Builders Yard - with us until October

The 28th May newsletter from the BEO has an item about "Public Realm Works" which will upgrade the pavements all the way around the new Denizen flats. The builders yard for this project, and the associated mess and noise, is located beneath Ben Jonson House on Golden Lane.

The project is due to last 21 weeks. So we can expect the builders yard to be around until October this year, or longer.

This is clearly quite a large project.  There will even be regular project update email messages if you sign up (see below).  It's a shame the people running the project didn't engage with residents before deciding to export the static noise and mess of the project from the work location around the Denizen to a builders yard beneath our homes.

Here is the notice from the newsletter:
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Public Realm Works in Fann, Viscount and Brackley Streets and Golden Lane

The works around the Denizen development at 43 Golden Lane started on Monday 24 May and will be delivered in phases to minimise impact on movement in the area, with one way system operating in Brackley, Viscount and Fann streets to accommodate vehicular access.

The works are contained to the footways around the newly completed development at 43 Golden Lane and to the works on Zebra crossing in Golden Lane. The full duration of these works is approximately 21 weeks.

For more information about the project visit www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/goldenlaneworks or email citypublicrealm@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Download the plan of works, you can also sign up to receive our regular project updates directly to your mailbox.

Builders Yard beneath Ben Jonson House

A builders yard has been established beneath Ben Jonson House in support of works happening on Fann Street.

The builders yard is shown in the image below which shows Golden Lane from beneath Ben Jonson House up to, and beyond Fann St.

There are temporary huts on the west side of Golden Lane close to the main exhibition hall entrance, on the other side of Golden Lane there is a waste storage area.

Waste is taken from the work site on Fann St to the street beneath Ben Jonson House by a dumper truck (which you can see heading south in the image).  The dumper truck tips the waste on the road.  A waste lorry (parked next to the waste heap in the photo) uses a grabber to scrape up the waste and load into the back of the lorry.  The lorry scrapes up the waste which is there when it arrives and then hangs around, engine running, while the dumper truck makes additional trips until the lorry is full.

The newly blocked junction between Beech St and Golden Lane is clearly a very handy place for 'considerate contractors' to dump their stuff.

Is this a wild-cat builders yard or has the City approved it?  Either way, what was the process by which the area beneath our homes was chosen to host this noisy yard, and why has this come as (yet another) complete surprise?

The yard in action

The project engineer for these works is Simon Roliston (sp?) on  +44 207 332 1588

The on-site person in charge is Bradley on +44 788 257 2461

... and rather than the 08:00 morning serenade of the dumper truck being started, could they perhaps use an electric dumper truck?  Surely that would make sense with the builders yard being right next to the ULEZ of the Beech Street tunnel?
 

Your Service Cupboard, and how to use it

The BEO are reminding us again how to use our service cupboards for refuse:

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Refuse Collection Cupboards

Please place your rubbish bags in the refuse cupboard at the side of your front door, for collection every Monday to Friday before 8.15am as there is only one rubbish collection per day.

In some blocks resident representatives have agreed a variation to the standard service. Contact your House Group representative or House Officer for details.

If you need to dispose of rubbish at the weekends or Bank Holidays, please take it to your bin compound or see your Car Park Attendant or Lobby Porter for directions.

Please be reminded that the waste collection deposit cupboards were designed to do a job and should be used at all times. Residents should not leave rubbish in the corridors, as this is a fire hazard.

Click here for further information on the website.

Beech St. - central reservation works completed

From the BEO

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Completed Central Reservation Works: Beech Street

Please find images of useful access maps for Beech Street from the graphics team within the Department of the Built Environment. They now reflect the recently completed works to the central reservation on Beech Street which allow vehicles going to Lauderdale Place and the Shakespeare Tower/Defoe House car park to come in from Aldersgate Street and undertake a right hand turn.

Car park access

The signs at each end

Barbican Centre - Spring Reopening Plans

Looks like we can walk into and through the centre again from Monday.

From the arts centre

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Barbican Centre - Spring Reopening Plans


Following the announcement of the Government's roadmap, the Barbican Centre plan to reopen our doors on Monday 17 May. Before lockdown, 95% of Barbican visitors said they felt safe or very safe here and we’re working to make sure we offer you the safest and most enjoyable visit when we reopen. You can find more information about safety and re- opening information here.

