Following our communication with Premier Inn London Euston yesterday, we’ve received a positive assurance from the Manager of the hotel. The issues are being resolved and we’ve noticed an improvement.

Shaylor were contacted directly by a resident, and once aware there was an issue, took immediate steps to remedy it – we must send our thanks to the Shaylor construction company for understanding the problems of shared communal access and acting quite so swiftly.

As matters reached a head yesterday, we received word from the Chair of Somerton House TA, Simon, that the Premier Inn were disappointed in the action taken, although we must stress it was not taken by the TA. It was by coincidence that SHTA contaced Camden to ask for advice, which resulted in NCP parking services making daily inspections of the shared route. Although this wasn’t our initial intention, SHTA exists to ensure the wellbeing and safety of our community, and that remains our top priority.

Premier Inn’s General Manager, Mark, has contacted Simon to arrange another routine meeting with the TA, even though Premier Inn Euston have shown some concern over the course of events. Mark is positive that we can keep our friendly relationship, and that together we will find solutions to the issues we each have which are beneficial to us all.

We look forward to meeting Mark once again as a Tenants’ Association, and hope that the hotel’s suppliers and logistics companies accept our request that they are represented too. We will take the opportunity to thank the hotel for the work they have completed to the kitchen extractor vent.

We’re sorry to say that Whitbread have once again relaxed their standards at the Premier Inn London Euston. We’ve watched the situation deteriorate over the last few weeks. Reporting incidents to Reception doesn’t do much to help.

• A couple of weeks ago, vans from a company called ‘Shaylor‘ started parking at the base of the access ramp.
• This was followed by hotel residents cars being parked pretty much anywhere in the car park.
• And now, once again, delivery vehicles are reversing, completely unattended, down the access ramp.

This time we’ve tried to put a stop to things quickly. It turns out that Premier Inn are aware that their large 5 ton delivery vehicles are reversing down our shared access route. Premier Inn are aware that it shouldn’t be done, and admit that they are allowing it to happen.

If you read back, you’ll see how we had so much hope that with a new manager, Premier Inn would turn a new leaf, and live up to the environmental and community aspirations it claims to uphold on the Whitbread website.

For reference, Whitbread use several logistics companies to handle their deliveries – these drivers should be given route information before they leave, containing any special instructions. Kuehne & Nagel, Sunlight and DHL Tradeteam are the offending companies at the heart of the problem.

SHTA Chair and Secretary – Simon and John – met with Mark, the new General Manager of Premier Inn and Costa Coffee in Euston. Mark worked for the Travel Inn as a department manager in the late 90’s, so he’s got a good knowledge of the building.

Mark has been at the Premier Inn Euston for a few weeks, so this was a good time for a ‘get-to-know-you’ meeting, and gave us a chance to introduce ourselves and further the relationship between Whitbread and residents of Somerton House.

The meeting gave us a chance to discss possible new practices which Premier Inn hope to introduce to help mitigate instances of noise nuisance – mostly from deliveries and their recycling facilities. We made sure to commend Premier Inn Euston on the practices it put in place following our last meeting – all appear to be working.

We’ve discussed the possibility of residents using their lift while ours is being replaced, and will discuss this further when we’re given a more accurate timing from Camden Council. The General Manager was positive that this would be a good way for Premier Inn to help its neighbours when they need it most.

Premier Inn are in the process of applying for Planning Premission from Camden Council to install the much needed sound insulation to the rooftop air conditioning plant. There are several stages besides planning permission, including health & safety. Although it’s essential to help residents to have a good night’s sleep, we’ve to wait in the queue for the permission to be granted. SHTA intends to write to our Councillors to ask if they could help to oil the wheels of bureaucracy.

We’re also not averse to raising ideas to help the profile of Premier Inn, and have suggested cycle and cycle hire facilities.

We haven’t set regular meetings, but now that we’ve introduced ourselves, we’ve an effective way for SHTA and Premier Inn to discuss any matters arising.

Almost two years have passed since Costa Coffee encroached onto the corner of Euston Road and Duke’s Road, obliterating any evidence that Somerton House existed in the process. Today, Somerton House can once again be found, thanks to BAM Construction, and local Trade Union Unison.

In an amazing catalogue of ignorance and errors, it took Whitbread two years to buy a new sign, and when it arrived they refused to erect it.

Whitbread employ a property consultant, Gerald Eve, to look after their buildings. Gerald Eve have an intricate understanding of the lease, and other legal documents between their client and Camden Council. They are paid by Whitbread to use this knowledge in the best way for Whitbread – and the evidence to dates suggests they are exemplary at this task. Gerald Eve chose to enforce a tiny line in the documentation which said it was Camden Council’s responsibility to fit the new sign.

The Tenants’ Association is still quite astounded that Gerald Eve felt quite so bold as to hold Camden Council to account, after all it wasn’t Camden Council who removed the old signage. When we approach Gerald Eve they advise us of their client, Whitbread’s environmental credentials. Those same environmental credentials prevented them spending less than an hours profit from their coffee shop, to put right their wrongdoings.

