August 2021 Issue No 21
Email: chair@cwra.co.uk
If you are not already a member of the Residents’ Association, please go to cwra.co.uk and click on Join Us. It is free and guarantees you get our Newsletters. We are delighted to say that we currently have 139 active members. Your contributions and feedback are invaluable in helping us identify which issues are of most concern to residents.
In this issue:
- Small bird/fledgling hazard (Update)
- Apartments:
Fire Strategy
Electricity Utility Cupboards
Bin Stores - Change of Chair
- Planning Applications
- Campleshon Road Electricity Sub-Station (Update).
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- Small bird/fledgling hazard (update)
Many thanks to Lucy Ryan for raising this topic which was described in the June 2021 Newsletter. She has since lobbied David Wilson Homes who have supplied 80 downpipe filter guards which can be fitted to the ground floor hoppers to reduce the risk of birds falling inside and getting trapped.
Lucy can be contacted on 07909 757170 if you would like to fit one to your property. She has also kindly offered to fit them if you would prefer. David Wilson Homes will also fit them to all remaining houses.
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2. Apartments
A lot of work has been undertaken to try to standardise issues around fire alarms, access to electricity utility cupboards, and bin stores. We appreciate that this has been a source of ongoing concern but believe that the following changes may begin to make a difference.
- Fire Strategy
The following guidelines and procedures have been agreed with Watsons regarding what to do in the event of a fire or alarm sounding in all apartment blocks on the development.
- ‘In case of fire action’ posters have now been displayed on all floors in all apartment blocks
- Fire strategy documents have been displayed in all communal entrances for all blocks
- Alarm silence codes have been removed from all blocks.
Please read all the information provided and be aware of your individual and collective responsibilities in relation to fire alarms. Particular notice should be taken regarding the event of a fire alarm sounding:
- Ring 999 for the Fire Brigade
- Ring Watson (0113 273 8788) to report the occurrence
- Watson’s Out Of Hours service will contact the nominated Fire Alarm contractor to attend, check the fire alarm panel and silence the alarm – these calls will be given priority by the Out of Hours service provider and the contractor will attend as soon as possible.
Please do not silence the alarm under any circumstances unless training has been given by Watson’s approved contractors. Silencing the alarm sounder merely stops the noise from the alarm systems, and if silenced incorrectly the system won’t be reset and will not sound again in the case of a subsequent fire.
- Electricity Utility Cupboards
All electricity utility cupboards, in all apartment blocks, should be locked in line with Health & Safety procedures. The cupboard doors have recently been left unlocked after DWH staff have been bombarded with requests from residents to unlock the cupboards to facilitate meter reading.
Please note that access for those with combination locks will remain the same.
Going forward all cupboard doors will be locked. Access for owners only will now be available by purchasing an FB2 key from either ‘ironmongerydirect.co.uk‘ @ £1.26 each or Amazon @ £1.75 each. It is important that these cupboards remain locked after readings have been taken to prevent unauthorised entry.
- Bin Stores
Notices have been displayed in each bin store regarding the disposal of larger items and the flattening of cardboard boxes. Watson’s contracted cleaners have now been instructed to regularly sweep out and do a general litter pick in the bin stores replacing stray items in their relevant bins. Talks are ongoing with the cleaning contractors to extend this service to include bin cleaning as well.
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3. Change of Chair
Terry Wilson, a member of the Committee since it was set up in autumn 2018 and Chair since June 2019, is stepping down from the role of Chair. This role will now be filled by Steve Davenport and we wish him the very best going forward. It is hoped that we will have an AGM in the autumn of this year (jointly with Watson) at which this decision can be formally ratified.
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4. Planning Applications
Numbers (e.g. 20/02501/FUL) refer to planning application details. Go to https://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=simple&searchType=Application to read the applications or choose to make comments.
- The Co-op (in the Marketing Suite)
20/02501/FUL | Installation of louvres, doors and external Amazon lockers alongside provision of plant and changes to previously approved store opening and delivery hours.
David Wilson Homes Limited Marketing Suite Hallmark House Joseph Terry Grove York YO23 1PX.
This application has been granted but the Co-op is now asking for closing hours of 11pm rather than 10pm. The Residents’ Association, and some individual residents have objected to the attempt to change the hours. If you are likely to be affected, take the opportunity to make your voice heard.
- Supported Living Acommodation (Kraft Car Park Bishopthorpe Road)
20/02517/FULM | Erection of extra care accommodation including 73 apartments and decked car park with associated private amenity space, landscaping, substation and vehicular access alterations. Chocolate Works Residents Parking Bishopthorpe Road York.
- Land South of the Residence
21/01758/FULM | Erection of single and two storey residential healthcare building (use class C2), to include 40 bed spaces, associated treatment rooms, car parking, servicing areas and landscaping. Land South Of The Residence Bishopthorpe Road York.
The latter two applications appear to have less immediate impact upon residents here. However, they will each contribute significantly to the traffic using Bishopthorpe Road. They will also put additional pressure onto an already struggling Jorvik Gillygate Doctors’ Practice with no additional resources being provided.
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5. Campleshon Road Electricity Sub-Station (Update)
You may recall that Northern Powergrid have agreed a scheme of works to reduce the noise from the sub-station. The latest information we have from the Environment Officer at York Council (after much nagging) is –
“Campleshon Road has thrown up some unforeseen issues with how the bunds are constructed under the transformers and this has unfortunately affected the designs. These have now been redrawn but because dB Attenuation are working on a number of projects for other authorities as well as for Northern Powergrid so works on site will be a little later than planned. Whilst the site installation works have been delayed, the enclosures for Campleshon Road are being constructed by dBA at their factory and as soon as I have dates from them and from the NpG staff looking after the installation works, I will be in touch.”
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