Featherstone Make a Difference Forum

I HAVE MADE A VIDEO SHOWING THE DECLINE OF THE GIRNHILL LANE ESTATE USING PHOTOGRAPHS THAT I HAVE TAKEN! SPEAKERS REQUIRED! THE BACKING TRACK IS CALLED "TENSION" WHICH I THOUGHT WAS APPROPRIATELY NAMED AND IT'S HAUNTING SOUND IS ALSO APPROPRIATE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VWHxxHZ2Qk

Very poignant mr T, brought a lump to my throat :(

Well done Mr T.  It sent shivers down my spine the whole time I was watching it.  It really brought it home to me how bad it really is.

well mr t i lived up there for 14 years it gave me tears to my eyes i was there when they pulled my house down what went wrong were all thinking of you all

11 out of 10 for the dvd MrT. keep fighting :)

i am on post office road and i can see large amounts of smoke from down there?

i was passed this by Mr T from the Evening post on Friday,

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/Featherstone-estate-is-dubbed-39vandals39.4134820.jp

if it is you guys on fire my my heart goes out to you. multiple arson has to be worth looking at? :(

You are absolutely right yetion1, 3rd one this week! This time I have video footage to post as well as photo's! I will post it all a bit later on!

SUNDAY 1ST JUNE

The 3rd arson attack on an empty block of houses within a week and all 3 have occured 3 days later...Mon...Wed...Sun! This time I have posted video footage as this tells the story much better than a photograph! I only took the 1 photograph (included) as the majority of it is on video! It was recorded in 3 stages as the battery on the camera was flat and I had to keep running home and charging it for a few mins to get a bit of power and so missed it when it was at it's peak! You can tell that from the fact that the roof is there one minute and gone the next, so it looks tame, but as you have seen from my previous photo's, when it's at it's peak, it's quite fierce! The firewall also prevented the fire from spreading to next door where normally, the fire breaks through and spreads rapidly and the entire block goes up! Thank god it did it's job as someone lives in the block next door! There is a lot of chit chat going on in the background and around me as it had attracted quite a crowd! For some strange reason, the first 5 seconds of the video is black...but keep watching and it magically appears!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfSSVbsRVAQ

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/GirnhillLane001.jpg)

out standing footage. 11 out of 10 again MrT. sounds like there could have been people seen running away. i also like the youngsters comment "verners burning", and was corrected it was ashcroft. funny thing is Verner could be next. >:(

Ooooo...I forgot to tell you all...and it's good news for a change, but before I continue, if you are not sitting down already, I would suggest that you do because this is just unbelievable! On Friday, the residents of Girnhill Lane were very privilaged to have the mini road sweeper come round and sweep all the pavements for us! I've dusted off the Royal Doulton just in case it's the Queen that's coming to visit us and I can offer her a cup of tea! WHAT??? you don't believe me about the road sweeper? Mmm...how can I prove it? Well you know Mr T doesn't miss a thing up here and so ladies and gentlemen....I present........MR SWEEP!

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/GirnhillLane003.jpg)
MR SWEEP

BLOODY ELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Or is it the calm before the storm ::)

WEDNESDAY 4TH JUNE

Can you remember what I put in my post on Sunday 1st June regarding the record number of arson attacks on empty houses that have occured this week? All three incidents were 3 days apart...Monday, Thursday and Sunday! So that meant if the arsonists were sticking to their pattern, then the next one would be today (Wed). Well Hey presto! The house that was targeted on Thursday (in which the fire only destroyed half of the block) has been targeted again (Wed of course) and finished off completely (See video)! 2 people from neighbourhood watch decided to have a tootle round in their car afterwards, talk about shutting the gate when the horse has bolted! I have removed the sound from the video as it was quite noisy! Apologies if I seem to keep posting the same stuff, but this is how life is up here and it's all part of the diary!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B8JTPKszAI

In a previous post, I posted a slide show using various photograph's that I have taken over time and used some software for displaying photograph's like that! I also have a video editing program that I haven't really had the chance to use, so I thought I'd try it out using the estate again! Now you can have a virtual tour of the estate and see it all in real time! Note all the empty spaces, the fenced off area's, burnt out houses and vandalised street lights!  Once again I needed some appropriate music or song and decided on the one you will here! Listen to the words of it as you watch the video! I think a lot of it is very appropriate! This video, along with the slide show is all for the next meeting with the council and will be played by a fellow forum member on front of the protest line!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKE76E5KADw

now that has to be your best ever piece. i am sure this well made video will be around for the next 100 years.
just bloody great my man. dont stop. :)

Monday 9th June and another block of houses goes up in flames! The video & pictures will be posted later on and are the most dramatic one's I've captured so far! WATCH THIS SPACE!

Saw all the smoke  earlier on Mr T i wondered where it was all coming from looking forward to the pictures and keep up the good work ;D ;D ;D ???

i was on by way back from Streethouse at 7.20pm and could see lots of toxic smoke from the Girnhill and i was at the common. i had to call by and found yet another block of 2 houses burning. the fire brigade were looking on and letting it go so they could then die out the ashes. i cannot blame the firemen but i can count the extra hours they are clocking up. someone somewhere is suffering because the Girnhill is always burning.
bloody 24 hour securitty is needed. >:(

Video a work of art Mr T.

