Urgent: verify key permissions details

From the BEO:

To all residents

 

Due to last weeks' computer problems, we are unable to guarantee that all key permission given or cancelled from the morning of Wednesday 23^rd July at the Barbican Estate Office has been recorded.

 

If you have made any changes to your key permissions from 23 July to 28 July, please contact us via reception (020 7029 3958) or e-mail  barbican.estate@cityoflondon.gov.uk  so we can update the records.

 

Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

With regards

 

Barbican Estate Office

Beech Gardens Landscaping survey

From the BEO:

Dear Residents

Please have a look at the Beech Gardens Landscaping Proposals, which are attached to this email.

Please spare a few minutes to fill in our survey by clicking on the link below:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S2MWSTY

Paper copies of the survey can be found at your car park box/ lobby desk.

Thank you to the residents that left comments at the Open Day – these will be included in our survey.

The deadline for responses is Friday 1 August.

With regards

Barbican Estate Office 

Puddles: It's worse than that ...

Following the rain last week there were many puddles around Ben Jonson House. Some of them are still there.

A resident ran into 3 drains men who were looking into the problem:

... They said that the drain appeared to be blocked with what seemed like a plastic bag filled with cement , and with their standard kit, immovable. I imagine that the whole of the podium is suffering from a build up of concretion in the drains. The car parks below us are suffering too. I think that it is a major problem which can only get worse. I've no doubt that the BEO is fully aware and that it is a problem on a scale of Beech gardens.

Oh, dear.

Hanging around

LED Corridor Lighting

The lighting above flat doors on the south side of the corridors of Ben Jonson House use LED light bulbs, and have done for a while.  The lights on the north side of the corridors still use incandescent light bulbs.

The south-side lights have an emergency power back-up system, so in the event of a power cut we can still safely navigate the building.  These lights were changed from incandescent to LED as part of a programme to improve the emergency lighting throughout the building.  LED lighting was installed because it uses less power, but also because the bulbs last longer.

The question now arises:  Do we want to change the north side lights to use LEDs too?

LEDs cost more up front, but cost significantly less to run, so in the medium to long term we'd be saving money if we install them.

The BEO will be putting up notices and sending out a survey about this shortly.  You can read a copy of the notice here.

External Redecorations: Starts Monday

External redecoration of Ben Jonson House and Breton House starts on Monday 28th July.

Please do have a look around your balcony areas and make sure your things are safe and not in the way of the bits of the building which need to be painted.  Also have a look for things which need repairing and let the BEO know about any damage so repair work can done as part of the external redecorations.

If you give your balcony rails and window woodwork a quick wipe it may reveal things which need attention.  It might even help us get a better final result.

Go on.  Give me a quick wipe.

Beech Gardens - Less Trees?

There was a City organised meeting on 23rd July to present the plan for the Beech Gardens planting.  Before the meeting the City made available a "Rev. A Concept Design" document.  The images in there looked pretty good, with trees very much as they were before (see pages numbered 21-23), e.g. :

... but without the trees?

... BUT it seems that the City are proposing significantly fewer trees than shown. There is a discussion on Barbican Talk about this.  The suspicion is that the City fears that trees will cause water leakage problems in the future, but (quoting from the Barbican Talk thread) "engineers did admit at a recent public meeting that the problem was definitely not the trees".

You can give feedback on this subject from July 24th to Aug 1st.  I've not seen any information on *how* to give feedback, so an email to the BEO is probably the way to go.  That's what I'll do.

This is important for Ben Jonson House because Beech Gardens will become the template for what will happen to Ben Jonson Highwalk.

Wanted: People with an interest in the gardens

The Barbican is a Grade II listed building.  The highwalks, gardens and open areas are rated one notch higher at Grade II*.

There are a number of projects around the estate, and around Ben Jonson House which affect the gardens and open spaces and would really benefit from input from Ben Jonson House folk.

If you have an interest in flora and the open spaces around us and would be able to talk the plant talk with other horticultural people in the Barbican please do let us know (email form at the bottom of the page).

