Ennerdale House: Emergency Exit/Access Ignored

Ennerdale House: EMERGENCY EXIT OBSTRUCTED for people living in 90 flats

Telford Homes, its contractors and Site Manager are yet again ignoring the health and safety of local residents.

This photograph show the current obstruction to the EMERGENCY EXIT for people living in 90 flats in Ennerdale House.  In our view, the fences, bins and barriers also obstruct and prevent speedy access to the building by the Emergency Services in the event of an emergency.

This used to be a wide open space in front of a very tall block of 90 flats and 200+ residents.

A link to this blog post will be emailed this afternoon to:

• Health and Safety Executive
• Considerate Contractor Scheme
• Local Fire Brigade
• Local Ambulance Service
• Project Manager, East End Homes
• Owen Whalley, Head of Planning, Tower Hamlets Council
• Development Control, Tower Hamlets Council
• local Councillors

Collectively, Telford Homes, its contractors and Site Manager are being extremely negligent in failing to maintain an adequate emergency exit from Ennerdale House - a tower block of 90 flats and approx. 200+ residents.

Instead the Site Manager and the contractors are placing obstructions in the way of anybody needing to enter or exit this tower block because priority is being given to site traffic movements.

The scope to break left and right easily and quickly on exit is obstructed and prevented by high screens.  The opportunity to move forwards and away from the building is obstructed by refuse bins and large barriers.  It's a dangerous environment in the event of an emergency occurring in the building and a lot of residents needing or wishing to leave.

In addition, all of the above obstructions impede access to the building by the local Fire Brigade and other emergency services.

Telford Homes have a documented track record in completely failing to make adequate provision for emergency exits for residents and access by emergency access.  See 

• Telford Homes's Traffic Access Plan for Mile End
• Telford Homes ignore Emergency Access requirements
• Access to Eric Street flats improves but NOT resolved

What we want to see happen

The urgent and immediate priority is to make sure people are safe.

Telford Homes needs to ensure that:

• there are no obstructions in the area of the emergency exit which might lead to delayed access or exit and injuries or worse to residents if there was an accident or serious fire or other emergency requiring people in any or all of the 90 flats to leave Ennerdale House this afternoon
• there are no obstructions in the area of the entrance to the building which prevent speedy access by emergency services in the event of an emergency

We have asked ALL the above organisations and individuals listed at the top of this post to do whatever they can to ensure that a SAFE environment is in place ASAP for all the residents of Ennerdale House.  We will report back on how they respond.

UPDATE:

Response from Tower Hamlets Council - Development Control 27th October 2011

This would appear to me to not be a planning related matter and may be best resolved by speaking directly with Telfords or taking it up with the Health and Safety Executive.

It appears that Tower Hamlets Planning is saying, in effect, that it has no absolutely no interest in making it a planning condition or implementing any other action that requires contractors to keep emergency exits clear at all times during the course of a development on a housing estate.  


Will it take a nasty accident to establish that this is a very blinkered approach to the safety of local residents?


Response from Telford Project Manager - REFUSAL to speak to MERA about this matter


Response from Councillors - none to date


Response from Health and Safety Executive - none to date


Response from Considerate Contractor Scheme - none to date

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Access to Eric Street flats improves but NOT resolved

Telford Homes have tried to "resolve" the problems with emergency access which MERA identified in relation to access to the flats on Eric Street whose front doors are at the rear.

 See Telford Homes ignore Emergency Access requirements.

They removed part of the railings!

BEFORE the limited access prevents the use of an ambulance trolley
It also creates a pinch point for residents trying to exit quickly in the event of an emergency

AFTER the railing has been removed.

However The access on the left is still less than the width of one paving slab

The width of the access to the flat is still less than the width of a paving slab.  
So what was the problem with moving the hoarding to the left?

Now - for some more questions:

• If there's a fire and the flammable painted hoarding catches fire - how does that work in terms of the health and safety of the residents trying to leave their flats for their own safekeeping?
• Does the width left for access comply with the amount of space required to facilitate disabled access for residents and their friends and family - or is Telford Homes ignoring disabled people?

