As we pass three years since the ‘Pride of Place’ refurbishment of Somerton House, which was completed by Camden Council’s Capital Projects team, it’s time to reflect on how far we’ve got… besides that the paint is flaking, some doors weren’t painted, the lif breaks or leaves you stranded, some work which was paid for remains to be done. Capital Projects paid £750,000 for the work – yet the flaws are becoming more apparent as the days go by.

• Where in London can you find a newly refurbished building – with no fire protection in the risers?
• Where in London can you find a building with a ‘secure intercom’ system – but only on one of the three doors?
• Where in London can you find flats after a £1,000 refurbishment – but nothing touched in over 90% of them!
• Where in London can you find people living whilst breathing in noxious fumes from a top hotel?
• Where in London can you find asbestos left by the builders paid to remove it?
• Where in London can you find wiring left behind by people paid to remove it?
• Where in London is a newly-refurbished building, with the old lighting still in the lobbies?
• Where in London can you find a 7^th floor door handle – meant for a bloody wardrobe?
• Where in London can you find the wiring Thomas-Sinden promised to re-wire into the purpose-made conduit?
• Where in London can you find purpose made conduit – failing after only a few years (and probably out of guarantee)?
• Where in London can you find original 1960’s fixtures and fittings or 1980’s left-overs (or a bodge, possibly by EPS) – still in daily use?
• Where in London can you find brand-new windows (sold by Del-Boy Trotter) that are a safety nightmare, and unsuitable for a high-rise property?
• Where in London can you find lift call buttons which can cut your fingers?
• Where in London can you find London’s oldest, 1960’s classic lift, unmaintained and noisy as hell?
• Where in London can you find communal halls that don’t see hot water?
• Where in London can you find a high-rise building with windows that aren’t cleaned?
• Where in London can you find loyal tenants paying their way, with no attempts at upgrading their ameneties to a modern standard?
• Where in London can you find a Camden Council building where our money isn’t re-invested to improve our dignity?

Welcome to London

Welcome to Somerton House

You can find us above the purple Premier Inn and red Costa Coffee signs – we’ve got a shiny new sign beside the corporate heaven, thanks to BAM and Unison for their help and community spirit in helping to install the new Somerton House sign – Camden were quite happy to let our safety and security go by the by for the sake of the cost of installing it.

Thanks too, hotel – for painting the walls and fences to give the place a spruce up – sorry that Camden couldn’t pay their way.

Where in London can you find a community as diverse and friendly as ours – we’re a small village in the sky, surrounded by other unique villages – each with local people.

Yet around one million people per day pass us by. Look up and wave sometime!
Maybe we should shout louder.

It’s worth bearing in mind that we’re picking up the pieces, and asking for work which we all have paid for, be done. Properly.

Tags: 1960's, Camden Council, EPS, Pride of Place, Somerton House, sub-standard, Thomas-Sinden, windows