Thanet Council Exposed

Final Post

2008-05-16T18:54:00.000+01:00

This is the final post in this blog.

I'm too angry to write anything balanced and have frankly given up trying to make the yards look good - they are now all overgrown so that you can not even tell we even bothered.

What's the point? TDC refuse to talk to us and all inclination to do anything has long since been lost.

I honestly wonder if the people at TDC actually hate the people that live in the Millmead Estate sometimes. As I say I'm fustrated beyond the will to continue. All I can say is to TDC is "You're Fired!"

I write about other topics at The Thanet Star so maybe I'll see you there.

It's not just Millmead the council can't be bothered to sort out!

2006-10-21T14:37:00.000+01:00

Reporting on another story: - it seems that Newington Estate get's it just as bad, if not worse.

Every tenant of the council feel the council don't listen and the police are against them. (I recon it becuase the cops akll take bribes from the drug dealers).

READ MORE

TAG: thanet

TDC do not feel the need to listen to anyone!

2006-10-04T16:55:00.000+01:00

With Sandy Ezekiel being foolish and cllr Green getting forbidden to blog it's no wonder a simple issue like making a yard look nice is beyond the council.

It is now ONE YEAR since the civil servant whom my local councillers passed the buck to was due to have called me.

Thanet Council don't care about "the pooer" people and that is a fact!

Milmead - junk yard of thanet.

2006-08-20T17:26:00.000+01:00

There has been an ongoing issue with people dumping whatever crap they want in the streets outside my home.

This post is dedicated to all those vile litter-bugs who think they can abuse the world and get away with it.

I, for one, am sick of my environment being violated.

About a week ago I spoted a truck carrying a wrecked caravan drive down the dead end road that is Denton Way, Kent (CT9 xxx).

The next day I noticed this unsightly wreck parked toward the top of the same road.

I took a photo in order to provide evidence of it having been dumped.

My wife was the first to spot them. A family out for a little recriational fly tipping. How nice.

By the time I had grabbed the camera they were shuffling off after updating the pile with some fresh new off cuts of green carpet.

I at least got a photo of the leaving the "scene of the crime".

They then backed up the road and arround the corner (where I got the shot of the number plate) and waited for a child to come out of the block before they drove away. (no, I didn't photo the child that sort of thing is not on).

The registration of the car is DG03PZM so if any one knows the owner perhaps they can let thier name be known.

So that's the story of the fly tippers captured "on film" doing the deed.

I also broke the story here (just so you know).

Sandy Ezekiel and the double standard.

2006-08-02T19:20:00.000+01:00

Last winter - a time of year when Margate never looks its best - another bloody foreigner with an unpronounceable name came to Margate. He brought a camera crew with him, and he was making a film about a flaky Russian single mother who had exchanged a crumbling tower block in Moscow for an equally crumbling one overlooking Dreamland, the kind of funfair of which nightmares are made. With a sub-plot that involved cyberporn and pre-teen vodka binges, it was clear that he wasn't making a holiday programme.

Which seemed like a gift for Sandy Ezekiel, Thanet's leading Tory, who has never tired of exposing how the Labour-led council has allowed the town to be overrun by refugees. Was not the film's very name, Last Resort, another nail in Margate's coffin? On Tuesday last week, councillor Ezekiel called for the resignation of the tourism chief, Iris Johnston, for allowing this "derogatory film" to be shot.
guardian.co.uk

The councillers for the area.

2006-07-13T09:32:00.000+01:00

It had always been somthing of a puzzle to me what or who was in charge of the shocking treatment of the area. Well I wonder no more for I have the Dane Valley Three down this time.

Shaun Connell (Labour) address and number pending, Roy Ford (Labour) address and number pending and Ian Gregory (Conservative) of 11 Albian Road, St Peters.

However all is not lost as I can make a big fuss to Cllr Iris Johnston and Cllr David Green who are also in the Labour party and one assumes they will quickly tire of thier colleages hiding away.

All is now set for a new round of letters and complaints but this time I am not alone having joined up with the Thanet Bloggers at such sites such as this one and I think I can now count of some support in my fight to get a damn answer from these people.

Council maintain high weed levels efficiently.

2006-07-04T12:26:00.000+01:00

Perhaps the councils green area maintenence people should be renamed the weed trimmers. After all they come round and hackishly "strim" what is left of the grass and weeds (mostly weeds) and then blow the cuttings about abit with big motorised blowers.

Then they leave the cuttings to rot over the grass which unsupprisingly dies.

In it's place weeds spring up.

From time to time they come back and use the strimmers on the weeds to restart this cycle and murder any lawn that might be left.

What, is the point?

Once, many moons ago...

2006-05-03T11:48:00.000+01:00

Once, many moons ago this was a simple photo blog that aimed only to show the world how run-down council property realy was. However Mear Limited and the assosiated cowboys that the council foolishly hired have put pay to all that.

Now it stands as a testiment to the abuse thanet council have given the very people they claim to be helping.

As such, a simple blog is no longer suitable for speaking up on such a wide topic. I have joined with other, like minded, people at thanetcouncil.info where I hope to be more usefull. The website is a not-for-profit site run as an attempt to expose the council to a little attention.

Thanks for reading.

Photo blogging will continue shortly.

All About Windows

2006-01-05T15:22:00.000Z

"Sit next to a window in a double-glazed home. Notice the absence of draughts and cold spots. See, too, how messy condensation is dramatically reduced."
- http://www.wanz.org.nz/how_dg_works.htm

Sadly I live in a building maintained by my local council. This means that I have to put up with poor quality workmanship and excusses that vurge on being outright lies.

Recently my council chose to replace the windows in the building.

I have to admit that the old windows were very old and not just a little warped. So much so that I had to tape the windows closed with thick masking tape in the winter to keep the heat in.

The masking tape trick worked very well.

However now I have nice warm double galzed windows right?

Wrong! Now I have very cold and drafty double glazed windows.

It is cold and drafty because of condensation. (yes it will be explained).

No more cold spots near windows!
Sitting near a single glazed window in winter can be like being in a refrigerator. That's because cold air enters through normal glass and passes into the room. Warmth is also sucked out through the glass, causing drafts. With Insu-Glas double glazed windows, warm air is circulated back into the room, and cold spots disappear.
- http://www.ziggys.co.nz/doubleglazing.html

My double glazing has large "vent points" that can be opened or closed. In theory closing them removes the draft but of course this simply is not true.

The keyword here is that double glazing gives you insulation - just like putting on an another layer of clothing to keep out the cold.
- http://www.double-glazing-web.co.uk/

Why is this not true?

In part it seems because of the way the new windows were fitted. The cold stone work that was the window ledge on the only windows is still where it was and is simply covered by the nice white placstic of the badly made windows.

No I fear no company taking leagle action as I can proove what I said and will litter this article with photographs to this effect.

Now about that condensation.

It is so bad that these new plastic windows have mold growing on them and need to be cleaned regularly to protect the health of the children.

Naturally I called in the people responsible and complained about the workmanship and the mold.

His response was to acknowledge the screws sticking out, the ill fitting joints and the damp. His action was to state that the first two were mearly cosmetic and the screws were standard practice. The damp was our fault as we had closed the vents to reduce the draft the wistles through the flat when it is cold.

Now if you were to take a trip to http://thanetcouncil.blogspot.com/ you will find (not only a copy of this article) but details of my never ending argument with thanet district council.

I fail to see why fitting windows with screws added on site and at irregular possitions and angles should be considered acceptable.

The seals are crumbling and the joints do not meet very well (if at all).

The chief litigation officer of thanet council wrote to me to say that he was "advised" that "not all windows had screws sticking out from them". Yet this guy who reprisents the people that fitted the windows claimed all windows fitted in these flats and houses had these screws.

Some one somewhere is not telling the truth.

