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 An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last. ...
Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) Mediation though can be a practical solution. If you live in the West London area, and believe you have a "Neighbour from Hell", help could be at hand through the Ealing Mediation Services. We welcome all your e.mails.
We are a locally based group of residents who want others to benefit
from our (in an ideal world!) "unnecessary" efforts.
Our Aims and Objectives are To restore democracy and openess of management within our Estate. To ensure all shareholders and residents are treated equally and within the terms of our leases. To return to our previous, harmonious, way of life as a "social enterprise". To enable others to benefit from our experiences, and the time and trouble we have put into learning from, and researching into these. The concerned residents campaign began early in 2005. Christmas/New Year 2004 saw the ruthless imposition of "Moriarty" as estate manager. "Moriarty" came via gardening leave as Bursar at Kingston Grammar School, from Deepcut Army Barracks (The Pay Corps) because this ex-Army officer was a "friend of a friend". He lied about his managerial qualifications, but CROC was just told he was good at his job. The Institutions concerned forced him to stop misusing their qalifications. In the real world that, alone, would have been a dismisable offence! In all honesty we did not expect CROC would still be campaigning - but needs must! Why we are using pseudonyms in this website ... it is NOT because personally we are concerned at being identified. We just do not want legal repurcussions. One CROC member received weekly, for many weeks, a letter paid from ESTATE FUNDS, from the Company solicitors, asking her "why she hated" "Moriarty" . These increased to twice weekly. She then wrote a tongue-in-cheek reply and the letters ceased. Anyone searching for "concerned residents" will find us as we have been the number 1 site on Google for that search (and other search criteria, including "Bullied Leaseholders"; "Bullied Residents"; "Bullied Shareholders"; "Post Office complaints"; "Record Leasehold Valuation Tribunal Awards"; Resident Action; Residents Action Group, London; Residents Association, West London and "Royal Mail complaints". A Taoist Poem Translated from the ancient text. One who makes a show of himself does not shine
One who affirms himself is not recognised
One who shows off has no credit
One who knows others is smart
One who knows himself is brilliant
One who speaks does not know
One who knows does not speak
The Sage holds on to oneness and becomes the model
in the land
Precisely because he does not compete
Nobody in the land can compete
With him
Wisdom consists of being led by your own inherent nature -
no more
See and Hear yourself
People who only see and hear others
And never see and hear themselves
Constantly try and control others
And are constantly jealous of what others
Possess and enjoy. Anon. In modern language, just because you can talk the talk doesn't mean you can walk the walk! Too much energy is put into saying what can be done (spinning) and not enough energy into just doing it! Just because you can afford PR doesn't mean you're efficient!
Within "our" Estate (we all own it jointly) self-appointed (often unelected) directors claim that members of "CROC" have whilst they, themselves, simultaneously suggest to these same people that the activities of "CROC" reduces the value of their main assets, i.e. their homes. Anyone in UK can verify the current value of their homes using these links.
"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity",
Albert Einstein CROC v ... as reprinted in the local newspaper. 
The news item below is from the local Guardian newspaper 21st January 2006.
Richmond Trees exists to help those residents who are in dispute with Richmond Council over the removal of trees in the Petersham Lands, near to Ham House, a local 17th century house and tourist attraction. The illegality of the vista-cum-extension of Great Avenue through Ham Fields, and the destruction of a well known local view. Before framing an indictment of the Council's action on Ham Fields, John Cairns (pictured second from the right in the picture above) read the 1902 Covering Act which insists that:
forest trees be maintained (as they weren't)
that the wasteland be kept(as it wouldn't be if made over into a 'false' cow field),
and that the Fields were for the recreation of the people of Ham (as they are now obviously not! How much recreation is there in standing in a vista! or a cow field?)
