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On the 29th October 2012 Cllr Roger Robinson informed us about the discussions concerning the pest problem around the estate. Please read all the details and information below. |
UPDATES
On the 31-07-2012 at 12:32, Mr Coleman sent the following email:
From: Dave.Coleman@Camden.gov.uk
To: Barry.Betts@camden.gov.uk
Cc: Jones, Michael
Subject: Curnock estate
Hi Barry,
I had Cllr Robinson contact me last week, about the Curnock Estate. He has been receiving complaints from some residents regarding an increase in rat/mice activity in and around the area.
I went along yesterday and spoke to one of the complainants, a Mrs XXXX from Darfield.
After speaking to her, I went for a look around the estate and I met the caretaker who showed me round the garages etc, I also took a look at the NCP car park to the side of the estate but they are not reporting any rodent activity problems at this time.
My observations were as follows:
1) I think the predominate problems here are with mice not rats as reported, would not rule out rat sightings 100% but mice are definitely present.
2) The garage area under Trimdon, (Plender Street) is a mess, for want of a better word and needs a clearance urgently, a great little harbourage feeding area for rodents here.
3) The estate appears to have an inordinate amount of fruit (damson)? Trees on it, and I noticed the fruit was all over the ground giving any rodents that are present a nice regular supply of food.
4) There are recycling bins on the perimeters of the blocks, which people are using as a regular dumping ground for domestic waste with refuse bags on the floor around them. There is even a food recycling bin!...(Why, oh, why do we do these things, and get surprised when rodents are seen in an area)?
5) Also the method of collecting the main refuse from the estates leaves a bit to be desired, with the refuse collectors having to throw the rubbish over a fence, take it across the front lawn to the truck, which cannot get any closer. This leads to inevitable spillage from bags, which was in evidence when I was walking around yesterday. Another potential food source.
6) The bin room in Darfield itself was wide open at the back, creating an 'all you can eat buffet effect' for any passing peckish rodent that fancies a snack. As the method of refuse collection here is the bags suspended on the hoops approach. There were signs of heavy infestation in this location.
7) Also it appears there is a sizable collapse on the paved area outside one of the blocks on the Plender Street side. Which could be linked to a sewer collapse, it's impossible to tell, but something that certainly needs to be looked at, it's not good, whatever has caused it!
That's about it for now, my point is, and the reason for writing to you, is that for anything that we are requested to do in terms of rodent eradication is going to be severely curtailed if not made pointless by the factors I have listed above. And would request that if we can have (wherever possible) some action moving in getting at least some of the above points attended to, it may make some of the baiting or remedial work that we are asked to undertake a little bit more successful. I am quite happy to meet someone on site to show them the areas mentioned if you feel that would be of use.
I'll wait to hear from you in regard to what your thoughts are on how we can best move things forward.
Regards & best,
Dave Coleman
Operations Manager
Planning and Public Protection
Culture and Environment
London Borough of Camden
Telephone: 020 7974 6026
Mobile: 07769 933 725
Fax: 020 7974 6955
Web: http://www.camden.gov.uk
7th Floor
Town Hall Extension (Environment)
Argyle Street
London WC1H 8EQ
Please consider the environment before printing this email.
On the 21-08-2012 at 09:14, Mr Coleman sent the following email:
From: Dave.Coleman@Camden.gov.uk
To: Lena.Nzenwa@camden.gov.uk , Jones, Michael
Subject: FW: Curnock estate
Hi Lena,
I understand that Barry Betts is no longer the EO for this area. Therefore, please find report that was passed onto him for attention regarding the Curnock Estate.
Hope all OK, if any questions or problems please come back to me.
Regards,
Dave Coleman
Operations Manager
Telephone: 020 7974 6026
On the 22-08-2012 at 11:50, Ms Lena Nzewa sent the following email:
From: Lena.Nzenwa@camden.gov.uk
To: Vicky.Morris@camden.gov.uk ; Gbadebo, Lucy; Shiel, Paul; Barry.Betts@camden.gov.uk
Subject: FW: Curnock estate
Lucy /Paul please see email below, I'm not sure if this was brought to your
attention.
