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Thieves have been stealing bin store containers and dumping rubbish, include 3 lots of tyres, on the Island, in recent months. The cost to residents for fly-tipping alone is currently over £12000 per year! If you see anyone dumping rubbish or acting suspiciously on the Island then report it to the local police on 020 8721 2690 or 101 - and/or the on-site property manager, Iain Campbell, on 01992 769143. If it is an emergency then ring 999.
Bin stores are provided for the use of residents living in the flats. They own/maintain them (and the containers within) through the levy of a service charge and are just adequate enough to cater for the volume of refuse generated by flat residents – no one else!
Resident living in houses do not contribute toward the hire/maintenance costs and, crucially, due to the limited capacity of the containers, are not permitted to use the bin stores – under any circumstances! If householders use the bin stores it is tantamount to flat residents putting their rubbish in your back garden!
Flat owners please be aware that the containers in the bin store should only be used for general household waste and any large furniture items should be disposed of at your local recycling centre. Alternatively, you can contact the local council to make an arrangement with them to collect the items - for which they may make a minimal charge. Details are posted on the notice appended to the bin store.
Be warned. Anyone depositing items other than domestic refuse bags in, or outside of the bin stores is guilty of fly-tipping - which is a criminal offence.
Living in a communal environment, particularly one as picturesque as the Island, carries with it certain (collective) responsibilities. It only takes a small minority; namely those who have little respect for the environment, or others, to spoil it for the remainder. This article is written to highlight an issue which should be of concern to us all; namely, the fouling of residential areas by pets, predominantly dogs! The grass areas and riverside path, particularly, those adjacent to the river Lea next to Dundas, Aldis and Polsten Mews, are often covered in excrement. There are other areas on the Island which are similarly affected.
Every resident has the right to own a pet. The exercising of one’s pet(s), particularly when living within the close confines of a flat, is particularly ‘challenging ‘for owners and requires a greater degree of responsibility than for those living in a house with a garden. Pets are only allowed to be kept by flat residents on the basis that they (the pets!) do not cause a nuisance or offence to others. Clearly, allowing a dog to foul without then clearing up after it, irrespective of whether you live in a flat or a house, is offensive, a criminal offence and also a potential health hazard. Contact with dog faeces can lead to the disease, toxocariasis - eggs of the roundworm toxocara which can be passed from dogs to humans through contact with animal faeces and contaminated soil.
Owners wishing to exercise their dogs are requested to do so on the park land in the middle of the Island. Ideally, dogs should also be kept on a lead whilst in transit to help prevent them from straying onto or fouling residential paved/ grassed areas. Needless to say the practice of some owners to let their dogs/cats out to ‘exercise’ unattended, particularly at night, is highly irresponsible!
The locations of dog litter bins on the Island are: the riverside pathway adjacent to Dundas Mews, on the parkland opposite Fisher Close next to the wooden playpark. opposite Blanchard Grove and Pritchett Close/Manton Road, and two others in close proximity to one another on Thorneycroft Drive and opposite the gymnasium. Owners are asked to use these specialist bins to dispose of any dog excrement. In order to do so please ensure you carry a plastic bag or poop scoop!
Note: the above is a précis update of a letter of guidance first written to residents in February 2011: Dog Fouling.
Concern has been expressed over the councils decision, notified to residents this week (5 March 2012), to role out the use of wheeled bins on the Island. I also contend that the 'imposition' of wheeled bins will also be in breach of one of the Island's restrictive covenants in that:
"No clothes or other objects shall be hung or exposed in the front
garden of the Dwellinghouse and Property"
On 7 February 2012 the trustees were advised that the council were to conduct a road show prior to the role out. On 9 February I wrote to trustees:
Quote.... " At our meeting (with council officials in July 2011) I, as a resident, voiced my concerns - that I was against what I perceived to be the ‘imposition’ of wheeled bins on the Island without the Council taking into account the lack of space and accessibility to many of the properties on the Island. By way of example there is no space in front to my house for wheeled bins and I have no access to my back garden other than through the garage. That is common to many of the townhouses on the Island. The last thing I wish to see on the Island are wheeled bins at the front (or indeed back) of properties with little or no space/access. It does not take much imagination to see how this will affect the look/ambiance of the Island.
I shall be making such representations as a resident but ask that you consider your position as a board in order for you to make any necessary/appropriate representations, as you see fit, to the council on behalf of residents.
Notwithstanding the Council's ‘assurance’ that this will not mean every house on the Island will get a bin, I remain sceptical!" ...Unquote.
I did not receive a reply and am not aware, at the time of writing, what action/representation the trustees have made, if any, on behalf of Island residents.
The council has since provided examples of the types of wheeled bins to be used on the Island. These are next to the Island's Community Centre and, as of 8 March 2012, information leaflets have been distributed to all residents on the Island. Click on this 'link' for more council information, including 'wheeled bin road shows'.
However, and significantly, the leaflets are not consultation documents. They are telling you what has already been decided for your property and make no mention of the fact that you can apply NOT to receive a wheeled bin if you feel having one to be 'inappropriate'.