II*

Prudential RideLondon: 10th August

From TfL:

I am writing to remind you that on Sunday 10 August, there will be significant impact to travel in London and Surrey as a result of the annual Prudential RideLondon world-class weekend festival of cycling. Certain east, central and southwest London and Surrey roads will be closed to traffic. The route runs between Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford and The Mall, via the City of London, over Chiswick Bridge towards Richmond Park, Kingston, Walton, Weybridge, Surrey Hills, Dorking, Leatherhead, Esher, Wimbledon and Putney. Roads There will be extensive road closures on and around the route; roads will be closed from early morning and will re-open when it is safe to do so. Pedestrian access to properties will not be affected. A number of central London and Surrey bridges will be closed until the evening. Road users are advised to avoid areas near the event route wherever possible. Public transport Tube and Rail will be the best way to get around and enjoy the day. Many buses will be on diversion or will stop short of their destinations. For details and to know your travel options in central London, please click here

Yours sincerely, Vernon Everitt Managing Director, Customer Experience, Marketing and Communications

External Redecorations start 28th July

External redecoration of Ben Jonson and Breton houses starts on 28th July.

There are things we residents need to do:

• Be at home at a time agreed with the contractor so your windows can be opened (and kept open for a while) so they can be stained properly.
• Protect your possessions from splashes and dirt.  Move what you can in from the balcony, tie back and cover curtains etc. which are near window openings.
• Keep plants away from the railings by tying them back or pruning them.
• Check your windows.  If you have a blown double glazing unit or if you spot damage to common parts let the BEO know so the matter can be addressed while all the redecoration scaffolding is up.

Full details are in the letter:

Frobisher Crescent drainpipes

From the Barbican Association planning committee chair :

Dear All,

I raised the proposed Frobisher drainpipes with the City planners. It's clear that the planners aren't happy, but don't feel they can fight the engineers, who say the drainpipes within the concrete piloti are too narrow and twisted, have never worked and would be ludicrously expensive to enlarge. The balcony has apparently always flooded, but the flooding now disturbs not the concrete floor of an office but the carpets and ceiling insulation of residents.

My gut feeling is that we can't fight this one. You can object personally at www.planning2.cityoflondon.gov.uk/online-applications (search for 14/00626/LBC) or by emailing Maureen.Joyce@cityoflondon.gov.uk, copying in PLNComments@cityoflondon.gov.uk. Grounds for objection can include design, materials, the impact on the appearance of Frobisher Crescent and on the Barbican Grade II listing, but I fear these considerations will be outweighed by the need to prevent flooding. The deadline for comments is Tuesday 12 August.

The application is for two 75mm drainpipes of painted galvanized steel at the west end of Frobisher Crescent, and also includes new drainage channels on the balconies, and new timber sliding doors on the upper three levels.

Best regards,
  Chair, Barbican Association Planning Committee

The City: Rat FAQ

Tony Bride, the City's health and safety team manager has swiftly responded to our question about rats.  Thank you Tony.  He writes:

Thank you for reporting this issue. We rely on local reports and sightings of pests by residents and members of the public. 

Where we receive a complaint about rats (sightings or signs of) we will investigate and, if there is evidence of rat activity, we will instigate control measures which usually includes using rodenticide together with measures such as removal of food sources and harbourage. We will either carry out the rodenticide treatment ourselves or, where our pest control team are not contracted, require the owner or occupier to do the same. Pest proofing, repair work or cleaning issues would be the responsibility of the owner or occupier. 

You can either report pest problems directly to us or Barbican Estates House Officer. 

In this case we are contracted to Barbican Estates to provide their pest control service. We visited and surveyed the area today but could not find evidence of rat activity – we checked the ramp, the rear servicing yard, enquired with the gardener and street cleaner. The cleaning in the area wasn't perfect but there was not obvious food or water supply in the vicinity. We will wait to see if we receive any further complaints or sightings. Thank you for sending our contact details to other residents in Ben Johnson House. 

The attached leaflet gives further guidance on dealing with rat problems. 

I hope this helps. Please do contact me if you'd like to discuss or clarify anything further. 

