Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joyce Rothwell on November 16, 2012 at 17:18

Jean, the only objection I have is that I can hear every footfall on the roof above my flat and the sound of voices seems to be amplified in some way and is very disturbing.  The "garden" is now home to all the TV equipment and seemingly will now house the window-cleaning cradle, depending on what method of cleaning is chosen following the window and curtain-wall replacement.  You are probably aware that workmen of any kind are not the most quiet of individuals and obviously have a job to do, but we all have a right of quiet enjoyment of our homes and I feel I have a right to object to anything that is going to disturb mine - as I'm sure you would do the same.
 
Jean McMeakin said:

Joyce are you suggesting (in the unlikely event that it happens) that other residents should not have access to the roof garden apart from those living on the top few floors of GAH? 

Joyce Rothwell said:

Hopefully, the cost of sound-proofing all the flats on the top floor of Great Arthur House would be deducted from the £9K before any decision was taken to open up the GAH roof to all residents which, by the way, was never the original intention.  In all my 30 years' residence it has never been open to all residents and was only originally designated as "for the benefit of the upper floors only", so "reinstatement" is misleading.

Jean McMeakin said:

For what it's worth, my vote goes to getting the GAH roof garden open to all residents.  That would be a great amenity reinstated, and would not be open to abuse by non-residents (so no rough sleeping/noisy drinkers).

IMHO quite a few of the other items should be down to the Corporation to provide/deal with as part of their responsibility for managing the estate - we certainly pay them enough so to do in the service charges.

Sarah Parker said:

Hello Patricia & All,

Here is the list of the suggestions we have been given so far from residents:

-Improve/increase lighting on main podium
-Mouse proofing following pest control visits
-Fee's for non-reactive repairs and assistance for vulnerable and elderly residents e.g. putting up curtains etc
-A bee hive on the roof and reinstatement of roof gardens at Gt Arthur House, and granted access to residents who would maintain the hive/gardens.
-Purchase permanent trestle tables rather than renting them
-Community boards positioned in areas so everyone walking through the estate can see
-Astro turf the space below Great Arthur & Cuthbert Harrowing, along with benches and planters
-A re-decorated play area for young people, or an area where those can come together to socialise (young people, older people to sit?)
-Signs outside the Shakespeare pub as a reminder to people to try and stay quiet as people live here
-More llotment bags
-Outdoor exercise equipment
-Outings

-benches and planters

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JM on November 17, 2012 at 2:38

Yes, well, try living with the constant thwack of tennis balls each and every day, including Sunday mornings.  We all have noise problems to live with.

Joyce Rothwell said:

Jean, the only objection I have is that I can hear every footfall on the roof above my flat and the sound of voices seems to be amplified in some way and is very disturbing.  The "garden" is now home to all the TV equipment and seemingly will now house the window-cleaning cradle, depending on what method of cleaning is chosen following the window and curtain-wall replacement.  You are probably aware that workmen of any kind are not the most quiet of individuals and obviously have a job to do, but we all have a right of quiet enjoyment of our homes and I feel I have a right to object to anything that is going to disturb mine - as I'm sure you would do the same.
 
Jean McMeakin said:

Joyce are you suggesting (in the unlikely event that it happens) that other residents should not have access to the roof garden apart from those living on the top few floors of GAH? 

Joyce Rothwell said:

Hopefully, the cost of sound-proofing all the flats on the top floor of Great Arthur House would be deducted from the £9K before any decision was taken to open up the GAH roof to all residents which, by the way, was never the original intention.  In all my 30 years' residence it has never been open to all residents and was only originally designated as "for the benefit of the upper floors only", so "reinstatement" is misleading.

Jean McMeakin said:

For what it's worth, my vote goes to getting the GAH roof garden open to all residents.  That would be a great amenity reinstated, and would not be open to abuse by non-residents (so no rough sleeping/noisy drinkers).

IMHO quite a few of the other items should be down to the Corporation to provide/deal with as part of their responsibility for managing the estate - we certainly pay them enough so to do in the service charges.

Sarah Parker said:

Hello Patricia & All,

Here is the list of the suggestions we have been given so far from residents:

-Improve/increase lighting on main podium
-Mouse proofing following pest control visits
-Fee's for non-reactive repairs and assistance for vulnerable and elderly residents e.g. putting up curtains etc
-A bee hive on the roof and reinstatement of roof gardens at Gt Arthur House, and granted access to residents who would maintain the hive/gardens.
-Purchase permanent trestle tables rather than renting them
-Community boards positioned in areas so everyone walking through the estate can see
-Astro turf the space below Great Arthur & Cuthbert Harrowing, along with benches and planters
-A re-decorated play area for young people, or an area where those can come together to socialise (young people, older people to sit?)
-Signs outside the Shakespeare pub as a reminder to people to try and stay quiet as people live here
-More llotment bags
-Outdoor exercise equipment
-Outings

-benches and planters

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jax on November 17, 2012 at 15:07

I do not agree at all and many people want that space utilised.... below Great Arthur and Cuthbert Harrowing.

