The latest news and updates from the Chalcots Estate – w/c 4 November 2017

Friday 10 November 2017 - The latest news and updates from the Chalcots Estate

Cladding removal and replacement feedback

• If you haven’t yet told us what you think about the replacement cladding options and would like to do so, please return your feedback to [email protected] by Sunday 12 November. We would like to thank all residents who attended our drop-in events and have provided feedback on the available cladding options so far.

Current works

• To meet demand we have been ordering new flat entrance doors in batches. A number of doors in these initial batches had problems with their lock cylinders. We are aware of this issue and we are working with the suppliers to correct it. Any residents with an affected lock has had a replacement cylinder fitted.
   
• The new doors have a multipoint lock that meets the ‘secure by design’ criteria, proven to increase security to your home. To make an appointment to have your door fitted please contact your Resident Liaison Officer:
  
  Taplow and Bray – Hayley Townsend – 07702 970354
  Burnham and Blashford – Angela Carr – 07590 170332
  Dorney – Sue Speller – 07939 158509

Resident safety

• Unfortunately, we have received a number of reports of anti-social behaviour on the estate, including heavy objects being thrown out of windows at contractors while they are working. This not only puts our contractors and staff at risk, but puts you, your family and visitors at risk when they are entering or exiting the building. We’re sure you’ll agree that this is not acceptable and we remind residents that any violent anti-social behaviour is a serious breach of tenancy conditions. To report anti-social behaviour please call your Ward Housing Team or Housing Patrol on 020 7974 4444. In response to this, there will be a mobile patrol service outside of the blocks during working hours. The patrols will be wearing body worn cameras to capture incidents in progress.

• If you would like to provide feedback to the Council about the areas for consideration in the independent review, please email your suggestions to [email protected] by Friday 17 November.

 Other news

• For day-to-day repairs inside your home, such as issues with your heating or your electric, please call Rydon or United House Living on 020 7288 8322. For report repairs in the communal areas of your block, for example a broken lift, please call Camden Repairs on 020 7974 4444 (option 3, followed by option 1).

Feedback from TRA technical meeting, Wednesday 8 November 2017, present Taplow, Burnham, Bray and Dorney

• The TRA group raised some concerns about the security of the new flat entrance fire doors and their locking mechanism. The TRA group said they had had feedback from residents who want a latch type system where the door locks automatically when it is shut. This has been raised directly by the TRA group with the door manufacturer, Sentry Doors, in a meeting on 25 October. There were detailed discussions about the relative pros and cons of various locking systems and whether a second lock was desirable. It was agreed that further conversations would take place on this subject at the next works meeting as feedback from Sentry Doors on the meeting with the TRA representatives would have been received by then.
   
• The TRA group raised that they were aware there had been lock failures in some of the new front entrance doors that had been installed and wanted to know which doors would have the cylinders of the locks replaced. Council officers confirmed that from next Monday the door manufacturer would be changing to a different type of lock that should not suffer the problems experienced with the previous type of lock. The Council officers agreed to give the TRA a statement on which locks would be replaced.
   
• The TRA group raised a range of issues relating to the fitting of the new doors in several flats. Council officers explained that these issues had been picked up and passed onto contractors. The need to properly fit and adjust the doors (including door closers) has been re-iterated to the contractors with an enhanced quality sign-off process being implemented. An issue with closers being noisy on the communal doors was raised by the TRA group and they expressed a reservation as to whether they were sufficiently robust. The Council said that the closers were properly specified but would investigate to see what could be done about the noise problem.
   
• The TRA group raised the issue about whether the crash deck sufficiently protected the steps to the bin areas and also requested that officers should ensure the planned lights were installed on schedule and operational as soon as possible in these areas. Council officers explained that there would be a health and safety audit on Friday 10 November, which would pick up any safety concerns relating to the scaffolding and that the lighting would be working at the earliest opportunity. The TRA group stressed that as well as the crash decks meeting regulations they needed to make residents feel safe.