Beware Slippery Surfaces!

From the BEO
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Dear Residents,

Due to the considerable change in temperatures, there is a lot of condensation that has formed on the walls, ceilings, glass and floors. This is making the floors & staircases very slippery. We have asked our cleaning staff to concentrate on mopping the floors as best they can.

Unfortunately, we don't have enough hazard signs to put up in every entrance. So, we are advising caution when moving around the Estate. Please note the podium and car parks are also slippery in places that don't usually get wet.

Kind regards

Barbican Estate Office

House Group AGM: 11th Jan in the Lilac Room

 As announced in the December house group newsletter, the Ben Jonson House Group AGM is scheduled for 11th January in the Lilac Room (which is here) at at 19:00:

Click to read the whole newsletter

Filming action scheduled for 17th Feb

 It seems filming for a "high end" TV show will be happening in the Barbican on 17th Feb, with set-up running from 13th - 16th and tear down happening 18th-19th:

Click to read the whole letter

1st Dec Heating Webinar docs

 In the 2022-12-16 newsletter the BEO gave a link to the notes and slides shown at the 2022-12-01 webinar about the underfloor heating:

Click to read the whole document

BJHG AGM - 2023-01-11 19:00 Lilac Room

The house group committee have given notice:

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Please note the AGM will take place on Wednesday 11th January 2023 at 7pm in the Lilac Room.

Barbican Estate Office : What Matters To You

From the City:
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Dear Residents,

As you will be aware following the recent communication from Paul Murtagh in the News Bulletin and posted on notice boards, Altair has been appointed to undertake an independent review of the services provided to you through the Barbican Estate.

A key aspect of the review is to gain insight into your views. We will be doing this in several ways including holding drop-in sessions and an online survey, so everyone has the opportunity to feed into the review.

If you are not able to make any of the dates below, Altair are also seeking your views through this short survey.

Barbican Independent Review - Resident Survey (office.com)

The closing date for this survey is Sunday 4 December.

On Tuesday 29th November , Julie Leo and Darren Smith, Altair consultants will be at the Barbican Estate to run a series of drop-in sessions, where residents will be able to visit and share their views with us. We have extended the final session to 7.30pm to ensure as many residents as possible have the opportunity to share their views.

Anyone can visit to share their views.

• 10.00am - 11.30am
• 1.30pm - 2.30pm
• 4.00pm – 7.30pm

All drop-in sessions will all take place in the Lilac Room at Barbican Estate Office.

BA Summer Party this Saturday 3rd Sept.

From the BA:

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Barbican Association Summer Party After a long lock-down and a parched summer, the Barbican Association welcomes residents of the Barbican and Golden Lane to an afternoon of family fun, before we all go back to school. 2 - 4pm on Saturday 3rd September in Thomas More Gardens. Find more details on the Barbican Summer Party website.

Reduced Cleaning Service - Friday 19 August

From the BEO:

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Dear Residents

We will be running a reduced cleaning service on Friday 19 August, rubbish will be collected as normal but may take a bit longer with less staff.

This is because the upcoming tube strike on Friday 19 August will affect the number of cleaning staff being able to get into the office.

Thank you for your understanding in this regard.

UK Power Networks: Statement of Services

An email from UK Power:
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Why am I receiving this email?

We own and maintain the electricity lines and cables in your area. We are required by the energy regulator to inform all our customers about our Statement of Services. Find out more.

We are UK Power Networks and it's our job to maintain a safe and reliable supply of electricity in London, the South East and East of England. This means we keep the lights on in your area, regardless of who you pay your electricity bills to. It's important that you know this so you can contact us quickly if and when you need to.

At UK Power Networks, we strive to provide our customers with brilliant service. An important part of this is showing you what services you can expect from us. You can view our Statement of Services on our website. Here you'll find our contact details, information about your rights as a customer and how you can get extra support in a power cut.

Read our Statement of Services

Priority Services Register – Providing extra support during a power cut

The electricity networks are 99% reliable but power cuts can happen occasionally for a variety of reasons, including severe weather. If the network is damaged or develops a fault we'll get your power back on. Our engineers work around the clock 24/7 to restore power supplies as quickly as is safely possible. We also provide extra support to customers who need it. Find out more about our Priority Services Register.

