Residents of The Exmouth Estate have been waiting for far too long for what should have been normal maintenance to be completed. We’ve been told all the work currently in progress will be completed in April, 2010.
Without further ceremony we present our Swan Housing Regeneration Progress Tracker ™; you’ll be seeing a lot of it here on RAGE as we count forward to the day when The Exmouth Estate will be returned to secure, livable conditions.
The ticker counts the days and the £ sign indicates residents get to pay.
A resident contacted RAGE about the dry risers in thieir block. Because the street level security doors are broken, non residents linger – and vandalise – in their hallway. They’ve stuffed the dry risers on several floors of this block with garbage.
These dry risers are intended to provide water in case of a fire. Would they be useful? Would firefighters waste precious time cleaning dry risers of debris? Debris that wouldn’t be in those pipes if proper security were maintained?
We’re seeing new doors go up all around The Exmouth Estate; very good you’d think, especially so if you were just passing by. Ignoring the fact that sometimes these doors don’t lock, look closer, perhaps from the inside. You’ll no doubt have questions about the quality of the work done.
RAGE has a list of almost twenty such instances where the quality or work undertaken by contractors has been questioned. And, according to residents, still not fixed to their standards, sometimes weeks after “completion”.
If Swan Housing wants residents to sign off on this work, quality issues like this (and others we shall be presenting) MUST be addressed.
RAGE could feel wind blowing in through the cracks ...
While we at RAGE try our best to cover The Exmouth Estate there are just far too many tips coming in these days about dangerous conditions or shoddy worksmanship for us to respond to all.
Several other resident groups have recently emerged to fill this vacum, and our current favourite is The Exmouth Estate Channel.
These people tell us they currently have almost 100 videos, either taken by their own team or submitted by residents, and will be posting one per day over the next several months. Their motto: “Make a claim in print and we’ll verify it in film” is direct and to the point. Now that is an ethos that is tough to argue with.
While we at RAGE wish the maintenace situtation on The Exmouth Estate wasn’t that dire, we’ll just have to sit back and watch all these videos over the next few months before we can decide for ourselves.
You’ll find 55-66 Cornwood Drive. Judge for yourself the state of security on The Exmouth Estate. This video courtesy of the good people at The Exmouth Estate Channel. They are collecting and posting videos of conditions on The Exmouth Estate, so if you’ve got any problems you’d like them to address, get in touch!
Residents reportedly have been asking for the doors to be fixed for some time now
starts with lights out; ignore the fact that brand new doors have been installed. Once the lights are out the vandals can work without drawing attention to themselves. Eventually the door locks are broken, then, with entry to the block, vandalism and other anti social behaviour can begin in earnest.
But the real question here is who pays?
Why should residents of The Exmouth Estate pay for this damage if doors aren’t repaired in a timely manner?
When RAGE photographed these smashed windows we also noticed a large amount of empty alcohol bottles and drug paraphernalia. While this residue is promptly cleaned up each morning, once again RAGE asks – WHO PAYS?
Why should residents have to pay for smashed windows, when the doors weren’t working properly and proper lighting wasn’t provided? Why should residents have to pay to clean up after non residents who freely granted access to our blocks?
RAGE has been protesting aginst The Decline of The Exmouth Estate since 2008. At the same time RAGE has been protesting against Exmouth Estate residents having to repeatedly pay for poor decisions.
RAGE has been contacted by several residents of blocks on The Exmouth Estate regarding wobbly handrailing and guard rails on walkways. Upon investigation, RAGE found all have one thing in common: loose screws, as illustrated below.
These bolts are finger loose ...
This gap isn't large - NOW. But it may get larger over time.
Some of the plates are slowly working loose; look at this photograph documenting the gap between the concrete wall and the attached metal plate.
This problem was brought to the attention of RAGE by residents who complained they were afraid to touch some of the new railings for fear “they might tear away”.
RAGE saw and photographed several more railings that were also tearing away from the walls.
