File:Return to Morrison Yard -3.jpg

English: From : Alan Stanton

Sent : 09 January 2014 03:16 To : Member Enquiries Copy : Cllr Joseph Ejiofor; Cllr Stuart McNamara; Cllr Claire Kober (Leader of the Council); Cllr Joe Goldberg; Subject : Blocked Drains causing puddles in Morrison Yard N17

Member Enquiry

Please see my photos posted taken on 7 January 2014 and posted on Flickr here.   They are from Morrison Yard, N17 where Haringey is rightly proud of several thriving local businesses - including Flourish Bakery and Shades Catering Services.   Unfortunately, Haringey Property Services which manages Morrison Yard isn't quite up the same high standard.   Seeing some large puddles we assumed there were potholes. But it turned out there are probably at least three drain gullies which are blocked or at not working properly. Twigs and a pole mark the locations.   And while the Property Services Team is sorting out the blocked drain gullies can I also ask that someone arranges to get some graffiti cleaned. (Shown in a fourth photo.) It's at the entrance to the alleyway leading to Morrison Yard and the Tottenham Citizen's Advice Bureau offices. It's been there for months but I didn't report it before. I was curious to see if Haringey "Regeneration" or other staff would notice it. Apparently nobody did.

Of course I realise it's exciting for youngish, deeply ambitious, but naive councillors to have influential meetings and perhaps important lunches with the Mayor of London; football club directors; property developers; overpaid consultants; and world famous starchitects.   But you know what? Getting basic services working for local businesses and residents in Tottenham is also regeneration. Even if it's a bit dull and won't appear in The Guardian. In fact being small, modest and do-able it will probably stand more chance of working than pie-in-the-sky Grand Plans for Tottenham which will cost a lot of public money, line a few people's pockets and then melt into air.

Alan Stanton Tottenham Hale ward councillor __________________

From : [Named member of staff} Sent : 23 January 2014 16:58 To : Cllr Alan Stanton Subject : Blocked Drains causing puddles. Our Ref: LBH/2566314

Dear Councillor Stanton,

Thank you for your enquiry in which you have asked that Property Services arrange to have the blocked drains cleared and to have graffiti removed from walls near to the entrance to Morrison Yard.   The Council does not permit access to the flickr website, so your photographs have not been viewed.   A fault report was sent to Haringey Helpdesk on Tuesday 7 January 2014 asking for urgent attention to the blocked drains. The contractor attended the site to clear the drains on the morning of Thursday 9 January 2014 and the yard will be monitored to check if any further blockages occur. It appears that the graffiti is on walls of buildings that are not owned by LBH and therefore Property Services (now Asset Management) cannot take direct action. The location of the graffiti will be investigated and the owner of the affected walls will be approached with a request to have the graffiti removed.   I hope that you are satisfied with my response to your enquiry. If you have any follow-up queries or need more information, please contact the Feedback and Information Governance Team in the first instance.

Yours sincerely, [named member of staff] Asset Management Haringey Council

════════════════════════

My Comment

Did Haringey Council's contractor do a thorough job of cleaning out the drain gullies? It seemed doubtful to me. Though the graffiti 'tag' was cleaned. Whether by the Council or the building's owner, I don't know.

Note too, the paragraph that: "the Council does not permit access to the flickr website, so your photographs have not been viewed." This refers indirectly to a complaint of mine - going back to 2009 - that Haringey senior managers should let their staff look at photos posted on this website which may help them do their jobs.