Latest news with #WandsworthCouncil
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
London council let me live in a soaking, mouldy flat for a year
I am a 91-year-old leaseholder in a block of flats owned by Wandsworth council. I'm living with saturated walls, dripping water and falling plaster because the council has failed to address a leak that began elsewhere in the block a year ago. When I first reported it, contractors made a large opening in my kitchen wall to inspect a service duct that contains plumbing for 10 flats. The hole has never been made good and is now crawling with insects. The council's plumbers have, over time, identified the possible source in various flats, stuck cards through the door asking the resident to get in touch, stuck more cards through when they got no response, and then decided the leak was coming from a different floor. I've been diagnosed with bladder cancer, and given the deteriorating condition of my home and the impact on my mental and physical health, I asked for the leak to be redesignated as an emergency, but this was refused. CA, London The photo you sent of your kitchen is horrifying. A substantial section of wall around the inspection hole made by the contractors is soaked, discoloured and crumbling. Mouldy debris is scattered along its base. These are hazardous conditions for anyone to endure, let alone a 91-year-old recovering from cancer treatment. It was January when you first contacted me. I first asked Giles Peaker, a partner at Anthony Gold Solicitors, to clarify where a council's responsibilities to leaseholders begin and end. He confirmed that Wandsworth council should be responsible for communal areas and structures, including plumbing, and for all tenanted flats, and that it should have a right of access to tenanted and leasehold flats to carry out repairs to these parts. If the leak were in a leasehold flat, the council would most likely have powers to oblige the occupier to repair it, or else revoke the lease. Repairs should be carried out within a reasonable time. Despite this, the council blamed the delay on 'access difficulties' when I questioned its inertia. It told me it had since discovered the leak in a leasehold flat but had to await an asbestos test before it could be tackled. Yet it had told you, seven weeks previously, that an asbestos test had been completed. It ignored my questions about the discrepancy but told you its earlier assertion about the test being carried out was mistaken. Three weeks after my contact, you were then told the leak was not where it was supposed to be after all, and so the waiting game continued. The council declined to explain why an exploratory camera could not be inserted into the communal duct through the opening in your kitchen, which has already been declared asbestos free. For the next three months, you and I repeatedly chased the council for updates. By May the leak had finally been identified in a tenanted flat and repaired. At this point Wandsworth offered to repair the damage to your flat and installed a dehumidifier but you, understandably suspicious of its timescales, decided to do the repairs through your insurer. You are still waiting for the area to dry out before repairs can begin. The council says: 'We have spoken to the resident to apologise for the delay and he has accepted an offer of £400 compensation for the stress and inconvenience caused. We will be reviewing our processes to ensure this does not happen again.' You say: 'I think that the council employees with whom I have dealt have tried to help under a system that simply doesn't work, having no built-in imperative to get anything done.' We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions.
Daily Mirror
26-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Ring doorbell reign of terror sees 'UK's worst neighbour' jailed
Drina Gray, 52, terrorised the young couple by smashing their Ring doorbells and regularly taking her dog to defecate on their doorstep in Wandsworth, south west London A nightmare neighbour who terrorised the couple living above her through their Ring doorbell has been jailed for more than three years. Drina Gray, 52, harrassed victims Ben and Emma - who do not want to give their surnames - "morning, noon and night", a judge said. Ben, 32, bought his first flat in Wandsworth, southwest London, in 2022. But when council tenant Gray moved into the flat below his the following April, his life changed. After reporting her for kicking her dog - which he says he caught on CCTV cameras - Gray launched into a "relentless" campaign that made Ben and his partner Emma prisoners in their own home. In the months that followed, Ben claims his neighbour smashed two Ring doorbells in less than a year, issued regular chilling threats via cameras and took her dog to dirty their doorstep. The product manager even lost his job at a startup company because of the lack of sleep he was getting due to Gray blasting loud music and hoovering the communal hallway in the early hours of the morning. Countless disturbing videos captured by Ben's cameras show Gray shouting, swearing and threatening him. After Gray was finally prosecuted for her campaign of hate and a judge ordered her into custody, she escaped from court and went on the run for weeks. She claimed that Ben had been using her as "bait" to make his 31-year-old partner Emma, who also lives at the flat, jealous after a break-up. But jailing her for 40 months, Judge Peter Lodder KC told her she had harassed the couple "morning, noon and night". "You made the lives of your neighbours hell," he