Published: 13 April, 2012

• THE proposed building of a six-storey block of flats on their car park clearly shows tenants are automatically treated as second-class citizens, regardless of which political party is in power (Hands off King Square, April 6).

These proposals do not even take into account other money-grabbing ideas which allow all and sundry to privately rent parking spaces (without criminal records checks or proof of identity), thereby ignoring council residents’ security and surrounding environment.

We have stallholders’ produce being stored at Whitecross Street estate with no concern for residents.

There are already enough rats about due to the market and storing food could encourage them to return to plague the estate, as in previous times.  

Petrol stored in jerry cans or other combustible items in close proximity to blocks of flats could easily result in terrible accidents or even a whole building catching fire or exploding.

I wonder how much the council’s insurance has increased to cover such an event, or if insurance firms or the fire brigade have been made aware or consulted before these new arrangements were introduced.

These are just two money-making schemes that council officers have dreamt up, happily condoned by councillors, without any impact study, consultation or other protection against possible abuse.

Additional staff will have to be employed to monitor what is actually kept in the storage sheds.

I am not sure how this will work unless they have right of entry to all sheds.

I know of an estate where someone was discovered to be storing petrol.

Residents of the adjoining flats, who were extremely vulnerable to the danger, observed what was happening and managed to have it removed immediately.

This proves that no amount of occasional monitoring or control would have seen what was being stored.

These are just a few examples of “Who pays the price” and I am sure tenants can supply more.

Perhaps the Tribune could start a competition to discover the worst ideas implemented by the council.

It would make interesting reading and could run for years.

HELEN CAGNONI
Clerkenwell 1 in 1000 representative