It appears that the time has come for Lodge Park to sign over management rights to us residents. By now I would expect everyone to have received the legal paperwork LP's solicitors.
Of course we need to complete and return the AP01 form to enable them to sign over the rights to the listed parties.
As for the Secretary, AP03, it's obviously up to everyone to decide if they want to or can be bothered to be the secretary.
Looking at this more closely there doesn't seem to be any great legal ramifications hidden inside it, it's very much cut and dry for handover. However if anyone has any legal background or has a close friend in the legal profession who is willing to take a quite look over the paperwork it might be advantageous to us all.
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Now they're all gone!
Just a week ago, completion took place on the final house (No. 25 BG). A serious amount of activity has been going on putting in carpets and flooring and I believe it's all set now for the new owner(s) to move in.
I know very little about the new owner, except that it is a she and I believe that she may originate from Australia. The customary BBQ in the back garden is perhaps a tell tale sign.
I'm sure we're all looking forward to meeting the new owners.
I know very little about the new owner, except that it is a she and I believe that she may originate from Australia. The customary BBQ in the back garden is perhaps a tell tale sign.
I'm sure we're all looking forward to meeting the new owners.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Anyone for Lightbulbs!
Has anyone tried to replace any of the downlighters in the bathrooms yet?
This can be a headache if you're replacing them for the first time.
Now, how many of you know that there are actually (except in 3 cases), 2 versions of each house. That's right 2 of each, both look identical but the fittings are totally different.
One of each type has been designated the 'first'. I'm in the 'first' Thames. And in the first of each they were fitted with super efficient fittings (bulbs, etc). This was to fall in line with the councils green energy policy - or something like that. Each of the 'first' houses were equiped and then inspected by the council. After that any second or third houses has sensible fitments installed.
So those in the 'first' houses have an issue when replacing a light bulb. The bathroom downlighters have fitments made by TP24, I believe they are the RIO version. TP24 have done a clever thing and made them so only TP24 bulbs fit them. Now you can get these by mail order from www.tp24.com, but that's a pain.
Alternatively you can get different makes from high street outlets, Habitat, B&Q, etc. But these don't appear to fit (in the first houses). You can make them fit though.
Either:
Stick a pair of long-nose pliars into the fitment and break off a small plastic pin that sits right in the middle.
Or
Get out your drill and drill a small recess into the case of the bulb between the 2 metal prongs that connect to the electric contacts.
Both options work, i've tried them both, my facorite is to get rid of the pin though so anyone can then replace the bulb without having to be Handy Manny.
(For those of you without children, Handy Manny is a cartoon character on the Disney channel, who goes around sheet-rock hills with his trusty tools as a general handy man.)
This can be a headache if you're replacing them for the first time.
Now, how many of you know that there are actually (except in 3 cases), 2 versions of each house. That's right 2 of each, both look identical but the fittings are totally different.
One of each type has been designated the 'first'. I'm in the 'first' Thames. And in the first of each they were fitted with super efficient fittings (bulbs, etc). This was to fall in line with the councils green energy policy - or something like that. Each of the 'first' houses were equiped and then inspected by the council. After that any second or third houses has sensible fitments installed.
So those in the 'first' houses have an issue when replacing a light bulb. The bathroom downlighters have fitments made by TP24, I believe they are the RIO version. TP24 have done a clever thing and made them so only TP24 bulbs fit them. Now you can get these by mail order from www.tp24.com, but that's a pain.
Alternatively you can get different makes from high street outlets, Habitat, B&Q, etc. But these don't appear to fit (in the first houses). You can make them fit though.
Either:
Stick a pair of long-nose pliars into the fitment and break off a small plastic pin that sits right in the middle.
Or
Get out your drill and drill a small recess into the case of the bulb between the 2 metal prongs that connect to the electric contacts.
Both options work, i've tried them both, my facorite is to get rid of the pin though so anyone can then replace the bulb without having to be Handy Manny.
(For those of you without children, Handy Manny is a cartoon character on the Disney channel, who goes around sheet-rock hills with his trusty tools as a general handy man.)
Gates fixed Again?
I was away at the beginning of last week and unusually surprised when Denise phoned me to say that she'd reported the gates again as they where broken again. Twice in 3 weeks?
I returned home and bumped into the engineer on Wednesday. A completely different problem this time but in the same area. None the less they were fixed and he went on his way.