Whichever way you look at it, FOUR months of wrangling between Whitbread and Camden Council is unacceptable, so when the Police and Ambulance added their names to the long list of those upset at how difficult it was to find Somerton House, we approached BAM, who are erecting the new Unison HQ tower. BAM under contract of Unison kindly helped us to erect the sign. It didn’t take them four months.

In helping everyone to drag their heels quite so well, Gerald Eve has proven that, despite its ability to manage commercial properties, they have a severe lack of understanding of the relationship between the commercial and residential parts of mixed buildings.

Everyone at Somerton House extends a warm thank you to our neighbours Unison  and their contractors, BAM , we commend them for being neighbourly and their helpful ‘can do’ attitude towards life & community.

SHTA met the Whitbread group with the help of Ward Councillor Jonathan Simpson, to discuss issues which have arose recently. The first meeting was positive, and it was accepted that some problems have been ongoing for some time, and some have arose since the hotel’s extension works.

The hotel put procedures in place to make use of the car park and access ramp safer for all of us, and to manage delivery vehicles. Gerald Eve, Whitbread Group’s property consultant, is arranging an enclosure for the roof mounted air conditioning units. Unfortunately this needs planning permission, and there doesn’t appear to be a fast track process available.

Noise from the kitchen extractor vent, which can be quite loud in residents’ bedrooms, is being investigated. In the meantime the hotel have pledged to ensure the vent is switched off between 11:30 PM and 04:45 AM – though their timer appears to be faulty. If the noise from the kitchen vent is a nuisance to you, call Premier Inn London Euston Reception on 020 7554 3400 and ask them to switch it off, politely.

A meeting is being arranged for residents to voice their issues over noise coming into their flats.

SHTA will meet representatives of Premier Inn on Monday, 1st April, with an aim to resolve long-standing issues which have been detrimental to Somerton House residents for quite some time.

Issues on the agenda mainly focus around noise – whether it be from the air conditioning equipment on the roof, the kitchen extractor fans beneath us, the garbage compactor, recycling or deliveries.

SHTA will also touch on several Health & Safety issues which have been going on for far too long – such as large delivery wagons reversing down and then blocking our access ramp. We know the outside drinking can be a problem during the summer months too.

If the way Premier Inn, Costa Coffee or No. 1 Duke’s Road, which are all owned by the large corporation Whitbread, cause your home life detriment, and you are a Somerton House resident or live in the local area, please let us know by leaving a comment below, we’ll raise issues you’re concerned about.

Also at the meeting will be Gerald Eve, representing Whitbread’s property portfolio, and Councillor Jonathan Simpson.

SHTA has contacted the Whitbread group on many occasions, and given the group extended the Premier Inn hotel at London Euston some years ago, issues have dragged on for quite so long that we’ve taken official steps to try to force Whitbread to remedy the situation. This includes speaking to the lisensing, planning, environment and health & safety departments of the Council regarding the day-to-day running of the Hotel cum coffee shop and bar, as well as the London Fire Brigade over serious fire safety concerns we share.

We’re used to living in the centre of such a big and vibrant city, and we know all too well how noisy, and intrusive living in such a unique area can be. We also take the area, the historical importance of it, and the times where we can rest and recuperate, very seriously indeed!

The date? No, we’re not giving you an April Fool early. We really are meeting with them, after all this time!

SHTA has made positive steps in addressing the noise pollution issues arising from the Permier Inn London Euston.

A filter has been installed on the extractor fan limiting some of the noise emanating from the car park level.

Permier Inn staff have been instructed not to operate the garbage crusher after 8pm.

Despite numerous requests from SHTA and the hotel management the Sunlight delivery company continues to wake residents at unreasonable hours and block the communal driveway with their noisy vans. We are talking to Sunlight laundry services and hope to make progress regarding this matter very soon.

Whitbread plc, which owns Premier Inn, employs Gerald Eve as property consultant and management company. We are expecting a representative to meet us very soon to discuss several issues:

• Costa Coffee’s use of the front access ramp – including the partition section removed to give customers and staff a short-cut.
• The lack of acoustic shielding around the roof and kitchen air conditioning plant
• The use of the communal drive as a loading bay and blocking access to emergency vehicles.

Gerald Eve really need to act soon, to resolve these issues, thereby improving the quality of life for all residents of Somerton House

At a recent meeting with hotel manager Stephen Luck and the hotel Housekeeping Manager, SHTA was assured that the Somerton House sign will be repositioned shortly. It is currently obscured by the Costa Coffee awning and large umbrellas, Mr Luck has very recently apologised for the inconvenience this is causing residents over the last eighteen months or so.

Latest Updates on progress are posted at ‘Exit Gate Locked for Safety’  in Communal Living and News.

Residents parking bays on the lower ground floor are being continually used by contractors working on the Hotel’s extension. Residents have returned home to find white vans and contract vehicles parked in their bays, and after they leave the debris from their lunch is left on the ground.

SHTA have brought this to the attention of the Hotel and the many contractors parking in the bays, but it still continues. We have now informed the council who have instructed their Car Park Contractors to make visits.