Sadest thing for me was to witness it myself tonight. You guys down there are made of the same stuff the Nazi's tried to destroy during the blitz of Londons docklands. My undying admiration and support goes to you all,  >:( >:( >:(

MONDAY 9TH JUNE

This is the video of the latest arson attack on the Girnhill Lane Estate! The 5th one in the last 2 weeks alone!! This is what it looks like when both houses go up simultaneously! In the last couple of attacks, the fire has been kept contained within the one house by the fire wall, but on this occasion, like on the majority that have gone up, the wind was blowing in the right direction and fans the flames throughout and a remaining residents house gets totally smothered by the choking smoke which eventually turns black and even more toxic! The still photographs are also included!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcgEH6TsZNo

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/GirnhillLane010.jpg)
ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER ARSON ATTACK ON THE GIRNHILL LANE ESTATE

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/GirnhillLane008.jpg)
A RESIDENT'S HOUSE OPPOSITE THE INFERNO (LEFT) IS BARELY VISIBLE

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/GirnhillLane009.jpg)
THE SMOKE NOW TURNS BLACK AND EVEN MORE TOXIC

that is shocking i just dont understand why anyone could do this it makes me feel like there getting paid to do this because they seem to be going down a lot more now what will be next

WEDNESDAY 11TH JUNE

The arsonists thought they'd have a change tonight! It would seem the large container that the demolition team are filling up with remains of a house they are working on caught their eye! Once again, choking smoke filled the estate and believe it or not, it took the fire crew 3 hours to finally put it out! 3 hours of their valuable time wasted when they should have been available for a "REAL" emergency!

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/P1010086.jpg)

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/P1010088.jpg)

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/P1010087.jpg)

What your picture doesn't show is whilst the fire brigade were extinguishing the fire, how many kids were playing in the rubble. I lost count at 20.

I took those pictures before the fire brigade (and spectators) came ! It's alway's the same everytime there is a fire, as soon as a bit of smoke is spotted, everyone from miles around gather's on the estate as if it's a street party! I know kid's will be kid's where the fire brigade is concerned, but they don't just stand and watch, as Featherstonian rightly said, they come up and start messing around! It's not a one way traffic though because the adult's are just as bad as the kid's, Obviously I don't mean they misbehave, but they come up in their cars, pull up and switch the engine off!  It remind's me of one of those drive in cinema's! Present company accepted of course, you do need to see it for yourself's...you know who you are  ;D

The culprits would be amongst them too feath, they always say an arsonist turns up to see his handywork :(

Mr T kids dont have anything better to and honestly do you think thier parents are bothered as long as they are out of there way. And i totally agree with u forkhandles the culprit or culprits are probably in the crowd, however i dont think the culprits are kids (if u get what i mean).

;) ;) ;)

I took this video a few weeks back mainly for my YouTube videos on Girnhill, but now I have decided to put it on here and share it! The video show's you how badly overgrown the gardens have become and how narrow a public footpath has got leading up to a resident's home! These garden's used to be attended to once in a while but now it seems they are just not bothered anymore! The same applies regarding the removal of rubbish left by fly tippers, that too is now left to build up! You will see a "small" example of the rubbish we have to live amongst in the video, but the worst place is right next to the ginnel leading up to the school. To give you an idea of how long the grass actually is, 24 seconds into the footage, you will see the grass level with the camera! You could understand that if I was small person, but the fact I am actually 6ft 4in tall tells you, this grass is long! Keep watching in great detail, I'm sure I keep seeing a lion in there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z31imyXtty0

Good video Mr T, maybe you should send the council this video. You never know summut may get done then about it all.

Some more good pictures Mr T keep them  coming and keep up the good work and we are here all behind you in what ever it takes  ;D ;D :o :o

A RECIPE FOR DISASTER

INGREDIENTS

1. ONE BURNT OUT HOUSE WITH NO FENCING AROUND IT COMPLETE WITH TWO PRECARIOUSLY LOOKING CHIMNEY'S

2. A GALE FORCE WIND

METHOD

MIX TOGETHER THE GALE FORCE WIND AND THE TWO PRECARIOUSLY LOOKING CHIMNEY'S

RESULT

THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMEONE GETTING SERIOUSLY INJURED (IF NOT KILLED)

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/P1010089.jpg)
THE TWO CHIMNEY'S HAVE BEEN BLOWN OVER IN THE WIND

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/Photo0002.jpg)
THIS IS A DIFFERENT HOUSE, BUT THIS IS HOW THE CHIMNEY STACKS LOOK AFTER A FIRE

nice one MrT. they could at least offered all the residents a hard hat. funny thing is that you have just made a great point. health and safety is not governed by WMDC but by the executive. its got to be worth a short letter ;)

 Once the whole job lot is sorted and the new housing estate is built is there any reason to expect these terroriists ( kids, arsonists, vandels or what ever you want to call em ) not to carry on with their dirty trade. Perhaps the deal is you get 24/7 private security with a hospital, ambulance and armed police,

 Who wants to live in a house like this. ;D ;D

TUESDAY 24TH JUNE

The block of houses with the fallen chimney's have been demolished today and the demolition team have entered an empty block of houses (an empty block next to a resident) and cleared out all the furniture that was inside. I can't understand why because there is still another two blocks of burnt out houses that need to come down before this block, surely they should be first! Anyway, all they have done with the furniture is dump it in the front garden (See photo). After the record number of arson attacks on the estate in the last month, and the fact a resident's car is parked close by in the driveway, that is the last thing they should have done with it. Not only that, don't they think the place looks bad enough to start with? There is also the fact that it will also encourage more people to dump their own rubbish!

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/P1010090.jpg)

That is just an invite for someone to walk up and drop a match. Reading between the lines it is intimidation. English dictionary says ...... Intimidation is intentional behavior "which would cause a person of ordinary sensibilities" fear of injury or harm.

UPDATE!

The rubbish has now been moved, but that's only because someone reported it, so it probably would have still been there otherwise! None the less, it shouldn't have been left there in the first place! It may have only been there for one night, but one night is all it needed for someone to torch it! Luckily. it didn't happen!

All the burnt out houses have now been demolished and the house mentioned in the last post (that had it's content's dumped in the front garden) has now been fenced off, so it's obvious that this is the next one to be demolished! Take a look at the following picture and tell me what has possessed them to leave it like this? It was secure before they fenced it off! The arsonists eyes would light up if he saw this, and look at how close the resident on the right is to it! This house was the very first house to be fired, but it was put out immedietely and so the roof is very much still intact and would easily burn again!

