March 2021 Issue No 16
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.
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In this edition
- Current membership numbers
- Invitation to join the Committee
- Contractor noise and disturbance
- Joseph Terry Grove works & impact on Robert Street
- OFNL – TV outage update
- Roofs/Gutters (1) – Maintenance
- Roofs/Gutters (2) – Current problems
- Autosec replaced by Baysentry
- Carousel House
- Co-op Planning Application
- Bishopthorpe Road Crossing Point Improvement
- Flood Defence Works – Skeldergate Bridge – Rowntree Park
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Membership of the Chocolate Works Residents Association
We are delighted to say that we have 119 active members currently. Your contributions and feedback are invaluable in helping us identify what issues are of most concern to residents.
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Interested in joining the Committee?
In the 2½ years since the CWRA was set up we have had nineteen different members of the Committee. The work is voluntary and people have opted in and out for varying reasons, often as personal priorities change. We currently have a Committee of nine members which feels about the right size. However, one or two serving members are looking to leave the Committee this year due to house moves and commitment to other projects.
If you feel you have something to offer and would like to become involved please get in touch at admin@cwra.co.uk. Then we can arrange a suitably socially distanced informal chat about potential roles.
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Contractor noise/early working
We have received a handful of complaints about early morning noise, and delivery vehicles being queued on Clock Tower Way. David Wilson Homes acknowledges that they are “pushing the boundaries” in their desire to complete work by the end of this year – a deadline which is looking optimistic. They have gained permission to work on weekends and stay later. However, workers should start no earlier than 8am.
If you experience disturbance from unnecessarily early starts, do not hesitate to contact in the first instance Ian Wormwell, Project Manager for David Wilson Homes, ianwormwell@barratthomes.co.uk
Or, for persistent offences – Andy Blain, Enforcement Officer City of York Council, andy.blain@york.gov.uk
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Joseph Terry Grove remedial works
Work has begun on Joseph Terry Grove which includes replacing damaged kerbs and should include resurfacing up to Berry Mews. We have been advised that this will require reducing the width of the road. Consequently lorries will be unable to pass and maybe re-routed down Robert Street as a temporary measure for two weeks.
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TV outage 5th-8th February
All TV signals were lost on the development on Friday 5th February and not replaced until late on Monday 8th February. A number of residents complained to the cable company OFNL and then complained to us and to Watson about the unacceptable delay in restoring the signal.
We have been in discussion with both Watson and David Wilson Homes to identify how the service is managed, and who is accountable when the service is poor. Quite simply, David Wilson Homes sub-contracted a company called GTC to install all utilities on the development – gas, electricity, broadband, TV etc.
GTC installs the services and OFNL operates them (they are both part of the same parent company). There is no service charge, and no contract with residents, Watson, or David Wilson Homes. Therefore, we have no redress with the developer or our managing agent. If we are unhappy with the quality of the service we can only follow OFNL’s complaints procedure.
We strongly recommend that, in the event of similar outage in the future, residents ask for an engineer to come, but make formal complaints to OFNL in the event of slow or unacceptable service www.ofnl.co.uk
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Roofs/Gutters (1) – Maintenance
A few months ago we circulated a letter (via Watson) asking whether you would be interested in having your gutters cleaned/maintained on an annual basis. We had 69 responses (68 saying they were in favour, and one deferring interest until next year as they had only recently moved in). While all of these responses were encouraging they only amount to 70% (approx) of houses. This precluded us effectively organising and paying for the work at the original price. The alternative was to negotiate a price per property and a price per block, which immediately pushed up the cost.
We have gone back to Watson, who initially expressed caution about getting involved. We are pleased to report that they are now actively exploring whether they can take on the contract as originally negotiated, meaning that they would organise it and ensure the work is undertaken properly.
This MAY involve a small increase in the service charges to houses, but the details about frequency (annual or bi-annual) and cost have yet to be ironed out.
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Roofs/Gutters (2) – Problems
We also sent out a request for feedback on whether people had experienced problems with their gutters, and what the response of David Wilson Homes has been. The issue has been on our radar since November 2019, when it was raised by a concerned resident. It has been raised at each of our quarterly meetings with the Managing Director of David Wilson Homes, who has courteously checked with YorkshireEast, had a drone survey done, and concluded that there is no development wide problem.
The individuals who responded to our survey have received an email detailing the results of it. Our survey showed that householders have experienced a range of problems with gutters, balconies, fall pipes and water ingress. However, the biggest issue has been cracks to the fibreglass gutter leading to leaks into the top bedroom (in at least TWELVE properties).
We have presented the information (anonymised) to the Managing Director of David Wilson Homes at our quarterly video call meeting and he is taking the information to a meeting with his Technical Director and team. He will get back to us and we do not want to second guess the outcome of his deliberations. However, we will pursue every reasonable avenue to gain assurances that the fibreglass panels are fit for purpose and have been fitted correctly.
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Autosec Car Parking Patrols
We have just heard that Autosec has sold the business to Baysentry www.baysentry.com
There is no change to the rules and regulations regarding parking, and telephone calls to the number on the parking signs will be picked up by Baysentry. We will try to use this as an opportunity to improve the look of parking signs, as Baysentry have indicated that they will be changing them.
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Carousel House
The proposed works to repaint and clean the ground floor of Carousel House has begun. We appreciate that residents have been waiting a long time for this. It has taken a lot of persistence and persuasion to get to this point, with the work being done at no extra charge. The carpets should be deep cleaned soon.
We have also been advised that the shared bin storage with Devon House is going to be modified. A second entrance is proposed, and a dividing wall, enabling both blocks to have their own storage with no loss of space.
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Planning Application – Co-op Outline Plan
This application is still live and comments are invited until 26 March 2021. A large number of residents from Hallmark House and Neapolitan House have objected for reasons which include:
- noise from vehicles loading and unloading,
- noise from the plant, vents and fans,
- the colour and siting of Amazon lockers (this has already been changed),
- concerns about waste and recycling management,
- objections to the proposed increased hours.
A shop has always been planned for this space and is broadly welcomed. However, if you live nearby and feel you may be affected please go to www.york.gov.uk/SearchPlanningApplications
Click “Search Planning Applications Online” and enter 20/02501/FUL in the “keyword” search box.
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Bishopthorpe Road Crossing Point Improvement
You may well have noticed the work at the crossing on Bishopthorpe Road adjacent to Campleshon Road. This is designed to improve visibility at the junction and increase the size of the traffic island. The Residents’ Association is committed to keeping up the pressure to improve this junction, beyond the works currently planned, but the current financial situation means the Council have identified other priorities at this time.
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Flood Defence Works – Terry Avenue
The Environment Agency has started to build a compound on the football field in Rowntree Park. This is a prelude to 18 months of work to improve flood defences for Clementhorpe between Skeldergate Bridge and Rowntree Park.
The section of Terry Avenue between Skeldergate Bridge and Duke’s Wharf will be closed to the public for 12 months from early April. All riverside pedestrian and cycle traffic into town will have to use the New Walk side of the river (which we all know floods frequently) which will inevitably make it busier.
York Cycle Campaign is currently recommending that people do NOT cycle through this route during working hours because they are concerned about the risk of accident.
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