City still pushing for new bridges over the lakes

Topic from a thread on Barbican Talk ...

The results of the Barbican Area Strategy Review showed quite clearly that below-podium bridges over the lakes was unpopular, yet the City just won't let the idea go.

The following snippets are from from the September 2015 "Towards A World-Class Centre For Music" document produced by the Arts Centre branch of the City of London.

See page 225

The yellow path to Rattle Hall which some people think will become the primary entrance to the arts centre complex:

The yellow brick road we said we didn't want (pp 236)

The Peeping Alarm Story

The peeping alarm on the substation beneath Breton House has now been fixed.  Here are some notes from the story taken from this thread on Barbican Talk:

The alarm started sounding on Saturday 19th Dec.

The alarm was on the power substation so the first port of call was UK Power on 0800 096 9960 (note: the substation's reference number is 42066). UK Power engineers visited a few times over the weekend and concluded that the problem was with the alarm battery, but in the end concluded that it was not their alarm nor their battery. The alarm is for the halon gas alarm for the substation which is apparently not the responsibility of UK Power Networks.

The estate engineer was contacted next (24/7 help desk on 02073827222). He could not get through the locked gate to reach the alarm, which was unfortunate because there is a simple re-set button that simply needs to be pressed, until such time as the alarm is fixed.

The estate engineer said that the alarm is apparently the responsibility of the barbican centre and they had to wait for the fire alarm company, Global, to come out.

While waiting for Global the CPAs were able to get access to the alarm and used the reset button to silence it from time to time.

No more peeping heard from the evening of 23rd. Presumably Global have fixed it.

Noise Abatement Notices

There is a thread on Barbican Talk about the recent peeping substation alarm issue.  This message explains the Noise Abatement Notice and I thought I'd post it here (edited slightly to add links and make it more generic) for future reference:
____

Contact the City environmental health people by phone (020 7606 3030) or email.

Ask the duty inspector to assess the noise.

He/she will thereby be in a position to declare the noise a 'statutory nuisance' under Section 80 of the (1990) Environmental Protection Act, which will thereby allow CoL to issue and serve an S80 Noise Abatement notice.

CoL will no doubt have the details of who to contact, but require 'proof' (most importantly onsite, first-hand evaluation by their representative) so as to be able to justify/defend the escalation, and any action taken to that end, if necessary in court.

KEY POINTS (including in any follow-up conversation)

1. For noise to amount to a statutory nuisance, it must be "prejudicial to health or a nuisance" 
2. An abatement notice can be served by the local authority if they are satisfied that a noise problem amounts to a statutory nuisance. 
3. The notice may require that the noise be stopped altogether or limited to certain times of day. 
4. The notice can be served on the person responsible for the noise, who then has 21 days to appeal.

Often/usually 'the threat' of formal sanction is enough.

NEW BEO Website

I just noticed that in recent BEO email messages it says this:

Barbican Estate Office Please do not reply to this email as it is automatically generated and your reply will not reach us. Click here for the NEW website!

Here's how it looks.  Click image to visit the NEW site.

Beech St closed for water works: 29/31th Dec

From the BEO:

____

Dear residents 

We have been informed that Beech Street tunnel will be closed to Westbound traffic between Silk Street and Aldersgate Street for urgent repairs to a water leak. This is planned from 8am on Tuesday 29 December until 12 noon on Thursday 31 December. 

The contractor Thames Water will set up a work site just west of Golden Lane in the Westbound carriageway and remove bollards in the central reservation to accommodate access to the Barbican car parks. Once the required area is excavated, further arrangements will be made to maintain access to premises in the vicinity as far as reasonably practical. 

Thames Water have informed us that there may be a temporary interruption to the water supply on 29 December between the hours of 10am and 12noon. This will affect supplies to the kitchen and the bathroom in some blocks on the estate, so please be mindful of this when you use the water that morning. Please ensure you have your taps in the closed position to prevent any potential for flooding when the water supply is reinstated. 

Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause you. 

Barbican Estate Office

Blake Tower: Newsletter & Residents Meeting on 24th Feb

The new Blake Tower newsletter is out.  They are planning to have a residents meeting on the 24th of February 2016 in the Lilac rooms.   No time given so I guessed 18:30 for the entry in the calendar.

Bloke working on the roof.  Click image for the newsletter.

LWP: It was a piston!

The latest newsletter from the developers of London Wall Place reveals that the large metal object they have been digging out is a huge piston.  Phew.  

Wood St. should be back to normal by the end of January 2016.

Click on the image to read the newsletter.

Just a piston.  Click image to read the newsletter.

Cancelled - Community Partnership Meeting Thursday 7th January

From the City of London police via the BEO:
____

Dear Residents

Please note that the next Community Partnership Meeting Thursday 7th January 2016 at 1800hr at Tudor Rose Court, 35 Fann Street, London EC2 has been cancelled.

In addition, the Barbican Police Office at the base of Shakespeare Tower is currently closed so please call 0207 601 2222 (Wood Street 24 hours).

With regards
Barbican Estate Office

Peeping Substation

A high-pitched peeping alarm has been going off at the electricity substation which is at the head of the entrance ramp to the Ben Jonson / Breton car park. The alarm has been peeping for much of the weekend.  People have been seen trying to fix it, but as the time of writing the alarm is still going.

If the alarm is bothering you the emergency number to call is 0800 096 9960.

Go to jail. Help keep cells in good order.

From the City via the BEO comes a request for volunteers to help to keep jails in good nick:
____

Independent Custody Visitors – Local Volunteers

The City of London Corporation, in its capacity as the police authority for the Square Mile, is currently recruiting volunteers from the City to act as Independent Custody Visitors (ICV).

The Police Committee has agreed a Scheme which safeguards the welfare of people detained in City of London Police Stations. As part of this Scheme, independent visitors are appointed to carry out regular checks on the conditions under which detainees are kept. It is an important and valuable role in the local community, particularly through maintaining public confidence in this important area of policing.

The main duties of a visitor are to attend local police stations on a monthly basis and carry out inspections of the cells. Each visit should last no longer than two hours. Although ICVs are unpaid, any incurred expenses would be reimbursed. You will be provided with all relevant training. Volunteers can be either residents or City workers and require no formal qualifications, although they must be over 18 and cannot be justices of the peace, serving police officers or civilian employees; members from the City of London Corporation or special constables

For further details on this, please contact Xanthe Couture on 020 7332 3113.

More Emergency Thames Water works in Beech Street

From the BEO:

____

Dear Residents

The emergency works by Thames Water is continuing, and the noisy work is expected to be completed by 6pm tonight.  The water supply to Defoe House should be back on again, and the further emergency works are not expected to bring on any further water supply interruptions.

Again, apologies for the short notification, but this is because of the emergency nature of the works. 

With regards

Barbican Estate Office 

Barbican Station PA testing

From the BEO (The "attached letter" is below):

____

Dear Residents

Please find a message from Transport for London for blocks in the immediate vicinity of Barbican station:

"If you live in the immediate vicinity of Barbican station, you have hopefully received the attached letter through your door.

In readiness for a future upgrade of the PA system at Barbican station, we are undertaking some testing to understand how the PA noise travels through and around the station. We've attached noise monitors to some strategic locations around the station, including at some resident's homes. Through the night on Wednesday (and early Thursday morning), we're going to be making PA announcements.  We need to do some of this testing while the station is closed so we eliminate the background noise from the trains.

By doing this, it will help us ensure any future upgrade of the system is designed to specifically fit Barbican station so to not adversely impact our neighbours.

We apologise if this testing disrupts you during the night and thank you for your cooperation."

With regards

Barbican Estate Office

The "attached letter".  Click to read.

