editor
hiraethified
If you want to prep a template letter, I could stick it on BrixtonBuzz pronto.
Carlton Mansions co-op, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton - history and news
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TruXta
tired
I'd be happy to send an email to councillors too if someone could make a boilerplate for us.
Brixton Hatter
Home is south London mate
Brixton Hatter
Home is south London mate
If anyone wants to write a letter, just say evicting people is unfair, you don't agree, the fire thing is bollocks, you won't vote for them etc etc....use your loaf
TruXta
tired
Copied and pasted, thanks bruv.If anyone wants to write a letter, just say evicting people is unfair, you don't agree, the fire thing is bollocks, you won't vote for them etc etc....use your loaf
Brixton Hatter
Home is south London mate
probbins@lambeth.gov.uk
- Pete Robbins Cabinet member for housingrheywood@lambeth.gov.uk
- Rachel Heywood councillor for coldharbour wardmparr1@lambeth.gov.uk
- Matt Parr councillor for coldharbour wardDAnyanwu@lambeth.gov.uk
- Donatus Anyanwu councillor for coldharbour wardmore here http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/moderngov/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1
TruXta
tired
I retweeted a few of your missives, will have a go at an email to a few of these as well.
Do you think you can get a postponement due to the lack of notice from them?
shifting gears
Well-Known Member
I've just emailed them, here's what i wrote:
Dear councillors,
I'm writing to express my grave concerns about the ongoing situation with regard to the residents of the Carlton Mansions co-operative.
As a local resident, I'm apalled to see Lambeth Council seemingly acting in an underhand way, while attempting to speed up the eviction of these tenants, who have already accepted that they will be moved on nearer the time of the development. The fire assessment certainly seems to have come at a convenient time for LC - are you prepared for the premises to be independently assessed?
Increasingly it appears that LC are not taking the needs of long-term residents seriously enough - and resorting to bullying tactics where deemed necessary.
By scheduling snap-meetings you are not allowing the tenants adequate time to prepare their case - which further reinforces my belief that you do not have their best interests at heart.
I and many other local residents I know are increasingly disillusioned with the way LC conducts its affairs - it would appear it's business first, residents second - and that is no way for a council to conduct itself.
Yours sincerely
Dear councillors,
I'm writing to express my grave concerns about the ongoing situation with regard to the residents of the Carlton Mansions co-operative.
As a local resident, I'm apalled to see Lambeth Council seemingly acting in an underhand way, while attempting to speed up the eviction of these tenants, who have already accepted that they will be moved on nearer the time of the development. The fire assessment certainly seems to have come at a convenient time for LC - are you prepared for the premises to be independently assessed?
Increasingly it appears that LC are not taking the needs of long-term residents seriously enough - and resorting to bullying tactics where deemed necessary.
By scheduling snap-meetings you are not allowing the tenants adequate time to prepare their case - which further reinforces my belief that you do not have their best interests at heart.
I and many other local residents I know are increasingly disillusioned with the way LC conducts its affairs - it would appear it's business first, residents second - and that is no way for a council to conduct itself.
Yours sincerely
Thimble Queen
Called away to another place
I've emailed the contacts listed above xx
editor
hiraethified
I've posted both templates up on BrixtonBuzz, tweeted it via urban75 and BBuzz accounts, plus Facebook. I've also emailed the councillors and invited them to respond here.
boohoo Gramsci
boohoo Gramsci
Thimble Queen
Called away to another place
I've been round at Carlton this evening helping one of the residents pack up hr stuff in case the worst happens. Really hope they caj fight this 
Carlton Mansions housing co-operative is a vibrant community, which has had no opportunity to get independent advice or to prepare a case. It does indeed seem strange that a housing co-operative with an excellent safety record, that has played an active role in and with the local community for decades housing local people, is facing this summary guillotine.
In the days of the 1980s when Brixton was not seen as such a salubrious vicinity, and during the uprisings, it is telling that the building was never once touched; not being seen as an 'enemy' to the people of Brixton.
There is an irony to this. The building used to have an extra door at one side, and at the other an emergency exit wide enough to allow a truck to pass through. Why is access to this now denied?
In the days of the 1980s when Brixton was not seen as such a salubrious vicinity, and during the uprisings, it is telling that the building was never once touched; not being seen as an 'enemy' to the people of Brixton.
There is an irony to this. The building used to have an extra door at one side, and at the other an emergency exit wide enough to allow a truck to pass through. Why is access to this now denied?
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
We are going to argue that tomorrow.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Its like being in a Kafka nightmare.