said. "You persistently harassed them morning, noon and night. Despite orders being obtained to seek to prevent you from behaving in the way you did, you continued in your campaign. It may well be that you were under the influence of alcohol, but that is not an excuse - it's an aggravation. "It's no consolation at all to the people you were threatening with extreme violence. This was over a period of six months. You well knew what you were doing." Judge Lodder jailed Gray for 40 months after she admitted charges of harassment intended to put in fear of violence, two charges of criminal damage relating to doorbell cameras she smashed and a public order offence of using threatening words and behaviour towards Ben. A further charge of failing to comply with a community protection notice was dealt with by way of a two-year conditional discharge at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court in June. Ben, who claims he recorded "140" separate incidents of harassment over 18 months, has complained previously of the way Gray's case was dealt with by the authorities, including by the Metropolitan Police, Wandsworth Council and the court services. He claims that when Gray once threatened to "shoot" him and his partner Emma, who works in marketing, police took "13 hours" to respond. Court cases involving Gray were adjourned multiple times before she was finally sentenced for her offending. Prosecutor Dylan Bub, outlining the facts of the case, told the court: "The victim and defendant are neighbours - they live in the same block. The defendant moved into the bottom flat in April 2023. Since the defendant moved into her property, she engaged in a campaign of harassment against [Ben]." Mr Bub explained that though the first year passed without incident, Ben installed cameras at his property after Gray stole two parcels from outside his door. In May 2024, he said Gray broke the first of two Ring doorbell cameras - which cost £100 each - by punching it "repeatedly". Mr Bub told the court that after Ben reported Gray's harassment to police, she continued to make threats - including once threatening to burn his house down. Despite being issued a community protection notice, she broke it the same day. She was sent to court and the case progressed through various hearings, but at one point she even absconded and a warrant was produced for her arrest. But after she was eventually caught and brought before a crown court judge, the prosecutor said "no evidence" had been provided by police, and the charge was dropped. Ben told Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court that Gray's abusive campaign had left him feeling "embarrassed, humiliated, numb" and even "suicidal". In his witness statement, written last December, he said: "To put it simply, this situation has completely taken over my life. What should have been a happy and exciting time for me - owning and living in my first home - has turned into a living nightmare. I don't feel safe in my own home anymore and live in a state of numbness caused by anxiety and depression. "Instead of being a place where I can relax and unwind, it's a place where I'm constantly on edge, waiting for the next abusive episode from Miss Gray. Every day I feel trapped, knowing she's right below me, ready to scream abuse at me, make threats and continuously taunt me and my partner. Her threats towards me are terrifying. She regularly shouts that people are waiting to 'break my legs' or 'cut my throat' [...]. "This situation has left me feeling broken - mentally, physically and emotionally. I feel like my life has been on pause for 18 months because of Miss Gray's actions. I've lost my peace of mind, my health, my job, and even the ability to enjoy my home. I just want to feel safe and normal again." Gray read a personal letter to the judge out in court, in which she apologised for her actions but also claimed Ben had used her as "bait" to make his partner 'jealous'. Her defence advocate, Tammy Sher, also told the court several car accidents had driven her to alcohol, and that she too has suffered from suicidal thoughts. But Judge Lodder said she "deserved" her sentence, telling her: "You were given many a warning. You chose to ignore these warnings and breach the notices that were served upon you. "I am aware of the consequences of your behaviour: [the victims] were frightened in their own homes, incapable of relaxing. You induced in them panic attacks and sleep deprivation. [Ben] lost his job, but fortunately obtained another. I can wholly understand why he says he became suicidal in his thinking and desperate, because you ignored council and court orders [...]. "You have 18 convictions for 40 offences. Your offending has been aggravated by alcohol. In my view, you deserve a sentence of 40 months' imprisonment." A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Service said: 'Drina Gray conducted herself appallingly, and we extend our sympathies to her victim, who endured an unrelenting campaign of harassment. 'The defendant admitted to numerous offences – including harassment and criminal damage – following a Met investigation. She awaits sentencing for these. 'Adjournments in case hearings are at the discretion of the courts. A charge of escaping from court on Wednesday, 26 March, was initially brought against Gray by the Met. However, this was later discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service.' Cllr Aydin Dikerdem, a WBC Cabinet member for housing, said he accepted the authority could have acted faster following Ben's serious complaints about his neighbour.