Barry were you able to look into any of this?
Lena Nzenwa
Estate Officer
Telephone: 0207 974 1218
On the 22-08-2012 at 11:51, Ms Lucy Gbadebo sent the following email:
From: Gbadebo, Lucy
To: Lena.Nzenwa@camden.gov.uk , Vicky.Morris@camden.gov.uk ; Shiel, Paul; Barry.Betts@camden.gov.uk
Subject: RE: Curnock estate
Lena
As previously advised, Susan O'Hara is responsible for this estate
Regards
Lucy Gbadebo
Estate Services Manager
Telephone: 020 7974 4295
On the 22-08-2012 at 11:57, Ms Lena Nzewa sent the following email:
From: Lena.Nzenwa@camden.gov.uk
To: Gbadebo, Lucy; Vicky.Morris@camden.gov.uk ; Shiel, Paul; Barry.Betts@camden.gov.uk ; O'Hara, Susan
Cc: Dave.Coleman@Camden.gov.uk , Jones, Michael
Subject: RE: Curnock estate
Thanks Lucy, Susan please see email below and kindly provide comments.
Dave I've forwarded your email to the Parking and Lettings Manager and the
Estate Services Manager for their comments.
Kind Regards
Lena Nzenwa
Estate Officer
Telephone: 0207 974 1218
On the 13-09-2012 at 16:49, Ms Susan O'Hara sent the following email:
From: O'Hara, Susan
To: Nzenwa, Lena; Vicky.Morris@camden.gov.uk ; Shiel, Paul; Barry.Betts@camden.gov.uk
Cc: Coleman, Dave; Jones, Michael; Gills-Monks, John
Subject: RE: Curnock estate
Hi Lena
I am aware of the issues Dave raises and we are actively looking to resolve
them.
John - can you please see if the garage area under Trimdon has been cleared.
Regards
Susan O'Hara
Estate Services Manager
Telephone: 020 7974 3957
On the 29-10-2012 at 13:00, Mr Dave Coleman sent the following email:
From: Dave.Coleman@Camden.gov.uk
To: O'Hara, Susan; Nzenwa, Lena; Vicky.Morris@camden.gov.uk ; Shiel, Paul; Barry.Betts@camden.gov.uk
Cc: Jones, Michael; Gills-Monks, John; Roger.Robinson@camden.gov.uk
Subject: RE: Curnock estate
Good Morning All,
Just thought I would give you a quick update in relation to the pest problems at the above estate. On our last inspection although the garage areas had been generally cleared which was certainly good, and helped in terms of giving the rodents less harbourage and food, it also appeared to inspire a couple of the residents to spring clean their garages, and dump all unrequired items in the main garage area once again.
It maybe useful for someone to pop down there and arrange for another clearance if they haven't already done so.
If you note item 7 on the first email in the trail - regarding the sizeable paving collapse outside the blocks on the Plender Street side. It appears that nothing has been done about this since it was reported. As a test, we have been baiting this area under the lifted tarmac, and unfortunately all baits put here, go within the first 48 hours. There is something awry here, and it needs to be looked at.
Our officer Michael Jones has arranged and had completed the cementing of all visible rat holes around the estate which has helped reduce complaints from the residents but although helping, should not be seen as a cure-all to the problem.
We are of the opinion that the main drainage serving the estate is not intercepted, and runs directly into the sewer, we think into Camden Street. This would if correct, allow rodents from the sewer into the drain runs on the estate, where they could exploit any deficiencies within and get up to the surface.
If this is confirmed, you may want to consider fitting in an interceptor chamber here at the end of the run which would at least prevent the rodents getting into and under the estate in the first instance.
As I say, this is just our suspicion as we cannot find any interceptor chambers on site but this would need conformation from a bespoke drainage company to confirm, we are quite willing to help out and meet on site if that would in any way be useful.