Those involved with the campaign feel the Council are obviously using the Ham Fields area as their personal 'play pen'. Letter to the Local Informer Newspaper from John Bruce Cairns on behalf of Richmond Trees:
Letter adjoining taken from The Richmond and Twickenham Times, Friday 28th April, 2006. richmondtrees@hotmail.com charged the council with illegality, and received no answer, because the Council could make none! On advice, John Cairns, on behalf of richmondtrees@hotmail.com took the issue to his M.P., and to the deputy Prime Minister. He did not expect to win, but is sticking to his guns regardless. In the Richmond and Twickenham Times there was an article on plans for Ham House etc. Comment was invited 2 March, 2006. John Bruce Cairns followed the environment links from the Council website to that for Ham House etc., but he found no verbal statement of what proposed plans were was available, and no comment there. He visited the Local Authority Planning Department. What he found was what he saw as an intent seems to be to "conserve" (i.e. resuscitate) Avenues and Views. He recalled that there had originally only been the one, named "Ham Avenue" which led from the back of the House. In any case, whatever there were, all was superseded by the 1902 Act. This Act wasn't concerned with views of Ham House, from the river say, but of the view of the river from it, a quite different perspective. In 1902 no other views were mentioned. The remainder of the Riverside Lands have to be "managed for the public's exercise and recreation". John don't see how "conservation" on any other principle is legal, or how the tenor of the conservation complies with that principle! The case is not yet lost, and John, like the late Richard Meacock,, still recalls the fiasco over "the development" on the site of Richmond's Olympic standard Ice Rink, where Torvill and Dean, and before them John Curry practiced. Is it a coincidence that the development is exactly opposite at this point on The Thames? The deadline in the Council announcement has offically passed, but due to the efforts of those involved with the campaign at richmondtrees@hotmail.com, the struggle is far from "lost"! Although the Thames Towpath isn't "properly" a natural environment, Arcadia is cutting down 50 trees along it from Twickenham to Richmond in order to 'enhance' it! On behalf of Richmond Trees John Bruce Cairns wrote two letters, one to The (Richmond) Informer, the other to the Richmond and Twickenham Times, deriding this butchery. One might be printed if mangled as a gesture to freedom of opinion. But, ... the Council , Strategy Co-ordinator still wants to propagate "the cow field" the Environment Agency want to replace Ham Fields with. They propose to do this on the specious, quite unproven, grounds that it would hold flood water better. They'd apparently say anything to secure a fig leaf of public agreement with what they're going to do anyway! But, an appearance of public consultation is necessary. One cannot be too cynical in dealing with "certain people". ********* From: johnbrucecairns@hotmail.com .. To: priscilla.blay@richmond.gov.uk
Subject: Web - Ask a Question - AF142144E: Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2010 11:10:13 +0100
Dear Priscilla
I had another look at the trees at Lichfield Court. I can't see how they could've been a legal nuisance. Who said so? How many? and why did you comply? In the 27th May Standard Brian Sewell wrote: '...surgeons they dub themselves, but butchers, despoilers, ravagers and rapists are terms that suit far better these barbarians,' you are apologist for. He goes on, 'pollarding ...in late spring is ...the cruellest time for casual butchery.' Your butchery was actually before spring. He continues, 'We fell them for trivial offences - for overhanging bedroom windows and tapping on the glass,' for being where you want to put a bus-stop, for being fruit trees, an apple, a quince on Barnes Common, for being five trees in Radnor Gardens, for being part of Ham Wood because 'they remind us of our insignificance' and you can't have that, can you, Priscilla? Richmond council, its arborist, its deceptively called Tree Preservation Officers can't have that flouting of its importance. It's more than me think you butchers. You are what you appear to be? Kind regards, John Cairns
 Subject: RE: Web - Ask a Question - AF142144E
Date: Tue, 25 May 2010 15:06:05 +0100 From: Priscilla.Blay@richmond.gov.uk To: johnbrucecairns@hotmail.com Dear John,
I am sorry to hear that you consider the tree maintenance works done to alleviate the legal nuisance caused by the trees to the apartments on sheen road to be butchering.
As responsible tree owners, the Local Authority has a maintenance schedule recommended by qualified aboricuturalists. As the trees were overhanging into the boundaries of the apartments on Sheen Road and touching the properties (considered a legal nuisance) it was recommended that the trees are reduced back from the properties by our arborists. The works have been carried out to British Standard 3998 (1989) by an approved contractor of the Arboricultural Association and to the satisfaction of our Tree Preservation Officers.
I trust the above information is satisfactory. If you require any further clarification I will be able to speak to you on the telephone if you send me your contact details. Kind regards, Priscilla Blay
From: John Cairns [mailto:johnbrucecairns@hotmail.com] Sent: 25 May 2010 14:50
To: Priscilla Blay Subject: RE: Web - Ask a Question - AF142144E
Thanks, Priscilla.
May you take it as read then? (see below) that I want to complain about the butchering of the trees on Sheen Road outside Lichfield Court. Yours sincerely, John Cairns
Subject: RE: Web - Ask a Question - AF142144E Date: Tue, 25 May 2010 13:50:31 +0100 : From: Priscilla.Blay@richmond.gov.uk Dear John Cairns
Thank you for your email. You can complain to us here at the tree department.