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Alton Estate residents to be balloted over regeneration plans
The fate of a south-west London estate that was "left to rot" is due to be decided in the Council will ballot residents on new regeneration proposals for the Alton Estate in Roehampton after the Labour administration scrapped the original masterplan because of the number of affordable council has published a revised masterplan for the estate which proposes almost 100 more affordable homes than before, improved community facilities and a replacement shopping parade. Labour councillor Aydin Dikerdem, cabinet member for housing, said the revised masterplan would be "one of the most ambitious renewal programmes in London". Dikerdem said: "Roehampton has got large social deprivation. It's an area where the council needs to invest in order to make sure that life chances in Wandsworth are fair, and so it's really, really important that alongside the housing offer we also have a really good community offer."Under the new masterplan, 167 homes on the estate would be replaced with 614 new homes, with 57% affordable housing. There would be a net increase in social housing, although the exact figure has not been confirmed, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. The council's previous Conservative administration planned to demolish 288 homes on the estate and replace them with 1,108 new homes – including 261 affordable homes. A new community hub with a library, a family hub with a GP surgery, a bigger supermarket, community square and council offices have been proposed under the new masterplan.A recent viability study commissioned by the council reported that a suitable regeneration scheme could be delivered at a net cost of about £ Dem Kieren McCarthy, who stood for Putney in last year's general election, said residents had been "treated appallingly for 20 years"."It's been left to rot and it's an embarrassment," he said of the estate.A previous council report said Alton Estate had areas among the 20% most deprived in England, according to research in 2018, and among the 10% most deprived in respect of income and most residents vote in favour of the scheme following a ballot in September, the council aims to submit a planning application in June 2026.
Metro
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
London's best lidos, ponds and outdoor pools to beat the heatwave
A searing heatwave is sweeping the UK, and all any of us Londoners can think of is where to go to cool off. It's so hot, in fact, that the previous record of 40°C, in July 2022, could be under threat. A health agency has issued an amber heat warning, meaning there's potential for it to be dangerously hot, and the Met Office has warned it's only going to get hotter. In London, we don't have the luxury of a coast. But along with dozens of parks and buzzing beer gardens, we do have plenty of lidos and spots for wild swimming. So, grab your towel, slap on some factor 50, and dive right in. After a £4 million revamp, Tooting Bec Lido is finally open to the public this summer. At 90 metres long, it's the UK's largest freshwater swimming pool, catering to 1,300 Londoners. The lido offers two sessions per day, alongside special swim times to kickstart the season. As well as installing a new pumphouse and UV filtration system to keep the water clean and safe, the surrounding area has also had a glow-up. The changing rooms have been given a sleek, modern update and there's fresh landscaping around the water's edge. According to Wandsworth Council, 130 free tickets for swimming sessions will be available for eligible residents under Wandsworth's Access for All scheme. Otherwise, it's £9.40 for adults and £5.20 for kids. If you want wild swimming without travelling to the countryside, make for Hampstead Heath Ponds. Split between mixed, and men's and women's areas, the ponds have a cult following and come July will be heaving with crowds. Who knows, you might even spot a celebrity. A-listers are known to frequent the Heath, with Harry Styles, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Woody Harrelson all swimming there in recent years. Tickets are £4.80 for adults and £2.90 for concessions for 60 minutes of swimming. Tucked in the corner of Brixton's Brockwell Park, this lido is a real sun trap on a warm day. The 50m Olympic-sized pool sits beside an art deco building, with a cute café where you can refuel after a swim. Lane swims cost £8 for up to 50 minutes, and must be booked in advance. Another South London gem, this Olympic-sized heated pool has a summer sun terrace, coffee bar, and outdoor gym equipment. If you're lucky, you'll see the local parakeets flying above while you backstroke. Adult