Already on our Priority Services Register?

It is important that the information we hold is up-to-date, so we can provide you with the support you need. Please update your details here.

Copyright © 2022 UK Power Network Holdings. 

All rights reserved. 

UK Power Networks are registered in England and Wales.

Registered number: 3870728. 

Registered office: 237 

Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 6NP.

40c - BEO Reception will close at 2pm today

From the BEO

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Dear Residents

Due to the Red Weather Alert, we will be closing the reception at 2pm today.

We will not be closing the reception for the lunchtime break today (1-2pm) and will just close at 2pm.

Please find the hot weather warning attached which was circulated last week.

Stay safe and thank you for your understanding in this regard.

Barbican Estate Office

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Hot Weather Warning

For some people, especially older people and those with underlying health conditions, the summer heat can bring real health risks. Temperatures indoors can be higher than temperatures outdoors.

That’s why we’re urging everyone to keep an eye on those you know who may be at risk this summer. If you’re able, ask if your friends, family or neighbours need any support.

The top ways for staying safe in the heat are:

• Close curtains in rooms that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler and remember it may be cooler outdoors than indoors.
• Turn off non-essential lights and electrical equipment –they generate heat.
• Use cool spaces if going outdoors.
• Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol.
• Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle, especially infants, young children, vulnerable adults, or animals.
• Try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm, when the UV rays are strongest.
• If you have to go outside in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
• Avoid physical exertion during the hottest parts of the day.
• Make sure you take water with you if you are travelling.
• During warm weather, going for a swim can provide much welcomed relief. If you are going into open water to cool-down, take care and follow local safety advice.

Look out for the signs of heat-related harm:

• If you feel dizzy, weak or have intense thirst and a headache, move to a cool place as soon as possible. Drink some water or diluted fruit juice to rehydrate. Avoid excess alcohol.
• If you have painful muscular spasms (particularly in the legs, arms, or abdomen), rest immediately in a cool place and drink electrolyte drinks. Most people should start to recover within 30 mins and if not, you should seek medical help. Call 111 if you feel unusual symptoms, or if symptoms persist.
• Call 999 if a person develops any signs of heatstroke as this is a medical emergency.

Further information on heatstroke and heat-related illness are available here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heat-exhaustion-heatstroke/

1 Golden Lane: Act now

Here is a letter from the chair of the house group urging us to make a submission about the plans for 1 Golden Lane:

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The closing date for comments on the redevelopment of Golden Lane is fast approaching - 6^th May 2022.

 

Four more storeys are to be added and the facade facing the west side of Ben Jonson will be extended towards the perimeter of the Estate by 11 feet, covering almost all the existing brick facade. 

 

East Central News - link below - describes the development as the Hunchback of Golden Lane and gives a very full description of the development and its effect.   https://eastcentralnews.wordpress.com/

 

Support is requested for those who find the proposed changes disturbing so please, as good neighbours, take time to register your comments on the attached link: https://www.planning2.cityoflondon.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=simple&searchType=Application  22/00202/FULMAJ

 

I'll also remind you that our Common Councillors will be holding a Ward Surgery on Thu 5^th between 7pm to 8pm, at the Golden Lane Community Centre, where you can take your case.  See this week's Estate Wide Bulletin. The surgeries will be walk-in, with no appointment necessary. Come along and let us know how we can help with resident issues. Any questions please contact Ceri Wilkins on ceri.wilkins@cityoflondon.gov.uk

 

Golden Lane Campus - Another retrospective application

 The Golden Lane Campus is yet again making a retrospective planning application.  It would seem that there is no incentive for them to do otherwise, no danger of having to undo the work, no danger of a fine for the individual decision makers.  Why bother with the hassle of fighting for permission to do a thing when you can just do the thing and get it approved afterwards?

In this case the retrospective application is for play structures.

While we most certainly should think of the children, we should also think about the wider context including neighboring residences and, you know, following the boring old planning rules/laws.