Kind regards, Priscilla Blay
Sent: 24 May 2010 11:05 To: Customer Services
Subject: Web - Ask a Question - AF142144E
A website user has asked a question after visiting the following web page.
www.richmond.gov.uk/home/council_government_and_democracy/council/councilprocedures/
complaints_procedure/who_do_i_complain_to/environment_complaints.htm
'''' Question: Who do I complain to about the butchering of trees on Sheen Road (by Lichfield Court)? Tfl say it's not them. ********** From: johnbrucecairns@hotmail.com : To: londonstreets@tfl.gov.uk
Subject: RE: trees at Lower Mortlake Road Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2010 10:27:10 +0100
Dear Sophie Achillini
In the 27th May Standard Brian Sewell wrote: '...surgeons they dub themselves, but butchers, despoilers, ravagers and rapists are terms that suit far better these barbarians,' you are apologist for. He goes on, 'pollarding ...in late spring is ...the cruellest time for casual butchery.' If the trees suffered heavier pruning but grew back there was nothing wrong with them in the first place to justify your butchery, was there? You don't value your trees; you do value what you do to them. They won't develop the crowns they'd naturally have but have those you impose by your butchery on them.
Yours sincerely, John Cairns
Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2010 14:57:36 +0100 : From: LONDONSTREETS@tfl.gov.uk
Trees at Lower Mortlake Road Our Ref: 1006357326 Dear Mr Cairns
Thank you for your additional comments; they have been noted.
We employ qualified and experienced professionals to manage and maintain our trees. Our tree surgeons are all suitably qualified and the work follows the recommendations of British Standards.
We value our street trees and avoid tree felling where pruning is an alternative management option.
Although the trees may not currently appear as you may wish, they will develop crowns like they had previously. It is worth noting that the trees have previously had the same type of pruning or heavier pruning in the past and grew back to their former size.
Once again, thank you for your email. Yours sincerely, Sophie Achillini, Customer Service Advisor,London Streets, Transport for London, Surface Transport Customer Services
{ticketno:[851839]}
Re: Trees at Lower Mortlake Road:
Dear Sophie Achillini, Thank you. What, apart from the appearance of the trees, was your qualified inspectors going on in their assessment of physiological and structural condition? Are you saying despite the appearance of good health the trees were unhealthy and structually weak or in good health but structurally unsafe to road users (because I don't see how pruning them as you did alters anything except their appearance, in which case the work was unnecessary and the motive for it suspect)?
Thanks for the information about Sheen Road. I'll get onto the council about that. Some people hate trees. Councils and other authorities give legitimising cloak to that hatred by giving employment to these arborophobes, euphemistically callingthem tree surgeons and conservationists. One tree on Lower Mortlake looks like an amputee though in its position it could have presented no danger to anybody on pavement or road. If it was unhealthy enough to warrant such drastic treatment, wouldn't you have cut it down completely?
Yours sincerely, John Cairns
Subject: Trees at Lower Mortlake Road : Date: 20.05.2010 Dear Mr Cairns
Thank you for your further comments with regard to Lower Mortlake Road.
I can confirm that Sheen Road is not our road; the works were actually undertaken by Richmond Borough Council.
With regard to Lower Mortlake Road, in September 2009 we had all of our trees inspected for their health and safety. This survey was undertaken by qualified tree inspectors who were assessing the physiological and structural condition of trees. It is quite common for a tree that has a structural weakness to appear to be in good health as such the health alone is not a good indicator of a trees safety. Tree work often causes disruption to residents or roadsusers so we do not undertake work that is unnecessary.
Once again, thank you for your correspondence. Please feel free to contact me again, if I can be of further assistance. Yours sincerely, Sophie Achillini
Customer Service Advisor –London Streets
Dear Sophie AchilliniN
Are you saying the trees were in poor health and look better butchered? Are you also responsible for butchering the healthy trees on Sheen Road and are continuing to provide their amenity by making them ugly? What substantiation is there for your assertion the reduction of the Lower Mortlake Road trees by you was necessary to maintain their health, since appearances are much to the contrary? Thank you for your reply.
Yours sincerely, John Cairns
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:27:53 +0100 : From: LONDONSTREETS@tfl.gov.uk
Dear Mr John Cairns
Thank you for your comments with regard to the trees at Lower Mortlake Road. We, have been asked to respond as this road is part of the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN).