Kind Regards 

Tony 

Tony Bride  CMCIEH

Team Manager, Health and Safety Team
Department of Markets and Consumer Protection
Port Health and Public Protection, City of London
P.O.Box 270
Guildhall
London EC2P 2EJ
Tel: 0207 332 3588M: 07956 370220

Sunday wake up call

It seems several residents of Ben Jonson House were woken this morning to the sound of noisy works. people were posting to Barbican Talk from 07:59.

One resident said:

They were jackhammering near the bus stop. I went down and they stopped but said they had a permit. I spoke to someone at environmental health and also rang Chris Jackman on the number on the bulletins, both had had other calls. At least one other person on barbicantalk mentioned too. 
They didn't resume so the `permit' must not have been too impressive!

Open all hours

If you experience problems get in touch with the project team.  From their newsletter:

Contact information 
If you have specific construction enquiries please contact Chris Jackman, JB Riney Public Relations Officer, on 07720 092 479, or email Chris.Jackman@cityoflondon.gov.uk  

For any general queries about the project please contact Tom Noble, City of London Project Manager, on 020 7332 1057 or email SilkStreet@cityoflondon.gov.uk 

Website: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/silkstreetworks

The north lakes

Two fairly sizeable lakes formed after the storms last night.  You can see them here:

... but no ducks

And the pond beside staircase 63 is still there as noted by the house group secretary:

Permanent feature?

We're really looking forward to seeing that drain management plan from the BEO.

Rat Run

A Ben Jonson House resident was shocked, surprised and a bit upset to run into a rat (rattus norvegicus?) in the walkway beside the spiral ramp at the eastern end of the block.

If you spot one please let the City's pest control team know.

• Telephone: 020 7332 3630. 
• Email: publicprotection@cityoflondon.gov.uk​.

Rattus spotted about 5m north of our door

20MPH from 20th July

The speed limit on most City streets will be reduced to 20MPH from 20th July - this Sunday.  As reported in the City View magazine (and also on the City website (with YouTube video!)):

20 on 20th.  See what they did there?

Eddie Stevens MBE - Leaving Gift

The BA included a note in the most recent Barbican Association Newsletter about collecting for a gift for Eddie Stevens MBE, the departing head of the BEO.  Eddie has run the BEO for the last 18 years.

Eddie Stevens MBE

Please see the note below for details:

Concrete Investigation

The City are proposing to carry out a specialist investigation into the condition of the exterior concrete of Ben Jonson House.

There is a "consultation" period.  Until Wednesday 13 Aug you can send your comments to Christopher Bates.  His postal address is in the document below, but an email to the BEO asking that your message be forwarded will probably work too.

Here is the notice:

New street lights

New Street lights have been installed around the junction of Beech St and Whitecross  St as part of the street scene works.

The light fittings look like they are using LEDs and the poles look much higher than the old street lights.

If you live in the eastern end of Ben Jonson House and you find the new lights are a nuisance (e.g. too bright) contact the City's Environmental health people.

The left most light is on in this photo

Eddie Stevens Reception, 30th July

From the BEO:

We would like to invite you to a drop-in drinks reception at the Barbican Estate Office on Wednesday 30 July from 3.30pm onwards until around 7.00pm in the Residents Meeting Room/Lilac Room (accessed from staircase 13 Seddon House) to come and say goodbye to Eddie Stevens our Housing Services Director who is retiring in August. 

With regards 

Barbican Estate Office

Brief shower. Big puddle.

... and we are still waiting for the drains management plan from the BEO.

One of many

New Bike Racks

We now have bike racks beside the spiral ramp at the eastern end of Ben Jonson House.

Soon to host a collection of bike remains and locks?

Max Headroom

This morning I saw a 4 wheel drive car with a roof box stuck fast under the Shakespeare & Defoe car park max headroom sign.  Here is a photo of our max headroom sign, just for the record:

How low you must go

Ben Jonson resident to swim the channel!