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/P1010091.jpg)
AN OPEN INVITATION TO THE GIRNHILL LANE ARSONIST

UPDATE

The house has now been re-secured! I have been informed it was reported, otherwise it would have been left like that!

glad to hear the complaints are getting some help ;)
i have not heard anything about the next meeting? anyone know when it is.
i have had a thought. if there is no meeting then someone should write a simple letter requesting from the freedom of information officer the name of the designated contractor. they could make you wait 28 days. worth it as the answer will be the result or not and push the whole problem to be resolved within a 28 day span. could it now be that easy? ;)

Mr T this morning i wacthed a program on bbc1 called don't get done get dom and he had someone from newcastle on who had a c.p.o agains't his house and the presenter Dom Littlewood got him a fair deal for his house so i thought of you lot on the girnhill estate,  if you want to watch the program it should be on the bbc web page or if you want to get in touch with him go to bbc.co.uk /consumer

yes i saw that he did help them get stuff sorted we ort to have thing like that round here

a great and well timed post Andy. i have just been been passed a message and same link from the lady who won the same battle in Liverpool. the reference to Hutties is the name they call a CPOED person.

Fellow Hutties,


TV series on BBC called... Don't get Done, Get Don... this week he deals with a young couple under threat of a CPO, link below!


Just double check that there is no spaces in the URL when you copy to the Google Toolbar...! S


http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/page/item/b00cc9fx.shtml?filter=txdate%3A2706&filter=txslot%3Amorning&start=1&scope=iplayerlast7days

after looking at this i can see a great advert for the course. i have sent this,

hi Dom,
the local residents here loved your program last week. the case you made was damming. please read on to find a case 100 times worse and includes a serial arsonist now at a world record of 57 homes and not 1 investigation.
this link takes you to the local forum. the Girnhill estate post is a fantastic diary of all that has happened with pictures and video.
http://featherstonesmad.smfforfree4.com/index.php/topic,33.160.html
we have piles of evidence, a barrister to hand and a worried council inflicting misery upon its residents to make them leave. we have 2 recordings of a council official bullying people into selling at an under market price and making statements that are false.
a solution has been found but the council are trying their best not to let justice happen.
we need your help/ advertising pressure. one more push could see 10 years of misery come to an end very quickly.
I have attached some other information.

if anyone has time please email the below and write your version.
dom@flametv.co.uk

You will never guess what I have seen today? 2 blokes in a van (a van similar to what they use for the paper bin collections) going round removing all of the rubbish that has been left by fly tippers! Now I really believe the Queen is coming for a visit! There was that much, they have filled it to the top! On another matter, the demolition people have been churning up so much dust today, that you haven't been able to see the estate for it! It's been like a sand storm in the desert all day! Surely when it's like that, they should dampen it down to prevent dust flying everywhere! We have been inhaling it all day, now that can't be good for our health can it. You have only got to look at the state of the cars on the estate to realise how bad it's been (See Photos). A third point I'd also like to mention is that it won't be long before someone get's knocked down by the crazy wagon drivers. One of them keeps bombing up and down like Michael Schumacher. Yesterday he nearly took the back end of someone's car off as he swerved around the parked cars and once at the end of the road, he only stopped when the nose of his wagon was halfway out! Any cars coming up wouldn't have stood a chance!

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/P1010092.jpg)
THE ROOF OF ONE CAR

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/P1010094.jpg)
THE WINDSCREEN OF ANOTHER

Mrs J Howley
Housing and public protection
Newton bar
Wakefield
West York’s
Wf1 2tx

01/07/2008

Dear Janet

RE THE GIRNHILL ESTATE

I have been asked to compile a letter that I agree with entirely.
On Monday and Tuesday this week work has continued on demolition of 2 homes on Ashcroft Avenue. The complaint is unusual as I have to suggest that mental torture is being used.
The homes were down by Monday dinner time and piled. The rest of Monday saw piles of dirt being moved around as if from one place to the other and no removal. At no time was a water sprinkler used. This resulted in huge amounts of dust in the dry weather being thrown. The air quality resembled the fires and vision was almost zero. This work took place within a few yards of homes. Residents cars were so covered that a black car became grey.
Although not illegal the works have been starting at 7.30 AM. This has been in the form of pounding rubble next to resident’s homes and shaking the houses like an earth quake. This could have been done later.
On top of this it looks like you have employed a boy racer digger driver. Ashcroft avenue has for the past 2 days, been the home of high speed HGVS. An accident almost occurred yesterday with one of these. The highway dirt issue has again been broken. Highways enforcement has been contacted.
I have seen this dirt myself but must also comment I can see it from station lane. This cannot be right?
I would appreciate you investigating this matter.

thank you for the e-mail.  Roy actually rang me about this yesterday and I spoke immediately to NPS about the dust.  It is a condition of the contract that appropriate measures are taken to minimise dust etc and they were reminded of the need to ensure that they keep material damp to prevent it from blowing around.  NPS spoke to to the contractor to ensure that this was happening.  I agree fully that 7.30am is too early for such work to begin, and I shall raise this and the other issues within your e-mail with NPS this morning to investigate.  I shall then come back and give you a fuller report once I have a more definitive response to give you.
 
Regards
 
Janet Howley

Mrs J Howley

Housing and public protection

Newton bar

Wakefield

West York’s

Wf1 2tx

01/07/2008

Dear Janet

RE THE GIRNHILL ESTATE

I have been asked to write to you on behalf of a resident. The last meeting at Chesneys announced that there would be a further meeting at the end of June for all the residents. This would include an announcement of who had won the tender bid to develop the estate. As it is the 1st of July I and they would like to ask when the next meeting will be and will the awarded contractor be announced?

