Fire safety: ‘Camden excels in a lack of ability to think, let alone plan’

• CAMDEN’S concern to protect itself from being sued for lack of fire safety reached manic proportions with the hallway purges.

Representatives came to inspect communal hallways, all of which were, at least in our properties, kept safe from clutter by respectful tenants.

In what looked like a hysterical frenzy, our hallways were littered with “remove it” labels stuck to wall pictures and mirrors, and the shelf that our post sits upon, a shelf fully approved previously by Camden and well out of the way of our instructed route out should a fire occur, was also ordered to be removed. Now our post lies on the hall floor leaving us baffled as to how this improves things?

Astonishingly our estate manager contacted adult social services (ASS) to have a disabled senior citizen checked when she said it would be painful to have to bend to pick up post. This was done without the consent of the senior citizen and, to the credit of ASS, they were baffled as to why they were asked to be involved in a communal hallway problem and were apologetic. Their involvement was declined by the senior citizen. This behaviour was way out of order.

A metal ladder, Camden’s own, kept on the top landing for workers’ access to the roof, also received a “move it” label. A three-year-old child’s scooter was taken. All of this is indeed questionable behaviour on the part of Camden.

In its crazed approach to the new fire regulations Camden has made no plans as to where bicycles are to be kept in flats with no lift other than they must be taken up to the owners’ flats.

No plans as to where prams are to be kept in flats with no lift other than mothers must take the prams up to their flats! Bearing in mind our council leader is a woman, as is our CEO, it’s remarkable that they haven’t considered this pressing matter of prams; it’s not as though this vehicle is a new phenomenon.

It’s time there were discussions and plans to accommodate prams and bicycles in Camden’s many liftless flats. Camden excels in a lack of ability to think, let alone plan.

ELAINE CHAMBERS
Chair, Winchester Road Residents Association