The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

Lieutenant Pigeon - Platt and Pals Pummel Pall Mall with Cushion Protest

03 February 2017 | Updated 01 January 1970
 

Pall Mall Medical, a Manchester based cosmetic surgery practice, came off looking like bad guys week ending Feb 3 after the company they lease their offices from installed human sized 'pigeon spikes' to prevent rough sleepers from making themselves comfortable in wind protected alcoves.

The story hit the headlines and was all over social media - with Pall Mall having to Tweet its innocence.

A mother working as an estate agent had became so incensed when she read of the installation, she piled down to Primark on a Sunday and bought piles of cushions to cover the spikes - and produced a picnic and signs to invite anyone passing (homeless or otherwise) to park their bods and defy the dastardly landlords. Joined by her best mates - her sons George and Sam - Jennie Platt marched up and down near the site on Marsden Street and told anyone that would listen (including the BBC and the Manchester Evening News) what she thought of people being treated like feathered vermin.

 

Response

GVA, part of the Bilfinger Group (which bought in to and then sold out of the UK FM market but retains its property interests) manages the building on Marsden Street. The company claims 'as the UK’s leading real estate advisory business, we provide our clients with a strategy and planning and delivery and management service'. This time around, the company has effectively admitted to offering bad advice and delivery but were able to remove the 'spikes' within 48-hours of the balloon going up, Friday Jan 27 - but not soon enough to detract from the negative press this week ending Feb 03.

Pall Mall Medical only rents part of the building but was embroiled in the accusations of being inhuman. The firm's Twitter feed started with 'we officially would say we have had zero involvement in the spikes. This decision was made fully without our consent or involvement'. Followed by 'we are pleased the spikes are now removed, before any damage was done'. But not before ‏@wurlyburgh wrote 'put pressure on the buildings [sic] owners to get them removed for the sake of your reputation and common decency'.

 

Press and public relations

Pall Mall then took to a press release and public statement that reads: 'Pall Mall Medical would like all our clients, patients, consultants, colleagues and employees to know that we have had no involvement whatsoever in the decision to place the 'spikes' in the Pall Mall Court on 27th January. We were not aware this was being planned. Pall Mall Medical is not in occupation of the unit next to where the spikes were attached. Whilst part of our branding remains, our clinic has fully expanded into the 61-67 King Street unit'. Pall Mall also stated that the Marsden Street block had 15 other residents - though none of them were tarred with the same brush.

 

Jennie from the hood?

One particularly unkind Twit wrote: 'Nice to see an estate agent help out the people she probably made homeless with her industry's extortionate fees'.

Picture: Jennie Platt and sons

 

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 03 February 2017

Share



Related Articles

Fuel Protests – Does Climate Activism Work?

2022 has seen several protests at refineries and fuel terminals, causing disruption in fuel supplies. Does action of this scale help or hinder progress on stopping...

 Read Full Article
Serco Employees Set to Strike Over ‘Low Pay and Exploitation’

Hundreds of NHS workers, employed by outsourcing company Serco, are to begin a two-week strike across Barts Health NHS Trust in "a battle against low pay and...

 Read Full Article
Mitigating and Managing Protest Action on Your Sites

Jason Pope from Expeditious Services looks at how property and facilities managers can maintain order during protest action. Jason Pope has worked...

 Read Full Article
JLL London HQ Targeted by Palestine Action

Activists campaigning against Israel’s largest arms company, Elbit Systems, have targeted a JLL office in Warwick Street, Soho. Palestine Action is a...

 Read Full Article
Extinction Back - For Election Week Blues

They're back again! The morning of December 6 saw Extinction Rebellion activists block roads - with the threat to cause more and more disruption misery...

 Read Full Article
SCaN - See, Check and Notify Training FREE

The See, Check and Notify free security training package empowers staff to help protect your organisation from a range of threats say NaCTSO and the Centre for the...

 Read Full Article
What Is The Terror Threat Level And Why

The threat to the UK (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) from terrorism now stands at 'Substantial'. The threat to Northern Ireland from Northern...

 Read Full Article
Free (And Compensated) To Do What They Want Any Old Time

Extinction Rebellion have won the legal challenge to a ban on their protests - meaning the organisation can again bring disruption to streets and offices with virtual...

 Read Full Article
Winter (And Autumn) Of Discontent - Strikes All the Way To Christmas

It's going to be strike after strike after strike hitting travellers and workers, club goers and students as FM and rail staff have voted to make it a discontented...

 Read Full Article
XR Closes Tube On Thursday - Arrest Rate Still Rising

The arrest rate of Extinction Rebellion protestors continues to rise despite a London-wide ban on their activities. The Rebels and associated groups plan to close down...

 Read Full Article