I was put under pressure to take name off petition, claims Centurion Close tenant
Call for an investigation into row over electrical work criticised as ‘unsightly’
Published: 02 July, 2010
by PETER GRUNER
AN inquiry is being demanded into claims that a tenant was told to take his name off a petition or work on a new kitchen at his home in Barnsbury would be delayed.
But housing agency Homes for Islington (HfI), maintains the row has blown up because of “confusion” over whether or not tenants at Centurion Close, off Wheelwright Street, wanted electrical work on their kitchens done or not.
Former housing worker Bob Ross, 61, signed a petition, along with 70 tenants, objecting to plans by contractors installing new kitchens to “trunk” wires and cables in boxes across walls and ceilings at the flats.
“Trunking”, rather than the traditional system of concealing wires behind walls, is cheap and quick and becoming a major concern among tenants who complain that it is “unsightly” and ruins decorations.
Mr Ross, who is disabled, said: “I got a phone call from a liaison officer from contractor Mulalley to say that she ‘noted’ I had signed the petition. She then said that what she needed from me was a letter saying I have reconsidered the signing of the petition.
“I was astonished. Immediately my answer was: ‘I’m sorry. I don’t behave like that.’ I said: ‘Does this mean that my kitchen is not going to be done?’ The woman hummed and haahed and said: ‘Well, put it this way, it will certainly be deferred.’”
The issue was brought up at a full council meeting last week when Labour councillor Rupert Perry accused contractors of putting pressure on tenants to have “trunking” done.
Mr Ross, who worked for nearby Thornhill Housing Project for 20 years, added: “I object very strongly to being dictated to by contractors. They have no right to tell me what petition I can or can’t sign.”
Cllr Perry is calling on HfI to carry out an investigation.
“No contractor should be making direct contact with tenants in this manner,” he said. “It is totally out of order. I expect HfI to take a firm line and insist that contractors run a risk of losing their contracts if they put undue pressure on tenants.”
Cllr Perry added that contractors should be keeping wiring behind walls unless it was absolutely impossible to do so.
“HfI should also have a meaningful dialogue with the tenants and assure them it will get the work done,” he said.
Dr Brian Potter, chairman of the Federation of Islington Tenants Associations, said that people were being bamboozled into having “trunking” done.
“But they can refuse the work on the grounds that their wiring is checked and safe,” he said.
A spokesman for HfI said: “We are aware of a petition signed by some residents in Centurion Close about electric cable trunking. We have contacted these residents to resolve the confusion and to clarify whether or not they still would like the work to go ahead in their homes.”