Emergency Thames Water works in Beech Street

From the BEO:

____

Dear Residents

Thames Water are undertaking emergency works tonight in the Beech Street Tunnel.  Traffic Management will be closing the tunnel Eastbound from 19.00 and Agility on behalf of Thames Water will be undertaking emergency excavation to locate and repair two burst water mains.   This will involve breaking out of the carriageway.   It is inevitable that the noise from this work will cause disturbance to nearby residents.  Noisy hours expected to be 19.00 (14.12.2015) until 02.00 (15.12.2015). Noisy hours thereafter to be constrained to 08.00 – 18.00.  However Thames Water  are aware that it is a residential area and will complete the noisy works as quickly as possible.

Thames Water have insisted that leaving the bursts until the next day will increase the risk of the problem becoming worse and resulting in loss of supply to residents and businesses in the area.  It is on that advice that the out of hours works have been agreed.

Apologies for the short notification, but this is because of the emergency nature of the works. 

With regards

Barbican Estate Office 

London Wall Place - December update

Here is the December newsletter for the London Wall Place project:

Click the image for the whole newsletter

House Group AGM on 9th Dec 2015 - Minutes

The Ben Jonson House Group christmas meeting was a wild success.  We managed to get through two boxes of wine (6 bottles) and two big boxes of mince pies.

Also, the meeting was quorate so we were able to hold the formal AGM.

You can see the minutes of the AGM here.  Please do let me know if you have any corrections.

Xmas Gathering - Wed 9th Dec, Lilac Room 19:00 (doors open 18:30)

Just a reminder that the house group Christmas Gathering, with wine and mince pies (and we hope a very swift AGM).

Please do come along, even if it's just to sign the register and grab a mince pie.  The doors to the Lilac room will open from 18:30 in case you need to pop in a little earlier than the 19:00 start time.

City Road Safety News

The City of London now offer a monthly road safety news letter:

Interested in hearing what the City is doing to improve Road Safety? Then sign up to their NEW monthly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bHYkjL

Also, here is the Christmas road safety campaign flyer:

Click for larger view

Consultation: closure of Barbican tube station

From the Barbican Association via the BEO:

____

Dear Residents

Below is the text of an email sent to the Barbican Association seeking residents' views on options for the closure of Barbican tube station while it is being refurbished.

The timescale for consultation is very tight (comments by 12 noon on 30 November). The BA sought an extension to the time for consultation and also sought a meeting to find out more about the works.

The BA's London Underground working party met London Underground this week  to find out more and has recommended to the BA General Council that it formally responds in support of Option 3. This is full closure of the station for a shorter period. 

The refurbishment is a cosmetic one to surfaces and lighting (no structural changes); we are told that noise and light spillage after the works are done should be reduced.

The work is likely to start around May 2016 and LUL have undertaken to protect against noise (as with any construction site).

The BA has not made a decision on its recommendation yet (it meets tomorrow), but in the interests of getting this out to everyone, we are circulating the options and the email address to respond to Barbican residents now. We have no idea what weight London Underground will put on residents' views.

I personally think it is clear that residents on the west side of the estate who can hear noise from the station would be well advised to opt for option 3, to minimise the noise of works during the night.

Best wishes
Jane

Jane Smith

Chair, Barbican Association

From London Undergound

I am writing to inform you of some essential improvement work due to be carried out at Barbican station next spring. Upon completion, passengers will benefit from a complete refurbishment of the station. As well as a brand new entranceway, passengers will see new wall, floor and ceiling tiles, along with resurfaced platforms. The station canopy will also be upgraded and new lighting installed throughout the station. New wider ticket barriers will be introduced in the ticket hall, improving the overall usability and ambience of the station . In addition to the front-of-house work, we will also be improving the back-of-house systems and software to maintain the efficient operation of the station. We are currently considering several options in relation to how we carry out the work and what impact this will have on users of the station and local residents. The work to be carried out will generate noise, however the actual impact will depend on the option chosen. We would like feedback from local residents to help inform our decision.