We will and do continue to bait all noted areas on the estate which is helping to limit the amount of complaints received, but ultimately if more permanent measures can be employed here, it would certainly help the situation.
Hope this is useful, and if anyone needs any further help or information in relation to this matter, please do contact me.
Regards & best,
Dave Coleman
Operations Manager
Telephone: 020 7974 6026
On the 29-10-2012 at 14:49, Cllr Roger Robinson sent the following email:
Hi
For your update re pest control on your estate following my recent email
requests for some definite action.
Hope it helps
Regards
Roger Robinson, Cllr
St Pancras and Somers Town Ward
On the 29-10-2012 at 15:48, we sent the following email:
To: Roger.Robinson@camden.gov.uk
Cc: Peter.Brayshaw@camden.gov.uk , Samata.Khatoon@camden.gov.uk , curnocktra@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: Re: FW: Curnock estate
Dear Cllr Robinson,
Thank you for your email and your support in this issue.
I would like to add that another reason for the pest problems on the estate is the inappropriate disposal of rubbish by some residents.This is happening for many reasons and one of them is that many properties are rented privately to tenants that are not aware of the proper procedure for disposing their rubbish.
It would be very useful if the Camden Council send a letter to the residents once a year informing them about the correct procedure. It will also be useful for the council to mention that a fob key is necessary for accessing the refuse rooms and the best way to buy one.
CSE Group has already sent some letters/emails to some residents who requested the relevant information and we are planing to create some posters in the future. However our opinion is that those posters would be better if they are created and sent by Camden Council.
Hope the above information was useful.
Yours sincerely,
CSE Group
http://cse.curnockestate.com
Your Choice, Your Voice
On the 29-10-2012 at 18:24, Cllr Robinson sent the following email:
To: Roger.Robinson@camden.gov.uk
To: Dave.Coleman@Camden.gov.uk
Cc: curnocktra@yahoo.co.uk , Peter.Brayshaw@camden.gov.uk , Samata.Khatoon@camden.gov.uk
Subject: FW: FW: Curnock estate
Dear Mr Coleman
Please see suggestions from a Curnock resident re the pest problem on the estate and would welcome your views.
Regards
Roger Robinson Cllr
On the 30-10-2012 at 01:18am, Cllr Brayshaw sent the following email:
From: Peter.Brayshaw@camden.gov.uk
To: Roger.Robinson@camden.gov.uk , Dave.Coleman@Camden.gov.uk
Cc: curnocktra@yahoo.co.uk , Samata.Khatoon@camden.gov.uk
Subject: RE: FW: Curnock estate
All these issues were fully and comprehensively discussed at the Curnock TRA general meeting on Thursday 25 October, where our new Estate Officer, Lena, undertook to work with the pest control team to solve the probvlems. Let's hope nxt summer doesn't see a resurgence of rodents.
On the 30-10-2012 at 06:44am, we sent the following email:
To: Peter.Brayshaw@camden.gov.uk , curnocktra@yahoo.co.uk
Cc: Samata.Khatoon@camden.gov.uk , Roger.Robinson@camden.gov.uk , Dave.Coleman@Camden.gov.uk , Lena.Nzenwa@camden.gov.uk
Subject: RE: FW: Curnock estate
Dear Cllr Brayshaw,
Thank you for your email regarding the pest control problem on the whole estate.
Unfortunately, some disable or ill residents as well as myself were unable to attend the meeting so we were not aware of the results of the Curnock TRA discussions. Would it be possible for the TRA or yourself to provide us with some bulletin points of those discussions with the Estate Officer? It would be waste of time if every individual resident would have to ask the Camden Council to provide this information again.
The residents of Goldthorpe had experienced the mice and cockroaches problems continuously (see attached pictures) and I have personally seen 5-10 dead mice around the building (outside main doors), inside refuse rooms and inside flats.
Looking forward for your reply.
Yours sincerely,
CSE Group
http://cse.curnockestate.com
Your Voice, Your Choice