Wobbly for certain, the gap illustrated on this page was large enough for a pencil or a grown man’s pinkie finger to be inserted. The gap is clearly noticable by anyone using this particular stairwell.
Why didn’t any inspection of this work raise alarms? Why do residents have to contact RAGE?
Or you might see something very scary like this box with sticking out of it. Just above the heads of residents entering this block on The Exmouth Esate.
Councillor Oliur Rahman looks at a large box with something scary sticking out of it above the entrance way
Secured by the flimsiest of restraints ...
It has a BIG THING sticking out of it ... SCARY
This rather large box is located above the heads of residents using this well trafficed entranceway on The Exmouth Estate.
This rather large box is supported by a piece of wood right abve the heads of residents using this particular entranceway on The Exmouth Estate.
This rather large box – once again balanced on wood right above the heads of residents using this well known entranceway on The Exmouth Estate – has something sticking out of it.
Of course this box is further secured by a plastic tie, but even so RAGE is not convinced this large box couldn’t fall.
Why is this box situated ABOVE THE HEADS OF RESIDENTS USING THIS ENTRANCEWAY?
RAGE asks: is it really that hard to secure the worksite before leaving for the day?
What about health and safety for residents of The Exmouth Estate? It does seem like some contractors, eager to leave, just rush off.
And leave stuff like this for residents to put up with.
On Saturday, Februrary 27th they visited Clearbrook Way where supposedly security has been restored.
While all the videos on The Exmouth Estate Channel are of interest to any resident, you be the judege if security has really been restored to Clearbrook Way.
RAGE has received photos from concerned residents of Brayford Square, who organised a tour of the Exmouth Estate for the Hounourable Member of Parliament George Galloway and LBTH Councillor Abjol Miah, both of The Respect Party.
George Galloway & Abjol Miah tour the Exmouth Estate
They reportedly conducted a wide ranging tour of the estate, looking at completed work, work in progress and potentially dangerous situations such as Clearbrook Way
This wasn't on the 'official' tour of the Exmouth Estate
which RAGE previously reported.
Residents of one of the nearby blocks brought to the attention of Councillor Abjol Miah other potentially unsafe conditions.
The scaffolding pole apparently cracked the glass ...
otherwise they would have seen this rather menacing corner
Just one of many dark corners on The Exmouth Estate ...
Dark corners like this aren’t hard to find on The Exmouth Estate. And this isn’t located in some remote, infrequently trafficed region; this dangerous trap for the unwary resident of the Exmouth Estate can be found at the corner of Jubilee and Musbury Streets.
Of course during the daytime when on a guided tour one might miss this.
But we somehow expected better of our elected officials.
We expected their initiative. We expected their professional judgement, the well honed ability of a seasoned politician to separate truth from fiction.
But most of all, we expected their help.
EDITORS NOTE: while taking these photos RAGE staff were approached by five youths, who clearly were up to no good on our estate.
While RAGE is used to dealing with such situations (being confronted on a dark night by several possibly aggressive individuals of unknown intent), it is easy to see how many people would be intimidated while returning home from work or other activities.
These lights should be working. There is no excuse.
They seem to believe what they have been told, that things are going well. RAGE suggests they try telling the residents of Clark Street on The Exmouth Estate that things are going well.
Critical thinking is called for here; RAGE suggests this door, as is, is unacceptible for someone living in London, someone paying Council tax, someone paying service charges and rent or a mortgage. Someone perhaps barely making ends meet. Is this what they deserve? The resident that brought this door to our attention doesn’t think so. But we know some people disagree with her.
We would like to hear justifications for the alternative view presented; why should residents of Clark Street have to put up with this? Why should residents of The Exmouth Estate have to put up with this? Why should they be “happy”?
How dare elected officials, who don’t live here, briefly visit the Exmouth Estate then openly go on record as saying they are “happy” with the progress, even as they overook conditions such as this?