There are fouroptions currently being considered for undertaking work at Barbican station. I have given a brief description of each option below:

1.     Engineering Hours only - working between 1am and 5am only

·         Under this option work would be being carried out during the night,between 1am and 5am, while trains were not running

·         The total duration of the project with this option would be 90 weeks

·         The station would remain open to passengers

·         All noisy work will be carried out during the night 

2a  Partial closure

·         Under this option work would be carried out in a combination of the following:

o   Work taking place between10pm and 6am

o   10 weekend full stationclosures which are planned to coincide with pre-planned track closures through the station

o   10 weeks of non-stopping trains. 4 weeks in the Westbound direction and 6 weeks in the Eastbound direction

·         The total duration of the project with this option would be 68 weeks

·         The station would remain open, however passengers would be affected for the 10 weeks when services are non-stopping Westbound (4 weeks), then Eastbound (6 weeks), and during the 10 weekend station closures

·         Westbound and Eastbound non-stopping will be planned to coincide with periods of lower passenger demand, such as during summer holidays

·         Most noisy work activities would be carried out during the day when non-stopping and during the weekend closures, but there will still be some residual noisy activities at night

2b 

·         This option is a variant of option 2. instead of having non-stopping trains for 10 weeks, the station will be fully closed for up to6 weeks during work. This short full station closure is the only variation from option 2. All other work will be carried out as detailed above.

·         Noise impacts would be reduced from those above, as a large amount of noisy work could be carried out during the short full station closure

 

3.    Full station closure

·         The station would be fully closed for the duration of the work (36 weeks)

  ·         The noisiest activities would be carried out while trains were running (although not stopping at Barbican station)

As I'm sure you can appreciate, there are different benefits to be realised from each of the options detailed above. I would be happy to discuss these with you in more detail if you would find that helpful.

 We would like to collect feedback from as many residents as possible. Any comments or feedback will need to be sent to 12pm on Monday 30 November to Ben Thomas (ben.thomas@tube.tfl.gov.uk).

 

THIS E-MAIL AND ANY ATTACHED FILES ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND MAY BE LEGALLY PRIVILEGED. If you are not the addressee, any disclosure, reproduction, copying, distribution or other dissemination or use of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error please notify the sender immediately and then delete this e-mail. Opinions, advice or facts included in this message are given without any warranties or intention to enter into a contractual relationship with the City of London unless specifically indicated otherwise by agreement, letter or facsimile signed by a City of London authorised signatory. Any part of this e-mail which is purely personal in nature is not authorised by the City of London. All e-mail through the City of London's gateway is potentially the subject of monitoring. All liability for errors and viruses is excluded. Please note that in so far as the City of London falls within the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, it may need to disclose this e-mail. Website: http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

Xmas Gathering - Wed 9th Dec, Lilac Room

Ben Jonson House residents are invited to Wine, nibbles, and hopefully a quick-quiet AGM.

19:00 on Wednesday 9th December in the Lilac Room (see here for directions).

Actually the AGM part of this is quite important.  We need 25 residents to be present to have a very quick AGM (10 minutes of admin).  The committee is hoping that the lure of wine and mince pies will draw enough people along.

The house group must have an AGM every year (or else!).  Please do just pop in for a short while.

There will be smart notices appearing in the lifts shortly.

Cripplegate Residents Meeting - 12th November

From the BEO:

____

Message sent on behalf of David Graves, Alderman for the Ward of Cripplegate and the other Elected Members of the Ward:

CRIPPLEGATE RESIDENTS MEETING

12 November at 7.00pm

The Lilac Room level 02 below Seddon House

Your opportunity to meet the elected representatives for the Ward of Cripplegate.

Please attend to ask questions, raise issues of concern and to find out what your elected members can do for you.

Barbican Estate Office

The Notice

Lord Mayors Show 2015

The 2015 Lord Mayors show will be held on 14th November.  The show web site is here.