I am trying to clarify the exact situation on this and will respond in full shortly.
 
Regards
 
Janet Howley

There hasn't been anything to post on here for a few days now which is quite unusual. In our situation, the saying "No news is good news" isn't really appropriate as it could mean the opposite! I can tell you that we have had the rubbish removal people around again this morning clearing up AND the road sweeper! I bet even Mulder & Scully from the X Files couldn't work that one out! Demoliton has stopped yet again, but the digger is still on site! What are they waiting for when there is still houses to come down? Mmm...  ;)

MONDAY 7TH JULY

Another arson attack on an empty block of houses! However, this time the fire didn't take hold and so allowed the firemen to enter the house and put it out before it got into the roof! Here is the 1 Minute video for the diary!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL-ppJkvEnQ

P.S. It was only in my previous post that I said there has been nothing to report the last few days!  :-X BIG GOB! :-X

Further to my previous e-mail, I have met with NPS on site and we have discussed your concerns with both site staff and the demolition company owner.
 
Mr Hutchinson has confirmed that work was beginning at 7.30am, but he has now spoken to staff and instructed them not to start up equipment before 8am.
 
The site is now using a standpipe to keep dust down during the demolition process.  The demolition company owner has also spoken to site staff and is sending his health and safety manager to site.  He has agreed that the road and pavement should be kept clean, and the health and safety manager will also be monitoring this to ensure that it happens.
 
The wagon drivers have been spoken to about speed on the Estate.  Mr Hutchinson has agreed that if this is the case, it is unacceptable and will cease immediately.
 
I trust this clarifies the concerns raised.
 
Regards
 
Janet Howley

WEDNESDAY 9TH JULY

Arson attack No...?...sorry, I lost count ages ago! The video may be made up of short clips from beginning to end, but the fire did actually rip through this house pretty quick and if you listen carefully at 1:41 and 3:20 in the video, you can hear things exploding inside the house!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00FggytI1E8

THURSDAY 10TH JULY

This arson attack was dealt with straight away as people live at either side! It just proves that whoever is responsible for all these attacks doesn't care about the lives of others! I live on the other side of where this house is and even I couldn't see through my window for the smoke when it was burning, so what was it like for the people living next to it! Yetion1 attended this with me as you can tell from his running commentry in the background! This attack comes the following day from the previous one! (See Previous post). That's 3 this week alone! It could be 4 as the firemen were round yesterday at one of the houses before the big one broke out but I don't know if it was the house or something in the garden!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIHb7TzDon4

just got a call that there is smoke again in the same building. fire service is on its way now.

The fire engine has just been to it yetion1! There was smoke drifting out very slowly so I'm guessing the dowsing down they gave it earlier has prevented it getting going AGAIN!, but I think if left, it could have easily got going! Who keeps doing it? The invisible man?

LETTER SENT TO ALL RESIDENTS TODAY!


(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/DeveloperLetter.jpg)

An interesting letter that avoids the facts and makes statements that are incorrect.

The contract went to a council vote over a month ago and was won. She must have forgotten that fact. The word is that the winner out the 9 bids was not one of the 3 that had a like for like deal. This was a mistake by WMDC as the council and residents loose out.
The announcement should have come by the end of June. This announcement would have been the most important piece to help end the situation. If the residents know the contractor they can then contact them and do a deal.
The new date in September would suggest that what I have heard is correct as WMDC are now running about trying to sort out there mess.
Denise Jeffrey should be contacted to bring the present details to a meeting.
Another way of looking at the letter is as a stalling tactic. In September the residents could be kicked out by way of legal protocol under the compulsory purchase order laws. I believe the residents have a way to stop this and will shortly shuv it up WMDC. I will leave to them to tell you their action when it happens. I am looking forward to that one.

FEATHERSTONE IS FED UP OF BULLYS AND BOY ARE THEY FIGHTING BACK ;D

TUESDAY 15TH JULY - 2:45AM

The arson attacks on the estate are now getting really serious, out of control and beyond a joke! I will let you see for yourself in this video! You can't see much as it was dark and I was stood far away but the still photograph at the end gives you the full picture! It's neither a house nor a garage this time but something that actually belongs to someone!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG1ddZz4NzY

well chosen words at the end there MrT.

got this today,

I am sorry for the delay in responding to your e-mail - I asked the local
policing division for some information and had hoped to have received a
response before now.

I will chase a response and come back to you as soon as I can.

Regards

Karen Grey
External Relations Director, West Yorkshire Police Authority

my reply, 

thanks for the reply, but as you see every day is a new arson.
PLEASE HELP THESE PEOPLE.

Thanks for your e-mail. I had a call from the Neighbourhood Policing Team
Inspector (Dick Jones) yesterday afternoon who gave me some information
about the problems you described on the estate.

The message that I got from your original e-mail was that there had been no
police investigation into the attacks. I have been assured that there has
been a thorough investigation which is still ongoing. I understand that
Dick has spoken to you but he is unable to give you the full details of the
investigation at present due to the sensitivities of the case. Dick has
explained to me about the work of the Fire Service Arson Task Force in the
area so it looks like there is both prevention and enforcement activity
underway.

I am going to copy your e-mails and the information I have to our Chair who
is also a Wakefield councillor. He may be able to bring some of his
influence to bear on the council who also have a part to play in reducing
crime in the area.

Regards

Karen

This is a great parody passed on by a supporter or as she calls her self "a fellow huty"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWcFWQ_m-jE

That video has a striking resemblance to somewhere around here, wonder where ???

for anyome who missed this have a read. it will give you a good picture that is about correct as to what is going on. the next few weeks should be very eventfull,

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg99/yetion1/Picture005-2.jpg)

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg99/yetion1/Picture006-2.jpg)

If the second bit is hard to read, you can find it in full here...

