Written on 14-May-2009 by
MaxFawcett

A reminder of how it has been for the last 6.5 years
Garden Update: 14th May 2009
Site ProgressResidents will have noticed the scaffold which is being taken down from the chimney to reveal the re-conditioned chimney structure which the JFRA secured after significant campaigning as part of the Garden Works and Section 106 Agreement. The chimney brickwork has been substantially re-pointed, the lightning conductors have at last been secured and earthed, the emblematic ‘Hartley’ lettering has been cleaned, paint has been cleaned-off the chimney at lower levels and a mesh has been added to the top of the chimney to prevent pigeon roosting.The half-demolished structure adjacent to No. 3 Rothsay Street has been structurally stabilised and re-painted to match the standard Jam Factory grey colour used throughout the Estate. Below this, the bin-store is taking shape ready for the change-over from the existing location. The existing bin-store will be fitted-out with new cycle racks by Angel’s contractors and as required for the planning consent by Southwark Council.Elsewhere, the tree and shrub-planter walls are progressing with the lawn area now clearly visible from the upper levels of Blocks ABC – the walls will be finished in a render coat which will be painted - this element of the work has already begun to a number of the completed walls. Most of the railing posts are in-situ ready for fixing of the railing-panels themselves which are currently being fabricated in Block D to match the design of the existing railings already on-site.The planters must be dug-down to a minimum of 1m where trees are proposed, and this work is yet to be completed. The area currently occupied by the refuse skip and contractors vans will be the last element to be put in place as part of the works – the children’s playspace.Information / Scope of Work still Outstanding from Angel PropertyThis is not an exhaustive list, but the main items are as follows:We still await the revised layout for the Chimney area landscaping – Angel’s original tarmac proposal was rejected by both the JFRA and Southwark Council. We are expecting to see a layout with trees, a water feature, seating, soft-planting and a proper ‘storm’ drainage system. As soon as we have seen sight of this plan it will be posted on this website.The JFRA have also requested details for both secure and manageable fob-access control to all Garden / Bin-Store entry points plus extension of the CCTV coverage to cover these areas and an irrigation system for the planting, but as-yet Angel Property are un-willing to cover the cost of these items. We continue to press for these essential and integral items to be included in the works which we maintain are absolutely necessary for completion of the Garden, are also Angel’s planning responsibility by Section 106 Legal Deed and must not be passed-over to Residents in Service Charges. The time to install pipework and cabling for these items is obviously now whilst the ground-works phase is still underway.Residents can put their views forward in this regard by contacting the Case Officer at Southwark: Kiran Chauhan (planning.applications@southwark.gov.uk) 0207 525 5000, and re-iterating the requirement for these critical items to be included in the build at Angel’s cost, and not at the Residents’ cost. They can also write to their local Councillors in Chaucer Ward: lorraine.zuleta@southwark.gov.uk and tim.mcnally@southwark.gov.uk