I hope the children do indeed end up with good play facilities, but I also hope that the Islington planning team recognise the habits of the school regarding retrospective applications and take action to discourage it.

Click to read the whole document

 

1 Golden Lane - How Big?

The redeveloped 1 Golden Lane will be much bigger, and more intrusive, than the current building.

Planning permission for the proposed redevelopment has been submitted (see the notice here).

You have until 5th May to make representations.  If you object to the plans make sure you include the word "object" in your objection otherwise it will be taken as merely a comment.

Send your representations to PLNComments@cityoflondon.gov.uk 

I have also received a flyer which gives a good sense of just how much bigger the proposed building will be: higher by no less than 20.39 meters (66.89 feet).  The flyer also points out that the proposed building will built out to be closer to Ben Jonson House, that there will be new entertainment terraces, and that refuse containers will be placed immediately in front of Ben Jonson House.

Click to read the whole flyer

Rubbish Locker Doors

Here is a note from the BEO about rubbish locker doors.  See here for a picture of what they are talking about.

The note from the BEO:

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Rubbish Locker Doors

Following a recent inspection by the City of London’s Fire Safety Officer, we have had to remind all our cleaning staff, to ensure all the lockers by the front doors are left locked when shut, after rubbish collection has taken place.

We understand that this may be an inconvenience to some of you but as the lockers form part of the fire safety compartmentation, it is essential they are left shut at all times.

We are aware that there are a number of broken locker doors or locks across the estate, and these are being dealt with. The cleaners have also been reminded to report any faulty doors or locks in the future.

Over time, some of you may have lost the keys, or not had them passed on to you by the previous owners. If this is the case you can borrow one from the Porter/Concierge but you can also purchase one from the local hardware shop such as City Hardware on Goswell road, and ask for the Barbican square rubbish locker key.

Please be reminded that the lockers are there for this purpose and with regular rubbish collections across the Estate, there should be no need to leave anything out in the communal areas.

Thank you for your assistance and understanding with this matter.

How does the Barbican Estate buy its energy?

From the BEO:

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How does the Barbican Estate buy its energy?

The City of London has arrangements in place with LASER ENERGY /TGP until September 2025 to purchase electricity and gas in advance using a flexible approach to obtain the best possible outcome. Procurement is via a Framework Agreement established by LASER Energy (which is part of the Commercial Services Energy Division, a company wholly owned by Kent County Council).

A procurement Framework Agreement is an agreement put in place with a provider or range of providers that enables buyers to place orders for services. Framework Agreements are used by individual buyers to combine requirements and source services at lower prices, or with special added benefits and/or more advantageous conditions.

LASER Energy has undertaken an open tendering competition to establish a shortlist of best value electricity and gas suppliers. TGP is the supplier selected to provide electricity and gas supplies.

The City, and LASER Energy, closely monitor the utilities markets and sets caps to ensure that purchases are made within a defined budget, and if the market prices rise to that level then supplies are purchased to secure against any further rises. If prices should then fall, the cap price is dropped until the bottom of the market is reached. The City wish to enter into agreements at the earliest opportunity to ensure it has the best chance to secure low prices from the market.

The wholesale market price accounts for around 52 % of delivered costs with third party charges (non-commodity costs) accounting for the remainder. The third party charges are mandatory charges and include network costs, i.e. the costs of transporting the energy to the point where it is used, and environmental levies.

Commodity and non-commodity prices are finalised each October for the following 12 months so the rates (price per kilowatt hour remains static). Amounts payable are then adjustable by reference to consumption.

Approximately 50% of our electricity will be provided via a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) from October 22 onwards, and the prices have been set for 3 years. The prices set for each year will be subject to annual CPI indexation.

Ben Jonson House Group AGM - 1st March

From the BJHG:

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Reminder: Ben Jonson House Group AGM

The Ben Jonson House group AGM is scheduled for 1 March 2022 between 7.15 – 9.00 pm in the Main Hall of Golden Lane Community Centre, Fann Street, London EC1Y 0SA.

All Leaseholders and Tenants are welcome, membership is free but there is no need to be a member of the House Group.

