wheel that was bigger than me when a site vehicle was driving on the pavement).

The weather is improving, the park is nearly finished but I'm not sure how much I'll be using it. There are O'Donovans lorries driving around even on Sundays. ITAL lorries parked on the crossover so even on Sundays you have to walk in the middle of the road. Stressful with children.

Think I'd rather drive out of borough - it's safer. So much for GREEN Haringey.

MARCH UPDATE… O’DONOVANS

Verbal Abuse & Danger –O’Donovans unable to dispute any of them (And we're only half way through the month...)

Well, tempers are beginning to fray asO’Donovans continue with their bid for world domination with expansion without the slightest regard for the safety – let alone the wellbeing – of residents and people passing through.

PUBLIC SET-TO – Tuesday 9 March, 3.30

Verbal Abuse & Danger –O’Donovans unable to dispute any of them

On tooting to prompt a lorry to move so that a car could pass from entrance to Markfield, the driver received a torrent of abuse. Fed up with this, she then visited Jackie O’Donovan who followed her out of her office and witnessed for herself her employee start swearing again at the resident (silly man, hadn’t realised that Jackie had been following along behind).

Whilst the set-to was underway, the resident was also able to point out the sort of typical situation that happens which O’Donovans claim never happens…

A large high backed lorry was using an arm to put a second lorry on tow – ie back end to back end. Both pavements were blocked. A woman and buggy trying to get to the PUBLIC PARK was then forced to walk between the two lorries in the middle of the road – approximately 6 feet.

So, undeniable proof indeed that the workforce don’t respect residents but also the justification for all this.

Jackie O’Donovan's view is

• It is an industrial area
• O’Donovans have been there for ever – ie much longer than the residents (ie ‘newcomers’) - subtext everyone should keep their nose out.

So

• when did the pavements become the property of O’Donovans?
• when did the roads/public highways become part of their industrial site?

Tempers are fraying…

REVERSING…

The reversing of large lorries out of their site onto the road continues. We’re waiting for pictures of another incident this time involving an adult trying to manage FIVE under five’s whilst a monster truck reverses towards them…

March Update... Prefabs

The council think the site is secured after the fire… hah! They wouldn’t think so if they lived here and had a 5 year old who could wander in without having to climb over anything or if they saw the way that the flytipping continues unabated…

But, things may be stirring… a letter from a head honcho apologising that we had to contact them… and an unconditional offer put in to buy the land, with the promise of removing the prefabs, irrespective of planning permission. Wow! And, it gets better, if it were to go ahead they would consult with local community and put in community services… Our response was – is it April Fool’s day. Apparently not. All that remains to be seen now is just how ‘tight’ Sanctuary are with the council.

We waited with bated breath… in the meantime the ‘secured’ burnt out premises remain ‘unsecured’ meaning that the flytipping continues unabated…

Pictures to come…

March update… The usual bits and bobs

ITAL & Co – well, they just get worse. Still parking on the pavement. Lorries driving to fast to enter Thorntask. Still unloading using cranes and pallets of blocks whilst they let people walk directly underneath…

Question for the council: where’s the health and safety officer in all of this?

Car Lot – Stamford Road - the car lot at the bottom of Stamford Road is slowly reverting back to its old ways with cars parked on the yellows and their gates opening on to the road making it dangerous for cars turning in and pedestrians walking by. The visit from Sgt Williams from the SNT proved effective for a while but they do need to be ‘reminded’.

Question for the council: where are parking? Why aren’t they being ticketed? That would solve it quickly enough.

Newton Road Development – at the point of giving up complaining. They have now taken over huge swathes of road and it is regularly completely blocked by delivery vans making it difficult for cars and pedestrians. There are never any road signs or people managing traffic even though it is always at 8.30 just as it’s busy because it’s right next door to Earlsmead Primary School.

Question for the council: where is parking? why isn’t it being dealt with?