The interior surfaces of energy-efficient windows stay warmer, which means you can maintain a higher level of relative humidity without worrying about condensation on the windows
- http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/publications/infosource/pub/renovate/windowefficiency/index.cfm?attr=4

Before we continue Relative Humidity (RH) is the measure of saturation of moisture in the air. The warmer the air the more parts per million can be water. When air tempriture decreases suddenly the ammount of water in the air does not change but the point of dew does decrease sot hat at 100% RH we get water droplets forming.

Cold water pipes running through a kitchen that has been in full use for a few hours might drip not because of leaking but because the water is forming on the cold pipes as the local RH crosses the 100% mark.

The same thing happens when you pour a cold drink on a hot day.

When it happens with windows it means that the window is too cold for the RH of the rest of the room.

There are two possible causes too much humidity or too cold a window.

What causes condensation?
The sudden lowering of the temperature of the wall or window surfaces, i.e., the effect of freezing external air on a window when internal temperatures and air moistures and air moisture content remain unchanged.

http://www.double-glazing-replacement-windows.com/condensation.htm

Many questions are asked as to whether increased ventilation would cure condensation, and in most cases this is the most important keyword. In most instances judicious ventilation will help to overcome the problem since it will encourage rapid evaporation of a condensate. However, with increased ventilation may come a tendency for surfaces to become cooled. This is brought about by the air stream passing across the surface of the wall and bringing about the process of cooling by evaporation. The introduction of mechanical ventilation in the form of electric extractor fans can achieve some benefit if they are sited in such a position that humid air will be extracted, but care should be taken to see that it does not extract too much heat from the room, or indeed introduce cold air from outdoors when off.
- http://www.double-glazing-replacement-windows.com/condensation.htm

So yes while some reduction in wetness of windows has been the result of leaving the "vents" open we now have a cold flat where jumpers and gloves are sometimes a good idea if your desk is by the window, even with the heating on.

"condensation forms when moisture-laden air meets a cold enough surface to condense on"
- http://www.thewindowman.co.uk/condensation-why.htm

The question therefore arrises as to why the new double glazed windows are so cold as to cause perminatnt condenstation with the solution being to expose the room to continouse streams of very cold air that have been shown to cause health problems.

Double Glazing can greatly reduce condensation.
http://www.thewindowman.co.uk/condensation-cure.htm

But in my case double glazing has increased condensation and reduced heat retention.

Why?

Well an inspection by hand when the room is warm enough and the outside is cold enough shows us an interesting discovery. The windows are coldest near the frames.

The glazing is not a issue but the frames are of such poor quality that they let out more heat than they help to hold in.

Must I pay someone to create an old fasioned "weep-hole" for all the water to run away?

I think the only answer is to humiliate the people involved by pointing out thier lies. This does not supprise me after all the council threatened to evict me and thier builders assulted me for speaking up about the conditions here.

What I want to know is do the windows meet BS EN 1279 for Double Glazed Units? I doubt it very much.

diagram from: http://www.glasstech.co.nz/doubglazp3.html

This writeup is going to be published on thanetcouncil.blogspot.com, lordmatt.co.uk from where the author hopes to see it covered at digg.com.

Happy new Year

2006-01-01T12:29:00.000Z

Happy new year to all that have been following the development that documents the utter failure of the council to maintain what little house stock they do have.

The photo log will continue shortly.

For those that have emailed us asking if the council ever got back to us on any issue raise I have to say no. They continue to accuse us of anti social behavioure (helpping the niegbours, cleaning up after the grass cutters, removing litter and weeds, reporting problems and not backing down over abuse issues), they have however made some mention of the standards they claim to work to and now it is a matter of identifying chapter and verse the short falls an publishing a public report.

The abusive spammer (one or two of the councils (monkey faced) builders) has seeming gone and the abuse by the seemingly corrupt police officer seems also to be over.

It's amazing what a little advice from a solicitor can get you these days.

Expect more depressing pictures of broken gutters and over full bins shortly.

Update of Events

2005-09-27T16:45:00.000+01:00

So far there has been no news on the eviction threats by the more corrupt elements within the council. and the people who should answer are sadly silent.

Of course the security door still doesn't work and the workmen never showed up on the day they wrote to us to tell us they would attend.

Thanet Council have, however, been in contact and promised to talk to us about the original issue of the state of the green areas... However these promises are thin on the ground and have yet to transpire into any actual action.

I have dropped a line to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and written to the MP (Mr Gale) for the area while copying my requests to two newspapers. Sooner or later the council will have to provide evidence they know what they are doing or give in and admit they simply made an error.

No biggie realy.

Still we can hope that one day Thanet will produce a candidate worth voting into office.

In the mean time we shall continue to maintain that the builders did a very poor job and should be sacked and the council needs to pull their collective finger out and employ contractors that are able to do the job. As opposed to signing up to blogger with silly account names during the lunch break to type lame and uninspired insults into the occasional comment field, as is their current very mature approach.

We expect more from our insults around these parts - anything under 500 words and without a specific point of evidence, (and at least a little creativity), just shows that the writer is the kind of bad monkey that sits at home picking it's nose because it can't work out where the remote control is nor how to use it, (the complexities of using more than six letters on the keyboard without a half hour nap are lost on them all-together).

Further more, we expect words of greater than four letters, grammar, and a vague shot at spelling. If this is too hard for the maggot sized brains of these turnip loving fools then I suggest they go back to school, learn to read, by a thesaurus and quit using the same five words (which are not only dull but demonstrate an alarming probability that these excrement-of-a-bovine-lovers failed to gain entry into the human race at all).

But then what should we expect, these idiots are both to yellow in the back and far to stupid to open thier own blog and provide (shock horror) an informed opinion. Which is why we are right and they are still the unheard idiot fringe.

Eviction Threats.

2005-09-22T11:25:00.000+01:00

In light of the eviction threats made by Mr Evans of Thanet Council over our refusal to accept their lies and abuse any second longer I feel it only fitting that I publicise my reply to them before I send it.

I will now appeal to whoever I can and continue untill I reach the House of Lords itself if I must.

Without prejudice

Dear Sir,

With reference to the letter dated 20th September 2005 with reference [CE/JO58HS2445] and signed by on behalf of Colin Evans (Assistant Litigation Solicitor).
Also with reference to previous correspondence from Mr Evans.

First let me draw you attention to a number of discrepancies in the nature of the unfounded allegations I am being accused of. In earlier correspondence Mr Evans alleged that I had trespassed on scaffold that I had always maintained was unsafe and in need of review. (Indeed advice from friends that have worked in the building trade have only confirmed my fears.) However in his letter dated 20/09/05 Mr Evans no suggests with no evidence at all that I have now become guilty of harassing and assaulting contractors.

Would this be the same contractor that threatened to murder my children and afforded me a visit to the Accident and Emergency department of the QEQM?

I have a crime reference number for the assault that was carried out against me, can Mr Evans provide such support for his imaginary claims of assault against builders.

Is this how the council deals with all allegations of abuse of the public trust - by threatening to make a family homeless?

Mr Evans references an email to “Councillor Ezekiel” (of 01/08/05). It is to this email that he claims to be responding. Perhaps he feels that he is earning “brownie points” by freeing up a council house by false claims?

I request that Mr Evans provide evidence or publicly apologise for his threats. I have been mistreated to the point that I refuse to be silent in the face of threats from bullies who think that by forcing myself and my children to sleep on the streets they can get rid of an issue they are unable to address.

Mr Evans my feel that it is “reasonable to consider possession proceedings against” me by he has yet to prove that I have “broken tenancy conditions” other than that a few workers exposed for poor standards have made up some stories that not only change but remain unproven.

In response to Mr Evans “instructions” that the workmanship is not substandard I ask again that the documentation of the standards to which these people worked and the independent report that confirms these standards be made available.

