Dear Mr Wrigley,Congratulations on your result with the Local Government Ombudsman finding in your favour against Ealing Council's refusal to accept your valid complaint.It reminds me that I was once involved in an Ombudsman Complaint about 30 years ago relating to the way the Council dealt with a planning application at 18 Freeland Road, Ealing W5 on the historic "Elms Estate, Ealing & Acton". About 60 residents signed the Complaint.The property at 18 Freeland Road was a fine Victorian house. In 1988, residents discovered that the property was to be converted into an Ex-Prisoners Hostel to be run by the North West London Housing Association Ltd and owned by the Ealing Family Housing Association Ltd.Neighbours were in fact under the impression that the proposed use was for an elderly people's retirement home with a warden but when investigating another application at 14 Freeland Road for a commercial B & B Hostel, had discovered the actual intended uasge, which had not been previously apparent from the Application papers. The papers had referred to a letter from a firm called Leonard Tridgell which was said to explain the actual usage proposed. However, this letter had never been sent in with the planning papers!When residents found out what was planned on one side a B & B Hostel and on the other side an Ex-Prisoners Hostel and this on top of an existing Hostel at 17 Freeland Road (which sported a water tank on the roof covered with a blue tarpaulin and a wooden plank with children playing up there hazardously!).Residents complained about the lack of information and in fact it was later found out that important explanatory information had been witheld so that neighbours had not complained about what they thought would be an old people's home.Papers disappeared from the main file held by the Planning Department. When the Local Government Ombudsman inspected the file, they were still missing. The Ombudsman found Ealing Council GUILTY of maladministration. This was reported in the national press at the time.The story goes on somewhat when the property at 14 Freeland Road came up for registration and was highly recommended by the HPU (Homeless Persons Unit). The son of the owner of the property was apparently managing the Hostel with Ealing Council's blessing and the neighbours'objections were brushed aside.Not long after, we read that the Hostel Manager had been sentenced to a 10 years jail term for false imprisonment and torture. An insurance broker had it seems argued with the Manager who then tied him to a chair and assaulted him. The terrified broker fled (still tied to the chair) and hurled himself through the wooden fence of 12 Freeland Road to escape! So much for the HPU's recommendation!The residents having had enough of these developers and the planners decided to institute legal proceedings in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division on the basis that the only lawful use of the two Victorian houses was as a private dwellinghouse only.The residents won both cases and recovered over £45,000 in legal costs.However, this is a costly exercise and victory cannot always be guaranteed but like yourself and your supporters, they succeeded.Perhaps you could include a link to the recent Decision in your favour.Yours sincerely,Victor Mishiku "The Covenant Movement"vmfree@madasafish.com Tel: 020 8991 2538
Victor Mishiku ● 2828d