Homes for Haringey staff to the rescue

Tuesday 15 July 2008

Repair Services staff from Homes for Haringey rushed to the scene of a coach crash in Muswell Hill to assist the emergency services recently.

Operatives based at depots in Ashley Road and Lordship Lane were on site within minutes of the crash, caused by a coach rolling backwards down Muswell Hill into Hollybank, a private block of flats.

The team of six skilled craftsmen worked with council officers past midnight to secure the building’s structure and the two affected flats.

In addition to hard labour the team provided building materials including metal supporting poles, timber and an angle grinder to remove sections of the coach. The surrounding perimeter areas to the public sidewalk were taped off and several safety bollards erected.

A coach crashed into the front of Hollybank, a block of flats in Muswell Hill

Executive Director of Building Services, Bob Watts, praised his team for taking immediate responsibility. “We had several members of staff who cleared their diaries and worked into the early hours of the night putting into place our emergency plan. I am extremely pleased with how effective staff were in dealing with this situation which thankfully resulted in no fatalities.”

Haringey Council’s Preventions and Options team placed three families from the block of flats in local hotel accommodation overnight.

Homes for Haringey successfully bid for a £100m repair contract covering the borough’s council homes last November. The in-house repairs team employs over 250 staff including approximately 200 operatives.

Ends

Notes to Editors

Homes for Haringey is the Arms Length Management Organisation managing Haringey Council’s housing stock since April 2006. It is responsible for:

  • Meeting the Decent Home Standard
  • Services to approx 21,000 council owned properties: 16,700 tenanted and 4,500 leasehold
  • Tenancy and estate management
  • Housing management of supported housing
  • Rent collection and arrears management
  • Repairs and maintenance
  • Leasehold management
  • Resident involvement

To talk to someone about this news item, please contact us:

Email:communications@homesforharingey.org

Tel: 020 8489 2998

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