It is already a vorex for cans and fag butts and leaves and rubbish generally.

If people sit there good, if people use the space even better,

If you dont like sport or noise from sport dont live on estate with a sports centre.

If you dont like young people or play or coversation then live elsewhere.

We live in in the middle of the City of London on the most trouble free estate around with facilities that people dream of.

I wish people would just stop putting up negative barriers and let local people enjoy the estate. We are not the Barbican we so not have locked areas and only let the privledged through.

sorry for the rant ...!  But I had to say it. Im so fed up of residents low expectations of how people will use the space on this estate.

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Permalink Reply by JM on November 18, 2012 at 20:05

Yes Jax it was a rant.

I would point out that everyone was asked for comments on what this £9K should be used for, a suggestion list was provided and I, as requested, offered my views.  Joyce Rothwell then responded by saying she would want soundproofing before anyone should access the roof garden because of potential noise.  £9K wouldn't even cover that.  To paraphrase you, many people dream of having access to a roof terrace at the height of GAH. 

As to your assertion that people should live elsewhere if they don't want noise from sport, there was nothing like the level of noise when I moved here many years ago (and there was certainly no noise from piercing netball whistles which frankly was driving most of us who overlook the tennis courts insane). The Corporation have overdeveloped the sport element of the estate over the years.  We've had little say in it.  These additional sport facilites have not been put in for GLE residents sole use, we're incidental now.

Moreover, my understanding was this forum is open to us all to communicate, exchange ideas, views and opinions.  If you have a problem with that perhaps you shouldn't read it.  Everyone will have their own views, and they won't necessarily be the same as yours or mine.

However, on the basis that this thread has become less than neighbourly I shall withdraw.

Disappointing.

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Permalink Reply by Patricia O'Connor on November 19, 2012 at 15:34

Well done, Christine.  Very nicely handled. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JM on November 20, 2012 at 1:00

Thank you for your kind words Christine.  I am very familiar with the conventions of social media.  I think you can see your comments are very much along the lines of those I made - we will all have different views and this forum is for us to share them, not to be told to shut up or move.  That was my point.

Christine Clifford said:

Please don't withdraw Jean, this is an on-line community, lacking facial expression, tone of voice, body language. A 'rant' will seem fiercer than face to face and taking offence gets magnified. A useful rule of thumb is to'assume good intent'.

Golden Lane Estate is about the size in numbers of flats and people as a large village. Even in smaller villages not everyone will see eye to eye, or participate in things but its important I think for us all to look to what we can have in common. To increase our safety and sense of belonging, the more we can come together the better. So let us look at the list and see if there are things we might do and include constructive suggestions to overcome any problems.

I agree that the restoration of Great Arthur House Roof garden is a major issue and should I think be a separate matter linked with the renovation of the building and beyond.

I also believe that the £9,000 is from shed rentals and must be 'spent' by March 31 2013. It seems likely that this will be a regular sum to plan for? Perhaps Sara Parker can enlighten us/

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JM on November 20, 2012 at 1:01

Did you mean to be patronising?

Patricia O'Connor said:

Well done, Christine.  Very nicely handled. 

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Permalink Reply by nathan on November 20, 2012 at 11:57

Nothing like the sound of internet bullying in the morning,.Maybe Jean and I should be sent of for re education so we can return singing the from the right song sheet, and we can all live happily ever after for the common purpose, lol

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JM on November 20, 2012 at 13:31

Yeah, not exactly sure how I ended up cast as the bad guy in all this.  P'raps I should keep my (IMO very moderate) views to myself.  Being lectured, doncha love it.  ;-P

(I'm not having a go at Christine here btw, she sounds very sincere and community minded to me).

Meet you in detention Nathan.

nathan said:

Nothing like the sound of internet bullying in the morning,.Maybe Jean and I should be sent of for re education so we can return singing the from the right song sheet, and we can all live happily ever after for the common purpose, lol

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Permalink Reply by Chamberpot Bowell & Pond on November 20, 2012 at 14:22

Christine's a sweetheart. We share a common dislike of roadworks.

Can we spend the nine grand turning Fann Street into a river? That way these abominable workmen need only stick on a scuba mask before slipping silently to the bottom, to do whatever it is they are doing down there.

Honestly, a beehive on the roof is a fantastic idea. Lord knows we need the bees. And we could sell Golden Lane honey with a big yellow tower on the label, and how gosh darn yummy does that sound!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JM on November 20, 2012 at 17:46

A RILL on Fann Street !!!!!  Now you're talking!  http://thinkingoutsidetheboxwood.com/?p=3128

Agree, the world always needs more bees. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bees

Chamberpot Bowell & Pond said:

Christine's a sweetheart. We share a common dislike of roadworks.

Can we spend the nine grand turning Fann Street into a river? That way these abominable workmen need only stick on a scuba mask before slipping silently to the bottom, to do whatever it is they are doing down there.

Honestly, a beehive on the roof is a fantastic idea. Lord knows we need the bees. And we could sell Golden Lane honey with a big yellow tower on the label, and how gosh darn yummy does that sound!

• ▶ Reply

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