Mr Evans seems unable to asses the information for himself and this leads me to wonder if he were to claim the sky was pink if so advised by the Council. I draw you attention to the fact that I have publicly and photographically documented the work carried out by the works and have shown that the standard of work is poor.

I notice that Mr Evans is no longer able to deny that windows were fitted in the council house with screws sticking from them at irregular angles. This is wise given he overwhelming public photographic evidence.

Mr Evans: the weak denials you have sent me are no replacement for facts or proof. You of all people are aware of the importance of providing evidence for claims if justice is to be served. I appeal to you as a rational human being to examine the truth of this issue for yourself. You are clearly a man of learning and ability to have achieved the qualifications required for your post. Put that ability now to good use and help end this needless wasting of public money.

Blog Tags: Thanet Council, abuse, Thanet.

There is also a good chance I will contact the Local MP.

The Dangers of Asbestos Exposure

2005-08-29T20:18:00.000+01:00

The Dangers of Asbestos Exposure: "Asbestos becomes hazardous when it becomes airborne. This may happen through unsafe work procedures or because asbestos–containing material is deteriorated, damaged or removed, releasing asbestos fibres or dust. Those who encounter asbestos in the work place may be most susceptible to harm. However, workers may carry asbestos dust home on their clothes or shoes, exposing their families to health risks.

The three most common types of asbestos are chrysotile (white asbestos), amosite (gray or brown asbestos), and crocidolite (blue asbestos). Other more uncommon asbestos forms include tremolite and actinolite. All forms of asbestos are hazardous to human health. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure."

Dispite the health risks and with no expert opinion to back them up the council continue to deny the presence of unsafe materials on the building site that was our home.

Updates

2005-07-28T21:17:00.000+01:00

The thug-like builders have now gone. The work has very recently been "completed" after an extensive break. The entry phone system still does not work athough this seems to be down to ineptidude at the managerial level rather than the direct fault of ground crew.

The weed trimmers came by yesterday and disterbed the peace for three hours hacking ineffectivly at the weeds that pass for grass before efficiently blowing the cuttings about for a while before leaving them where they were. I'm sure this is so allergy sufferers can itch and suffer all the more.

We have restarted work on the yard that the council has failed to do and will be taking advice on the best replacements for the plants ripped out by the councils own thugs.

The police have still failed to interview key witnesses in the assult that occoured here and no follow up to the police harrasment issue has been made so far.

My intention is to contact my local MP with this information and hopefully make life hard on the bent coppers of the Margate nick that seem to think that victims of crime should be treated like crap.

Thanet District Council continue to deny the photographic evidence that we have presented and I will be pubblishing the latest key images of this evidence before writting once more to the council so they can ignore me like they always do.

More soon.

Meet the faces behind the neglect

2005-07-28T19:45:00.000+01:00

Given the shear ability of council members to ignore us I have chosen to take the radical step of placing their photos and short profiles on this site. All information is already publicly available on the council website.

This is Ian Gregory he is the Conservative representing Dane Valley (the area in question). He is a member of the Standards Committee and he works at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital as Estate Manager. He lists building development as a special interest.

He lives in East Northdown Close in Cliftonville. His full address is available on the council website which details that he does not meet with people (or it does not detail that he does - you choose).

This man is Shaun C Connell he is the Labour member representing Dane Valley and his activities are listed as member of the Licensing Board.

He lives in Northdown Road in Margate and can be reached by phone on 0871 347682. He has no email address according to the website nor meeting times, nor interests. I'm guessing this man will not act in any real way for us.

I'm sure his membership of the Labour party means something to him so I've listed a member of said party that can be reached by email in the hope that a message can be passed on.

This is Linda Aldred she is a Labour member representing Cliftonville West. She is apparently a member of the (lack of) Planning Committee and the Shadow Cabinet.

She says she enjoys living in Thanet and is committed to ensuring the ongoing regeneration of the area, but quite frankly I fail to see the evidence of this around here.

She lives in Dumpton Park Drive which is in Broadstairs. The full address is on the Thanet Council website. you can email here at this address: mailto:llaldred@yahoo.co.uk?subject=council or via this address committee@thanet.gov.uk. In the event that you wish to speak with her she very kindly puts aside a whole day each month to meet people by appointment only at this address: 4 Northdown Road Cliftonville. CT9 2RW on the first Saturday of every month.

Ask them about the building standards the thugs the council employs use.

Later today members of the council will get this email.

2005-07-28T15:16:00.000+01:00

Hi,

CC: Shaun C Connell, please.

Could you perhaps explain a few things to me and the other people that live in council housing near Invicta House.

Thanet Council boasts about finnishing Invicta House and Surrounding Council Proprties ahead of schedule but the truth is well ducument and published on-line that shows the work is unfinnished and often of questionable standards. Can you clear up for me how the litigation office of the council can deny photographic evidence of substandard work?

While you are writting your reply could you also explain how builders compleating work that is already finnished came to assult a tenant of the council? While you are explaining this: can you, perhaps, expalain how this tenant came to be threatened with eviction shortly after leaving hospital?

If that is too sensative an issue can you perhaps expalin how no safty checks or site visits were made during or after building works commisioned by the council; even after complaints of poor standards, bad workmanship, assult, sexual harrasment and raceisum were made. http://thanetcouncil.blogspot.com/2005/02/now-please-forgive-fact-that-this.html - can you perhaps enlighten me as to how substandard and unsafe practices can be officially denied by the litigation officer dispite public evidence to the contrary?

http://thanetcouncil.blogspot.com/2005/02/this-is-all-junk-they-have-been-simply.html

Could you explain how the council has managed to deny that it's builders made a regualr practice of throwing things from the scafolding throughout the working period there was scaffolding up this year (and during the dismantaling of the scaffolding)dispite photos and eye witness reports?

Yes, I am at rather a loss about that one too.

Or perhaps you would simply like to ask why a lot of money was wasted during that time and how so much paint ended up on walls and doors not owned by the council?

Perhaps you would care to visit the properties in question where even though the work is not yet compleate the paint is peeling off in places.

Can you provide us with any idea why the council and its employees insist that the builders that worked arround the invicta tower block area worked to industry standards but seem, by the same token, unable to locate or provide those standards?

I suggest that members of Thanet Council, it's staff and contacters have totally failled to ensure Council employed builders worked to a recognised standard causing money to be wasted wasted and goods that have been "reappropriated" in clear sight of the council tenants to go unnoticed.

Three out of nine doors in a single block were never painted.

A tenant was assulted.

Dangerouse working practices were used.
http://thanetcouncil.blogspot.com/2005/02/safety-is-worse-than-ever-out-there.html

The windows fitted look to be FACTORY REGECTS. I have spoken to people with glazing expirence and they have all expressed shock that any one paid anything for those windows
http://thanetcouncil.blogspot.com/2005/02/here-is-view-of-school-i-dread-to.html
http://thanetcouncil.blogspot.com/2005/02/yes-this-is-screw-yes-it-is-in-window.html

Residents were threatened and abused.

Sexual remarks and other suggestive comments were made to single mothers in front of thier children.

Dry Fibre (Fibre Glass) was left exposed less than 100 meters from a school:
http://thanetcouncil.blogspot.com/2005/02/you-are-looking-at-image-of-fibreglass.html
http://thanetcouncil.blogspot.com/2005/02/fibre-glass-left-laying-about-less.html
http://thanetcouncil.blogspot.com/2005/02/fact-sheet-health-hazards-in.html
See also: House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 3 May 2000 (pt 20)

Unsecured cables in public walkways was the norm for the entire stay of the builders: http://thanetcouncil.blogspot.com/2005/02/this-is-public-pathway-and-here-is.html
http://thanetcouncil.blogspot.com/2005/02/here-is-photo-that-i-was-able-to-take.html

Two year old chuildren learned new four letter words begining with S, C and F.

plugged in power tools were regularly plugged in were children might get to them When I complained I was threatened.
http://thanetcouncil.blogspot.com/2005/02/this-is-highly-safe-working-conditions.html

Rasist and bigotted langauge outside chuildrens bedrooms windows first thing in the morning was the norm.