I have since written to the council as a concerned resident, asking for an exemption, and have pointed out the restrictive covenant clause.
How to apply for an Exemption
The Council's Waste Education Officer has advised that residents can apply NOT to have wheeled bins-subject to meeting one or all of the criteria listed below.
1. There is insufficient physical space for wheeled bins to be place in the front garden. (This can not take into account other items that the resident may wish to store in their garden or landscaping choices)
2. There are more than 3 steps up or down to the bin storage area; extremely steep access may also render premises unsuitable
3. Significant obstruction to access to house or large windows is unavoidable
4. The property is in multiple occupation (flats), in which case an alternative sized container may be used for shared use (e.g. 940, 1100 or 1280 litre)
If there is side or rear garden storage or a garage at the property, an exemption will not apply.
If you apply for an exemption then this is what will happen:
An experienced waste officer surveys the front of each property. This officer is able to consider all factors including physical space, access, steps, and operational issues. A visual assessment is made of the front of each property. In most cases this is adequate. However second assessments are available upon request if any resident feels that the assessment is incorrect. These are undertaken by a different officer and at this stage measurements can be taken if there is any question in the surveyors mind about adequate space being available.
Dear Trustees
You asked for views on the proposal to install CCTV cameras on Enfield Island Village notified at here.
As a resident I am generally in favour of CCTV but am aware that 'surveillance', in any form, can be a contentious issue and the costs to residents, both in the short and long term, and particularly in the current economic climate, are areas of concern which must be addressed/consulted on fully before deciding whether or not to proceed with the proposed grant funded installation. You have now, seemingly, given residents only 22 days notice by way of 'consultation'.
With this in mind can you confirm if you have sought wider exposure/consultation from island residents, other than the posting on your website? I feel it important that all residents on the Island have a say in this proposal for the reasons stated above.
You also have a mailing list of members, of which you know I am one, which you have used in the past to notify residents of important matters - and which is particularly useful when consultation time is so short. Notwithstanding that this will, at best, only capture 1/3 of island residents, can you confirm you will indeed be 'consulting' by this media? Ideally you might wish to consider canvassing for views by letter/flyer to all residents so you, as a board, are seen to consult with the whole island on this important issue? The cost of doing so, circa £300-500, is surely not an issue and the information could, for example, be contained in a general newsletter. If sent out by letter it could be with residents by early next week at the latest - this still gives little time for replies but is surely better than at present? My apologies if you have done/are already doing some or all of the above. If you have then I have missed it.
Can you confirm also who was responsible for obtaining the grant - are you correct in stating it was trustees? My recollection is different - was it not through the initial efforts of the then councillor Norman Ford and the RSA Trust using Section 106 monies?
Residents, as council take payers, will also no doubt wish to know why the council are seeking money from residents for monitoring and maintenance. What other 'communities' for instance contribute towards council funded camera/surveillance? Can you also advise, in respect of the maintenance, the exact terms of the maintenance contract. Is it for a fixed term and/or if residents can expect costs to rise year on year.
Finally, can you put the annual cost of £10k in the context of other Island expenditure. You are currently debating the annual rent charge and I would like to know how this extra expenditure is going to be incorporated/offset against other expenditure items in the Rent Charge estimate prepared for your consideration. You are in an ideal position to provide this information to residents prior to agreeing the rent charge provision for next year and ahead of any decision to proceed with any installation.
The above points are what I, and in in my view other residents, will wish to know to make an informed decision on this matter. I reserve my position as a resident until I hear back from you.
Iain Campbell
25 February 2012
FREE Coffee morning are to be held on the Island every Monday morning commencing 17 October 2011 from 0930 to 1100hrs in the Community Hall (40-42 Island Centre Way - opposite the doctor's surgery). Come meet your neighbour or bring one along! Open to all residents of Enfield Lock and the Island.
For further information contact Martine on 07508 706309
A clay capping material has been installed across the whole of the Island to act as a barrier between the underlying ground and the residents above. Any persons wishing to undertake works at and below the level of the clay should ensure that the Enfield Island Village Trust has been informed and undertake the procedures outlined in Appendix C to the ENVIROS Report.
Residents should be on the lookout for gangs of youths breaking into the communal hallways of flats and loitering/smoking and invariably causing criminal damage. If you come across such youths they are guilty of trespassing and should be told to leave. Please also ensure you call the Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) on 020 8721 2690 or 07920 233773 and ask them to attend to ensure that youths are dispersed and do not move onto another block nearby. It is important that all such incidents are reported to the SNT so that an accurate picture can be taken of the problem and effective measures taken to stop further trespassing incidents.
The preferred contractor for dealing with COMMUNAL blocked drains or sewers on the Island is Total Drainage Services (TDS). In the event of a suspected block drain or sewer contact the managing agent on 01992 769143. Should the blockage occur on a weekend or public holiday then call TDS direct on their emergency telephone number (07813 167352).
Note: The person placing the call will be responsible for paying TDS. However, if on attending TDS deem the blockage to be caused by blockage of a communal drain/facility then you can expect costs to be reimbursed by either the Trust or one of the nine Block Management Companies.