Haringey: Lib Dems Welcome Belated Action on Council-Owned Hostel

11.53.00am GMT Tue 13th Sep 2005

Following pressure from Lib Dem Councillor for Stroud Green Laura Edge, Haringey Council has finally taken the first steps towards improving its management of a hostel for homeless people in Stapleton Hall Road N4. However, more needs to be done to compensate for years of neglect.

A local resident contacted Cllr Edge in June to complain about various aspects of the management of the property including:

Health and Safety -Bulk rubbish dumped outside property

Security Risk - No lock on side gate of property allowing access to back garden to non-residents

Water Damage - Pipe on the side of property broken for many years causing water to stream down the side of the building

Structural Concerns - Visible subsidence

The resident said that he had reported these issues to the Council on countless occasions over many years without any result.

Now, following the intervention of Councillor Edge the Council has cleared the rubbish outside the property and reminded tenants of their obligation to keep it tidy. It has also agreed to fit the side gate with a lock so that only tenants can access the back garden.

Details of the damaged pipe and subsidence have been passed to the repairs team and Cllr Edge is keeping up the pressure on the Council to ensure that action is taken as soon as possible.

Cllr Edge comments:

"Local residents have suffered long enough, I am pleased that the Council finally seems to be taking its responsibilities seriously. However, I am determined to ensure that these long-overdue repairs do not slip through the net and will continue to keep a close eye on the situation".