The route and timings

Fann St. Garden event - this Sunday

The forecast for this Sunday 1st November is looking good - mild and no rain - so I hope you will be able to join us for bulb planting and sowing wild flower seeds in the Fann Street wildlife garden.

Come to Fann Street at any time between 10.00 and 13.00.

Tools and gloves will be provided for adults and children.

There will also be some activities for children as well as the opportunity to help with the planting and sowing.

We'll have hot and cold drinks and biscuits - but if you can bring some to share that would be great.

Families and children very welcome.

Also a reminder that we will be planting bulbs - some lovely yellow tulips - and sowing seeds in Thomas More and Speed Gardens on Sunday 8th November.

Come to Thomas More at any time between 10.00 and 13.00.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Gnewt Cargo In Car Park - CANCELLED

From the BEO:

____

Dear Residents

Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances the letting of bays to Gnewt Cargo has been cancelled. 

With regards

Barbican Estate Office 

... previously ...

From: Barbican Information Listserve Account On Behalf Of Barbican Information
Sent: 28 October 2015 09:54
To: Barbican Information Listserve Account
Subject: Letting of 35 Bays to Gnewt Cargo - Breton House Car park, Barbican Estate

Dear Residents

We are pleased to announce that we have agreed a short term temporary contract with Gnewt Cargo Limited to utilise 35 of our car parking spaces in Breton House Car Park – current occupancy 48%. This additional income will help the Car Park Account, which is an independent asset of the City of London and Non-Service Charge. It will also be a good trial for possible future income generation for the car parks as part of the City's Service Based Review.

Gnewt provide an efficient and environmentally friendly service for the 'last mile' distribution of parcels and packages. This location at Breton House Car Park will enable them to make a short distance deliveries to city addresses using electrical vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian staff.

Gnewt will securely enclose a corner of Breton House Car Park with Harris fencing for a period of 8 weeks between 02/11/2015 to 27/12/2015. We welcome your feedback during this trial period. Residents with car bays within this vicinity have been contacted and temporarily relocated within the car park.

With regards

Barbican Estate Office

Fann St. bulb planting Sun 1st Nov

Bulb planting in the Fann St. Wildlife Garden on 1st November from 10:00 to 13:00:

Letting of 35 Bays to Gnewt Cargo - Breton House Car park, Barbican Estate

The following email from the BEO is the first the house group has heard of this.  The Breton House group have put a number of questions to the BEO about this including what are the working hours and what security measures for our homes will be put in place.

____

Dear Residents

We are pleased to announce that we have agreed a short term temporary contract with Gnewt Cargo Limited to utilise 35 of our car parking spaces in Breton House Car Park – current occupancy 48%. This additional income will help the Car Park Account, which is an independent asset of the City of London and Non-Service Charge. It will also be a good trial for possible future income generation for the car parks as part of the City's Service Based Review.

Gnewt provide an efficient and environmentally friendly service for the 'last mile' distribution of parcels and packages. This location at Breton House Car Park will enable them to make a short distance deliveries to city addresses using electrical vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian staff.

Gnewt will securely enclose a corner of Breton House Car Park with Harris fencing for a period of 8 weeks between 02/11/2015 to 27/12/2015. We welcome your feedback during this trial period. Residents with car bays within this vicinity have been contacted and temporarily relocated within the car park.

With regards

Barbican Estate Office

Beech Gardens remedial work

There may be some noise at the western end of Ben Jonson House.  From the BEO:

____

Dear residents

Please be aware that VolkerLaser will be carrying out remedial works to a number of areas in Beech Gardens including an area to the south end of the pond, this work will take place on Monday 2^nd, Tuesday 3^rd and Wednesday 4^th November between 10 am – 4 pm. Any noisy works, mainly noise from the generator will not be until after 10 am and will not be continuous.

With regards

Barbican Estate Office 

How to be notified of new blog posts

A residents asks:

Is there anyway for regular users to be alerted say by email when there is a blog update?

And indeed there is: RSS.

