Friday 17 August 2018 - The latest news and updates from the Chalcots Estate

The Chalcots Works Group is held at the estate with TRA reps, councillors and council officers in attendance and is chaired by a TRA rep. This newsletter includes feedback from the Chalcots Works Group meeting on Wednesday 8 August, present at the meeting were representatives from Taplow, Burnham, Bray. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 22 August.

Scaffolding and mast climber alarms

• It was mentioned in the Chalcots Works Group meeting that residents are concerned that the scaffolding and mast climber alarms have been set off outside of the contractors’ working hours.
• The alarm is usually set off when people climb onto the scaffolding surrounding the blocks. However, recently some of the alarms were being set off by a fault. This has now been fixed and we have requested regular checks by the alarm technicians.
• Access to the mast climbers is restricted to contractors only. If you see people climbing on the mast climbers, scaffolding or you hear the alarms go off, please call the security team to report it. The security team can be contacted 24 hours a day on 07903 232 592.

Annual review of gas charges

• Most residents recently received your annual review of gas charges statement for April 2017 to March 2018, which covers the evacuation period as well as the following winter when the blocks had no cladding. Camden remains committed to ensuring you are not any worse off financially because of the works.
• If your gas consumption cost was higher last winter because the cladding was removed, the difference in cost will be refunded to you. If you are a council tenant your refund will be in your rent account by the end of August. If you are a leaseholder you will receive your service charge statement which will show your refund by the end of August also.
• If you are a council tenant your statement included your weekly charges for gas use in 2018/19 starting in September. The majority of tenants will be paying the same or less than before, however a number of tenants have a weekly increase. We are reviewing all tenants’ weekly charges to ensure they are correct and do not take into account additional gas usage when the cladding was removed. We will send you an updated letter soon to confirm, which may mean your weekly payments starting in September 2018 will change.
• If you are a leaseholder we informed you of your estimate 2018/19 gas usage charges earlier this year and they are correct.
• Please be aware that your general gas costs may be slightly higher in 2018/19 for all residents because nationally gas prices have increased.
• If you have any questions about your gas statement, please call the heat team on 020 7974 4073.

An update on asbestos surveys

• We were asked in the Chalcots Works Group meeting for an update on the asbestos property information (API) documents, which summarise the asbestos survey test results. We have delivered API documents to some residents and we are working with the specialist contractors who are managing the rest of the surveys to turn them around quicker. The surveys have taken longer than expected and we are working to improve the process.
• We remind residents that photographic ID is always carried by both contractors and council staff. Don’t allow anyone access to your flat without the relevant ID. To confirm the identity of contractors, contact your RLO.
• RLO update: Bray residents can contact Chloe Conway from Kier on 07850 956 653 or email [email protected] Although Mulalley are no longer onsite, Dorney residents can still contact Sue Speller for any questions you may have, on 07939 158 509 or email [email protected]

Summer holiday activities near you

• With two weeks left of the school holidays, are you running out of ideas for how to entertain the kids? There’s a huge range of activities throughout Camden this summer and with family fun days, community events, sports sessions, health walks and art activities to choose from, you’ll be sure to find something for all the family to enjoy.
• On the doorstep, Camden Commissions are at Swiss Cottage Library with their exhibition on the themes of equality, place, power and identity – see artist Sutapa Biswas’ artwork in the atrium until October. The Summer Reading Challenge, a fun way for four to 11 year olds to enjoy books, also takes place at Swiss Cottage Library until 8 September.
• Further afield, this Sunday (19 August) find out how to make paints and colours out of natural materials at the free ‘Inspiration from nature’ family fun day at the Keats House Museum from 2pm to 4pm at 10 Keats Grove, NW3 2RR. Or next Saturday (25 August) take the little ones to an under-fives workshop at the British Library to make 3D models using tablets at ‘Little feet: animal patterns’. This is free and runs from 11am to 4pm at the British Museum (Samsung Centre), Great Russell Street, WC1B 3DG.
• Find out what else is on near you this summer at camden.gov.uk/summer