swimming sessions cost £11.50, with prices starting at £5.50 for concessions. Opened in the 1930s, this unheated outdoor pool is open to the public 365 days a year. Located near Gospel Oak train station, it's ideal for those who don't feel ready to brave the ponds. Swimming sessions start at £4.80 for adults and £2.00 for concessions, with no need to book ahead (but you may need to queue if it's busy). At Green Lanes in Stoke Newington, you can go for an open-water swim or try your hand at kayaking at the West Reservoir. It's not for the faint-hearted – temperatures are low, but it's a great spot to get used to the cold water in a beautiful setting. Once you're done, warm up with a coffee at the waterside cafe. Open water swimming – which is available between 7am and 6pm – costs £13.15. Sessions are 30 minutes. Beckenham Place Park is the largest green space in Lewisham, and although you'll get the feel of wild swimming, lifeguards are on hand to ensure everything is safe, and you can hire kayaks or paddle boards at certain times too. Whichever water-based activity you choose, the lake offers a refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle. One-hour sessions cost £7.40 for non-residents. Lewisham locals pay a little less, at £6.80. Fancy hitting up one of London's most iconic 'open water' swimming locations? Head to Serpentine Lido in Hyde Park. Here you can swim surrounded by nature, before drying off in the Lido Cafe Bar with a fresh lunch and a glass of wine. If you don't want to swim, but fancy checking out the views,waterside tables are available. For a full day at the lido, it's just £7.50. According to the website, Serpentine Lido will reopen for the weekend on May 17, and then fully from 24 May. If you've got kids in tow, Hillingdon Lido is a great shout. The 1930s Grade II-listed, 50m open-air swimming pool oozes art deco charm, and is considered a 'hidden gem.' Not only are there stunning fountains to play around in, but there's also a new, heated shallow splash pool for little ones. It's close to Ruislip Lido, a sandy (man-made) beach with a lake beside it, though swimming is not permitted there. Also ideal for families, there's an ice-cream shop and play areas suited for kids. Worth the journey if you fancy a day in nature. Tickets cost £11 for non-residents. Let's be honest, this is the UK, and we're not always guaranteed good weather. More Trending And if the heavens open this weekend, Finchley Lido Leisure Centre has your back. This indoor complex combines a pool with slides, a wave machine and jets. There's also a cinema and a bowling alley for some post-swim fun. Outside, there is a 25-metre swimming pool open during the summer months. Swimming costs £8.30. MORE: Man 'carrying a gun' at Elm Park Underground station arrested during rush hour MORE: Does drinking alcohol in the sun really get you drunk faster? A doctor shares their verdict MORE: Defenceless' grandad, John Murray, 75, found beaten to death in his Chiswick home
Web Release
29-05-2025
- Business
- Web Release
GEHRY PARTNERS DESIGNED NEXT PHASE OF BPS DEVELOPMENT TO PROGRESS FOLLOWING PLANNING CONSENT
Planning consent for the next phase of Battersea Power Station has been granted, marking another major step in delivering the vision for the 42-acre regeneration project. Battersea Power Station is to bring forward a new phase of residential, retail, community and leisure development having secured detailed planning approval from Wandsworth Council, completing Electric Boulevard, London's newest high street. This latest phase adds two new Gehry Partners designed residential buildings comprising 306 new homes. They will form an extension to the highly recognisable existing two buildings at Prospect Place, which are fully sold and occupied, and remain the only residential buildings in the UK designed by Frank Gehry, the world-famous architect and designer of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The ongoing focus on sustainability means these latest designs have a more modern aesthetic to reduce the carbon footprint while green roofs will also be present throughout both buildings, contributing to a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain. Gehry Partners' latest additions to the Battersea Power Station streetscape will juxtapose white sculptural facades, in a postmodern interpretation of John Nash's neo-classical terraces that are stereotypical of Regency London, in contrast to the stark industrial brick architecture of the historic Power Station. In a first for Battersea Power Station and in line with the project's objective of creating a truly multigenerational community around the iconic Power Station, one of the new buildings, Prospect Place 3, is proposed