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The Green Green Grass of Home

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Hopefully residents will have noticed a significant improvement in the gardens at Regatta Point recently.  The removal of a significant amount of weeds, lawns being edged, hedges trimmed, old plants removed and others re-located.  All of this is as a consequence of our new gardening contract which requires a rolling programme of improvements.

The programme has only just started but we hope you can see things are better already.  Our new gardener is called James and if you see him in the gardens please feel free to let him know that you appreciate his good work.

James has asked that we help him improve the lawns by giving them a thorough soaking.  As a consequence you will notice that the sprinkler system is going to be turned on a lot over the next few weeks and sometimes left on overnight – this is intentional.  However, it should not be on over the weekends, when residents are most likely to use the gardens.  If you see the water left on at the weekend, please feel free to turn it off.  We will put a notice on the tap if it is on for a special reason.

East wall repairs cancelled

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We are pleased to announce that following further consultation with our surveyors regarding the East wall of Regatta Point (the wall abutting the St. George’s development) it has been recommended to the Directors that we do not need to carry out the work to pin the outer bricks to the inner concrete structure (Helifix).

As a consequence we have cancelled the highly disruptive and expensive work.

The Directors of Regatta Point

Below are the details of the advice:
Further to our meeting yesterday I would confirm the matters discussed

1.       The existing flank wall does not appear to have deflected or moved at all despite the major disruption caused by the demolition of the neighbouring building and subsequent erection of the new St Georges block.
2.       Following the line of verticality between the new St Georges Block and the flank wall of Regatta would suggest that the flank wall is within reasonable tolerances for verticality and plumbness.
3.       No internal damage has occurred to Regatta Point that I am aware of that would suggest the external flank cavity wall is moving or has become detached from the inner cavity wall.
4.       The proximity of the new St Georges Block (150mm or so) from the flank wall protects and safeguards against any physical injury in the unlikely event of falling masonry.
5.       Fixing the helifix bolts could cause damage to internal finishes which the contractor has expressly excluded liability for.

Given these considerations I am not convinced of the need for the helifix works at all as the risk of the external skin of the flank wall now suffering any loss of stability is very slight indeed. Thus I would recommend that the works are not proceeded with.

Fire update – Tuesday 14th April

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We are currently awaiting the go ahead from the insurers for the following items at site:

BT Line reconnection for building.
Emergency phone lines in lifts require reconnecting but cannot be done till BT have carried out their works.
CCTV System replacement.
Phone line to caretakers office.
Painting of ceiling and walls outside fire effected riser.
Repair to caretakers office ceiling.

Please be assured these are being vigorously chased along with settlement of all invoices received in relation to the fire.

Shaw and Co (surveyors) are scheduled to carry out their inspection of the common parts the week of the 20th April. However, due to the delay in them attending I have been seeking other surveyors to attend to speed the process. I hope to have confirmation tomorrow that they could attend next week however failing that I will stick with Shaw and Co appointment the following week.

Lyndsey Ridgers – HML Shaws

Home fire safety guide

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In light of the recent fire, the London Fire Brigade kindly distributed advice notices to all flats (they were dropped in your pigeon hole last week).

Our web pages will be updated to reflect the advice and a soft copy of the file is available here.

Home fire safety guide for purpose-built flats and maisonettes

Please take time to read the advice as sometimes it is best to stay inside your flat and sometimes it is best to leave.

Ask yourself if your are prepared for a fire breaking out inside your own flat and have working detectors fitted.

New signs are going to be installed throughout Regatta Point in the near future.  Look out for them and familiarise yourself with your escape route.

East Wall Repairs

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Resident’s should be aware by now that the East wall of Regatta Point is in need of repair.

When the St George’s development removed the office block that used to cover the East wall it quickly became apparent that it needed some investigation as it looked unsafe.  Our surveyors confirmed that the wall was not straight and advised that the brickwork should be pinned to the concrete super-structure of Regatta Point (a system of screws called Helifix).

We have obtained the following email from Alan Murphy at Shaw and Company (part of the same group as our managing agents HML Shaw).  We requested this due to the concerns of residents over these important works and because Alan Murphy has taken over the project from Peter Messenger who has left their company.

Additional to the quote (below) Alan Murphy has confirmed that the duration and cost of the works have reduced from original estimates because scaffolding is no longer necessary.

“Further to our phone conversation I am sending this email to reassure residents regarding the proposed works to the east flank wall.

As discussed the best time estimate for the works to the east flank wall is the last week of March first week of April. However this is not as yet confirmed and cannot be confirmed until such time as the contractor lined up to do the works supplies essential documentation.

Both Shaws and St George require risk and method safety statements (RAMS) from the contractor carrying out the lateral restraint work. This is a legal health and safety requirement and is non-negotiable.

Shaws and St Georges have requested these RAMS on several occasions and this request is refreshed regularly. The reality is though that only the contractor can do the RAMS and until such time as he does, we will not have any confirmed hard dates for the work to occur.

I have told you that I will inform you once this occurs. But please appreciate that the ball is in the contractor’s court for now.

This job as you are aware was managed by a colleague of mine and as such I am not fully familiar with the background. I am not sure therefore if the proposed works have been explained in detail?

A series of 6mm steel ties will be inserted into the exterior wall by means of drilling holes with a 6mm drill bit. I attach a photograph with the proposed layout. Please note that holes shown on the photo are not real size !!

I also attach a sketch of the 6mm ties that are being used together with the type of drill being used.

I hope everyone appreciates that a 6 mm drill bit is quite small. That’s less than a quarter of an inch in old money !!

While of course there will be some noise from the drilling it will be quite low level and of minimal duration. Akin to a neighbour putting up some shelves. It will also not be concentrated in a single location for any length of time. I would think that the job in total should last no more than a couple of days.

So in my view there is absolutely no reason for anyone to feel they cannot stay in their flats whilst the work takes place.

I do hope this clarifies matters and reassures. I will be in touch once the contractor gets back to me re firming up the working dates.

Best regards,
Alan Murphy BSc (Hons) MSc MRICS
Associate Director

Shaw & Company Ltd | 9-11 The Quadrant | Richmond | Surrey | TW9 1BP “

 

A diagram of the Helifix system is available below:

Hfx RD WT02