In progress
42 Clarendon Road - Damaged Fence
Sent to Merton Council less than a minute later. FixMyStreet ref: 9097227.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to raise a formal complaint regarding works carried out by the council earlier this week to replace the boundary fence between the recreational park and the rear of my property.
Without any prior notice or communication, the existing concrete boundary wall at the rear of our garden was removed and replaced with a higher metal fence. While I understand that maintenance or replacement of park boundaries may sometimes be necessary, it is extremely concerning that no notice was provided to residents before work commenced. I arrived home to find the boundary at the end of my garden had been removed and replaced without any warning.
More significantly, the contractors carrying out the work appear to have removed or interfered with the end posts of the two side fences that run along either side of our garden and previously met flush with the old concrete wall. As a result, these fences now have no structural support at the rear boundary. Since the work was completed, both side fences have become unstable and, in today’s blustery weather, sections have already collapsed.
Prior to the council’s intervention, both fences were stable and in good condition. The current damage has occurred solely as a result of the way the boundary works have been carried out.
I will be providing photographs which clearly show the current condition of the fencing and the damage caused.
I would like the council to:
Acknowledge receipt of this email within 48 hours.
Confirm how this issue will be resolved.
Confirm that the council will reimburse the reasonable cost of a contractor to repair and reinstate the fencing that has been damaged as a result of these works.
This situation has left our garden boundary insecure and has caused damage to our property that did not previously exist. I therefore expect the council to take responsibility and resolve the matter promptly.
I look forward to your response.
Kind regards, Jonathan Foster
Updates
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Thank you for reporting a problem in a park or recreation ground.
We aim to deal with reports of park maintenance problems within 48 hours, and litter with within 24 hours. Some may take longer if we need specialist equipment or parts.
Did you know…?
We maintain over 115 parks and green spaces, and 46 play areas across Merton.
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Dear Mr Foster, Thank you for your email and for raising your concerns regarding the recent boundary works. We’re sorry to hear about the issues you’ve experienced following the works however, ahead of the works taking place, letters were issued to all adjoining residents to advise that the council would be undertaking boundary improvements within the park. These letters also made clear that any items attached to council-owned structures would need to be removed in advance of the works. Prior to starting on site, the contractor carried out a condition survey of the boundary and surrounding area. This included photographic records, which show that some of the fence panels and structures in question were already in a damaged condition before works commenced. It was also noted that elements of your fencing had been fixed directly onto the council’s boundary structure without permission. As set out in the notification letter, residents were asked to remove any such attachments beforehand to avoid any impact during the works. The works undertaken were limited to the park side and were necessary to ensure that the park boundary is safe, clearly defined, and properly maintained. The council’s responsibility is to maintain its own boundary structures, rather than private fencing. That said, we do take concerns like this seriously. A officer has visited and reviewed the current situation on site to ensure that the boundary has been installed appropriately and to assess any immediate safety concerns. In terms of repairs to private fencing, this would ordinarily remain the responsibility of the property owner, particularly where structures were attached to council assets without prior agreement. As a goodwill gesture we would be happy to consider arranging for two new 4x4 posts to be concreted onto your side of the boundary for your fencing. If this is something you would like to consider, please provide a contact number and our preferred contractor will be in touch to make the relevant arrangements. Thank you Kind regards Tamas Rabai Parks Project Officer London Borough of Merton
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Hello - thank you for the response. For the avoidance of doubt, we did not receive a notification letter to advise of these changes. I have also enquired with my upstairs and next door neighbour and neither of them received a letter. This appears to be an admin error for which the residents are not responsible!
Either which way, thank you for agreeing to replace the fence posts. My contact details are 07703067408. When can I expect someone to be in touch please?
Thanks, Jonathan
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Hello - thank you for the response. For the avoidance of doubt, we did not receive a notification letter to advise of these changes. I have also enquired with my upstairs and next door neighbour and neither of them received a letter. This appears to be an admin error for which the residents are not responsible!
Either which way, thank you for agreeing to replace the fence posts. My contact details are 07703067408. When can I expect someone to be in touch please?
Thanks, Jonathan
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Hello - is there an update to this please? It’s been almost 2 weeks since our fence was left in the state it has been.
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Dear Mr Foster, Your details have been passed to the contractor, who's contact you shortly. Kind regards Tamas Rabai
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