May 2022 Issue No 27
Email: chair@cwra.co.uk
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Development Update
Completion of the development is expected during the next few weeks once the roads on Joseph Terry Grove are surfaced. The final landscaping is also to be completed to the boundary and also around Thistle House.
Landscaping
The plaque has now been installed on the wall of the Chocolate Orange sculpture with a safety request not to climb on it.
Watson is currently obtaining quotations from various contractors for additional paving work/land drainage on Bayldon Square. In addition, CWRA is contacting Norcon (David Wilson Homes’ sub-contract ground workers) to establish whether they would be willing to assist us.
We are still putting pressure on DWH to complete the landscaping to the original planning agreement and to perform the final survey. CWRA has met with Watson and the landscaper to improve the quality of the maintenance. Going forward, we will collate a detailed landscaping plan to ensure all areas of the development are maintained to an auditable structured schedule.
Co-op
We are still awaiting the result of the recent appeal by the Co-op to extend the opening hours until 11pm from the already permitted 10pm.
Work is not expected to start on the store for another two months. In the interim, Watson is arranging for the area around the site plus the landscaping to be maintained.
We are still trying to contact the Co-op to hold initial conversations on the future and to minimise any adverse impact on residents.
Welcome Letters
Welcome Letters have either been emailed and/or posted to all residents to remind us all how we can make the Chocolate Works a really great place to live. There have unfortunately been numerous complaints regarding washing being hung to dry on balconies in breach of the lease conditions. Watson is pursuing the problem but it would save time and expense if we could just ask everyone to comply with their contracts/lease agreements. Also, cigarette butts have been thrown from balconies which we trust will now stop.
Roof GRP Guarantees
We have learnt that DWH plans to circulate the sub-contractor insurance-backed ten year guarantee for the GRP channels direct to the owners of each house on the development. Also, Watson is currently waiting for all residents to pay their 2022/23 management fee before engaging their sub-contractor to clean and check all the roof GRP channels.
Parking
The timber posts carrying the parking signs will be replaced in the next few weeks by grey metal poles to match the rest of the road furniture. In addition a sticker will be applied to all parking notices detailing how to contact parking customer services and to remind everyone that visitor parking spaces are for visiting cars only.
The ‘V’ to denote visitor parking will be painted on the ground at each visitor parking space during the next few weeks.
Signage
Robert Street is a ‘Home Zone’ without pavements, where cars, cycles and pedestrians including children, share the space. We have requested that prior to their leaving, DWH provides signage to highlight the Zone and to introduce a lower speed limit.
DWH has also agreed to supply signage for the apartments where the name of the apartment building cannot be seen from the road, to assist with identification.
Church
The three local churches, St Chads, St Andrews and St Clements have been brought together under one Benifice. Details of services can be found on the noticeboard at St Chads located across Campleshon Road from the Clock Tower Way entrance.
Queens Platinum Jubilee
DWH has kindly donated £1000 towards the Street Party planned for 2pm on 3rd June on Bayldon Square. The donation and any monies raised during the event will be donated to DEC Ukraine Appeal. A big thank you to DWH.
Watson
We have been informed that Kristiaan Oughton, our main contact at Watson, will soon be leaving. We have been promised an experienced replacement who has managed large developments in the past. Watson will circulate details of the new surveyor to all residents during the next few weeks.