FOI request detail

Freedom of Information Request Regarding Colina Road Ventilation Shaft

Request ID: FOI-2599-2425
Date published: 17 December 2024

You asked
Dear TfL Freedom of Information Team, I am writing to request specific information related to the Colina Road ventilation shaft in Haringey, due to unresolved and ongoing issues affecting the local community. As background, there have been repeated assurances from TfL regarding maintenance and cleaning schedules, which have not been fulfilled, causing significant environmental and health impacts on residents. The information requested is intended to clarify TfL's actions, as communication to date has not provided sufficient transparency or resolution. Please provide information on the following: 1. Scheduled and Missed Cleaning Events o Records and documents showing the schedule and any changes to the cleaning plans for the Colina Road ventilation shaft, particularly the cleaning originally planned for January 2024, covering the inside of the shaft, the vents, and the top section. o Any correspondence, meeting minutes, or internal documents explaining why this scheduled cleaning did not occur in January 2024. o Any reports or updates detailing the subsequent plan for cleaning in October 2024, including the reasons this work was not completed as scheduled. 2. Ventilation Shaft Shutdown o Documentation or records indicating why the Colina Road ventilation shaft was shut down for several months and then reactivated in July 2024. 3. Service Ladder and Maintenance Access o Confirmation of whether the service ladder in the ventilation shaft has been repaired or replaced, as it was previously cited as an obstacle to performing thorough maintenance. o Any reports or maintenance logs indicating delays or issues encountered due to the service ladder’s condition. 4. Plans for New Ventilation Shaft Construction and Decommissioning of the Existing Shaft o Any existing plans, project documents, or proposals related to the construction of a new ventilation shaft at Colina Road. o Confirmation of whether the current shaft will be permanently decommissioned once (if) a new shaft is operational, including anticipated timelines and objectives of the new construction. The ongoing lack of action and transparency has raised significant health and environmental concerns, and it is essential for the community to understand TfL's intentions and timelines for addressing these matters. Thank you for your assistance.

We answered

Our ref: FOI-2599-2425/GH

 

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 14 November 2024 asking for information about Colina Road Ventilation Shaft.

 

Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.

 

  1. Scheduled and Missed Cleaning Events

    • Records and documents showing the schedule and any changes to the cleaning plans for the Colina Road ventilation shaft, particularly the cleaning originally planned for January 2024, covering the inside of the shaft, the vents, and the top section. 

    • Any correspondence, meeting minutes, or internal documents explaining why this scheduled cleaning did not occur in January 2024.

    • Any reports or updates detailing the subsequent plan for cleaning in October 2024, including the reasons this work was not completed as scheduled.

We have two fans at this site extracting directly from the vent passage below and exhausting out of the headhouse. The shaft is cleaned based on condition and/or a targeted approach, however the internal cleaning will not change the contents of the air being exhausted. There were no plans to clean the externals of the building in October 2024 as it had been cleaned in July. There was also a pest control visit on 17 October which enabled vent cleaning and the site gets four visits per year for pest control. The vent cleaning also took place in November 2024.

  1. Ventilation Shaft Shutdown

    • Documentation or records indicating why the Colina Road ventilation shaft was shut down for several months and then reactivated in July 2024.

The fan control panel required repair following a fault approx. September 2023. There were concerns around pest control which resulted in the repair being postponed until the pests were addressed. Pest control was undertaken in October 2023, with a deep clean of head house and secured damaged window openings to prevent further entry. Furthermore, due to a change in TfL Suppliers, the fault on the fan control panel was resolved in July 2024 and the fan was then reinstated back into operation. 

  1. Service Ladder and Maintenance Access

    • Confirmation of whether the service ladder in the ventilation shaft has been repaired or replaced, as it was previously cited as an obstacle to performing thorough maintenance.

    • Any reports or maintenance logs indicating delays or issues encountered due to the service ladder’s condition.

Ladder inspections were carried out at same time as above pest control. This was completed to enable deep clean of head house as noted above.

  1. Plans for New Ventilation Shaft Construction and Decommissioning of the Existing Shaft

    • Any existing plans, project documents, or proposals related to the construction of a new ventilation shaft at Colina Road.

    • Confirmation of whether the current shaft will be permanently decommissioned once (if) a new shaft is operational, including anticipated timelines and objectives of the new construction.

TfL are not aware of any immediate plans for fan upgrade, though we are working with the local council regarding planning for the development. The local council have responsibility for ultimate responsibility for permissions of the build of developments with proximity of already existing infrastructure. 

 

Please find attached copies of the correspondence held regarding the ventilation shaft. In accordance with our obligations under Data Protection legislation some personal data has been removed, as required by section 40(2) of the FOI Act. This is because disclosure of this personal data would be a breach of the legislation, specifically the first principle of Article 5 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation which requires all processing of personal data to be fair and lawful. It would not be fair to disclose this personal information when the individuals have no expectation it would be disclosed and TfL has not satisfied one of the conditions which would make the processing ‘fair’.

 

Please let me know if this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason. 

 

If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Graham Hurt

FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

Attachments

FOI-2599_Redacted.pdf

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