Residents can be assured that they at least have access to a verifiable public record of the extent to which Telford Homes have demonstrated the level of their concern about protecting residents' health and safety and the access of disabled people.

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Manual for Streets & comments on planning conditions

Consultation deadline

The deadline for comments on the next set of applications for approvals of details relating to the redevelopment of the Eric & Treby Estate is 5th August 2010.

These are:

1. CONDITION 4 - Service and Delivery strategy: Required in advance of commencement of development.  This relates to access, circulation and servicing arrangements. MERA made significant comments on this at the time of the original application - particularly in relation to the legality of access by emergency vehicles and refuse collection vehicles at the base of Ennerdale House given the proposed plan for development. Approval of Details PA/10/01352 comment deadline 5th August 2010
2. CONDITION 18a - Energy Efficiency:  - Scheme detailing proposed energy efficiency measures required prior to commencement of development (with exception of site preparation works and the digging of foundations).   This relates to the WHOLE site.  This must include details of: energy improvements, renewable energy technology.  It must also demonstrate no net increase in carbon emissions and detail communal energy systems for Sites 2A and 15. Approval of Details PA/10/01395 - comment deadline 5th August 2010
3. CONDITION 28 - Visibility splays: To ensure adequate sightlines are preserved in the interests of pedestrian and highway safety.  Details to be provided and approved prior to the first occupation of any residential unit  - Approval of details  PA/10/01396 comment deadline 5th August 2010

The Department of Transport's Manual for Streets

Department of Transport's Manual for Streets - published 2007

Any resident interested in commenting on 1 and 3 above might well find the Department of Transport's Manual for Streets to be a very interesting and informative resource

You can download the Manual from the DoT website. You may find it easier to right click on the link and select Save Target As (IE) or Save Link As (FireFox). Please email webmasterdft@dft.gsi.gov.uk if you experience any problems downloading the PDF file.

• Manual for Streets: a summary (916 kb) The Manual for Streets was published in March 2007. This summary gives a brief overview of the Manual and is broken down chapter by chapter.
• Manual for Streets (5 Mb) Manual for Streets provides guidance for practitioners involved in the planning, design, provision and approval of new residential streets, and modifications to existing ones. Please note this is a large file which takes time to download.

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Anti-social behaviour: Two important meetings next week

There are two important meetings this next week - both of which relate to anti-social behaviour in Mile End.

Broke Club - 27th July 2010

The meeting for local residents is on Tuesday 27th July at 7.30pm at the Broke Club, 562 Mile End Road E3 4PH

MERA representatives, the Quietnight Group and individuals from surrounding streets will be meeting the licence holder, Benn Wilson and a representative from the Tower Hamlets Licensing Department.

The purpose of the meeting is to monitor how matters are progressing in terms of the impact of the club's activities on local residents and compliance with the terms of the licence.

At the last meeting, issues on car parking and sound levels of the music were discussed but no major problems were brought up by any near-by residents.

However earlier this week we had reports from a large number of local residents that there is now regular parking of vehicles in Eric Street by people visiting Broke Club.  MERA representatives have now visited the area at night and seen this happening on a number of nights.  This includes cars parked in such a way around the Wentworth Mews area that they would have impeded the access of emergency vehicles in the event of a fire.

We understand that the same thing is happening in Aberavon Road.  Both these streets were the ones which suffered from a great deal of disturbance with the previous club and the type of clientele it attracted.

Broke Club are supposed to be monitoring the area surrounding the club but have either not picked up on the parking problem or have failed to address it effectively to date.

This weekend, there has also been an event which has caused some concern and disturbance.

All residents are welcome to attend the meeting.

Contact MERA if you need the hotline number to to report problems to the owner of the club and/or we can report problems on your behalf. See column on right for our contact details

Previous MERA Blog posts:

• Broke Club: Noise and more noise on opening weekend 02 June 2010
• Broke Club - Terms of the Licence 05 June 2010
• Planning permission for parking 100 cars? 15 June 2010
• Broke London Club - June Update 02 July 2010

Mile End East Safe Neighbourhood Team - 29th July 2010

The Mile End East Safe Neighbourhood Team are holding a Public Meeting on Thursday 29th July at the Community Centre in Merchant Street on the British Street Estate.  The meeting starts at 7pm.