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/wakefield-news/Arson-estate-court-battle.4294491.jp

We have had enough...let the courts decide!

We are living in a jungle up here due to the fact that the council don't come up anymore and keep the grass in the gardens and on the waste land down (which they did do at one point believe it or not) and yet today I saw "THREE" yes "THREE" lawn mowers on the little bit of grass near the flats at the bottom of the lane (opposite the club). Three lawn mowers on a bit that one can do in a matter of minutes! How about sending a couple of them up here with a strimmer each? We are still paying our council tax after all. Oh I do beg your pardon, they always come up and do the little bit around the phone box (that's the phone box with no phone in it). If you can't be bothered doing all the estate, why insult us by just doing that bit? Why not let that grow too so it can blend in with the rest of the estate?

You know fine Mr T that if they go up and cut the grass they might get mugged on thier lawn mowers, and you know the council don't want that do they ha ha ha ;D ;D ;D

time for some ideas from us lot.  ;D

what would make a good poster,s? ;)

to start,

welcome to the jungle

Girnhill HELL 30 yards this way

How about Girn"hell" Lane? I will get the cogs grinding and think of something else! I take it you are making posters for when the T.V. cameras come again yetion1?  ;D Your suggestion is good too!  ;D

Once again a resident on the estate is left without electricity! The demolition people are working in the vacinity of this resident so either it's them that have gone through a cable AGAIN, or the utility people have cut them off! There is a block of houses near to this resident which have only become empty recently and will have needed disconnecting, but they always have an habit of cutting off the houses still occupied whilst doing these empty ones, whether it be the gas board, electric board or water board! Yes that's right, we've had them all cut off in turn!  It could be neither of the above of course, but I would put a bet on it being one of them! It's not the first time these people have been cut off...last time they were 3 DAYS without electricity!

Welcome to 'ground zero' seems to be more like it.

This made me laugh, click on the picture

looks like the workmen are at it again. thet have left a half stripped house with a fre still burning behind, next to a pile of ready fire wood.

the arsonist wont even need a lighter for this one. will it go tonight? >:(

Well I guess we have just had the lull before the storm.  Two seperate fires on Saturday night, one at 21:30 and the other two hours later. 

it gets worse up there has the grass or anthing been cut down

street lights out for 3 weeks, power cables cut due to high cable resistence. power cables cut by diggers. power cables crushed by skips. freezers defrosted and food spoilt. holes in the road. plague of toads and frogs. grass better than any jungle, and the cream of local scum. looks like people are not doing thier jobbs >:(

The latest item to raise it questionable head is this poster. Demolition is not due to start until September yet the planning approval has only just been passed. Most of the homes listed have all ready gone. Where they knocked down illegally? After asking the question to people I know it could be that because the buildings were fired that they could knock them down without permission. A fair excuse but very ironic. Arson has so many uses as we are all beginning to learn.

(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg99/yetion1/Picture007-2.jpg)

One of the houses listed on Ashcroft Avenue still has people living in it.  I wonder if they know that their home is being demolished next month!

that is realy bad there putting the rest who are still up there even more at risk  >:( >:( >:(

I missed out on getting footage of the latest arson attack (Sat 9th August) for my online diary!
This can be found at...

http://www.youtube.com/MrTsForumVideos

All the videos on it have been posted on the forum but this is where you can view them (and any future videos) all at once!

its a real shame for you all up there how many of you are left

The Demolition team brought a low loader today and took away the digger AGAIN! I'm guessing that demolition has once again ceased. There is still houses to be demolished, so why not get them knocked down instead of drawing out the whole process. I was going to say a bit of piece and quiet is on the cards now they have gone again but that's impossible up here!

You know as well as we do Mr T that the Demolition team move out and then the Arsonists move in, so it's a no win situation for you lot that are living up there mate. ;D ;D ;D

maybe things are going to get expensive ;)


Mrs J Howley
Housing and public protection
Newton bar
Wakefield
West York’s
Wf1 2tx

20/08/2008

Dear Janet

RE THE GIRNHILL ESTATE

I have been asked to write to you on behalf of a resident regards a number of points,

 I informed you with my last letter that the 1st of July had come and gone and no meeting had been arranged as stated to announce the awarded contractor. Your reply was that you did not know. Over a month has passed. Could you please up-date on the situation with the date and time of the meeting?

There is a huge problem with the Girnhill substation and many service cables coming from it. The problems are as serious as,

a.   Cutting power to homes for up to 3 days, leaving food defrosted and property without security.
b.   Street lights are all most entirely unlit. This has been in part to vandalism. WMDC have been made aware that they should install anti-vandal fittings but have not. The main problem is that the contractors have damaged the supply cable in so many places that the cables have become high resistant and are now blowing the 100 amp fuse in the sub-station. YEDL with credit have turn out many times as cables are cut through. The resistance is now so high that YEDL have had no option other than to disconnect the street light so that some homes are not cut off daily. The result is a substandard luminal count on a public highway. I believe there is European law now adopted by England that should enforce repair. I would appreciate guidance to relevant legislation on road lighting volume and repair. The solution I see is that a full re-wire of the Girnhill estate is required immediately for the safety of its residents. This would be extremely costly. Is the contractor to pay or WMDC? A solution would be build brick secure storage units with a generator inside or even containers.
c.   Power cables have been exposed and damaged all over the site. A solution to the coming power cuts needs to address now in readiness now. This could again be semi-portable. It should be a full re-wire. The residents would settle for an agreed plan but fear rightly that with winter coming that they will be left stranded. It is fair for the residents to hear by give you notice of the problem. If a solution is not offered then it would be fair to assume neglect.
d.   A number of the roads around the estate have now pot holes that are huge in scale to anything found elsewhere in the WMDC district. They are dangerous, damaging to vehicles and a threat to life. Again notice is given that the problem exists and that if a claim is made then this date be used as testament.
e.   Town and country planning notices have been posted last week around the estate. They list a number of properties that have been passed for demolition as from 1st September 2008. As you can see from the date of this letter we are still in August 2008. Most of the numbered houses listed have been demolished? Could you explain if they were demolished legally or illegally according to planning regulation? The houses that have not been demolished are in still occupied? As the tenants know nothing about giving in and moving out could you explain why they are listed and when they will be demolished? As this appears to be a planning passed application could you confirm what date the statutory planning notices were posted for this passed application as no notice are known off? A number of residents have contacted you as to the information publicly posted by WMDC. The explanation given from you and others within your department is that the legal public notice has a printing error and that it should be ignored as there is no significance towards the occupied homes. As this is a legal notice surely it should be correct as per planning law? If the notice is wrong then any start date of public notification should be void? As the start date as advertised for commencement of demolition is only 11 days away then is the planning application void and need re-submission as the appropriate notice time has not been given? As residents have been given this information a further question appears. If the public are being told to ignore the notice due to a printing error then it would be fair to ask how often this has happened with every planning notice in Featherstone for the past 5 years. If the public are reading incorrect notices then they can not see a fair depiction of the actual application. How many known printing errors should be public knowledge.