Glass windows in doors being “temporarily” replaced with wood in other parts of the estate (now apparently fixed, but we are watching) have previously been covered by RAGE, most recently on November 2nd, 2008.
The more things change the more they stay the same, eh?
we have a ward Councillor here in St Dunstan’s & Stepney Green who is a Cabinet Member for Cleaner, Safer, & Greener neighbourhoods, Could this Councillor please help the residents of Clearbrook Way?
This probably wasn't on the guided tour of the Exmouth Estate
There are no street level locks. The lights on the second floor landing are out. There have been no street level locks for months. The lights are replaced but get broken. Because there are no street level locks.
There are twenty four flats on this floor alone. People who pay council tax to LBTH and service charges to our landlord live on this floor.
RAGE reminds you that unlike our landlord, these people vote.
EDITORS NOTE: shortly after posting these photos we received emails from Exmouth Residents who reported incidents of ASB in Clearbrook Way last year. According to one email, the leader of the ELG himself (name withheld until we confirm details) personally intervened to stop at least one and possibly more incidents. We have sent emails asking for confirmation or comments.
Meanwhile, details are sketchy; if you know of any ASB in Clearbrook Way or anyplace on The Exmouth Estate, or have any firm information regarding these incidents please
Yes I can confirm I personally intervened in an ASB incident on November 29th in Clearbrook Way. Swan Housing was fully aware of this incident as I brought it to their attention via email on November 30th 2009. I clearly stated the street level security doors were open.
I was amazed to find out months after we were woken by a woman’s piercing screams in the dead of night and, against my wive’s protests, I went outside to investigate and intervene if necessary, absolutely nothing has changed in that block.
I confirmed last night at about 8PM lights on the second floor landing are still out. The street level doors still open freely.
According to local residents, Clearbrook Way, flats 53-77 has lacked security for several months now. If Councilor Francis and Councilor Ullah had visited this block during their December photo opp, they would have noticed locks are missing from this ground floor entrance door, leading to ASB on the upper floors.
Our ward Councilors shouldn’t have let themselves be taken on a guided tour. They should have shown some initiative and investigated conditions on The Exmouth Estate themselves, before pronouncing they were “happy with the progress”. People living in this block are hardly happy.
RAGE will be conducting another door knocking and leafleting exercise, insuring EVERY RESIDENT OF CLEARBROOK WAY knows their ward Councilor’s position on the security situation.
Marc Francis and Abdullah Ullah should have had their photo opp here
They would have seen the locking mechanism is totally missing
Hard to believe that Councilor Ullah would dare to be quoted as saying he was “happy with the progress on the security door system”, when people have to live like this.
People who pay council tax. People who pay rent or mortgages and, of course, service charges. People with families. People who depend upon their ward Councilors for help. People who have been let down by these Councilors, elected officials who are willing to go on record as saying they are “happy” with conditions like this on an estate in St. Dunstan’s and Stepney ward in London.
Once again RAGE wonders why these Councilors didn’t leave the guided tour? Why didn’t they show some initiative? After all, problems like this broken security system aren’t hard to find on The Exmouth Estate.
While taking these photos three residents of this block exited. They were hardly “happy” at their plight.
RAGE made sure all three knew Councilor Ullah – who to the best of our knowledge doesn’t live on The Exmouth Estate – was “happy”.
RAGE also completed our door knocking exercise, distributing fliers and personally talking to residents, so those effected on the Exmouth Estate would be FULLY aware of Councilor Ullah and Councilor Francis’ stated feelings regarding their living conditions.
Because the Fire Brigade emergency bypass and the electronic entrance way key fob reader are now seated in a panel made of WOOD. White wood.
How durable will this wood panel be, compared to the original metal? RAGE doesn’t know the answer to that; we’re not engineers.
But we note the original panels used by LBTH were METAL. Durable, long lasting METAL. The METAL panel has been replaced with WOOD. Surely metal lasts longer than wood, doesn’t it?
