Estate right to be angry

Published: 17 December, 2010

• I WAS certainly unhappy with the state of affairs with Spa Green’s blighted heating system following £1million capital expenditure in the last two years – in addition to thousands of pounds of responsive repairs and it is still unfit for purpose – but it is not for me to be angry (Tenants shiver but town hall stays toasty warm, December 10). 

Residents are rightly angry and I share their utter frustration. I am duty bound to raise these serious issues at the highest levels. However, I hold Homes for Islington (HfI) responsible in the first instance.

It is true that, having attended HfI’s offices, I also visited the town hall and took temperature readings but I had not expected to have an impromptu audience with Councillor James Murray, who offered to investigate the situation. I was not in complete agreement with what he has subsequently been told by HfI but we have arranged a further meeting to discuss the full facts, including an independent expert report condemning the lack of essential documentation or any evidence of competent commissioning of the system. 

The costs of the work have spiralled out of all recognition from the original budget, putting another question mark beside HfI’s competence in contract management and monitoring. As for the council’s policy of night heating switch-off, it is only fair to acknowledge that, since the policy was implemented, representatives from estates, including Spa Green, have been negotiating with the council over alternative arrangements for turning heating down at night but not off, given particular circumstances which negate any benefit of night switch-off and genuine threats to health. 

These negotiations are ongoing in the case of Spa Green and we remain committed to an amicable and workable solution in order to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions while delivering safe, adequate and reliable heating for residents. 

THOMAS COOPER
Estate manager, Spa Green estate, EC1