If you don't have a ticket for an event, Residents are still welcome to visit the Barbican Kitchen and Shop, but you will need to check in using the NHS Test and Trace app.

The exact dates / timings of when our catering facilities will be open will be subject to change, depending on current guidance / circumstances, however we'd like to share the following plans for when we hope to open:

w/c 17 May

• Barbican Kitchen open with at seat ordering service and takeaway (10am to 8.30pm)
• Cinema Café & Bar open with at seat ordering service and takeaway (10am to 8.45pm)
• Conservatory pop-up bar with at seat service in conjunction with Conservatory Lates (hours as published)

w/c 24 May

• Lakeside Picnic Garden open with at seat drinks ordering service (12pm to 8.00pm).
• Circle Bar open in conjunction with Picnic Garden with some seating in the foyer near the circle bar with at seat drinks ordering.

Mid-June

• Bonfire open (with limited menu) – exact date TBC
• Martini Bar open (Thursday to Saturday 5pm-10pm)

Smoke Alarms - check yours

From the BEO

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Smoke Alarms

Please be aware that leaseholders are responsible for smoke alarms in their flats. City Corporation tenanted flats' detectors are replaced and checked by the Estate Office for electrical safety every five years.

Leaseholders who do not have smoke alarms can ask for a home fire safety visit. This is a service where the London Fire Brigade provide personalised advice about fire safety. It's free, available 24/7, and they can even fit free smoke alarms if people need them.

Please click here for more details.

For more fire security information across the estate please see the website.

Drain surveys continue ...

From the BEO
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Update from the Barbican Projects Hub: Surveys occurring next week at the Podium above Beech Street

Following last week’s surveys on the Podium, we would like to inform you that further surveys will be undertaken from Monday 17 May until Friday 21 May, between 09:00 and 17:00.

The surveys involve taking small concrete samples from the Podium surface in the vicinity of Ben Jonson Place, Frobisher Crescent, Breton and Cromwell High Walks.

Similar to last week’s surveys, any affected tiling will be carefully reinstated once work is completed.

We expect there to be some noise associated with breaking out small sections of concrete. If you have any questions, you can get in touch with us by emailing info@barbicanprojects.co.uk.

Drain Survey this week?

From the BEO:

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An Update from the Barbican Projects

Hub: Upcoming surveys on the Podium

We hope that residents enjoyed a relaxing, if windy Bank Holiday weekend.

Investigations and surveys for the waterproofing, drainage and landscaping works on the Podium (above Beech Street) are progressing as scheduled.

These surveys, in the vicinity of Ben Jonson Place, Frobisher Crescent, Breton and Cromwell High Walks are set to commence next week. On the 10, 11 and 12 May, between 09:00 and 17:00, samples will be taken from the Podium surface and any tiles affected will be carefully reinstated.

We expect there to be some noise associated with breaking out small sections of the Podium surface.

If you have any questions you can get in touch with us by emailing info@barbicanprojects.co.uk.

Service Cupboard Asbestos Checks

Every year the BEO check the service cupboard of each flat to make sure that the asbestos in there is safely sealed (i.e. painted over).

The schedule for the checks in Ben Jonson House flats:

• 13th May - 201-268
• 14th May - 301-334
• 17th May - 335-368
• 18th May - 501-568
• 19th - 26th May - Communal Areas

The survey working hours will be 09:00 - 17:00 each day.

BEO contacts: Steven Murray (Property Services) or Ella Ashton (House Officer) 

Contractor contacts: R. Mann (Eton Environmental Group) Tel: +44 132 574 4123

Here is the BEO notice:

Click to read the whole notice

 

Feral Pigeons on the Estate

The BEO offer to help with feral Pigeons

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Feral Pigeons on the Estate

We would like to remind you to please contact your House Officer or the Estate Office as soon as possible, should you find feral pigeons nesting on your balcony. Effective management controls will help keep numbers low which in turn keeps maintenance costs down.

To assist in the control of pigeons and seagulls, please do not feed the birds on the highwalks, lawns or in and around the lakes. In particular, please do not feed them on your balconies, as they tend to then roost nearby.

Keeping the balconies clear of twigs and leaves may also help to reduce the chance of any nesting. Contractors visit weekly to control pigeon nesting and use a Harris Hawk to control pigeon numbers.

Please click here for more details in the gardens tab of the Residents Information Pack.

Thank you for your help with this matter.