Forum Topic

nuisance builders

This evening I saw two examples of nuisance behaviour by builders in Clifden Road.  At number 23 the builders developing the site have blocked off the road with a chair and planks - to reserve parking for themselves tomorrow morning.  They do this every night.  And outside the Old Swimming Baths another set of developers have erected a huge scaffolding in the road to reserve parking for themselves.In the face of this illegal blocking of the highway, law abiding local residents struggle to find a parking space. No sign of any parking enforcement by traffic wardens....

Adam Jackson ● 4229d15 Comments

I've written on the forum before about individuals bagging a piece of the road for themselves. I am particularly 'amused' by a house in Albany Road who, after having had their cones removed a number of times, have for some weeks now got two very large cones which are put out regularly with notices on them demanding that the cones not be removed. They are not alone in the regular use of cones or other blocking materials. Some people.

Anne England ● 4219d

I don't know why "builders" are deemed to be of lesser moral standards/value to other people. In my experience many of the scruffs that masquerade as "builders" down here are un-trained, un-qualified chancers that have latched onto the building trade as a get rich scheme. My experience of most qualified, trained, insured tradesmen is that they are responsible, decent human beings. WeCouple years ago I lost a midsize renovation and extension job to Chinese "builders", then got a call to re-do all the work a year later. I was trying to book a start date in but the client didn't like my opinion that all work had to be exposed before I would take the job on. I then heard nothing for another year after. The client got Eastern European "builders". Just this christmas I got another, near tearful, phonecall to come and help. Sorry, two years too late. That being said I wouldn't park my car outside of a building site because I can't be bothered with the hassle.

Steven Diver ● 4225d

at least lots of houses in Clifden road have driveways, some even wide enough for two cars. The surrounding streets don't have that option.Developers with up to 20 vehicles are to move into the area in 2 weeks time and they have strict intructions not to park in the terraced streets.It just goes to show how wrong it is to keep building on the few remaining open spaces in such a tight area.And all our local representatives did was blindly vote with 'policy' or sit on the fence.  Flying in the face of wide and well founded opposition.

Anthony Waller ● 4226d

Neil who is also a home owner in Brentford

Neil Chippendale ● 4226d

The developer at the swimming baths should ask (and pay) for a yellow line waiver if they can't find parking, or work something out with the church, where they put the scaffolding poles when they arrive in the morning.Like a lot of other streets in Brentford, Clifden Road takes the brunt of the CPZ overflow as well as accommodating several building projects and their detritus (skips, parking, building materials, etc). We had work done on our bathroom last year and we know how difficult it is for people to find parking when they're working here, but we made arrangements with neighbours so the plumber could park in their drive if they needed to. Adam is not talking about residents having work done on their houses. The people who are obstructing parking are developers. They block two or three spaces with scaffolding poles or chairs when they leave in the afternoon so residents can't park there for 16ish hours (the parking by the swimming baths was still blocked off at 8am Friday morning with no sign of the builders). The other developer has put their skip on the drive (which I assume means they don't have to pay to put it in the road) but blocks off the road for parking.Sometimes I need to unload heavy items from my car and it would be great if I could park outside my house but if we all did what the builders do the whole road would be cluttered with rubbish.

Holly Hodges ● 4227d

Well it can.My car was damaged accidentally by a builder and he did leave a note. Much to my surprise.I suspect he thought he had been seen but was quite courteous and civil.However his insurance company messed about for months even wanting to write my car off rather than repair a dent in the door.In the end we agreed to drop the insurance and he paid to fix the car at a bodyshop of my choice.As soon as it was booked as a private job the cost dropped to just a few hundred pounds and the job was of the best quality.So there are decent builders about, but it is down to all of us as good neighbours to take a note of a vehicle or person causing damage even if accidental and pass it to the victim.It's a duty that underpins a society of honesty and fairness and although its dying, it does not take much to do the decent thing.

Anthony Waller ● 4227d

It doesn’t work like that in real live Anthony.I cannot give away the company involved with an alleged damage to my parked vehicle. But when the company representative called to see me about it, after all the talking, looking over my vehicle and taking photographs, I was asked did I or anyone else see our vehicle or operatives damage you vehicle. No was my answer, goodbye was his.Apparently there has to be a witness or evidence that links to the damage before anything can happen.Anyway I don’t why we are really discussing this subject as it was Neil over in Australia that was insinuating that the builder was going to deliberately damage any parked vehicle.

Paul Allen ● 4228d

The  responsibility and onus is on you even if scratching or denting someones car is purely accidental. It why all self employed and employed tradespeople are legally bound to have public liability insurance and full comprehensive insurance.Most, by the way, do not.Unless there is a legal parking suspension then it is a free for all but it matters not whether you are a tradesman or a resident. If you damage someone else's property either accidentally or wilfully whilst it it legally parked, you are liable and the onus is on you to leave a note or risk being reported by anyone who witnesses it. And with plenty of tiny  PC secret surveillance cameras now in households, in cars and so on it's far more likely to get seen.

Anthony Waller ● 4228d

I do not appreciate the suggestion that I would go out of my way, or advise someone else, to damage anyones car. I'm suggetsing that if you park a car right outside an active building site - when you know full well that materials, tools, etc will have to be carried in - will you complain if it accidentally scratched? Not accidentally-on-purpose but actually accidentally. Personally I would want to keep my car away from such an obvious source of  damage. Who can be bothered with insurance claims, etc. Just such a hassle.

Steven Diver ● 4228d

Accidentally while caring tools and materials between park vehicles. A bit like the bin men does on collection day. Ever had a mysterious scratch appear on the bonnet or boot of you car? Or along the side from the oversized vehicles with bin bags hanging off the side

Paul Allen ● 4228d

So you are suggesting that the builder scratches the car are you?

Neil Chippendale ● 4228d

Speaking from a carpenter's perspective we try not to annoy neighbours but unfortuntely we do need access. If the site is secure we can leave tools but often I have to cart mine in and out every day. The quicker they are done the quicker you will have your road back. If you do chuck the chair, etc in the garden and park there - knowing that there is work going on - wil you complain if your car is scratched?

Steven Diver ● 4228d

I have submitted this to the council so let's see what happens

Margaret Wittich ● 4228d

I presume that these builders would have a got a permit for the erection of the scaffolding? The local council should be able to throw some light on that situation, without the correct permissions they may have to remove it, worth checking. As for the chair and planks, just move it!

Vanessa Smith ● 4229d

Well you have a ward councillor living in the street so go an knock on her door and see what she can do.We have had this in our road too, The council will act but it takes weeks for them to respond with their rather slow methods.Alternatively, simply remove the obstructions and chuck them in the front garden of the site concerned.But in all honesty, the builders have to park their vehicle somewhere nearby. Otherwise, all their tools and materials are at risk of theft. And they pay road tax just like the rest of us. If it were a CPZ they would be given a temp permit and could also have an access suspension which would prevent permit holder and anyone else parking there.Where would you suggest they park? In some other street?  Hardly appropriate. We already have over a dozen cars parked here and in Clifden Road every day and night owned by residents in Hamilton road who don't want to pay for a permit. What do you suggest is done about them?

Anthony Waller ● 4229d