Builders regularly made a practice of using the scaffolding to attempt to spy on mothers getting dressed or breast feeding.

I would like to know how all this could ever be rectified.

I would also like to know when the spending and the missing items will be audited?

It would also be good to find out who instructed the police not to interview key witnesses in the assult case, or weather they are just too incompitent to do so. The result of the failed investigation and the vast number of smashed car windows that followed the departure of builders that have never been investigated has caused many roumours of curruption to spread around the estate.

clearly someone needs to make a stand and be seen to be acting for the area.

Regards

Mr M. Brown.

2005-05-03T00:31:00.000+01:00

The people of this flat block have been without the security of an entry system for over a month. In that time there have been drunks urinating in the halls, bikes stolen, failed burglarie attempts, assults and other petty crime as well as a tenfold increase in door to door salesman. What length has the council taken to protect it's own residents? (None?)

2005-05-03T00:27:00.000+01:00

This is a drainoutside the Elham Close flats. Like all the others it is blocked by rubble from the builders.

Can anyone claim in good faith that this is a safe place to have children living?

2005-05-03T00:25:00.000+01:00

One wonders if the council has considered the cost of replanting the green areas after the cowboys have killed them.

2005-05-03T00:24:00.000+01:00

Readers are asked to consider the quality of the workmanship and ask would I employ anyone the council has?

2005-05-03T00:22:00.000+01:00

Off course your not a cowboy...

Your worse!

2005-05-03T00:21:00.000+01:00

By leaving wires hanging about all weekend and bankholiday do they, perhaps, hope to kill a few children? Thanet Council can claim they are safe all they like but we know the truth.

2005-05-03T00:19:00.000+01:00

Today, jim, I will be talking about why the door fell out of its frame...

How long I wonder will this item stay put?

2005-05-03T00:17:00.000+01:00

Readers are asked to consider the case of the main door from an insiders perspective. The joyfull view of the crumbling brickwork in need of repointing is a something you can only fully appriciate once you have pulled a bit of brick out for yourself.
Sorry brodge boys but you can not just plaster over this mess and hope that it will go away.

2005-05-03T00:15:00.000+01:00

The people who painted this door are directed to read the painting a door 101 - they should pay particular attention to the need to sand and prep a door correctly and to apply paint evenly. They are reminded that this level of bodge is going to be inspected and will be addressed at length with the people who ultimatly pay the wages for this cowboy work.

2005-05-03T00:12:00.000+01:00

Great job boys. Want to spoil anything else.

2005-05-03T00:11:00.000+01:00

I think the painters need to read our "howto"!

2005-05-03T00:09:00.001+01:00

Such a delightful sight...(!)

2005-05-03T00:09:00.000+01:00

Like good boys our bodgits left (empty?) buckets to remind us of them for the long weekend.

2005-05-03T00:05:00.000+01:00

Todays images of foolishness have been presented to you today in the name of maintenence that Thanet Council have failed to carry out. Are they fearfull of the cowboy builders or just lazy?

How to prepare a painted door for painting (DIY 101)

2005-04-19T13:13:00.000+01:00

"Failing to rub smooth a poor surface or using a low-grade brush with an inadequate amount of bristles are basic faults. Wash surfaces thoroughly, rub down, then wipe with a lint-free cloth dampened with white spirit."
-- DIY.COM

In light of the poor job done on my front door by the council workers I have taken upon myself to research in sufficient detail as to be able to show how the job should be done. It is my hope that this introductory guide should be sufficient for other council tenants to identify a cowboy job quickly and simply.

DIY.COM Rate this as a novice friendly task and Dulux also have a guide

Your door: as we are dealing with doors that have been painted already and are being re-painted I shall not address the issues of preparing new wood for paint.

Preparation

Providing that the old paintwork is in sound condition, there is no need to remove it. It can actually form a very good base for new paint.

If there are lots of defects in the paint - chips, lumps and bumps, badly painted or beginning to flake, craze or blister - it should be stripped.

Sound paintwork should be washed with sugar soap and rubbed down to provide a smooth surface ready to receive the new paint.

-- DIY FIX IT

Sanding Down

"For best results, all surfaces need to be thoroughly sanded. This will provide a key for the new paint as well as enhancing the appearance. With old paintwork bear in mind that it may contain lead. If in doubt use the wet technique to avoid generating lead dust. Simple kits are available to test for lead content."
-- DIY FIX IT

When sanding doors (unless they are particularly ornate) you should always wrap the sanding paper around something called "a sanding block" which is usually made of cork. The block ensures that the paper is flat and properly pressed in contact with the door at all times.

As well as ensuring an even job using a sanding block will also stop you hurting your hand and doing damage to your knuckles.

If the current layer is particularly uneven, flaky or has deep "dents" or gouges then it may be necessary to strip the paintwork pack somewhat. There are two way that this can be done but the simplest method is to apply some elbow grease with a handheld electric sander. These devices, which can often be hired for the day for very little, will enable you to smooth your door and prepare it for the primer coat.

you will need to ensure that you move the sander evenly over the entire door to avoid creating a concave service area.

Before you use the sander be sure to use a scraper to remove all the loose paint work remembering throughout to where the correct protective gear.

If your door has a particularly bad indentation then it may not be possible to reduce this with a sander instead you will need to apply a filler. You local DIY store will be able to advise you further.

Once you have sanded and prepared the door it is vital that you remove the dust from your working environment and ensure that it does not contaminate your paint.

"Make certain that corners are cleaned out by tying a lint-free cloth around a pointed stick, dampening it with white spirit and cleaning out the corner thoroughly"
-- B&Q / DIY.COM Howto PDF

If you property was built before 1960 there is a good chance that it contains paint lead based paints. In these cases it would be wise to hire a professional.

Primer

When changing between markedly different colours you will save yourself a lot of heart ache by applying the correct undercoat. A good choice of undercoat or primer can save as many as six additional coats of top coat. You local DIY store will be able to advise you on a good choice of primer at the same time that you purchase you chosen colour.

The primer should be applied in the same manner as the gloss coat evenly and not too thickly. Once it has dried it will provide good foundation on which to paint your top coat of paint. The primer will only be as good as the preparation and sanding that has gone before.

Modern primer often require no additional "keying" (a quick going over with sand paper) before painting although any runs will need to be removed and smoothed before painting the top coat.

The Painting (The Top Coat)

"If the paint is applied too thickly or is not brushed out enough, then runs and wrinkles will result. A common cause is trying to paint around fittings such as door handles. Apart from the likelihood of smudging paint onto the fitting, it is far better to remove all fittings before painting."
-- B&Q / DIY.COM Howto PDF

Generally you will purchase more than one tin of paint. To avoid slight but telling colour variation it is advisable to mix the two almost identical tins together in a larger pot.

Make sure you use a good quality brush. You may have to pay a little more but a cheap brush is likely only to shed bristles and not hold the paint well making it more difficult to create an even finish.

Hold the brush firmly near the base of the handle and brush swiftly in an single set of directions - most decorators recommend up and down. A good stead action will soon see the door painted well.

A common mistake made by people new to painting doors is to worry about the gloss drying and to try to finish too quickly this generally leads to too much paint being applied to the brush which results in runs, creases and drips all of which waste both time and paint needlessly.

Notes on durability and other considerations

The most durable paint for doors is without question Oil Based Gloss with is particularly tough and has a nice shine to it. However oil based paints give off fumes which can prove hazardous in unventilated areas especially around pregnant women and small children.

