Scaffolding and moving Satellite dishes.

Well work has started on erecting the scaffolding to the back of William Banfield House, 19th January 2009.

Well planned? I think not.

Council tenants have been ignored in this project for the last year or so. However we do get the occasional letters telling us what is supposed to happen.

We had such a letter last week, 12th January 2009, from H&F Homes and Balfour Beatty.

There is a FREE phone number for residents to call, that is if you like speaking to a fax machine - 0800 587 60322. This in line with keeping residents in the dark!

It says that any satellite dishes will be moved to the scaffolding and that you will be contacted prior to this. Interesting as we have heard nothing and the scaffolding is going up.

Depending on who you ask the scaffolding is either going all the way up the building today (this may obsure your satellite dish line-of-sight and thus a loss of signal) but only until Thursday. Again this depending on who you speak to, will be the day the dishes are moved. The Balfour genetleman who's mobile number is on the letter also seems to know little about this, his assistant is the person to talk to apparently as he is arranging this.

So what about the Decent Homes team? Did I call them? Yes I did after 3 attempts I did speak to a nice lady but she tried 3 times to put me through to the person I needed to speak to then took my contact details as there is an apparent problem with the phone of our contact.

So "tenant participation", you remember we were promised that, is dead. Unless it seems you are a leaseholder. They have a bill to pay and are in the minority of estate residents. But being a homeowner clearly makes you a more important class of tenant.

Though to be fair, from the leaseholder I have spoken to. Though they get more communication. The situation for them is also just as bad and equally a mess.

If you want to speak to the H&F Homes Decent Homes team call 0208 748 3020 and ask for them.