At their public meetings the SNT ask you to tell them about the issues of crime and anti-social behaviour in your neighbourhood that matter to you.  Find out more on the Mile End East SNT website

They will tell you what they are doing to make your neighbourhood safer and how you can help to decide our local priorities.

Currently the Locally Agreed Priorities are as follows

• Anti Social Behaviour - Drugs
• Anti Social Behaviour by groups of youths
• Anti Social Behaviour by youths causing noise and nuisance

This is the update on actions taken to date

We have established a Dispersal Zone in Eric Street. This has given Police the power to disperse groups of youths engaged in anti- social behaviour.

MERA encourages local residents to attend to voice their unhappiness with the lack of support and the situation which has developed in the Kerrygold Garden (ie lack of dispersal of groups engaged in anti-social behaviour - see Top 10 Problems with the Kerrygold Garden) and other matters causing concern.

Previous MERA Blog posts:

• Mile End Dispersal Zone aims to reduce anti-social behaviour 07 June 2010
• Bow Road: Police fail to protect local residents' safety at crime scene 25 June 2010
• Top 10 Problems with the Kerrygold Garden 22 July 2010
  
• How to report anti-social behaviour 23 July 2010

If you want to be kept updated why not subscribe to this blog.    
You can do this by clicking the link below  
Subscribe to MERA - Mile End Residents Association Blog by Email

Telford Homes's Traffic Access Plan for Mile End

The Traffic Access Plan submitted to Tower Hamlets Council
by Telford Homes (right click for bigger picture)

This is the Traffic Access Plan which has been submitted to Tower Hamlets planning Officers as part of PA/10/00704 - Construction management plan.

This shows you how the traffic will access and move through the site. It also indicates that the major site compound is to be to the north of Ennerdale House on the area which will become the ball court. The Office compound will be on the St Clements site.

• Access to Eric and Treby Street: entrance from the East ONLY via Southern Grove, exit ONLY via HamleTs way and a right turn into Burdett Road
  
• Site 10 Traffic will access the Broksley Street site from the east only via St Clements Hospital. Construction traffic MUST come along Mile End Road from the east, enter the site via the gates at the western edge of the St Clements site and MUST exit to the west
  

However it's not of the standard we would expect to see for a plan of this sort.

There are some limited references to the management of site traffic within the Project Management Plan but these, as yet, do NOT provide adequate safeguards for local residents. In particular, significant risks have not been identified and remedied to our satisfaction.

We are currently studying one of the key standards that all site traffic will need to observe.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION: The safe use of vehicles on construction sites (HSG 144) - A guide for clients, designers, contractors, managers and workers involved with construction transport. This provides the standards we can expect all site traffic will adhere to within and around the construction site.

No reference to local residents, children or cars

It makes NO REFERENCE to:

• pedestrians & children: how pavements and pedestrian traffic - in particular children - will be protected
• parking suspension (temporary): what the requirements are for temporary suspension of parking as construction machinery is delivered to site; when this will happen and what sort of notice local residents will get (ie how many days/hours).
  
• parking elimination (permanent): what arrangements are to be made for the long term suspension / removal of parking facilities which are currently enjoyed by residents of the estate and when this will happen
• traffic management arrangements around Site 14 (corner of Eric Street and Treby Street): not identified in the plans
  

Details of the Project Execution Plan have not been supplied. This relates to deliveries to the site and the hours when this is possible. Indications of how this will work in relation to each site within the overall development area are minimal and more details are required Nothing is as yet documented.

We are all very familiar with the antics of the utility companies in this area - which turn up insisting there is an emergency (when the matter is actually ordinary repairs), post a notice and then have residents' cars removed in less than 24 hours. This then costs the car owner a very great deal of money to retrieve. This must NOT happen during the course of this development as there is every opportunity to plan well in advance.

