Help with writing an e-mail please

helz

I bought a new flat a couple of weeks ago - it's ex local authority and is still managed by Southwark Council. I've been locking my bike to the railings at the bottom of the stairwell which seems like the only convenient and safe place to leave it. Then I got a letter from the council on Saturday which they've sent to everyone in the block telling us that we're not allowed to leave our bikes in the communal areas and saying that "The Council is empowered by law to remove all items kept in commmunal areas of your block without any further warning" and that "This is a health and safety matter and must be viewed with all seriousness". It seems a bit ridiculous because the place where the bikes are being kept is completely out of anyone's way and the bikes are not obstructing anything at all, plus the area is not carpeted and is actually a bit on the scruffy side so it's not as if the bikes could do any damage. The bike that was already there when I moved in is covered in dust and looks like it's been there for at least a year so it's really annoying to suddenly be told I can't keep my bike there.

I'm not sure if it'll do any good but I want to try and persuade them to reconsider, or provide some bike racks. This is what I've drafted and I'd be grateful for any comments or suggestions.

"I recently bought flat xx, XX Close and am in receipt of your letter of 16th October regarding bicyles. Your letter came as a surprise to me because when I first came to view the property in July I noticed there was a bicycle locked up at the bottom of the stairwell which has been there ever since (and has probably been there for a lot longer than just the last three months). Because of this I had no reason to think that leaving bicycles there was not allowed, and I have also been locking up my bicycle at this same place. I do not have a car and I cycle to work daily; it would be extremely difficult for me to carry my bicycle up and down the stairs to the third floor every day and furthermore there is nowhere in my flat where I could keep it. Neither of the bicycles which have been locked to the railings are causing any obstruction whatsoever and cannot possibly affect anyone's health and safety so I think it is unfair to threaten to have them removed "without further warning". Although there is ample car parking in XX Close, there does not seem to be anywhere safe to lock up bicycles so I would be very grateful if you could let me know if there are any plans to provide cycle racks (e.g. underneath the stairs), or whom I should contact about this at Southwark Council?

Many thanks and kind regards,

Helz"

spen666

Sounds like a case of caveat emptor-

Did your conveyancer not advise you of this?
Did you mention this to the conveyancer?

helz

It may well have been mentioned somewhere amongst the paperwork that my conveyancing solicitor sent me but I still want to try and persuade the building managers to let me keep my bike there if I can.

spen666

helz wrote:

It may well have been mentioned somewhere amongst the paperwork that my conveyancing solicitor sent me but I still want to try and persuade the building managers to let me keep my bike there if I can.

Go for it- I was trying to ascertain another route if it was available.

Littigator

Helz

try this link from their website which has some info about local cycle parking facilities.

http://213.86.249.173/planaccessgui/southwark.html

and some general info here

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/YourServices/transport/cyclinginsouthwark/

which also has a link to Southwark Cyclists

Also, perhaps refer them to this quote from their website

"We are also working with local developers to ensure that all new developments in the borough have secure cycle facilities."

and suggest that provision of these facilities would also benefit existing housing. Always get the name of the person you are dealing/corresponding with, if they refuse to help and remain 'jobsworth' about it ask to be referred to their superior...and keep moving up the chain.

Also, why not copy the correspondence to your local councillor.

helz

Very good ideas - thanks Litigator!