If you have a vehicle that is parked without a permit, now is the time to re new your permit or remove your vehicle before the Car Park Contractors make their visits.

Update 29/09/07: New signs have been afixed by the Hotel, informing their guests and contractors not to park in residents bays.

Update 08/02/08: Hotel contractors now use the Church carpark and no further problems with residents parking.

Update 10/04/08: There have been no further problems with builders parking in residents bays – just in front of their garages, but not so frequently.

The gate at the end of the pathway has had it’s lock re-fitted by the TRA following several injuries. When the low-level lighting was removed as part of the Costa Coffee refurbishment, we were left somewhat in the dark. The ramp is much safer.

You will have noticed that a hole has appeared in the fence to Costa Coffee. This is apparently so that disabled people can use our ramp to access the coffee outlets’ outside decking area only and not the counter. Full ramp access is available within the Hotel / Costa Coffee building with no steps to the counter and to seating, complying with DDA access. Hotel Guests are using the short cut through the gap in the fence as a main route with luggage in tow and there is much more human traffic of Non Residents of Somerton House blocking the pathway.

Update 22/10/07: After a positive informal meeting between the TA and the General Manager of the Hotel, it was agreed by the GM Mr Steven Luck that the gap was inappropriate and would be replaced in the January programe of works at the Hotel.

Update 08/02/08: No movement yet.

Update 10/04/08: SHTA has emailed the Hotel General Manager.

Update 14/04/08: Email recieved from Hotel GM stating repairs are not finalised  and yet to be costed.

Update 10/02/09: Premier Inn have repaired the gap in the dividing fence with Costa coffee.

Update 27/02/09: Meeting agreed with Gerald Eve, Hotel GM,  Councillor Simpson and SHTA, date to be set.

Update 27/03/09: Date set and agreed for meeting, Wednesday 1st April 2009, 6pm at the Premier Inn Euston.

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We have also been in conversation with Camden Council and the Hotel regarding the umbrellas from Costa Coffee obscuring the sign to Somerton House – especially more now the background is red.This is causing problems with delivery drivers, postmen and callers to our address. Hopefully a solution will follow.

Update 22/10/07: The GM of the Hotel has given permission for the sign to be moved, we are now waiting for Camden Council to move it to the right of the entrance.

Update 08/02/08: Still waiting for the sign to be moved or a light to be fitted above.

Update 10/04/08: Walkabout being arranged with the Patch Manager Dilp Shah, the Somerton House sign remains to have been moved, and delivery problems continue, now even EPS can’t find the building beacuse the sign is obscured.

Update 10/04/08: SHTA has emailed the Hotel General Manager.

Update 14/04/08: Email recieved from Hotel GM stating to relocate the sign should not be a problem.

Update 10/02/09: Premier Inn have repaired the gap in the dividing fence with Costa coffee.

Update 13/02/09: The committee has asked LB Camden for and gained, a new security door for Somerton House, the door is to be fitted at the end of the entrance corridor to give maximum space and protection to residents entering / exiting SH. To be fitted 26/02/09

Update 13/02/09: Premier Inn have commissioned and paid for a new sign for Somerton House – but have not got the equipment to fit it. The committee have asked BAM construction who are working locally at the EGA / Unison Site if they could help fix it to the wall.

Update 27/02/09: Entrance door fitted with new door entry/exit system.

Earlier today we met a representative of KHK Group, the construction consultancy dealing with the conversion of the Travel Inn hotel’s disused petrol station on Euston Road. Their objective is to convert the space into new bedrooms for the hotel, in time for Christmas.

It is very bad that we were not consulted as a building prior to the building work commencing, and we have ensured that all parties involved are aware that we have had no consultation, to which we were entitled, and no advance warning of a meaningful type.

Between us, we have agreed the following:

1. That noisy working hours would be Monday to Friday from 09.00 until 17.00
2. That there would be no weekend work, provided that the works kept to schedule, if over schedule that a review would be held with consideration towards the local residents.
3. That a schedule of works was posted on the notice board two weeks in advance showing what works where about to start giving residents time to prepare of the disturbance and to know how long this disturbance would last. ( this will be posted and emailed to the TRA )
4. That the pile driving would be screwed in rather than hammered, to reduce the noise levels.
5. That should there be excessive wind for a sustained time, that was carrying dust and debris toward Somerton House that a review of said works would be carried out, to abate this.
6. That a contact point with the builders is achieved. i.e contact number for the site foreman etc.
7. That once during and again on completion of works, that the windows, frames and grey panelling of SH will be washed down and cleaned.
8. That a written apology is requested from Travel Inn/Whitbread, to the residents of SH for lack of consultation.
9. That the builders would be considerate towards the local residents.
10. That communication between parties would be updated minimum of every two weeks.

If you have any further concerns or queries, please email shta@shta.co.uk
Or you may write to: Somerton House Tenant’s Association, The Tenants’ Room, 6th Floor, Somerton House, Dukes Road, London WC1H 9AA