Your reply will be most welcome on the estate,

Regards

The last resident from Hawthorne Avenue has gone this week and his house boarded up and as I type this (Thursday 21st August @ 5:26) the fire brigade are attending the shed in the back garden! Surprise Surprise!

the garage at the rear has been crow bared. £5 its in flames before tuesday. get ready with camera and sightings. i would love to get an ID on the person doing it,

WHITE MALE UNDER 16!


out of interest i have been sent this,

 BBC show what is happening to our houses- don't miss this

What with the wet summer, rising bills and the credit crunch you may feel there has not been much to smile about lately.
There are still plenty of people trying to prevent the demolition of their homes, and many more desperately seeking affordable housing.
Why not sit down this Thursday evening at 9pm with a nice cup of tea and watch the witty BBC 3 programme 'Cheap Homes' ?For Sale in the Mischief series.
These are the guys who ran a mock auction for number 42 Kelvin Grove in Liverpool 8 which is a fine family home currently under threat of demolition and raised a bid of 90k for the house they say is 'obsolete'?


Cheap homes for sale ?promises to be a well informed, razor sharp look at the growing housing crisis. ?Judging from the preview clips there should be plenty of laughs.


The show is repeated on ;?Broadcasts DATES : CHEAP HOMES FOR SALE? BBC THREE
21 Aug 2008 - 21:00 - First
21 Aug 2008 - 23:50
26 Aug 2008 - 01:10 am
28 Aug 2008 ? 01.35 am
04 Sep 2008 ? 01.35 am
Or you can watch ?it on the BBC I Player


See this web-site for the programme flyer http://www.norfolkandholmes.co.uk/notices.php


The BBC's press release is below and attached as a PDF file. It give a taster of the fun to come.
Please forward this to others who might need a laugh.


Liverpool under spotlight in NEW BBC 3 Documentary, 'CHEAP HOMES FOR SALE?'? tx 21st August, 9pm.


I'm very excited to attach the Press Release for CHEAP HOMES FOR SALE? , programme 2 in the new series of BBC 3?s MISCHIEF strand.? The press release also includes details on the 5 other films in the series.

Through the eyes of newly married presenter Alex Riley, the film takes us on a jaw-dropping journey under the covers of Britain's bulging housing crisis.? During the second half of the film we explore the huge number of empty houses across Britain and in particular focus on the situation in Liverpool.

Can one man's mission to find a home, beat the estate agents and ease the country's property headache possibly end in success?

BROADCAST DATE, 21st of August at 9pm on BBC 3.

Should you require press DVD?s of the shows or cleared photos please do not hesitate cherrelle.duggleby@bbc.co.uk at the BBC Press Office 020 8576 9900.

Presenter and journalist Alex Riley


MUST SEE WEBSITE: www.bbc.co.uk/mischief and www.norfolkandholmes.co.uk

Dear yetion1
 
You have raised a large number of points in your e-mail, so I have forwarded it on to a number of colleagues across the departments concerned for a more detailed answer.  In respect of the 1st July meeting, this was a notional date suggested by Cllr Binnersley as a good opportunity to advise residents of the successful developer and convenient for Members also.  Once it became clear that further clarification would be needed this date was postponed.  Residents on the Estate have received a letter advising them of the delays in appointing the developer and the reasons why.  The clarification exercise is just coming to a close and the reports for Cabinet will be going in September.  Once the developer is appointed, we shall arrange a residents' event so that they can look at the submission in detail.  Once a date is known we shall write to residents again.
 
With respect to the demolition notices, only one person has contacted me and I have responded fully in writing.  You are correct that some of the properties have already been demolished.  This has been as a result of these properties being damaged as a result of arson attacks and in need of demolition more quickly.
 
Part 31 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, section 31 states;

“A.2    Development is permitted by Class A subject to the following conditions—

(a)  where demolition is urgently necessary in the interests of safety or health and the measures immediately necessary in such interests are the demolition of the building the developer shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, give the local planning authority a written justification of the demolition”

Discussions with Planning colleagues took place and it was agreed that these properties should be demolished as soon as possible given their condition following the fires, and given that preliminary works to remove services had been done.  This action is in support of the Council’s commitment for the health and safety of the remaining residents as a key priority.  Although Planning had been given verbal notice of the demolitions, this notice forms the written justification and so they have been included in the new application. 