You can see RSS in action on the blog itself. Notice the "other blogs..." section to the right, below the archive and labels sections. The "other blogs ..." section is automatically updated using RSS when there is a new post on Streets and Walkways site for example.

Another method is "follow by email" which I have just added. Again look to the right hand side of the blog page, below the "other blogs ..." section.  Just enter your email address here to be notified when a new post appears on the blog.

BJH Repair Costs Breakdown

The BEO have responded to our request for a breakdown of the repair costs which we requested because they were 85% over estimate as reported here.

Note that the comparison below is between actual 2013/14 vs. 2014/15 and not between estimated vs. actual (which is what we asked for), but this breakdown does let us see where the money has been spent.

Water penetration is the largest single number by far (at £151,115).  We will now be asking why the leaking roofs are not covered by the guarantee we were given when the roof works were done.
____

Ben Jonson House repairs comparison
	2013/14	2014/15
Drains- Contract/Routine Works	3,514.85	2,939.17
Fire Equipment - Contract	612.64
Carpentry	8,389.37	10,647.93
Concrete Repairs	169.38
Decorating	849.04	266.58
Frames - Doors and Windows	3,787.12	4,581.83
Miscellaneous Works	311.43	18.86
Metalwork	4,150.48	6,908.85
Lightning Conductors	392.00
Lock Repairs and Replacement	783.90	846.70
Expansion Joints (Other Than Water Penetration)		628.00
Glazing	6,816.13	26,395.47
Balconies (Other Than Water Penetration)	876.82	1,430.54
Drains Other	5,243.00	13,315.12
Water Penetration	58,095.08	151,115.46
Sub Total	93,991.24	219,094.51
Pest Control	906.78	986.37
General maintenance (estate wide)	7,740.35	4,782.09
Electrical repairs common parts	3,798.34	3,725.24
Electrical repairs exterior	6,919.97	6,037.02
Water supply works	4,029.65	731.07
Safety/security	14,464.81	3,576.82
Sub total	37,859.90	19,838.61
	131,851.14	238,933.12

Milton Court Event on October 31st

From the Guildhall School of Music and Drama:
____

This email is to inform you and your residents committees that as part of their 'Sound Unbound: Classical weekender', The Barbican will be staging a concert at Milton Court between 2200 & 2300hrs.

The concert in question is a solo performance of piano and toy piano featuring Wilhelm Latchoumia playing the following programme:

Henry Cowell: First Irish Legend

John Cage: Suite for toy piano

George Antheil: Jazz Sonata

Rob Smith Schroeder: Revenge, for toy piano

John Cage: In a Landscape

Stephen Montague: Mirabella for toy piano and Almost a Lullaby

Toby Twining: Nightmare Rag for toy piano & piano

http://www.wilhemlatchoumia.com/modules/biographie/index.php?langue=EN

This concert will necessitate the use of one of our 12 permitted late night events, the first time we've done so since Milton Court was opened.  Barbican Customer Experience will manage Front of House for the event But the School's duty manager and security will be on hand to ensure that the visitor management plan is adhered to and noise from patrons entering/leaving Milton Court is kept to a minimum.  As per the terms of our license all patrons will have vacated Milton Court and the immediate area by 2330hrs.

If however you or any of your residents experience disruptions from patrons around Milton Court on the evening please contact the Milton Court Duty Manager in the first instance on: 07912292056 or 02076384141 (ext. 3003)

Guildhall School of Music & Drama & Barbican Centre

Silk Street, Barbican

London, EC2Y 8DT

T:  020 7382 7217

M: 077 1897 4117

Arts Centre Bi-Annual Residents Meeting - Thu 3 Dec

Message sent on behalf of the Barbican Centre:

Invitation from the Barbican Centre

Bi-Annual Residents Meeting

Thursday 3^rd December

6.30–8pm

The Barbican Centre invites you to attend an informal residents' meeting on Thursday 3rd December, hosted by the Chairman of the Barbican Centre Board John Tomlinson. 

