Don’t blame tenants for all the faults in Arundel Square

Published: 11 June, 2010

• BRENDAN Sarsfield, chief executive of Family Mosaic (FM), is to be congratulated for his prompt action in halting the proposed sell-off of parking spaces allocated to his organisation as part of the Arundel Square development (Letters, June 4). 

It’s not only parking that’s a problem at the development, however; rubbish-disposal and cycle-storage facilities also fall short of desirable standards.

Communal bins and cycle-racks are in the basement, next to the underground car park. 

Residents of the social “affordable” housing block (as if all housing shouldn’t be affordable) must carry their rubbish down as many as 10 flight of stairs (if they’re on the fourth floor) and then walk back up again. There is no rubbish chute or, unlike at the private end of the development, a lift. 

To add to the lack of intelligent design, access to the bins is from the public highway only.

Earlier this year, following complaints of rubbish being dumped outside the building and bicycles on balconies, it was suggested that a caretaker be employed to take garbage from the flats down to the basement, as is the case with the borough’s Newlon Housing scheme. 

Instead of adopting this proposal FM issued letters threatening eviction to those found to be dumping (and parking their bikes where they could see them). 

The recent comment from FM’s communications officer, that “rubbish dumped in communal areas poses health and safety risks”, suggests no progress has been made in this matter. 

Blaming tenants for built-in design faults would hardly seem to be the job of a social-housing provider. Let’s hope Mr Sarsfield can also bring common sense to bear on these aspects of the development.

MEG HOWARTH
Ellington Street, N7

• FURTHER to Steven Powell’s letter (Duped over parking, June 4) I write there is an update on Arundel Square.

Following community pressure and coverage given by the Tribune, Family Mosaic have decided that they will not be selling their six underground parking spaces in Arundel Square, and will instead consult residents “over the best use of the remaining spaces”.

Hopefully everyone can agree that the best use of these spaces is to allocate them among the residents who have CPZ residents’ permits in return for their street permits, maximising the use of the car park and reducing the pressure of 

on-street parking. This process should not take too much longer. The FM apartments have been occupied since September, so let’s get the car park occupied too.

SUSIE GRAVES
Islington Green Party