The Council is causing more distress by doing this than leaving us here until the building is needed for the Somerleyton project.
We have already told Council that we would leave when it was needed for the redevelopment of Somerleyton road.
The court papers do not acknowledge that we are a Coop. Nor do they acknowledge that Coop have history of participating in Council consultations over the years. ie Brixton Masterplan, Brixton SPD and recent consultation on the Somerleyton road project. Which the Council have been saying is being done in consultation with the community. As one of my Ward Cllrs said the Council is doing things differently in involving the local community in this project.
The Council is causing more distress by doing this than leaving us here until the building is needed for the Somerleyton project.
We have already told Council that we would leave when it was needed for the redevelopment of Somerleyton road.
The court papers do not acknowledge that we are a Coop. Nor do they acknowledge that Coop have history of participating in Council consultations over the years. ie Brixton Masterplan, Brixton SPD and recent consultation on the Somerleyton road project. Which the Council have been saying is being done in consultation with the community. As one of my Ward Cllrs said the Council is doing things differently in involving the local community in this project.
Brixton Hatter
Home is south London mate
blimey
Brixton Hatter
Home is south London mate
excellent - I find it hard to be so articulate when I'm angry
Brixton Hatter
Home is south London mate
I suspected as much. Absolutely appalling action on behalf of the Labour group.
free spirit
more tea vicar?
this looks to be a good guide to fire safety in HMOs including compartmentalisation rules
http://www.safelincs.co.uk/fire-safety-information-for-landlords/
looks like it really boils down to whether the building is interpreted as being a low risk household, larger property etc. which would be pretty subjective.
A long history of operation without any fire incidents ought to help to demonstrate that it should be classified as a relatively low risk property.
at a minimum I'd think you should have interlinked smoke and heat detecting fire alarm throughout the main risk areas of the building, and stair way, emergency lighting in the stairway, fire extinguishuers and blankets in stairwell etc. As long as the ceilings, walls etc are solidly plastered, and the doors to the main corridors are solid that should probably be ok for a low risk building.
If you've got an external fire escape out the back, then there should be no need for compartmentalisation IMO, asssuming each floor has fire exists onto the escape route, as you don't need a 30 minute fire rated corridor for people to escape through - they can get straight out to the fire escape.
that's my quick thoughts, not that I'm personally an expert, but have had to deal with fire safety law for using buildings for public events, so learnt about 30 minute fire corridors etc for that.
As I've said,I do have an expert on hand in the form of my dad, who's taught a good proportion of the fire safety officers and consultants in the country.
http://www.safelincs.co.uk/fire-safety-information-for-landlords/
looks like it really boils down to whether the building is interpreted as being a low risk household, larger property etc. which would be pretty subjective.
A long history of operation without any fire incidents ought to help to demonstrate that it should be classified as a relatively low risk property.
at a minimum I'd think you should have interlinked smoke and heat detecting fire alarm throughout the main risk areas of the building, and stair way, emergency lighting in the stairway, fire extinguishuers and blankets in stairwell etc. As long as the ceilings, walls etc are solidly plastered, and the doors to the main corridors are solid that should probably be ok for a low risk building.
If you've got an external fire escape out the back, then there should be no need for compartmentalisation IMO, asssuming each floor has fire exists onto the escape route, as you don't need a 30 minute fire rated corridor for people to escape through - they can get straight out to the fire escape.
that's my quick thoughts, not that I'm personally an expert, but have had to deal with fire safety law for using buildings for public events, so learnt about 30 minute fire corridors etc for that.
As I've said,I do have an expert on hand in the form of my dad, who's taught a good proportion of the fire safety officers and consultants in the country.
Brixton Hatter
Home is south London mate
Brixton Blog have done an article with a few more details:
http://www.brixtonblog.com/lambeth-council-seeks-injunction-against-carlton-mansions/11961
Including this sick kick in the teeth:
Arseholes.
http://www.brixtonblog.com/lambeth-council-seeks-injunction-against-carlton-mansions/11961
Including this sick kick in the teeth:
Arseholes.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Brixton Hatter
Home is south London mate
"After we have evicted you from your home, we will kindly let you express your views (which we will probably ignore) on how we will redevelop your home in the future. In the meantime, we will leave your former home empty for two years, whilst you are charged nearly £300 a week for temporary accomodation."The Council in the court papers kindoffer is that:
The occupants will be permittedto remain involved with the Somerleyton Regeneration programme after their move from Carlton Mansions.
They will not acknowledge that its a Coop.
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