To prove the point below

I give up on Recycling

I have finally given up on bothering to recycle. It is far too much hassle for a disabled resident like myself. For those copied in you can see the history here - http://arthurhendersonestate.blogspot.com/

1. Over the last few months I have had to report our overflowing bin to just be emptied as this system of weekly collection is going awry - AGAIN for the up-tenth time.

2. I am fed up with the building entrance looking like a tip with ORANGE BAGS filling the bin and being left around it.

3. This encourages fly-tipping, as I write there is a pint of semi-skimmed milk on the bin, two cardboard boxes & a plank at the side of it.

4. I have GIVEN UP asking for a KEY for the recycling bin as after almost A YEAR of ASKING for one - this seems an impossible thing for you to organise. I cannot use the bin when it is locked.

5. This is the FINAL STRAW. On Monday, we had a collection for the 1st time in 2 weeks. The caretaker knocked on my door with an envelope addressed to me asking why I had left my recycling outside the bin, especially as I had always complained about it. I explained to him that I had placed my recycling in the bin the Tuesday before and had another black bag of recycling waiting for the bin to be emptied. As explained I have facilitated my recycling by having a 50l bin in my kitchen which takes black bags. I told him that the bin had been overflowing with ORANGE BAGS with 4 ORANGE BAGS left, 2 either side all over the weekend and to CHECK with the caretaker who was on the estate at the weekend to confirm what I was saying. I went down to the front entrance with the caretaker to find my two recycling black bags outside, which I identified to him. He then presented me with another black bag of recycling which was not mind. It then became apparent that whoever is doing the rounds to collect the recycling has been taking out black bags assuming they are domestic waste. Clearly NO ONE had COMMUNICATED with them that estate recycling has no 'code' for the type of bag to be used, it varies from carrier bags etc.... . Of course they had TAKEN all the ORANGE bags which are supposed to be left out on the street by OFF ESTATE RESIDENTS.

I have enough to deal with, and frankly, historically you have done nothing that has made a difference to this problem.

The bin is currently locked so I cannot dispose of my rubbish as I cannot get a full 50l black bag in through the "cleverly" designed pizza box slot.

You can treat this as a complaint but my expectation is that nothing will be done nor achieved, lets be frank it is beyond the council to organise and implement a solution here.

Until such time as you can demonstrate and facilitate as originally promised, residents being able to dispose of their recycling in a tidy & safe manner I shall simply go back to using the domestic waste bin. I am not going to contribute to the recycling rubbish obstacles etc... anymore.

I note that the local political administration, following the report from Localis (http://www.localis.org.uk/images/Localis%20Principles%20for%20Social%20Housing%20Reform%20WEB.pdf) don't seem to appreciate council tenants sometimes do treat their homes and estates with care. Without the drive here I do understand why it is difficult for you to do anything. As nothing is what I have become used to.

I have copied in South Fulham Housing Management though expecting a response has longer odds than potentially winning the National Lottery. They NEVER respond.

Body of email sent to my local councillors in Town Ward & various departments within the council responsible.

http://handsoffqc.blogspot.com/ for updates, new coverage etc ..

There is a supporters meeting this week see the website for details.

How safe are our homes?

If you want to understand the long term strategy and thinking from the Conservative Council on Social Housing I would draw your attention to

"The Greenhalgh Vision of the Future" & the policy paper mentioned.

"Stephen Greenhalgh's social housing revolution" - Guardian Online.

HANDS OFF Our Queen Caroline Homes.

The residents of Queen Caroline Homes have set up a campaigning website, http://handsoffqc.blogspot.com/, further to the youtube post below.

Some of us remember the antic's of Westminster Council under Dame Shirley Porter some years ago. With the Leader of the Council wanting to reduce the number of Social Housing Lets in the Borough this is the "tip" of the iceberg.

All residents in council rented accommodation should be worried about where this will go? Could it be your home eventually? I urge you to support our fellow tenants at this time.

Have a council home? for how long more?

From Stephen Cowan.

See this youtube video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tV7oK0Olvk

Communal areas & Decent Homes.

I have heard a rumour that the communal area were being cleaned rather than being re-decorated. I phoned the Decent Homes team today and they confirm that the communal areas will be re-decorated and I notice our windows in the hall have been painted today.