Residents of the Park View estate

RESIDENTS at Park View estate were shocked to learn that large amounts of lead had gone missing from their roofs.

As contractors were sent in last week to assess the state of the building before capital works start, they found that lead flashing, which is used to help water run off the roofs preventing mould and damp, had mysteriously vanished

Joel Deason, secretary of Park View’s residents’ association, told the Tribune that residents at the estate had been experiencing problems with mould and damp for almost 10 years.

“Multiple people have moved away because their health is so poor,” Mr Deason said.

“The scale of water ingress that would have occurred because of the lack of flashing would be explanatory of the damp and water all over the estate.

“This is an industrial-level theft – it’s a disgrace.”

He added: “It’s a sea of incompetence. They [the council] have been blaming residents when their failure to maintain infrastructure has caused damp and mould.”

Mr Deason expressed confusion that Islington Council had not previously identified the lack of lead. He claimed that, at a meeting over a year ago, the council told residents that a survey of the building had already been carried out.

Leaseholders at Park View were also sent a letter in November detailing the need for urgent repairs at the estate.

“It has been brought to my attention that the laterals or landlord’s supply of electricity to all blocks are now in need of replacement as they are lifetime expired (more than 40 years old),” the letter from project liaison officer Richard Berwick read, “this was unforeseen can cannot be left unattended to.”

However, more than six months later, work has still not begun.

“It’s horrifying,” Mr Deason said. “They’ve told us that the electrical infrastructure is non-compliant and dangerous, and they haven’t done anything.”

A spokesperson for Islington Council said: “We’ve visited Park View estate earlier this week and found that minimal lead flashing is missing, and that four blocks will require minor repairs. We want everyone in Islington to have a safe, decent, and genuinely affordable place to call home, which is why we are making essential improvement works to the Park View estate.

“Before work begins, the planned works have been going through the statutory processes including consultations with leaseholders. The S20 notice, which will detail all of the costs associated with this work, will be sent to leaseholders in July. This includes the work to replace the laterals, the electricity supplies to the flats, which is expected to begin in September.

“Of the 96 homes at Park View, three currently have damp and mould issues; we are working with residents to resolve these issues. We have a dedicated team delivering treatment works in cases where properties report damp and mould. Damp and mould surveys can be booked by residents via our call centre, and these are responded to as a matter of priority.”