The meeting will start at 6.30pm and will be held in Frobisher Rooms 1 & 2 on level 4 of the Barbican Centre, with tea and coffee available from 6.15pm.

If you would like to attend the meeting,

We look forward to seeing you then.

RSVP Online or call 020 7382 7228.

2016 Cripplegate Wardmote on 16th March

Alderman David Graves has let me know the date of the next Wardmote.

... the Wardmote for Cripplegate will be held on Wednesday, 16 March next year at Barber-Surgeons Hall. The start time will be 7.30pm.

The Wardmote is a meeting of residents and officials of the Cripplegate ward of the City of London.  It's a chance for residents to hear what our representatives within the government of the City have been doing, and it's a chance for them to hear back from residents.

Also, the alderman wears a funny hat.  Well worth attending just to see that.

Barbican in a BBC article

Here is an article by the BBC with some impressive pictures of London, including the Barbican:

Click to go to the article.

Norwegian Airlines Magazine: Article about the Barbican

There is an article in the September edition of the Norwegian Airlines in-flight magazine:

The cover.

Turn to page 36:

The story.  Click this image to read.

Blake Tower September newsletter

From the BEO

____

Dear Residents

Please find attached the latest bulletin from the Blake Tower development.

With regards

Barbican Estate Office 

Click to read the newsletter

Water Penetration Works to the Museum of London - Newsletter

From the BEO

____

Dear Residents

Please find attached the latest newsletter for the works at the Museum of London.

With Regards

Barbican Estate Office

Click this image to see the newsletter

The Barbican Email Broadcast Service

The BEO operate an email list which they use to directly communicate with residents.  The Email Broadcast Service is used for urgent news about works, but also to let residents know about events, planning matters and more.

From the BEO:
____


Let us keep you informed with the Email Broadcast Service

The Barbican Estate Office offers a free email broadcast service to all residents. There are now over 870 residents signed up for the service.

The Barbican Estate Office has sent out information via email on topics such as traffic consultations for the Olympics and Residents Meetings, but will also continue to place notices on the notice boards. 

The BEO is often told that residents do not always look at the notice boards, and we hope that this method of communication will be more successful.

If you have not submitted your email address, or have any queries on this service, please contact the Barbican Estate Office on barbican.estate@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Secure Bicycle Storage available

From the BEO

____
Dear Residents

Following the success of the providing secure bicycle storage for residents we are pleased to offer further facilities in the form of Bicycle Pods. The secure Bicycle Pods are only £30 per annum for a space and cheaper than the bicycle lockers at £85 per annum.

The Bicycle Pods are available now within Defoe and Andrewes House Car Parks.

If you would like to rent a space within the secure Bicycle Pods for only £30, please contact Mark Collins on 0207 029 3955 or by email mark.collins@cityoflondon.gov.uk

With regards

Barbican Estate Office

2014/15 repairs charge is 85% over estimate

In the Actual Service Charges statement you will have received you may have noticed that the actual charges for 2014/15 General Repairs of £238,993 is quite a bit bigger than the estimate we were given.  Actual is a hair under 185% of the estimate which was £129,238.

We have asked the BEO for a breakdown of the actual figure and are awaiting a response.

How it appears in the statement:

These figures are for the whole of Ben Jonson House

Film School 'Enabling Works' may still happen

The Chair of the Breton House asked the City if they would still be going ahead with the enabling works for the Film School given that the Film School appear to have withdrawn.

The response:

The City Surveyors department are looking to carry out a review following London Film School decision to withdraw from the lease agreement, once this has been carried I will contact [The Barbican Association Chair] to arrange a meeting with the residents working group.

Regards Don

Donald Comrie

Senior Principal Project Manager

City Surveyor's Department

City of London

North Wing, Guildhall

T. 0207 332 1019

M. 07786685907

Email donald.comrie@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Website www.cityoflondon.gov.uk