Wimpey One Estate Major progress!

Firstly let me advise residents that I have been communicating with Essex and Suffolk Water over the leaking water pump, that has allowed the germination of algae on the floor of the divide between 1- 6 Birch court and the adjoining flats which it serves. The leak in the pump has left residents of these flats with low water pressure and the potential for water contamination and spread of waterborne diseases at the location of the leak such as Leptospirosis (Weils disease) a consequence of rat urine. Essex Water offered to inspect the location in an email today which I forwarded to London and Quadrant and I received an unflattering response from Winchester property suggesting a part required for the repair of the system is already ordered from Germany.

I am pleased, however, that we have had this response in relation to my request to Essex and Suffolk Water (ESW) for an inspection. If repairs have not been completed in a month I will chase up ESW again for an option for a quicker resolution as it has been purported that this concern has been present for over 2 years.

Secondly, it was not the Wombles of Wimbledon that removed the TESCO Trolley from the fore of 1-6 Birch Court it was the Chowdhry of Chadwell Heath who requested a removal by the Tesco removal service. They can be contacted in future by telephoning or email:

tescodirect@tesco.co.uk or telephone 08456 779 298

Finally I copy you into a recent correspondence from Natalie Fulk from Taylor Wimpey:

“Please find attached layout of the above development showing the areas of roads and footpaths that are to be transferred to London Borough of Redbridge once adoption has been completed. We have carried out a full inspection of all adoptable lighting (shown as green dots numbered 1-22) and now believe that there are only 3 that are not working – No’s 2, 5 and 20. These all require works from EDF which I am currently sourcing and pricing. I will confirm to you once these are working.

With regard to the sewer adoption, we hope to have a successful inspection with Thames Water before the end of April – again, I will inform you once the vesting certificate has been issued. The road adoption will only be completed once the vesting certificate for the sewers has been received and London Borough of Havering have confirmed they are satisfied with all adoptable aspects of the development – this includes street lighting.

Please be aware that any areas of lighting not shown on this plan is not the responsibility of the company and will fall under private land or that which is the responsibility of the Management Company.” (Click to see map)

Kinked George Hospital update

Today we held our first protest against the recent King George Parking Initiative that now charges hospital staff for the privilidge of parking. This has resulted in increased local parking burden on surrounding roads often nuisance parking to the fore of resident drives. The hospital staff have been unfairly targetted in this new "Green Approach" to parking that provides no incentive not to drive to work other than to remove parking spaces? Moreover by penalising lower paid nurses and other hospital staff who are already struggling to make ends meet in the current economic climate - who is the winner with the scheme? Only the Hospital bank account methinks! If the Hospital wants to be Green... why not subsidise public transport or manage an "Adopt a Driver" scheme that would see people living in similar areas taking turns to drive to work or contributing towards petrol?

I am also challenging the existing policy to charge friends and family of the chronically and terminally illl patients at King George. We were supported by NHS staff and residenst alike and at one point over 40 people were in attendance at our protest. I will soon be arranging another similar protest.

Time is of the essence.

In our busy daily lives we can often become complacent about the dangers that surround us or how the impact of our actions could affect our safety or that of others. One way in particular that stands out is our use of motor vehicles and the velocity at which we travel. Recently I have received complaints about the speeding along Barley Lane, which is one of many roads that I am aware has a problem with fast vehicle movement.

I will be raising this issue at the next area 5 meeting and would appreciate if other local residents could advise me of roads with a similar issue.

Swamped!

I can hear people saying "Oh no not again" hence I should add that yes the following story is about the Sherman Bengeo estate again, however, it is not the fault of residents.

Residents form the large blocks 1 – 6 and 7 – 12 Birch Court (off Sherman gardens) have complained about a leaking water pump that has not only reduced the water pressure to their flats, but has also introduced a green slime and endless other waterborne elements both living and dead - that pose a real and tangible health and safety threat. This whole debacle with the leaking pump will no doubt affect their water bills, could introduce contaminated water to these flats, moreover it will also most assuredly be an expense to the Local water company and other bill paying residents - I am sure.

