Published: 8 June, 2012

• IT would appear that Higgins is not the only builder in Islington to have been making life unbearable for residents; it must be a trait of the trade (Building work at flats has made life a misery for 80-year-olds, June 1).

We live in Mildmay and find ourselves in exactly the same situation as the residents of North Road, except the construction firm in question is Lovell’s, a partner of the now non-existent Homes for Islington.

For the past four-plus years.

Lovell’s has been making our lives miserable.

We’ve not only had to endure constant noise during and outside prescribed hours, and dust and damage to cars, we have had to live in darkness.

Our home has been sandwiched between two sections of scaffolding, which was originally secured to our garden fence.

We have been living in the middle of a building site.

As the scaffolding has been at eye level with our bedrooms and bathroom we have had to keep the curtains drawn to ensure our privacy and spare our blushes.

We have been unable to use the garden.

Our safety, privacy and security have been compromised during the work and, like Higgins, Lovell’s has paid lip service to complaints.

If it hadn’t been for the involvement of the health and safety officer we wouldn’t have had even that much.

When we turned to our local authority for help, we were told by a senior council officer that as freeholders – bearing in mind that on top of our council tax we pay additional service charges – we had no rights.

It would appear that it is only the big boys that can do whatever they please, to the detriment of the people whose interests they are supposed to have at heart.

ANNE AND PETER WHITE
Address supplied