Sara Marley plans to swim the channel:

... people might be interested that a neighbour is swimming the channel, solo, as soon as next week. My window is July 18-24 & I'm raising money for the RNLI on:     https://www.givey.com/saramarley 

To answer the most common questions, no we don't wear wetsuits or grease (a bit of Vaseline for chafing) and we don't stop to rest. Average crossing time is 14 hours for the 21 mile stretch from Dover to Cap Gris Nez.  

thanks!
Sara

Air Quality stall - Community Fair 20th July 13:00 to 16:00

From the BA sustainability committee:

Come to the Community Fair on 20th July and help us spread the message about air quality!

The Barbican Association is having a stall at the Community Fair in Guildhall Yard on Sunday 20th July. We will be showcasing the work Barbican residents have done on the Citizen Science project on Air Quality. This follows from what we discussed at our last meeting in April where residents felt we should inform the wider residential/business community of the City about what we have learnt from our study - and join forces to encourage the City to take action to improve air quality.

Make a pledge to take action to improve air quality and take an air quality plant home!

To raise awareness, we thought we would ask people to make a pledge to improve air quality - such as walking or cycling to work more often, or using the car less, or writing a letter to the owners of coaches who leave their engines running, or reporting smoky boiler or taxi to the City's air quality team. In return for a pledge there will be free air quality-enhancing plants to take away.

The BA stall will also give out information on how to join the BA, what it does, how Crossrail and the Cultural Hub may affect our lives and those of our neighbours.

And please come along and say hello on the 20th. The Fair sounds fun. It starts at 1 pm. Entry if free. There is a swing band, Bollywood dance, Morris women, Latin American dance and loads of activities for children.

Please let me know if you can help out.

Thanks and best wishes

Sarah

Barbican Residents Survey 2014

From the BEO:

Dear Residents 

The 2014 Residents Survey has been emailed to over 1300 residents, and is ready for you to give your feedback on the services that the Barbican Estate Office provide.

The deadline for responses is Wednesday 23 July.

Please spare a few minutes to fill this in by clicking on the link below, as the comments we receive help us improve services.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KC627PQ 

If you would prefer a paper copy, or know someone who wants one, please let your House Officer know and they will arrange delivery.

With regards

Barbican Estate Office

Cinemas sound monitoring

The BA and your house group has been working with the Barbican Arts Centre part of the City to salvage what we can from the original planning condition which required an active sound monitoring system for the cinemas at the corner of Beech St. and Whitecross St.

The City have produced a "statement" which they reviewed with the BA and the house group.  You can see the final document below.

We have asked for a sample of the sound monitoring data which is referred to in the document, but we're still waiting for that.

Here is the message from the City (Barbican Arts Centre branch):

Just to inform you that the sound monitoring statement is now up on our website in the downloads section of the residents page – www.barbican.org.uk/residents (and a copy is also attached).

Best regards,

Rob Severyn-Kosinski

Managing Director's Office Assistant

Barbican Centre

T: 020 7382 7228

Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS

barbican.org.uk

City's community fair: 20th July

From the BEO (Visit the City's fair web site for complete details):

Dear Residents

Please find attached information about the Community Fair on Sunday 20 July at Guildhall Yard, EC2.

Please pop along, and visit the Barbican Association stand, as they would be delighted to see residents. There will be free plants for window boxes, a Barbican quiz, and lots of useful information... 

See you there!

Barbican Estate Office

Safer Cycle Roadshow: Sunday 6 July 2014

From the BEO:

Dear Residents

Please find attached, information on the Safer Cycle Roadshow on Sunday 6^th July 2014. 

Learn how to stay safe on the roads, security mark your bike and Dr Bike will service and repair it!

With regards

Barbican Estate Office 

Click me to see a bigger version

Noise from HAC: 3rd July

From the BEO:

Dear Residents

From the Barbican Association

The Honorable Artillery Company (HAC) has told us they are holding a Formula 1 garden party on 3 July, which will include three short(<5 minutes), noisy demonstrations by a Lotus F1 car - at 1.30pm, 4pm, and 8pm. Later there will be a ball that extends to 2am.

The organisers of the event are offering a 50% discount to residents on a daytime ticket to the event. Go to http://raceweeklondon.com/purchase-tickets/ and use discount code RESIDENTS

Barbican Estate Office