In order to join or renew your membership please email bjhg@membermojo.co.uk

or

You can sign up at the AGM, there are also vacancies for Committee Members.

If you would like to put yourself forward for election, or have specific questions that may require research, please contact the Secretary: ben.jonson.hg@gmail.com

Looking forward to seeing you!

BJHG COMMITTEE

Reporting Podium Lights on the Estate

From the BEO:

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Reporting Podium Lights on the Estate

As some of you may be aware all Podium light issues are the responsibility of our colleagues in the Highways Department of the Built Environment.

May we ask residents to please help us with reporting and use the following email address: dbebarbicanlighting@cityoflondon.gov.uk , to report these lighting issues on the Barbican Estate.

If you contact the team directly, may we request that you also copy in your House Officer, so that they may track and follow up on the repairs on your behalf.

This inbox will be monitored on a daily basis via the electrical group which in turn will allow them to address problems as soon as possible, whilst also providing direct feedback.

We hope by working together, we can manage things a bit more proactively.

1 Golden Lane (the ex UBS building) strip-out plan

 With UBS having vacated 1 Golden Lane, the building is to be redeveloped.  It is not clear yet exactly what "redeveloped" means, whether largely demolished and rebuilt as something else or merely cleaned up and re-fitted, but the first step is to strip-out the current internal fittings and drill some boreholes to study the ground beneath the building.

The work will be done by a firm called KpH who are, of course, considerate contractors.  Work details for the project were explained in the following letter and flyer, along with project contact details.

Click to read the letter and flyer

Here are the contact details from the letter ...

Borehole work by A2:

• Oliver Cottam: 0744 694 4137
• Richard Beaumont: 0756 565 0530

Strip-out work by KpH:

• Phil Dunt: 0770 338 1743
• Marius Sadauskas: 07985 038 9866 (this looks wrong, but is as given)
• Andrew Mackie: 0795 038 9866

Here's hoping the boring is boring and they don't find any lingering WWII ordinance!

Update ... here is the text of an email received by the house group on this topic

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Dear Stakeholder,

I am writing to you to inform you of the Soft Strip Out and Borehole works that are due to commence at 1 Golden Lane from January 2022. I would be very grateful if you could pass this information on to anyone living in proximity to 1 Golden Lane so that they can also be fully informed.

The Strip Out work will be confined to internal, non-heritage elements of the building to ensure noise, dust and other disruption will be kept to a minimum. Removing the internal finishes in the building at this early stage will provide a comprehensive understanding of the existing building to allow the proposal to maximise re-use opportunities and ultimately reduce the programme duration of the development and any disruption to our neighbours.

Borehole works will commence on Wednesday 12th January and run for approximately 5 business days until Tuesday 18th January. The Soft Strip Out works will commence on Monday 17th January and are expected to be complete at the end of March 2022.

The following works have been planned:

• Borehole/ foundation survey tests to the south elevation vehicle ramp
• Soft strip of materials internally to the building, including waste clearance
• Removal of external plant and finishes to terraces/ roof

Noise monitoring will be undertaken throughout the duration of the works and will be constantly reviewed to ensure that is remains compliant with The City of London regulations.

If you have any concerns or questions about the Borehole works, please contact A2 Site Supervisor, Oliver Cottam or A2 Project Manager, Richard Beaumont. Their contact details are below.

• Oliver Cottam – 07446 944137
• Richard Beaumont - 07565 650530

The Soft Strip on site hours are Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 8am– 2pm, albeit work will not commence until 9am. Operatives will arrive on site from 7.30am for registration and inductions.

If you have any concerns or questions about the Soft Strip Out works, please contact Site Managers Phil Dunt or Marius Sadauskas or Operations Director, Andrew Mackie. Their contact details are below.

• Phil Dunt - 07703 381743
• Marius Sadauskas - 079850 389866
• Andrew Mackie - 07950 389866

If you have any general questions about the project, please do not hesitate to email sgregory@conciliocomms.com or call our free phone number 0800 994 9322.

Kind regards,
Stephen Gregory
Account Executive
M: 07468 492 708
sgregory@conciliocomms.com
conciliocomms.com

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131 Finsbury Pavement,
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