to include senior living apartments, to be managed by a specialist operator for over 65s and includes access to additional care and on-site facilities. The second building, Prospect Place 4, will offer 122 new homes. As with Gehry Partners' first two buildings at Battersea Power Station, every home within this latest phase will be unique in design. Both buildings will sit on a communal podium, part of which extends to form a private garden square for residents. Positioned opposite to the new office building, 50 Electric Boulevard, which is over 50% let, and the western entrance of Battersea Power Station's London Underground station that is due to open later this summer, this latest approval allows Battersea Power Station to complete the development of London's newest high street, Electric Boulevard, adding 70,000 sq ft of new commercial space for shops, cafés and restaurants. Existing shops on the high street include children's clothing brand Lindex, Zara, Massimo Dutti, Boots Beauty and Borough Kitchen with more to come including WatchHouse, The Salad Project and R.W. Wolf barbers. This newest phase further extends Battersea Power Station's objective of creating new facilities and opportunities for the local area, expanding the existing community and cultural programme with the addition of a 15,000 sq ft Community Hub. This new civic space will be designed in partnership with Wandsworth Council. Local stakeholders will be consulted on the concept, vision and on the appointment of a specialist community cultural operator, who will curate a programme offering a wide range of events and activities to complement the existing offer. To encourage sustainable and healthy travel to and from Battersea Power Station, the new community facilities include an expanded Bike Hub, adjacent to the new Community Hub, which will have 600 spaces available for all, free of charge. Through its delivery and beyond, this phase will create over 400 jobs, adding to the existing total of over 6,800 jobs Battersea Power Station has provided to date as well as adding to the 2,500 residents who already call it home. Construction is expected to start later this year with completion anticipated in 2029. Frank Gehry, Founder of Gehry Partners, LLP, said: 'I am very happy that the next phase of the Battersea project is underway. These two buildings will help our masterplan, which was designed to create the feeling of a neighbourhood, come to fruition. In keeping the same body language of the original, we have continued the white material of these buildings, referencing the incredible history of the Nash Terraces. The winter gardens help break down the scale of the facades while also giving each unit a beautiful, light-filled space. Our goal from the beginning has been to make something that is unique to London and unique to this incredible new district in the city. I hope that we make the city proud.' James Wixley, Head of Development at Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC), said: 'This milestone is the next step in realising the long-term vision for Battersea Power Station. With detailed planning consent now secured, we're extending Gehry Partners' distinctive architectural legacy, adding new homes while introducing senior living for the first time, and completing Electric Boulevard — London's newest high street. As well as lots of new opportunities in the form of shops, restaurants and jobs, the phase also includes a new Community Hub to support local events and activities which will be designed in close partnership with Wandsworth Council and the wider community. We are moving beyond the halfway point in delivering the masterplan and, together with our Malaysian shareholders, we look forward to starting on site in the coming months as we work towards another key milestone at this incredible regeneration project.' The regeneration of Battersea Power Station has created a vibrant mixed-used destination for London and a sixth town centre for the London Borough of Wandsworth with the Grade II* listed Power Station at its heart. Over 2,200 homes have been delivered to date, including 386 affordable homes at New Mansion Square in partnership with Peabody. The riverside neighbourhood is also home to more than 150 shops, bars, restaurants, and unique leisure experiences, and a thriving office community with over 3,500 office workers based across over 60 different companies, including Apple who has its 500,000 sq ft UK headquarters inside the Power Station. To be kept updated on the residential release for Phase 3C, please register your interest here – For more information about Battersea Power Station please visit and follow @BatterseaPwrStn to keep up to date with the latest news and events.