I would refute that I have told anyone that there are typing errors on the notice, and to ignore it.  I am advised that the notice is legally correct.  I have checked with colleagues who have confirmed that no calls have been received in respect of the demolitions in my absence.  I am concerned if this message has been conveyed and if you can provide any further information, I will investigate.  A property has been included on the demolition notice where residents are still living;  this is because this resident is moving very imminently to another property.  I discussed this with them, to ensure that they were not anxious when the notices were put up.  The notice merely allows us to make arrangements for the preparatory work prior to demolition, once they have gone.  I can state that no property will be demolished whilst residents are still living there.

I shall come back to you once I have received information in respect of points 1 - 4 in your e-mail.  Given that you are acting on behalf of a resident, it might be prudent to provide their details, and I will contact them direct as opposed to responding through a third party.

Janet Howley

Regeneration Manager

Mmm...The resident in question is moving imminently according to Mrs Howley? If it's the same resident I was talking to the other day, they inform me that unless they get what they are asking for, they are not moving anywhere! The mind boggles!

I forgot to mention, Mrs Howley mentions "THE" resident in question is moving soon...there are "TWO" properties on the list which are still occupied...what's the excuse for the "OTHER" resident then? They moving soon too? I smell a rat!

I have found out today that the resident's from one of the two houses listed for demolition are indeed moving in January, but it's not the one's I've been talking to, who said they weren't going anywhere unless they got what they want, it's the others! So two properties listed for demolition that are still occupied and one lot going...what about the others though? All I can think of is that the council are going to give them what they want!

better smelling rats on the estate care of WMDC :o

WHAT EVER NEXT? STREET LIGHTS? ;)

yorkshire water has been around the lane today asking questions about the flooding drains. after my problems i showed him your hard core filled drains. he was knocking to answer but wrote a load down ;D

Featherstone Proverb

red sky at night Girnhill's alight

can i ask has evryone up there asked for one person to speak for you all

the residents have a solicitor and a main contact. solicitors cost money. the more help they get the better.

thats what i ment is there someone who lives there still that speeks for them

Once again, the fire brigade was up here last night attending to something behind one of the houses that they were at a couple of nights ago! My guess is that because they cannot get into the houses, they are resorting to setting fire to things in the gardens and/or the grass! Do you think that's a good enough reason to have the grass cut up here now Mrs Howley because if the grass takes hold, especially next to a resident, who knows what could happen!

it doesent seem to matter to them just hope they come and do something soon

I have been informed that the recent fires have been dumped rubbish being set alight .i.e. Chairs (from 3 piece suites) etc! I don't know if anyone has seen the latest addition to our collection of dumped furniture! A full sized bed mattress! The fly tipping (like the fires) is getting out of control and of course, nothing is being done about that either!

There was another fire last night! If you remember in an earlier post, I posted a video of a van on fire in someone's garden...well that same garden was targeted again last night (Mon 1st Sept)! The out building was set alight and they broke some of the downstairs windows of the house, but as always, nothing will be done! That was the second time in about an hour that the fire brigade came up here! I don't what where they went the first time as they went straight up so it could have been Verner Street the first time or possibly Girnhill again!

right its time for some s**t to fly >:(. calendar will be on the estate thursday about 12.15pm filming   ;D.

to all supporters time to get off your ass and go and give your voice. they need to know it all ;).

The rats have started to appear again but it's not suprising with the gardens in the state they are!

I have just seen a W.M.D.C. van doing the rounds...funny how they always seem to appear when word get's out about the cameras coming! Does anyone want to take a bet that tomorrow morning, all the cleaning team will be out in force....i.e. Road sweepers, rubbish removal vans, grass cutting team etc etc!

count me in how many do we need

News bulletin about the estate should be on Calendar tonight (Thu 4th) at 6:00PM.

UPDATE TO PREVIOUS POST

I have just been informed that our story on the estate won't be on tonight but sometime within the next fortnight! You will have to keep watching all episodes of calendar at 6:00PM in order to see it! They are still on the estate filming as I type this so it's obvious they won't get it back and edited for 6:00PM....Keep watching!  ;D

it went well. the true story definately got put over. nice to see some people got off thier ass to show support, you people deserve more. should be good viewing when its on. may be its better as we can all tell as many people as possible that it is coming ;)

THE FRONT PAGE OF THE PONT & CAS GUARDIAN - FRIDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2008

I'VE LEFT IT LARGE SO IT CAN BE READ, YOU WILL HAVE TO SCROLL TO SEE IT ALL!

THE CAMERAMAN FROM CALENDAR ENDED UP IN THE PICTURE TOO  ;D

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/UnderSeige1.jpg)
(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/UnderSeige2.jpg)

If you wish to view the paper from my previous post online, then go to...

http://www.mpldigital.com/chronicle-publications/pontefract-castleford-guardian/

Fire brigade are currently putting out a garage on Hawthorne Avenue as I type this (Fri 19th Sep - 7:07PM)

keep watching TV. the calender story will be here soon. when it is aired, then i will tell you about the delay. no need to rock the boat just yet. ;) ;D

This was shoved through our letterbox today by Mrs Howley herself! It looks like we are in for another 3 days of noise! I like the "1 DAY" notice they have given us!

TO THE PEOPLE FROM WYG WHO WILL BE CARRYING OUT THIS WORK.......
I HAVE A HANDY TIP THAT WILL ENABLE YOU TO COMPLETE THE WORK MUCH QUICKER

YOU WILL FIND THE GROUND UNDERNEATH ALL THE GRASS, SETTEE'S AND DOUBLE BEDS! ;D

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/SurveyLetter23rdSeptember.jpg)

tonights calendar report was brill. the link is not up yet but i am sure it will be soon. you can text them with your view of the estate on 63332. tell them what you think.

I am posting tonights Calendar report on here for those that missed it! Excellent report and lots of texts from people all around the region supporting us! I shall be posting both the story and peoples reaction to it! WATCH THIS SPACE!