The alternative to oil based gloss is water based gloss which is a little less forgiving of brush marks so a good brush becomes vital. It is also less tough but still sufficiently resilient for an interior door. You can often manage two coats of water based in a single day as it drys much faster than oil based.

For external doors the oil based is probably your only choice but care should be taken to keep the area free from pets and children and to limit the propagation of fumes around the home. Once it has dried it should be virtually impossible to cause a well glossed door to chip or flake paint for many years with some manufacturers promising a ten year minimum life span.

Identifying a cowboy job.

A cowboy job is identified by a number of symptoms many of which are hidden and will only reveal themselves if you watch the worker or wait for the work to "fall apart", fade and generally decay.

It should be noted that if you paid someone you believed to be a professional for the job you have a right to expect to be satisfied with the result or have them do it again at their own cost.

"It is so often said that preparation is the key to a good job, and it really is the case. The difference between a good and bad job almost invariably relates to the amount of time spent preparing the work."-- DIY FIX IT

Read the list below. Award the job one point for each point it fails on.

Little or no preparation time
Little or no care or consideration is made for the protection of others from the potential harmful effects of lead-paint dust, general dust and fumes.
The worker dry sands or attempts to dry sand paintwork identified as containing lead.
Worker failed to prime the paintwork or did so in a lacklustre fashion
"Lumpy" finish (one extra point per lump or square inch thereof)
After reading this article you feel the worker needs re-educating and possibly you could do better
Paint marks on carpet, walls, furniture, household items, etc (also consider consulting a solicitor)
Brush hairs, dust, dirt, finger prints etc in paint work. (two points for each)
Worker demands money or other payment to acquire materials

You find yourself charged for brushes, dust sheets, rest breaks, time off-site etc (add twenty points and call your local trading standards office)
Paint starts to flake, peel and chip within days or weeks of the jobs completion.
This PDF document (Adobe reader required) lists 11 common problems (generally caused by basic amateur mistakes) and how to avoid and/or cure them. Give the job two points for each point it fails.
uneven finish (add additional points for each place you can still see the layer beneath)
Brush marks remaining after the paint is dry (add additional points for severity)
Worker demands resources such as access to a sink to wash brushes. A pro would have these resources with him so award two points.
Worker stops work for a break before completing the door (you should be able to see the join where they started again so award one point per inch of bad join)
Drips and runs in the paint work. Add additional points if this is somewhat excessive.

A score of 3+ indicates definite cause for complaint

A score of 10+ confirms the worker as an outright cowboy

For Information: in light of the bogus police alert.

2005-03-24T18:09:00.000Z

This is a public service announcement
made in light of the other post made today

After what happened I did a little research this is the result:

If you have had unreasonable treatment by a police officer or you feel that a person is not a real officer you do not have to let them in and a real police officer will be willing to wait while you confirm their identity with the local station. Upon request they should be willing to give you thier badge number and in most cases their name as well.

If the person claiming to be police is plain clothed they will show you their warrant cards which will include badge number and photo.

Do not be afraid to keep a police officer waiting while you confirm who they are. It is far better they be delayed 15 minuets than any one end up dead.

If you feel you have been treaded badly by the police your first point of contact could be your local CAB office.

"The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice from over 3,200 locations, and by influencing policymakers."

Citizens Advice Bureaux
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

If you would rather make your complaint then you can contact the IPCC (Independent Police Complaint Commission) who will investigate your complaint.

You can make a complaint if you are a member of the public who:

Has been the victim of the misconduct by a person serving with the police. Misconduct could include a police officer or member of police staff being rude to you or using excessive force. It could also include unlawful arrest or an abuse of your rights.

Was present when the alleged misconduct took place, or close enough to see or hear the misconduct, and as a result suffered loss, damage, distress or inconvenience, or was put in danger or at risk.

Is a friend or relative of the victim of the alleged misconduct, distressed by the effects of the incident on the victim.

Has witnessed the alleged misconduct.

Is acting on behalf of any of the above. Please note that if you would like someone to make a complaint on your behalf, you must give them your consent in writing unless they are from a body such as a Citizens Advice Bureau.

Independent Police Complaint Commission
90 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6BH
Tel: 08453 002 002 (local rate)
Email: enquiries@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk
www: http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/

You may wish to read:
http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/index/making_complaint.htm
http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/how_to_make_comp.pdf

If you wish to litigate against the police these are the only firm in Kent that I am aware of being able to deal with your claim:

George Ide, Phillips - Solicitors
Lion House
79 St Pancras
Chichester
West Sussex
PO19 4NL

Phone: 01243 786668
Fax: 01243 831000
www: http://www.georgeidephillips.co.uk/

It's not over untill the bogus policeman get's nicked.

2005-03-24T16:39:00.000Z

In the UK as in other parts of the world it is illegal to impersonate a police officer.

So when a so-called-police-man phoned my house and not only asked some very strange questions but told me several details about a "witness" to a crime he says I committed giving not only their gender but their home address I grew suspicious and started to change the names and numbers I was mentioning.

If indeed there is a male living in the block next to mine that did call the police with allegations he should call a solicitor as he may be in danger from the bogus caller.

The police may have all but closed the case but it seems that some "people" have not.

As I gave the man who called the address of this site if he is a real cop then he can leave his rank, superior officer, badge number and full name. I doubt he will do so for I believe he is a faceless coward without the balls to address me without a pseudonym.

Further more this phony-policeman messed up. I called the central control and they had no record of the call nor of the visit of the so-called officers of the law last week.

I have no idea why he wanted to know the names of those that witnessed the event (shouldn't he have known), the names of those who live here, the names of people who live around here, phone numbers...

Is it common practise for a cop to phone a guy up and tell him the name and address of a potential witness against him? no, I thought not.

Is it common practise for a policeman to phone you up and say he'll arrest you? (Pardon was that a "no"). Perhaps it is common practise for an officer to offer to discipline another officer in charge of a case? Is it common for an office to tell you the council may be guilty of negligence when some one who might or might not work for a contractor assaults a council tenant... what's that a no again?

Perhaps it is common for a police officer to phone up and harass a victim of a crime and threaten to arrest them while questioning them over the phone with out informing the person of their rights? Is that a no?

I think my readers might see why I think this childish bs is not a real policeman and if real has not got the guts to post his badge number.

Furthermore I doubt a "real man" would understand how blogging works but this person claiming to be police did not and would not understand what I told him. Now I wonder why an officer would want to look at a web site?

Now I'll give good odds that there will be no-one mentioned in this post adding a comment.

Thanet District Council - The high price for dropping votes.

2005-03-21T09:42:00.000Z

Going by the figures on this site the cost of the (cowboy set) cladding is at least £30,000 plus the other costs. I would expect a lot more for my money than the crap job being done by these people.

The outfit of monkeys set to paint the door couldn't even muster the strength to use sandpaper nor the ability to paint without missing bits.

I would further like to know if Thanet District Council bothered to register this project with the INCA of whom it would seem connaught are assosiate (not full) members.

"Members of INCA are bound under the Association Code of Professional Practice to investigate any customer complaint, take any appropriate remedial action, and agree to Association arbitration should this be required."

It would supprise me to discover that connaught are actually aware that:

CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT 1987: Provides for approved safety standards to enable compliance with general safety requirements.

HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ETC ACT 1974: Among other things controls the classification, carriage and storage of dangerous substances.

(Not to mention: Notification of Installations Handling Hazardous Substances Regulations 1984)

It would further supprise me if insurence claims have not already been made this year against connaught due in some part or totality to negligence.

Given thier campaign of "miss-truths" about locals, assults, and vebal agression it has become increasingly difficult for people who live here to feel safe. It is probable that a number of us could take action under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and perhaps even compel Thanet Council to hire some-one else. I for one am not intimidated by their hired thugs, swearing, threats and agressive behavour - I am sure the fat foreman and other head monkeys enjoys thier regualr "chats" with the local police.

