Letter to CN 18 Nov 2013

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RESIDENTS OF ROWAN PARKRESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

Residents of Rowan Park [email protected]

@Rowan_Park

18th November 2013

Dear Mr Iain McPherson,

Thank you for your letter dated 28th

October. All the residents are also proud to be living at the

award winning Rowan Park, and it is great we have a dialogue with you now so we can work

together to ensure all areas of concern are addressed for all the Residents of Rowan Park.

For the most positive outcome a face to face dialogue with Crest Nicholson is required and we would

again ask that you set up a regular meeting between your site manager and representatives of

RORP.

Thank you for replying to all the points raised in the annex letter. We have responded with

comments and further questions:

1. Damp in Floors

We appreciate due to confidentiality you cannot inform us of the individual properties with

damp screeds, however as this is a major concern to many residents we would ask whether

the houses are concentrated in a certain road, area or even phase?

RORP request that all houses be checked for damp screed due to the remedial time and

inconvenience caused to both Crest and the resident if discovered at a later date. We

require that all floors are checked by an independent surveyor before the 2 year warranty

expires. Please confirm that you are happy to comply with this request and provide dates

when the surveys will be carried out.

2. Ply board Fascia

We would not agree with your contractors report that the delamination of the ply fascias

are isolated incidents. There are a number of ply fasciaswhich are at different stages of

delamination and we are certain that they will all delaminate, soon enough. Delamination

was evident on many properties along Cairns Avenue where they have mostly all beenreplaced. We request that all ply fascias are replaced to the front, sides and rear of all

properties. It is worth noting that delamination also poses a serious health and safety risk as

a delaminated fascia could make contact with a pedestrian upon falling from the property.

There is also overwhelming evidence of problems in the vertical timber work which encases

the drainage pipes due to, among other things, water penetration (please see pic 1-4). This

also needs surveying and replacing with marine grade plywood throughout the site.

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We look forward to your report and receiving the results of the independent survey

instructed by your Technical Director.

3. Damaged/Sub-Standard Road Drainage

Are you able to provide a copy of the report issued by Hyder on the 12th

September. When

is the contractor responsible planning to carry out the remedial works to Phase 1? Are

there plans yet to survey Phase 2 and, upon completion, Phase 3?

The RORP site subcommittee yesterday identified in excess of 70 damaged concrete

drainage blocks that must be replaced prior to Crest leaving the site. Cracks and chips show

that these were either sub-standard or damaged on installation or by site building traffic

(see pic 5).

There is evidence of work being carried out on BT and water utility hatches across the site.

Despite this new repair work it is evident several are still unsafe as they still move when

walked on, this is clearly unacceptable.

4. Rumble Strips

Thanks for your comments on this, may we point out that if the drawings issued by your Civil

Engineer had been followed at the time of building the on-going concern and near misses

could have been avoided.

The rumble strips in phase 2 were installed after the roads had been laid unlike those of

phase 1 which were installed during the road laying process. As a result those of phase 2 are

set at higher profile and also some have not set properly and not according to the spec you

outlined. These will need to be reinstalled, where appropriate, across the site.

Another concern is that when large vehicles pass over these in excess of the 10mph speed

limit it causes the houses to shake. It has been agreed that more signage to the speed limit

needs to be provided throughout the site.

5. Sewage

Thanks for your comments on this, the association has now been in contact with Thames

Water regarding this issue. Please keep us up to date with any information you receive on

this matter.

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@Rowan_Park

6. Landscaping

When will the completion of the audit being carried out by your landscape architect be?

RORP request a copy of this once complete and we ask that you let us know when we will

receive this.

7. Park Preparation and Health & Safety

It is great to hear that the seeded public area has undergone an intensive hand picking

exercise. Have you carried out the inspection planned for the beginning of November yet?

If so has this highlighted the vehicle tracks on the grassed areas especially next to the paths?

8. Rubbish Management

Your proposal for one wheelie bin per household is acceptable to the residents. When do

you propose that these will be delivered to all households? When the bins are distributed,

could information be given along with these regarding the refuse rules set out in the TP1,

Merton Councils strategy (Recycling, Food Waste, Garden Waste, etc.) as well as the

locations where residents are required to leave their rubbish for collection.

It has been noted that the doors to the bin store of Peakes House do not close due to poor

installation. Please confirm when this will be rectified.

9. Solar Panels

Thanks for your comments on this. Residents have noted that they are struggling to get hold

of the required documentation to apply for the Feed in Tariff, namely the MCS certificate

and proof of ownership of the panels along with the full instruction manual for the panels

and the commissioning report from the installer. We would ask that all these documents are

distributed to all residents as a priority.

10.Rogue Car ParkingPlease find attached a plan (Rogue Parking Plan) with the areas of concern highlighted and

we look forward to hearing your comments upon further consideration.

Please could you advise when the bollards will be installed at the entrance to the park from

Crowley Mews as indicated in the landscaping plans. Would these bollards be suitable for

use as a preventative for illegal parking or would the planters similar to those used at the

front of the estate be more practical?

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As previously mentioned ROPR site subcommittee recently carried out a full inspection of all the

communal areas, which we would be happy to share with you, once all your independent surveys

are completed. One issue arising from this inspection is the staining on the garden walls throughout

the site, due to poor rainwater runoff. This affects over 20 separate properties and is an eye sore.

(see pic 6 & 7 from two different properties). A lasting solution needs to be found to this

construction problem as this detracts from the overall appeal of the site and will lead to lowering of

house prices. Please let us know how and when this will be rectified.

As you near the final stages of the residential phases of the development it is reassuring to hear that

you are committed to handing over to the Managing Agent and Residents in a satisfactory way and

pass on our gratitude that you are happy to include our representatives in the pre-handover

inspections. Please could you confirm the dates and times of these inspections and what areas we

will be inspecting.

An issue arising is the building completion of the non-residential units due to be built on Rowan

Park, namely the scout hut, community rooms and doctors surgery/pharmacy. What is the timescale

that these are due to be built?

Please elaborate on the fact that the doctors are currently not in a position to move.

That there seems to be a huge shortfall between the S106 monies available to fit out the hut/halls

and the quotes set out by CN to do this. How is this shortfall going to be resolved?

Who is going to manage the scout hut and community hall?

All residents were sold their properties on the basis that these facilities would be provided onsite,

we would welcome your reassurance that you are committed to constructing these buildings and

that they will be ready for use once CN leave the site.

Kind Regards

Residents Of Rowan Park

CC: Stephen Stone (CN), Ian Davies (NHBC), Rebekah Brydon (CE), Siobhain McDonagh MP (HoC),

David Chung (MC), Brenda Fraser (MC), Sam Thomas (MC),

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Pic 1-4

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Pic 5

Pic 6-7

Letter to CN 18 Nov 2013

Documents

Transcript of Letter to CN 18 Nov 2013