Fortunately, unlike other East End Homes estates, the roads affected by the development are adopted by the Council and hence are not Estate Roads, Consequently permission must be sought from the Council for the suspension of or revision to all current on street parking arrangements.

There is nothing about this development which is "an emergency" and consequently we expect all revisions to on street parking to be properly notified in the normal way.

No reference to how emergencies and disabled access will be managed

Importantly the Traffic Access Plan neglects to make any reference, in relation to the security hoarding currently being erected on site, to the following legal requirements:

• how emergency access to ALL addresses by all emergency services - and fire engines and ambulances in particular - is going to be protected 24/7 for all residents of the estate and neighbouring streets
  
• how disabled access is going to work and how disabled access for all residents/tenants requiring this will be protected

Proper access will not be possible or protected if the security hoarding is fixed to the corner of Derwent House - which we have been told is the current plan.

No reference to conservation requirements

A view of the entrance for construction traffic for Site 10
via the side gate to the St Clements Hospital Site

This is a picture from Google Streetview of the entrance to St Clements Hospital which it is proposed should be used for a compound and access to Site 10 in Brokesley Street (via the side wall of the hospital - which will be temporarily removed)

Mile End Road is a Red Route and no stopping is allowed between 7am and 10am and between 4pm and 7pm.

Both the wall and the gates at the front of St Clements Hospital are Grade 2 listed and hence must be protected throughout the course of the construction contract.

We speculate that construction traffic will have a very great deal of difficulty lining up straight to get through the pillars and gates on the western edge of the site without damaging them - and we don't think Telford Homes recognise this - or the fact that this is a Grade 2 Listed structure.

In the Construction Management Plan, there is:

• no identification of risk management issues or how these will be managed
• no identification and reference to the listed status of the frontage (which prompts the thought that maybe Telford Homes are not aware of its Grade 2 listed status)
  
• no identification of the risks to the pillars and gates from construction traffic unfamiliar with the site turning from a very busy road
• no provision for how the risks to pillars and gate will be handled
• no recognition that the access is on a red route where stopping is prohibited at certain hours (and that includes longwinded attempts to access a site without knocking a wall down)
  

What we want to see happen

Last week, we visited the relevant Planning Officer at the Town Hall and shared our concerns as to the management of traffic which are documented in this blog post.

Currently, the Construction Management Plan fails to provide adequate recognition of:

• the health & safety issues that relate to local residents and their children - including people with disabilities.
  
• access required for emergency vehicles without delay 24/7
  
• the conservation issues in relation to the St Clements site
  

The Construction Management Plan MUST make much clearer reference to how the health and safety of local residents (as pedestrians/children) and our heritage will be risk managed and protected.

This is what we want to see:

• Protection of Pavements and Pedestrian Traffic: Documentation to clearly show how/where pedestrian traffic will be relocated during construction and how this will work. We want to see a plan of where these areas will be.
  
• Protection of Children: Big signs along the route within the Eric & Treby Estate raising awareness of the presence of lots of small children and reminding that this is a 20mph area
  
• Protection of streets not identified on the Traffic Access Plan: Signs at the entrance to ALL these streets indicating "No Access for Construction Traffic"
• Deliveries: ALL site deliveries to be made between 10am and 3pm only so as to avoid obstructing vehicles when parents need to make school runs and to mimise risk to children. Any deliveries to site during school holidays to require additional site staff supervising the delivery to protect against potential risks to the very many children living on the estate.
  
• Disabled Access: Checks with every disabled resident within the area that the site security hoarding will not impede their disabled access requirements as required by law.
• Emergency Access: Checks made with emergency services that the location and configuration of all site security hoarding will permit prompt and easy access of emergency vehicles to all parts of the Eric & treby estate 24/7 as required by law.
  
• St Clements Site: a risk management plan for access via the frontage of St Clements and adequate and sufficient protection for the listed frontage.
• Red route: No large construction traffic to attempt access to the St Clements site prior to 10am
  

We raised a number of other issues with the Planning Officer on Friday and will be writing more about these during this next week.