Thanet might well be a very unsafe place to live but I have found it is an equal oppertunities form of "unsafe". I mentioned in my last post that I hoped that there would be a bunch of angry bikers come to "pay back" and while this is, in truth, a little unlikely (most bikers of that type grew up and setteled down to raise families years ago) it is still likely that fate will step in sooner or later. I just hope I'm arround to "appriciate" it when/if it does.

While connaught and other hired thugs of Thanet distric Council are unlikely to win new friends or customers for themselves (quite the opposite I'd say) they may have at least done one good turn. Opinion on the ground has very much turned against the current council which, one can hope, should mean fresh faces come this years local elections. This in tern should mean that connaught may at beast have less than a years work left before those fresh faces actually hire a company capable of doing the job properly.

connaught: also known to locals as "...those thugs that threaten children". (and you can be sure that is the clean version).

It never gets any better.

2005-03-18T23:25:00.000Z

It's a wonder the people who live around here have not lynched the thoughtless animals the council chooses in it's ignorance to call workers. Do they think that... hell, that's probably the problem their combined IQ must be close to nothing as it is.

If any one believes for a moment that treating our homes like a some sort of degraded lavatory is goes to make us happy then I, for one, welcome the threat of great scads of bikers coming to see why a female friend of a friend was too scared to leave her home after the dickless morons sent a cheap thug to smash a few things and threaten small children with violence.

If they are under the impression that this will silence us then they are more stupid than I took them for.

If they believe that just because the blog has been silent that I have not been active then they really deserve... but I get ahead of myself.

For the benefit of the readership I will cover the events of the past month.

Thug with hammer, threatens women and children scares crap out of many residents probably a cheap £50 backhander to some-one off site. etc. etc. etc.

The signs go up "work has stopped".

Then they have a long break and figure that it is time to start messing the place up again and endangering women and children alike.

It was bad enough un-training my two year old girl who had learnt that the S, F and C words were fun to say. Thank you very much you bunch of dumb assed moneys. Take my word for it. If you pay peanuts you get monkeys.

So the cowboys are back and granddad Jones the alleged father and no doubt financier of the attack at Elham Close is back working right out side my window.

You will only call me into an ambush situation once, you maggot. You of all the workers are clearly a cowboy. I don't care what qualifications you claim to have - in my opinion you work for a firm of maggots run by monkeys and your only answer is to swear at me and then lie about it before paying a braver man than all those that work in the company to come and threaten two year olds with a hammer.

Your thug didn't scare me so now you will have to put up with the world knowing that I think your work is pathetic. I think your company is pathetic and I know the people you work with are nothing but yellow chickens.

Your lies about me have not worked. Your thug has not worked.

And the world is about to see, first hand, the rest of the story of how badly your company seems to do things. I give it a year maybe two before the cracks are really showing. Less if you do the job.

I, for one, will not sit silent while a bunch of unskilled idiots turn my home in to a site so dangerous the signs declare I should be wearing a hard hat.

If you people that are working on our flats are truly that bad then you better get the fat guy in the white hat (that seems to stand about all the time day dreaming) to hand out safety gear to the people who live here. Idiots dropping crap from the scaffold where I have to walk with my children, when I have to walk there did not go unnoticed either.

The power tools abandoned in the hall way did not go unnoticed.

And by the way when you tap down your cable you are supposed to use fresh tape not tape that's been on the cable so long the only thing it covers is the damn cable. It supposed to stop people tripping over. Honestly, couldn't pour water from a boot with instructions printed on the heal...

Are you people terminally thick? This place you work in is OUR HOME! We DEMAND SOME DAMN RESPECT. (Bunch of filthy animals... wouldn't... if you were on fire...)

2005-02-18T09:53:00.000Z

Another of the exposure photo's this is another company that send's its Jobsworths to smash and maggot about makeing life a misery for the people who live here for no real benifit. If you don't like what you've seen you can talk to them on 44 01843 590494 or 44 07778 305502

2005-02-18T09:48:00.000Z

What are they trying to do? Build a theme-park?

2005-02-18T09:47:00.000Z

Not content with sending thugs to beatup the resedence of the block they seem determined to work in such a way as to endanger us all.

2005-02-18T09:42:00.000Z

What was once a safe place for our children to be has now become a danger that we must try to protect them from (along with the violence and language of the yellow cowboy-morons that work for less than an hour a day) while trying to live a mockery of a normal life arround these apparently standardless and sloppy workers.

2005-02-18T09:35:00.000Z

As we endevour to ignore the maggots/cowboys that currently make this place a danger to live by threatening women and children with hammers and general violence we must endevour to remember that it is the organisation structure that sent these useless workers that is the real enemy here.

As per the remit of this site we will continue to document the result of the unthinking and pointless as we attempt to make this a nice place to live dispite the thugs they send to spread lies and generally silence us.

In this illustration we see that the fencing is now supported by a number of radomly selected wedges. That's about as far as the quality I've seen so far goes.

2005-02-16T14:07:00.000Z

Today unhindered by the unproven lies and death threats to myself and my family I continue to publish the truth. Eventually the council will sit up and pay attention that the thugs they sent in to smash up our homes in the name of progress must be stopped.

I will not cower when they come with thier hammers and their fists and I will not be where they expect me to be when they attack my children and my wife. Try it again and they will find me behind them and I will have no mercy if I must defend my family.

In the UK it is said that you are free to practice the human right to free speach, free to live in peace without threats for speaking the truth but it is not true. We live in a world where might makes right and standards mean nothing.

2005-02-16T14:01:00.000Z

They actually fitted the window looking like this. And what have they done since? Not a lot.

2005-02-16T13:58:00.000Z

This is a road facing publicly fronted end of the building. This window was smashed before they even fitted it. Their answer - cover it up "no one will notice".

2005-02-16T13:56:00.000Z

Here we see the "well fitted" common hallway window. Notice how badly it has been made to the point that the vent vovers are missing. We are humans that deserve a desent standard of work not animals like the cowboys bodgits who in my personal apinion should be too ashamed to even show up to work.

2005-02-16T13:53:00.000Z

Here we see the real reason the builders want me to "shut up and die". This winodw has been fitten and a quick squirt of sealent covers the crack in the glass.

2005-02-16T13:51:00.000Z

Would you go on this scafold - I wouldn't.

Calf-boy - Council "worker" assaults Council Tenant

2005-02-15T17:09:00.000Z

After his cowardly attack where he threatened women with a hammer the cowboy-thug that assaulted me today is being called calf-boy by the women of this block. They say that he is too pathetic to be a cowboy and can only hope to aspire to become a cowboy.

I personally doubt he can even read well enough to understand this post so if one of his mates has more than a brain cell maybe they can explain it to him.

You see after publicising the truth about the area so that Thanet Council can not deny there is a need for change the cowardly thug worker came to our flat with a hammer. I took a trip in an ambulance and the police got to say such things as "ABH" and "do you wish to press charges"? I'm sure they enjoyed that... not.

But at least I can be at least sure that the majority of the so called workers around here are mindless and pointless.

I will post more after a short period of recovery. These bully-boy playground tactics will not wash with me.

Health and Safety Information Sheet - Controlling Asbestos at your Workplace

2005-02-14T17:20:00.000Z

The Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974
The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987 (as amended)

Health and Safety Information Sheet - Controlling Asbestos at your Workplace: "What are my duties relating to asbestos?

If you are an employer, you already have a legal duty to prevent the exposure of your employees to asbestos under the Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. In the future, a new explicit duty to manage asbestos will be added to the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations. This will require you to manage the risk from asbestos by:

identifying asbestos in the premises, its amount and what condition it is in;

presuming materials contain asbestos, unless you have strong evidence that they do not;

making and keeping up to date a record of the location and condition of any asbestos containing materials (ACMs), or presumed ACM’s in your premises;

assessing the risk from the material;

preparing a plan that sets out in detail how you are going to manage the risk from this material;

taking steps needed to put your plan into action;

reviewing and monitoring your plan and the arrangements made to put it in place, and providing information on the location and condition of the material to anyone who is liable to work on it or could inadvertently disturb it.