I appreciate your concerns. We are responsible on behalf of the Mayor of London for operating 580km of London’s most important roads. As part of this commitment, we carry out regularinspections of highway trees including those along the A316 Lower Mortlake Road to ensure that they remain in good health and continue to provide amenity value.
An inspection of the trees on the A316 Lower Mortlake Road revealed that reduction works were needed to maintain the health of the trees.
I hope my comments help. Once again, thank you for your correspondence. If I can be of further assistance please get in touch. For further information about TfL’s services please visit www.tfl.gov.uk/contact. Yours sincerely, Sophie Achillini
Sent: 01 April 2010 16:13 : To: Call Centre Team (Streets)
Subject: Report a roadworksissue or street fault : Importance: High
Report a roadworks issue or street fault * Borough: Richmond upon Thames
* Fault type: Other
* Location: Lower Mortlake Road
* Description: From Mr John Cairns at johnbrucecairns@hotmail.com. Youre butchering trees along Lower Mortlake Road again. Suggestion for resolution You should stop butchering trees. Huge project underway to record the nation's ancient trees. Help Identify And Protect Old Trees.
and the latest episode ... Subject: RE: trees at Lower Mortlake Road
Date: Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:24:42 +0100; From: Info@treesforcities.org To: johnbrucecairns@hotmail.com : Dear John Thanks very much for your email, I’ve been on leave so am responding now. Trees for Cities is always saddened to hear of trees which are in danger of being cut down. Unfortunately, Trees for Cities cannot, however, campaign for individual trees as our remit is currently limited to planting new trees. The following organisations might be able to provide advice or more guidance as to whom to contact. We would normally also advise you to contact your local tree officer. The use of wildlife legislation could work in your favour, particularly if you can show the presence of bats or other protected species, which the landowner is obliged to protect. Hopefully, one or more of the organisations below may be able to elaborate. Please contact us if you need any further information. Thanks John – I hope you have some success. The Arboricultural Association provides advice in relation to tree preservation law and, when necessary, expert evidence to the planning inspectorate: Telephone: 01794 368 717
The Tree Council works to improve the environment by promoting the planting and conservation of trees and woods. Telephone: 020 7407 9992
The Ancient Tree Forum is part of The Woodland Trust, and works to conserve the UK's ancient trees: Telephone: 01476 581 135
Regards, Michael Tiritas, Communications Assistant, 020 7840 5950, Trees for Cities .
Vote for the Capital Woodlands Project to win a National Lottery Award!
 "CROC" Estate Gardens.
"CROC" Estate residents are lucky. We have much of the formal gardens, including the small lake. In the grounds of Stawell House, the original house on the site of the "CROC" Estate, there were many mature trees. One of these is the the oldest tulip tree in Great Britain. Traditional "Wild Life" designs from the fair trade batik range at "Batik Cards".
Look at Any Local Map ...
As shareholders in the "CROC" Estate WE jointly own the largest, privately owned freehold within our London borough. This is an extremely valuable asset. Yes, there are larger tracts of land that you can see on the map, but these are either publicly owned or belong to companies or charities. Don't be put off by the fact that your share is nominally only £1. God forbid, but should the assets of "our" company ever have to be dispersed we'd each be entitled to a payout in the region of £30,000. Further Tree Related Projects Scientists Turn Trees into Carbon Banks.
Tree Aid is the UK's only forestry-focused development charity. It provides funds and on-the-ground training and support to local organisations in the Sahel. Tree Aid works where people need trees most, such as in the poorest villages in Burkina Faso where the desert is noticeably encroaching southwards year on year. "Batik Cards" source their batiks from this region of Africa. Tree Aid also helps in Ethiopia; in Northern Ghana and Mali, where 90% of the population depend on trees for their basic survival needs. Tree Aid is part of the well publicized umbrella organisation "Make Poverty History" http://www.makepovertyhistory.org
The Woodland Trust Recycling Appeal continue to work to prevent the destruction of Ancient Woodlands within the British Isles.
The World Land Trust is a British based charity which will sell you a genuine acre of rainforest for £25. One acre might not sound much - but hundreds of thousands of acres located side by side soon make up a forest! The World Land Trust advertises, and is often promoted in, the Kew Magazine, received as part of the Premier Friends Membership of The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew.
www.stopclimatechaos.org
Proof, if it were still needed, that "Global Warming" does exist!  |