Also while I was talking to him I found out that we can obtain more of the remote switches from the same people. So if any break or get lost then let me know and I can point you in their direction.
I returned home and bumped into the engineer on Wednesday. A completely different problem this time but in the same area. None the less they were fixed and he went on his way.
Also while I was talking to him I found out that we can obtain more of the remote switches from the same people. So if any break or get lost then let me know and I can point you in their direction.
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
The Gates are Fixed
Well what a quick turn around.
At around 3:00pm today a van pulled in to the courtyard and a man proceeded to be busy doing something. I found him working on the gates and had a quick chat with him.
The problem that prevented the gates from closing correctly was a sheared gate stop (large bolt). Very unusual for it to be broken and the engineer asked if anyone had tried to force the gates open (the wrong way).
None the less, he fixed them and then set to work on the keypad.
Both, I am glad to say are now fixed and working correctly.
He also showed me where the little key fits, that Tracey gave all of us. I'll take a couple of photos as soon as I can and post them here for future reference.
At around 3:00pm today a van pulled in to the courtyard and a man proceeded to be busy doing something. I found him working on the gates and had a quick chat with him.
The problem that prevented the gates from closing correctly was a sheared gate stop (large bolt). Very unusual for it to be broken and the engineer asked if anyone had tried to force the gates open (the wrong way).
None the less, he fixed them and then set to work on the keypad.
Both, I am glad to say are now fixed and working correctly.
He also showed me where the little key fits, that Tracey gave all of us. I'll take a couple of photos as soon as I can and post them here for future reference.
First Results
I have spoke directly with AGD; very helpful and they have confirmed that leaving them open is the only option currently. If they are left to continually open/close then the motors will burn out.
They have checked the paper work and the original 1 year maintenance contract ran from Sept 2008 - Sept 2009 which covered any work to the gates. The gates also have a 3 year parts warranty though.
So although the original contract seems to be ended i.e. not revewed the gates are still covered by parts. This means that there would be a labour charge for them to be rectified.
AGD have acknowledged the issue and asked me to get Lodge Park to approve the call out.
I have duly passed this message on to Tracey and we are waiting for her to process this and respond to AGD directly. Tracey is also aware of the keypad issue and will include this in the list of rectification actions.
AGD have indicated that there are potential slots available this week.
They have checked the paper work and the original 1 year maintenance contract ran from Sept 2008 - Sept 2009 which covered any work to the gates. The gates also have a 3 year parts warranty though.
So although the original contract seems to be ended i.e. not revewed the gates are still covered by parts. This means that there would be a labour charge for them to be rectified.
AGD have acknowledged the issue and asked me to get Lodge Park to approve the call out.
I have duly passed this message on to Tracey and we are waiting for her to process this and respond to AGD directly. Tracey is also aware of the keypad issue and will include this in the list of rectification actions.
AGD have indicated that there are potential slots available this week.
Saturday, 3 April 2010
The Gates are on the 'Fritz'
You've probably noticed and well we've had enough of the gates continual opening and closing. Thursday evening I went out and tried numerous times to get them to close and stop but to no avail.
So on Good Friday I managed to get in touch with Tracey; who incidentally was not at work but extremely helpful.
She was happy to follow up the issue with the company who service the gates on Tuesday 6th when she is back at work but could do nothing until then. She was happy to give me the details of the company too and I have tried to contact them as well - they were, as you can imagine closed on Good Friday (I checked).
Anyway, when Tracey is able to speak to them she will be reporting the failure of the gates along with the keypad issue.
I know it's a risk to children and animals ( I have both) and also a potential security risk to leave the gates open but as they will not stay shut on their own I see no option but to leave them open - as we can hear them open and close every time, especially in the dark hours.
I will update with news as soon as I have some - hopefully good!
So on Good Friday I managed to get in touch with Tracey; who incidentally was not at work but extremely helpful.
She was happy to follow up the issue with the company who service the gates on Tuesday 6th when she is back at work but could do nothing until then. She was happy to give me the details of the company too and I have tried to contact them as well - they were, as you can imagine closed on Good Friday (I checked).
Anyway, when Tracey is able to speak to them she will be reporting the failure of the gates along with the keypad issue.
I know it's a risk to children and animals ( I have both) and also a potential security risk to leave the gates open but as they will not stay shut on their own I see no option but to leave them open - as we can hear them open and close every time, especially in the dark hours.
I will update with news as soon as I have some - hopefully good!
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