2005-02-14T15:51:00.000Z

Welcome to another entry into the log of the "ever safe" cowboy builders from the council. Today we will hear about builders getting abusive with the residence and shocking lack of safty for the general public.

2005-02-14T15:36:00.000Z

This is a public pathway and here is a trailing cable that could easily trip some one up. At the very least there should be a warning sign. Even then what if a blind person came by? This is to power work done next to the Cox Contractor van.

2005-02-14T15:29:00.000Z

This guy is always here working away: The mobile number is (+44) 07778 305503 and the landline and fax is: (44) 01843 590494 - you will see however that there is a safety concern along with the fact this guy seems to work harder than the others.

2005-02-14T15:25:00.000Z

Today being a monday I thaught I would see lots of builders hard at work. But all I could find was this guy.

2005-02-14T15:18:00.000Z

Here is a photo that I was able to take earlier that shows just the one trailing cable. Later I would try to photograph two cables and a badly placed transformer box but the image failed to be of any use.

There is no way the people in the flat (shown next to the service cupboard) can avoid stepping over these cables with the risk ever there that they might trip and fall.

2005-02-14T15:13:00.000Z

This is the highly safe working conditions that I saw on exiting a niegbours flat. The photo inside did not take so well but would have shown trailing cables as such that anyone desending the steps or exiting all bar one flat would be in danger of tripping over these trailing wires.

Shortly I was to be almost assulted by the man working here.

2005-02-14T15:07:00.000Z

I may have failed to photograph this guy but that will not stop me telling you about "Mr Green Hat".

The first encounter I had with him was the rudest "excuse me" I have ever heard, followed by him aggressivly getting in my face and demanding not to be photographed. I was not going to. This silly looking cowboy was my least interest and quite honestly I would have probably never bothered him but for this reason - no one threatens me.

This agressive and disrispectful little twerp upset me so I shot off lots of images and would have posted every one had they come out. As it is his rudeness will cause me to photograph every last builder!

2005-02-13T17:33:00.000Z

This shot shows the opposite block and the "cladding" they plan to add to the building.

2005-02-13T17:06:00.000Z

There are still health risks blowing about from this bodged dry fibre and resin job!

2005-02-13T16:47:00.000Z

the safety is worse than ever out there. I just hope that when one of those cowboy idiots finally pitch themselves off of there they don't land on me!

2005-02-13T16:39:00.000Z

Revisit: after noticing me with a camera look - the walk way is clean (well, cleaner any way) even if the safty netting has fallen down...

2005-02-13T16:34:00.000Z

This is a photo I managed to take of some stuff that got dumped, if any one could tell me what it is/was from this image I'll be very greatfull, it best not turn out to be an asbestos product...

2005-02-13T16:26:00.000Z

Continueing the policy of identifying just who is to blame for what I caught an oppertunity to photograph a campany van. Investigations showed us that they are not in fact called Owl but DWL... One could also be forgiven for reading limited home improvments and thinking "how apt". feel free to call them on (freephone) 0500 45 45 40

Also: look closely and you will notice what some mums with little kiddies found - you can not get past the van but have to go out on to the road to get past.

"good news"

2005-02-13T15:54:00.000Z

I am pleased to report that not long after the workmen spotted me taking pictures (finally) that some changes started to take place. The high count of white hats reduced and while it is unclear if there are any foreman on site it is now clear who is not a foreman.

Additionally the path has gained a cursory sweep although there is still strands of dry fibre around posing long term health risks to us.

Over the next week expect some even more shocking pictures of windows and the latest updates on what the builders are doing.

Fact Sheet - HEALTH HAZARDS IN CONSTRUCTION SITES

2005-02-10T13:20:00.000Z

Fact Sheet - HEALTH HAZARDS IN CONSTRUCTION SITES: "Short-term exposure to solvents will cause headaches, nausea, drowsiness and dermatitis (skin problems). If repeatedly exposed to a solvent, a worker may develop long-term damage to the kidneys, liver and skin. Personality changes, sleep disorders, short-term memory loss and dementia can also occur from solvent exposure and these toxic effects on the nervous system are a great concern. "

That explains a lot! I was very ill after fitted the windows. The question needs to be asked - why were we not properly consolted or informed?

2005-02-10T13:19:00.000Z

Forgive me if this is "standard practice" but over a week later (8 days) they sneak back to "re-seal" the windows...

2005-02-10T13:15:00.000Z

: "Styrene vapour causes mild irritation of the nose and throat at concentrations around 100 ppm"

Prove to me that we are ALL suffering from the flu?

2005-02-10T13:06:00.000Z

I have heard reports that this stuff was left unattended and still dripping. If that had gone in some-ones eye then that eye may never have worked again!

House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 3 May 2000 (pt 20)

2005-02-10T12:17:00.000Z

House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 3 May 2000 (pt 20): "Mr. Wigley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence his Department has assessed concerning the dangers to health from fibreglass used for insulation purposes; and if he will make a statement. [118950]
Yvette Cooper: The Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment have considered the carcinogenicity of those man made mineral fibres (glass, rock and slag wool) used for insulation purposes on a number of occasions since 1984. Their advice is that domestic exposures arising from infrequent or short-term do-it-yourself installation do not pose a carcinogenic risk. It was their view that these materials do not meet the European Union's criteria for classification of compounds as carcinogens. However there was limited evidence that occupational exposure was associated with lung cancer, although no definite conclusions could be drawn because there was a lack of information about confounding factors, such as tobacco smoking. It would be prudent, however, to act on the basis that sufficient occupational exposure may increase the risk of lung cancer. "

2005-02-10T12:15:00.000Z

Fibre glass left laying about less than 50 meters from a school.

we already know what tidy means to these guys!

Fact Sheet - HEALTH HAZARDS IN CONSTRUCTION SITES

2005-02-10T12:02:00.000Z

Fact Sheet - HEALTH HAZARDS IN CONSTRUCTION SITES: "Larger fibres can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose and throat while there is a possible risk of lung cancer from some SMF, for example fibreglass."

...and Thanet Council allow these fibres to blow around outside our homes and schools.

Extracts from a health and safety guide.

2005-02-10T11:52:00.000Z

Extracts from: Code of practice (AUS)

[Glasswool] products in exposed dry wool form should be used only if they are completely enclosed in cladding or are in wet form. Boards should only be used if they are sealed on all sides.

Where products cannot be delivered to site fully [encapsulated] a sealed area should be set aside on site where on site workers taking full precautions and wearing full personal protective equipment (see 2.0 below) can complete the encapsulation process before the products are installed.

Work practices:
a) The area must be isolated and barricaded off from other work areas
b) Warning signs must be displayed at all entrances and exits to the area

2005-02-10T11:45:00.000Z

You are looking at an image of fibreglass strands stuck to a rubber glove that has been discarded just outside the front door.

2005-02-10T11:42:00.000Z

If you feel outraged by anything you see here the people to contact are:

Thanet Council

Thanet Council Offices
Cecil Street
Margate
Kent
England
CT9 1XZ

Tel: 44 01843 577000
Fax: 44 01843 290906
Email: public.affairs@thanet.gov.uk
Web: www.thanet.gov.uk

2005-02-08T20:58:00.000Z

This picture is typical of the double glazing going up in the council flats. The wall paper is damaged or ignored and no care has been taken with the seal. The screw in this window (why?) is at a different angle and possition to the others.

2005-02-08T20:56:00.000Z

To day we will learn how to do the worst possible double glazing job... I can only wonder that the homes these people live in are not falling down!

2005-02-08T20:53:00.000Z

Here you can see just how badly made the frame work for the windows is.