We shall all be watching with bated breath MrT, and what a report. ;D ;D ;D ;D

Here is the Calendar news story from Wed 24th Sept about the estate for those that missed it! You will notice that when Mr Wallhead is asked "Would you want to live there?", he totally ignores the question and so Mrs Gee has to ask him again to answer the question! WHY COULDN'T YOU ANSWER IT MR WALLHEAD? SIMPLE...BECAUSE "NO" YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE HERE WOULD YOU MR WALLHEAD!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khpiCSFMVpc

Thanks for this post Mr T I had missed it on Calendar. It makes my blood boil, most of the people interviewed I consider old friends and some are Family none of who deserve what is going on. Mr Wallhead, I would love to put his head through a wall. You lot keep fighting for what is yours by right, only wish I could do more to help.

Where did the valuation of £85000 come from ? When and how were these values arrived at ? A decent house in a decent area (as these once were) would be worth well into six figures. You might get the odd rundown terrace with no garden for that sort of money, but not 2 and 3 bed semis.

Was the condition of the estate taken into account at the time ? If so, what a con. Why not revalue them now, they would only have to fork out 20p, a half chewed toffee and a "blacky's" egg for each one as they are not saleable right now. A nice redeveloped estate where people will want to live and the houses will be worth nearly double the figures quoted.

A "very generous" assistance package ? yeah right, so generous most of it has to be paid back, so not generous at all really is it ? I am only surprised they haven't jumped on the housing crisis bandwagon and tried to push the figures down. Someone is not playing by the rules and are hoping people will just give in.  :-X

"Someone is not playing by the rules and are hoping people will just give in."

that is exactly IT >:(

you can wrap it up how you wont some people are fighting while other sit on their ass.

notice i didnt say any political parties. you can work it out age 6+ and above.

both me and willow lived up there to watch the nightmare thats happening up there is heart breaking what ever went wrong

Your right there Karen it is very heart breaking. When I first saw some of Mr T's footage of the estate i was in tears. I think for anyone who has lived there it would be very upsetting to see, but for those of them still living up there it's a nightmare. This so called wonderful deal their being offered is a joke. Is there some way we can help maybe with donations to help with legal costs does anyone know.

Adrian Cottingham is the estates spokes man and you could also see Harold Westwood. the best help at the moment is keep telling the story and turn up to demos ;D

Since the story was aired, and our new lamp post signs were shown, (WELCOME TO GIRN"HELL" C/O W.M.D.C.) they have all mysteriously disappeared! Mmm...I wonder who could have removed them? If they didn't spot them on the T.V. then there is the possibility that Mrs Howley could have reported them being up as she was round here the other day delivering her leaflets! I say now that Calendar has had their go, I reckon it's time to get in touch with Look North again!  ;D

yes to right

I'm thinking of advertising my online diary of the estate to maybe drum up support! I have got 4 subscribers already and that's without it being advertised! Here is a sample poster I threw together! What ya think?

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/DiaryPoster.jpg)

beu ti full ;D that needs sending to the reporter as a follow up ;)

print a load of and we help you get them out

Mr T, Brilliant Poster, what about though where you have put Girnhill Lane, Wellcome to Hell, putting THANKS TO WMDC, under that, since the other posters mysteriously dissapeard.

UPDATE - GIRNHILL LANE DIARY!

4 subscriptions, 2 channel comments and 2 video comments! Thanks to those who have contributed so far, it's very much appreciated! It would be great to keep it going so please pass on the address to people you know...

www.youtube.com/MrTsForumVideos

You don't have to be a member of You Tube to view the videos, but you do need to be to subscribe and leave comments! It's free to join! You can also leave a comment without subscribing! If you Subscribe, you will be informed whenever I add a new video! Channel comments are the best to leave as they are all displayed on the main page together!

Mr T,  do you know what happened last night around parts of the Estate, I just caught a little on Ridings FM this morning, and just heard something about fire and fireworks.

Sorry Victor, I didn't hear a thing! I know someone was setting fireworks off around here last week and it was only September. I heard a bang and ran straight to the window thinking there was something on fire (we are paranoid like that up here now) but it was a relief to discover it was only fireworks! Saying that though, with fireworks being available now and with mischief night slowly approaching, we are getting to the "being on edge" period and wondering will we be left in peace or not?  :-\

Mr T, I had a look on the Ridings FM website  last night and it says, " There are fresh safety concerns over a Featherstone estate, Youths have been targeting old peoples homes on Girnhill with fireworks ".  I have heard them going off around where I live since mid Sept. Its about time if supermarkets and shop do sell fireworks, they were only made available  around the end of October, but its probably the same shops that are selling them to youths, that are also selling them alcohol :-\         

I haven't seen any fireworks on sale in supermarkets yet. Don't know about local shops though. New firework laws came in but they are hard to police. The police can curb there use but usually it is hard to find out who is letting them off.
I understand there is a shop in Castleford where you can buy fireworks 6days a week 52 weeks a year. WHAT IS THE NEED?
Fireworks should be kept to bonfire night.

P+C EXPRESS OCT 9TH

(http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk6/Mr-T-sForumPics/Girnhill%20Lane/DeveloperNewsArticle.jpg)

I have just witnessed 3 youths trying to smash one of the few street lights that we have left on the estate! They were all taking it in turns (one of which nearly succeeded) and now there is loads of massive bricks strewned all over the road creating a hazard for passing vehicles! I shouted at them and they ran off making silly noises! As the saying goes "You can't put anything where there is nothing" can you?

I have lived on the girnhill estate twice, as a child and adult and it breaks my heart to see what it has come to. The powers that be should be ashamed  >:(

i lived there kim for 14 years its heart breaking to see it

CALENDAR

The public were asked to send in their views about the estate and the situation the resident's are in via text!
This is what they thought!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=M1vPE0TTnTg

WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/MRTSFORUMVIDEOS