Local Authority

By Ian Proctor

Environmentally friendly house builder ZED Homes has won permission for a new HQ in South Harrow, despite residents' objections.

The firm, based in Lyon Road, Harrow, will construct its offices in Roxeth Green Avenue, on land previous occupied by a car repair and MOT garage in the shadow of the Biro House development.

By Elaine Okyere

A park in Harrow will be transformed into a beach in a bid to help neighbours get to know each other.

Harrow Council's community and cultural services department will be throwing a beach and street party over the next few months to improve community relations.

By Ian Proctor

Long-awaited approval for the second half of a beleaguered £100m regeneration scheme for Rayners Lane Estate has finally been granted.

Housing association Home was given permission by Harrow Council's strategic planning committee to construct 162 houses and 177 flats as part of a staged overhaul of the entire estate in South Harrow started in 2003.

Cancer-causing asbestos was not properly disposed of by builders upgrading council houses in South Harrow.
A contractor working for Kier, which is carrying out Harrow Council's Decent Homes programme to bring social housing up to the government standard, fell foul of Health and Safety Executive regulations, an internal investigation by the company has confirmed.
The low-risk asbestos, in the form of Bakellite cisterns and thermoplastic tiles, was discovered in properties in Brookside Close and Eastcote Lane - but was not sealed inside two plastic bags and thrown into special skips for hazardous waste as it should have been.
Asbestos, a once-common fibrous mineral, is the largest cause of workplace-related deaths in Britain and was banned in the 1980s when it was discovered to be carcinogenic.
Kier launched a probe into the matter only after being alerted by Harrow's Labour councillors on Thursday June 24.
A summary of the investigation written by Kier's general manager for Decent Homes, Mr C Bunker, said: "Although such non-adherence is non-excusable, materials of this nature are only hazardous to health when reduced to small fibrous particles.
"The members of the team whom were in employment with Kier during the time period that these works had taken place, are no longer with the company."
Mr Bunker wrote that, as a result of the "unfortunate incident", more safety checks were being introduced and all revelant staff had been given asbestos training.
Councillor Bob Currie, Labour's spokeperson on housing, and a ward councillor for the area concerned, Roxbourne, said: "This is simply unacceptable. Over and over again Kier has let us down in implementing the Decent Homes standards.
"Dealing with asbestos is a very straightforward procedure which any reputable firm should be able to deal with.
"The unions have raised the issue of asbestos with the council over and over again. This is simply the last straw."
Kier was selected in April 2007 to fulfil the five-year £125m Decent Homes contract to improve homes - by variously re-wiring the electrics and replacing, windows, doors, roofs and heating - in 6,000 council homes boroughwide.

People in Harrow can have their say about how they want the borough to look - and could win £100.
Residents can comment by logging on to Harrow Council's new interactive website harrow consult or contact ldfconsultation@harrow.gov.uk or 020 8736 6069 for information.

By Ian Proctor

A confidential report has been outraged a residents' group after it questioned their actions and integrity.
Independent investigator Allan Graham was appointed to probe complaints made by the Rayners Lane Estate Tenants' and Residents' Association (RLETRA) against Stonham over the way it provided a support service for vulnerable people living on the estate.
In his adjucation published in April, Mr Graham dismissed each of the four separate charges and criticised the association's professionalism and behaviour.
Mr Graham wrote: "Given the form in which this complaint has been submitted, there has to be a question mark over the way in which RLETRA is being run.
"I have not read its constitution but I find it difficult to believe its constituents would uphold the actions that have been carried out in its name.
"My great concern is that the approach being taken by [chairwoman] Margaret Opare in the name of RLETRA is working against the interests of vulnerable people on the estate."
But the findings of the report, and Mr Graham's suitability to conduct such an investigation, have been challenged by RLETRA in a backlash to Harrow Council, which originally appointed him with the association's blessing.
Chairwoman Margaret Opare wrote to Mr Graham: "The committee and I are very surprised and confused by the findings of your report.
"The report contains several important inaccuracies and in light of this the committee must question the validity of these documents.
"Our concerns are based on the contents of your document that bares no relationship to the real situation and appears biased towards Stonham."
RLETRA simultaneously protested to Harrow Council, which told Mrs Opare it accepted Mr Graham's qualifications and his findings, and rejected a call to end Stonham's contract in favour of another provider.
Mrs Opare, who is yet to receive a reply to a second letter of complaint to the council, told the Harrow Observer: "The residents are not happy. Harrow Council said they stood by the report but we're not going to step back and let tenants continue to suffer. People need to know what is really happening."
A Stonham spokesman said: "We're happy with the findings of the independent report and are very pleased that we can continue to support Rayners Lane's vulnerable tenants."

Residents are being asked to snap pictures of Harrow for the chance to win £50.

The Have your Say photography competition will capture the spirit of the borough's past and future sights.The best entries will be used by Harrow Council throughout the year on the cover of documents.

To enter the competition send your photographs to Nicola Rae, Middlesex Floor,Civic 1, Station Road, Harrow, HA1 2XF,or e-mail them to nicola.rae@harrow.gov.uk by July 25.

This year's Rayners Lane in Bloom competition has been launched, with separate sections for spring and summer entries.

by David Baker

Married father-of-four and grandfather-of-one John Nickolay of Rayner's Lane was sworn in as Harrow's first male mayor in five years, on Thursday last week.

by Ian Proctor

A housing boss has promised to sort out the problems on the Rayners Lane Estate - a full six months after tenants officially complained.