2005-02-08T20:50:00.000Z

One of many pictures of the bad seal job that has been done arround the windows.

2005-02-08T20:48:00.000Z

Here is the view of the school (I dread to think how much swearing the kids hear each day from our cowboy builders) you will notice that vent grill is missing compleatly.

2005-02-08T20:45:00.000Z

Yes, this is a screw, yes it is in the window, yes they put them in (badly) just before they put the windows in and no it is not straight.

2005-02-08T20:43:00.000Z

What can I say about this fitting work that the picture does not?

2005-02-08T20:41:00.000Z

Just put in and already it is discoloured as well as being badly made and fitted.

worst workers yet.

2005-02-08T20:11:00.000Z

To who ever will take responsibility for the bad choices made,

Before I start let me say that I am not ungrateful for being housed when I
was in need. I enjoy living in my current neighbourhood and am only half an
hours walk from town. However, there are some things that are not good
enough.

Your latest cowboy-bodgits are worse than usual. Normally council employed
builders are a laughing stock due to poor standards and reliably useless
workmanship. However, your latest lot are so bad as to prompt my visitors
to repeatedly say how bad a job has been done.

To be honest with you I am not personally skilled with practising DIY but I
know that I can do far better than this lot even in a comatose state. My
grandmother would be able to do a better job from her hospital bed!

I have had genuine offers from labourers to come round after your cowboys
have finished and do it properly. Please hire an independent expert and
confirm my claim or I will be forced to request the assistance of an MP to
do so. Rest assured I will ask all tradesman I know to submit public
reports to be published on http://thanetcouncil.blogspot.com/ where a photo
documentary is being compiled. Additionally if I am forced to employ any
qualified persons to file a report for you I will bill the council for the
cost as I expect you to hire workman that can do the job.

There is fibre glass strands blowing about on the path outside the building,
directly opposite a school. I wonder what the school thinks about having
the children listen to the loud and crude language of the so-called-workmen
that we can hear despite the shoddy double glazing that has just been
fitted.

If the only problem were their complete disregard for safety standards I
would not bother writing as sooner or later they will simply kill themselves
but there are children and mothers around that could get hurt.

I invite you to visit 17 to 25 Elham Close and to see for yourself. I know
you will not, but let it be on the (public) record that you were invited.

It really does need to be seen to be believed and you can be sure that after
due time for replies I might make my documentary available in full to the
press.

I formally request you immediately withdraw the current failures from doing
any more damage and hire a company that knows what it is doing.

A little less of the words beginning with C and F would be a bonus
especially for the school but with the councils track record of only hiring
the worst workers we can only hope.

With the current work done to these buildings you would have to pay me to
take ownership of them. Please don't offer the "right to buy" on this
current block in this condition if being laughed at offends.

yours, with no real hope that TDC will ever hire a good worker,

Mr M. Brown

The "builders" are here...

2005-02-04T14:59:00.000Z

Well I guess that eventually they would send the cowboys in to finnish a job they said they'd compleated at the begining of last year. The picture shown here is of the wet paint sign that was put up after the paint was dry.

Intro and a shock for some-ones boss.

Doorway to Danger

Good paint job! (NOT)

Remember all our hard work in the summer?

beware of cowboys flinging things from up above.

Close up to danger part 1

Close up to danger part 2

Close up to danger part 3

2005-02-04T13:35:00.000Z

It's very imortant when nameing and shaming it is important to name. The scaffold was put up by High Rise Scaffolding who can be called on [44] (01923) 350 254 you can text them on +447769900438

2005-02-04T13:27:00.000Z

They've been at it for weeks but only now do the shiny new signs show up saying danger don't be here. I'd like to know how they are looking after the safty of the people who live here?

You can tell the signs are new as they would have been smashed off by the crap that has been thrown down.
And yes that is my front door we have all learned to look left, then look right then look up and run for it when exiting the building.
Taking the kids out is worse.

2005-02-04T13:17:00.000Z

Regular readers will now be asking why did you bother with all that green fingured stuff.

2005-02-04T13:15:00.000Z

This is all the junk they have been simply "dropping" (Read throwing) from the top floors. To be fair they have now got a shoot installed but it took them long enough.

2005-02-04T13:13:00.000Z

More quality plank work!!!

2005-02-04T13:08:00.000Z

This is the same view of the platform as the post of just a few seconds ago. Notice the total lack of litter and the "quality" of those windows.

That row of planks furthest away has an interesting story: The one nearest the wall was sticking up in such a way as to suggest that some one was soon going to die. Of course my friend possing as an inspector probably motivated them a lot and I understand the builders were all asking each other who the "traitor" was.

2005-02-04T12:58:00.000Z

Now please forgive the fact that this photo was taken through a window welded half open but let me point out a few things about this image.
First that pole should be marked yellow and capped.
Second: that whole you can see in the wall (so I am told) is to secure the scafold to the building to stop it wobbling like a good'n. Forgive me for my lack of trust in our current cowboys but you'd have to pay me a hell of a lot of money to get me to consider going out on that wobbly platform. This is the second floor not some low level training camp.
Third: Notice the secure plank at the edge there. It's a long way down.
Fourth: It's fithly and a damn slipping hazzard
Fifth: That gap is so they can ignore all safty procedure and just drop rubbish down to the ground level.
sixth: yes it's a dust mask.

2005-02-04T12:50:00.000Z

Here is some of that "quality" paint work that a two month old with the hic-cups could have done a better job of. Please note the black paint that has been sloped everywhere.

...and no there is nothing wrong with the camera that is dust inside the building from the "work" going on out side.

The dust is so bad that it is simply a matter of time before some-one slips and falls.

Another Quality screw-up from TDC.

Both hands and a map.

2004-08-26T15:35:00.000+01:00

After taking the time to write to every resident to boast of the new contracters they have hired TDC have sent some one to put in a new barrel to the lock for now reason at all.

What they fail to realise is that it costs a lot to keep haveing new keys cut so that there are spares available.

BBC - Science & Nature - Britain Goes Wild

2004-06-17T22:00:00.000+01:00

BBC - Science & Nature - Britain Goes Wild:

"The bigger picture
As the intimate details of animal lives are revealed, the team will also investigate the bigger picture: how is British wildlife doing at the turn of the 20th century, what is the future for the British landscape and how can we work together to protect it? "

TDC makes space for nature.

Makes space for birds in the holes that it have been left or created in the outer walls.

Makes space for plants and ants in the yards it doesn't clean.

We have been makeing space for nature but in a more controlled people friendly way. We have taken the grass and put it on the planted areas to cover the ground helping insects find homes and allowing for more natural residence to find food.

In this way we have a great area for another force of nature - children.

2004-06-17T20:21:00.000+01:00

By placeing the grass cuttings under the plants they soon stop being so dry as to irritate those with grass alergies but feed the plants and make space for insects.

2004-06-17T20:20:00.000+01:00

By limited trimming our yard area is allowed to grow naturally this creates a more normal space for nature to hide while keeping the yard usefull.

2004-06-17T20:16:00.000+01:00

Didgital zoom to show TDC make space for nature in our gutters.

2004-06-17T20:15:00.000+01:00

TDCs Yard has a large and active ant colony. Ours does too but at the edge not in the centre.

While this is gret for helping nature it is bad as they could well set up home in the building.

2004-06-17T19:24:00.000+01:00

A very of our well managed yard from the waste disposal shoot and the unmanaged "space for nature" of TDC

2004-06-17T19:20:00.000+01:00

outside of our little area the grass is sadly not doing so well.

2004-06-17T19:19:00.000+01:00

Another area where TDC makes room for nature! Look at the compleate lack of quality, the large number of ways things can kill themselves...

2004-06-17T19:16:00.000+01:00

The weeds are almost taller than the "stolen" wheel barrow!