Kennington Park Estate Tenants’ Association News
JULY 2015
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Join us at the next KPETA meeting at
7.00 pm on Wednesday 15 July 2015
at the Kennington Park Estate Community Centre
Come at 6.30 pm for refreshments and chat. TA officers will be there to discuss individual problems/issues
The agenda for this meeting and the minutes of the last meeting are here
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Are you experiencing damp, condensation or mould growth?
If your flat is affected by damp, condensation and/or mould, do come to the TA meeting on 15 July and tell us about it. We want to assess the extent of the problem so we can discuss possible remedies with our housing managers. If you’re not attending the TA meeting, you can email your information about damp, condensation and mould to kpetamail@gmail.com.
The TA is seeking technical advice and information in order to gain some understanding of the causes and what methods might be available to reduce these problems.
Hyde’s Proposal to rebuild the Community Centre and develop the site at 8a Harleyford Street
Hyde have recently been consulting residents about a possible new Community Centre. But they have been much less forthcoming about their plans for the rest of the site at 8a Harleyford Street and TA officers have had to chase them to find out the latest. Last year Hyde put forward plans for a retail unit (Sainsbury’s), nine flats for sale and a new Community Centre. Residents made it very clear that allowing store vehicles to load and unload within the Estate was totally unacceptable, as was the size and height of the proposed development. Lambeth’s planners agreed. Hyde then put forward revised proposals which you can see on the TA’s website http://www.kenningtonparkestateresidents.org.uk/2015/03/21/revised-proposals-for-redevelopment-on-the-estate/arting construction early in 2016.
We understand that Sainsbury’s is still interested in a shop here and is discussing with TFL the practicalities of un/loading in Harleyford Street (by the bus stop). Hyde tell us that they hope to submit an application for planning permission to the Council in the autumn with the intention of starting construction early in 2016. When and if we have any more information, the TA will let you know.
Oval and Kennington Development Area (OAKDA)
Our world-famous Oval gasholders have been decommissioned and Lambeth Council is working with Berkeley Homes on a master plan for the site. The TA was originally told that consultation on the draft plan would take place in June/July. However, Berkeley now says the next stage of the consultation is now expected to be in September. TA officers will continue to try to influence plans for the site as it is so close to our Estate and will inevitably have an impact on our residents, particularly those living in Read, Sherwin, Grace and Brockwell Houses. Keep an eye out for Berkeley’s consultation events and get along to them to have your say!
Scrutiny of Service Charges
TA officers have twice met recently with Hyde’s Director of Core Services, the person responsible for service charges. On the most recent of these meetings we took him and other senior managers on a tour of the Estate and showed them many of the areas where residents have made it clear they do not believe we are receiving the kind of good service we should for the amount we pay. As well as demonstrating the poor value for money we receive for the large sums spent on cleaning and grounds maintenance, we also questioned the rationale of several specific charges, particularly those which were introduced in this year’s bills without explanation or consultation. We are still waiting for answers.
Estate Inspections
Regular estate inspections are undertaken by our Housing Officers along with resident representatives. Residents interested in accompanying Housing Officers on Estate Inspections should contact the Housing Office for details of dates and times as well as letting us know so that we can advise you on what it involves. Remember you can report communal repairs and other problems to our Housing Officers at the TA meeting.
The Planned and Cyclical Maintenance Programme for Kennington Park Estate
The TA is in discussion with Hyde senior management at Head Office asking why the maintenance programme currently being undertaken at Kennington Park Estate and in the Stockwell properties does not include a full programme of planned maintenance. This was one of the main reasons residents of Kennington Park Estate voted to transfer ownership of the Estate from the Council to Hyde in 2005. The promise made to residents by HSH at the time of transfer was: “Over the following thirty years a fully funded programme of regular repairs and maintenance will make sure the Estates do not fall into disrepair again” and: “to undertake in accordance with Good Industry Practice a properly funded programme of cyclical maintenance for a period which shall not be less than 30 years starting from the completion date”. It is now ten years since the regeneration work was carried out on the estate. A full maintenance and repair programme is long overdue!
Magee Street Alert
The exit from the estate via Magee Street on to Kennington Park Road will be closed for three weeks from 6 July.
The one-way system in Magee Street will be suspended so that vehicles can leave via Bowling Green Street (which will continue to be one-way), Kennington Oval and then Harleyford Street.