I have contacted Essex and Suffolk water who inform me they would need London & Quadrant's (housing Association) permission to fix the problem. L&Q advise me that the issue should be dealt with by the assigned Management Agents Winchester Property - they refuse to respond- strangely enough?! I have reported the issue to the Housing Ombudsman to decide on appropriate action.

I will keep residents posted.

If you have similar issues please advise.

Nasty Niff!

A residents from Birch Court has repeatedly reported that reflux from a toilet in her Housing Association property owned by L&Q and Managed by Winchester Property is causing a nasty smell and stain in her living room and bathroom. The situation was meant to have been rectified a year ago after she received a refit of her whole house in response to an Ilford Recorder article. This mess is both unaesthetic and highly toxic and her child purportedly developed an illness from the previous incident of a similar nature. I have contacted L&Q the Housing association that owns the property and also Winchester Property to resolve this issue. Thus far no organisation has indicated any proposed action to rectify the issue. It would seem however, from comments provided by L&Q, that the incident is a management agency responsibility. I am chasing for a response and have informed the Housing Ombudsman of my concerns.

Unfortunately, in the meanwhile, this lady and her family are putting their lives at risk by staying in the property and have already lost any perception of the term “quality of life”.

If anyone else has a similar issue please advise.

Kinked George Hospital

UPDATE: 1st April 2009

I have still not received a formal response, however the number of complaints about the issue is increasing daily. With this in mind I have arranged a Press Shoot at the corner of Gresham Drive and Barley Lane at 13:00 on Monday 6th April. Please come and support our protest for a review of this parking fiasco!

UPDATE 31.03.2009:

I have received an email confirming that the Acute Trust will be giving me a formal response to my queries in writing, within the next few days. In the meanwhile, I have created a petition to be provided to the Council and the BHR Acute Trust. If you would like to get involved in obtaining signatures - please advise.




Juliet and I have received a lot of correspondence from residents that are bewildered by a Recent King George Hospital scheme that has reduced the Parking provision to Hospital Staff. The result of this has been an increase in antisocial parking along streets such as Abercorn Gardens, Gresham Drive, Langham Drive, Joydon Drive and Lexden Drive. I have indicated my concern about this matter to the Acute Trust and am awaiting their response.

In the meanwhile I advise residents that in 2006 I took a deputation to a full council meeting that resulted in a by-law preventing antisocial parking to the fore of residents with a drop down kerb leading to a drive.

If you want to use the service you need just call 020 8708 5211 to contact a mobile parking enforcement officer who will arrive in no more than 15 mins to apply a penalty fare notice to any illegally parked cars in front of residential forecourts - with drop down kerbs!

Once I have a response from King Georges I will obviously advise residenst of any proposals to rectify this issue.

Learn more about this by-law here.

Missed out!

Residents of Millhaven Close raised concerns about the poor state of a porch which has broken glass and rotten wood at a property on Millhaven Close this also had a Cable Television box at the front of the property with a long length of wire is creating a trip hazard on the public highway. The resident at the property had advised me that Circle Anglia were responsible for repairs and asked me to challenge them to undertake the necessary repairs. This concern was particularly frustrating for the resident as all the adjoining properties on the road either side and opposite the affected property had undergone a programme of renovation that included new windows throughout and removal of the old porches and the installation of rather snazzy looking roof arches.

Today I received confirmation that the minor repairs will be undertaken on the 3rd of April and an inspector will investigate the Cable Television box and cable - An investigation pertaining to the missed cyclical renovation work shall also ensue. Below I share the received correspondence:

"Job No. 70501 is booked for 03/04/09 pm. This is to reglaze broken glass & rotten wood to porch. I have emailed the cyclical team and am awaiting the information. Once I have received this I will email you with the details. I have an inspector going on the 03/04/09 pm also to report on the cable. "

If any other residents have similar concerns please do advise.