Click on the photograph and you’ll notice the unfinished wood has been artistically (and inexplicably) daubed with a spot of paint on top and bottom. Why we have no idea, but it has been like this since last year.
We wonder what Councillors Ullah and Francis thought of the wood panels? Did they notice at all or did they allow themselves to be guided about The Exmouth Estate?
RAGE notes that Councillor Marc Francis (Housing and Development) and Councillor Abdal Ullah dropped by The Exmouth Estate on Wednesday, 09 December 2009.
Billed as an chance to “to get a clear picture of the security improvements”, they should shown some initiative and wandered off the guided tour.
Then they would have seen what their tour guides clearly don’t want anyone to see.
For example, if they had just headed over to Clovelly Way they would have seen this abject entrance way (“Door opens freely”). Apparently work stopped shortly before the holidays and reportedly there has been no progress since.
Door opens freely
Even though residents of the this block have to put with NO security in this ground level entrance way, Councillor Abdal Ullah was quoted as saying “I’m happy with the progress on the security door system and the wider security benefit of the whole estate.”.
RAGE is conducting a door knocking session over the next week to inform those in these unsecured blocks about Councilor Ullah’s opinion regarding their plight.
It is important those living without security know that Councillor Ullah – who to the best of our knowledge doesn’t live on The Exmouth Estate by the way – is “happy with the progress”.
We live on The Exmouth Estate, and we’re not happy. Broken security door are a persistent problem on The Exmouth Estate.
Broken doors have previously been documented in the RAGE produced movies NO SECURITY from December 2008, and WIDE OPEN from January 2009.
Resident Action Group Exmouth is a whistleblowers organisation existing to bring change to The Exmouth Estate. We illustrate all the good things our landlord, Swan Housing is doing, while bringing attention to overlooked problems.
Our UK based call centre is now closed, having received multiple aggressive and intimidating phone calls from individuals demanding the identities and personal details of RAGE Staff.
RAGE maintains our identities are not important, what is important are conditions on The Exmouth Estate.
RAGE wonders why those calling are so interested in personal details of whistleblowers, and apparently not worried about living conditions on The Exmouth Estate.
WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO HIDE? WHY ARE THEY TRYING TO INTIMIDATE RAGE STAFF?
Who is RAGE?
RAGE is a group of Exmouth Estate residents who are concerned about what we perceive as the declining condition of our estate. We have been discouraged by the lack of an effective organisation to take our concerns forward. We have begun to ask our landlord, Swan Housing to justify what we perceive as declining maintenance standards even as our bills increase. RAGE is committed to communicating with residents of The Exmouth Estate, insuring them that others share their concerns and taking these concerns forward. We intend to hold our landlord, Swan Housing, accountable for conditions on The Exmouth Estate.
Grass?
RAGE welcomes tips and leads about lack of maintenance on The Exmouth Estate. Email on Just click this link to let us know about dangerous or deteriorating conditions on The Exmouth Estate, YOUR Estate!
Happy Ending?
We love 'em too! Just click here and RAGE Staff will publish updated pictures of the good work our landlord has done.
Question about a post or comment on RAGE?
Use this link and someone will get back to you within one business day
Production Credits
All content prepared by RAGE Staff using Apple MacBook computers. All photos published on this site are unedited except for the addition of clarifying text, and were taken by residents of the Exmouth Estate documenting their living conditions. While some pictures were provided to RAGE others were taken by RAGE Staff using Canon IXS 75, 7.1MP digital cameras. An Archos AV400 was used for intermediate digital storage. A JVC Gr-D290 handheld video camera was used to capture video content. RAGE embedded video player used under license from Bits On The Run. Vodaphone mobile USB modems were used for live, "in the field" publication of both stories and pictures. iPhoto was used for digital photo organisation, editing and publishing. iTunes provided the sound.
RAGE would like to thank Apple Computer for a totally positive, hassle free and very technologically advanced computing platform. Well done guys.
March 10, 2010, at 11:23 pm
