LAUREL MANOR NEWSLETTER
August 2011
Dear Residents
This page is by way of a rolling news letter which is also full of information which we hope you will find interesting and useful. It will be updated from time to time to reflect changes and developments which affect Laurel Manor and its residents. The Laurel Manor Development was built in 1974 and looks as good now as when it was new. This has not been achieved without spending considerable amounts of money, while keeping the service charge at a reasonable level.
As part of our ongoing commitment to keep Laurel Manor as one of the most sought after developments in Sutton and to benefit both owners and residents, we have continued to carry out maintenance and improvements with a reasonable service charge increasing (if at all)at a modest annual rate. Our husbandry of resources enabled us to renew the "final" roof in 2009 under our planned programme. This was achieved, as usual, without any special levy.
We were pleased to see an increase in attendance at our Annual General Meetings which reflects the interest that residents have in meeting their Committee and neighbours and putting forward ideas and suggestions to make Laurel Manor a better place to live, and I know you all share in our commitment to keeping it one of the most sought after Developments in Sutton.
It was with great sadness that we learned in late July that our beautiful Chestnut tree behind Block A and B was severely diseased. After seeking professional advice it was concluded the tree suffered from a fungal attack causing bleeding canker resulting in severe bark cracking and also an attack of Leaf Miner. The tree was dying and needed to be taken down. It had stood there, we think, for over fifty years, already a mature tree when Laurel Manor was built. A great inheritance. Fungal attacks on trees has grown to a national epidemic over recent years and Chestnut trees are not immune. To see the tree and its problems CLICK HERE..
Fire precautions. Following a committee driven safety initiative, we sought advice on appropriate fire precautions for Laurel Manor. We acted on that advice and have now installed Fire and Smoke detectors in the vestubules and common areas in each block. To read the instructions on how to use the new system CLICK HERE.
Parking has always been on a "First come, first served" basis on the access road and gaps in the garage area.
Please do not park (or let your visitors park) between or in front of the garages at any time or next to the bin shed entrance at any time. The garages are in constant use and you will be blocking your next door neighbour and the two garages opposite if you do. If all the spaces are taken, did you know that for only £40 you can park on Devonshire Road in the resident's parking bays for 12 months. The permit is valid anywhere in the Green Zone, subject to the terms and conditions. There is also some free visitor parking included in the fee, and free parking anyway after 6.30 p.m. weekdays and all day Sunday on Devonshire Road. For more information call Sutton Parking Services on 020 8770 5070.
Occassionaly we have untaxed or apparently abandoned vehicles left in the access road. This is not tolerated as it causes considerable nuisance. After reasonable warning it is our policy to contact the Police, the DVLA and London Borough Council and between us the vehicles are either just removed or removed and crushed.
Garages should be secured at all times. It is rare to have thefts from garages and it is usually the ones that do not have a lock and/or bolt fitted. If you would like to have a floor bolt and keep fitted, leave contact details and we will give you details of a local handyman. If your garage door needs a little attention, there is a local garage door company at Banstead. "Wessex Garage Doors", Tel. No 01737 373444 or 020 8644 2322. (All costs relating to garage doors and/or locks and bolts are for the account of the flat owners). Please, under no circumstances climb on the garage roofs (including the Bin Shed)! They are fragile and will not stand much weight before they break.
There is cold water tap behind the bin shed for car washing and garden watering.
Entrance halls must be kept clear at all times of bicycles, buggies or other hazards to avoid possible accidents and to give the emergency services unhindered access.
The standard Lease prohibits the hanging/displaying of washing, towels etc. from balconies or from windows. This also explains why you do not see Agent's "For Sale" or "For Let" boards at Laurel Manor.
Waste collection. We now have two bins for recycling to take all paper, cardboard, cartons, food and drink cans, plastic bottles and glass bottles and jars, but not plastic bin liners or sacks.
Bags of non-recyclable rubbish must be placed IN the bins, rather than on the floor. The lids on the bins do lift up. If you have children and send them down with rubbish please remind them to put the bags in the bins. The bins are usually emptied on Tuesdays. For more information call Sutton Council on 020 8770 5000.
The collection of domestic bulky items is carried out by Sutton Council on Saturdays. Up to 5 items can be collected at one visit, they are priced individually. Fridges/freezers are collected separately on Wednesdays and are charged at £20 each to cover the cost of environmental disposal.
It is no good leaving large items by the bin shed without making separate arrangements and paying the fee! The bin men will not take them. For more information on this service call 020 8770 5070 (the same as the parking number above). Please mark the items with the reference number and date of collection so we know that an arrangement has been made. A note in the 32a box with your name and phone number would also be appreciated. Please do not just dump large items by the bin shed and walk away!
It is essential that you do not leave old car batteries in the bin shed!!! They will not be taken and pose a danger to the children who live here. The recycling site at Oldfields Road (next door to Tesco) will take old car batteries for a fee of £5.
You can contact your Management committee by writing via the 32a box, which is in the porch of Block 'C' (Flat Nos. 29-40). This box is checked regularly and any correspondence will be dealt with by the relevant person. We are a team of volunteers who genuinely care about the quality of life at Laurel Manor and give our time free of charge. We all stand for election every year at the Annual General Meeting, usually held in June at the Sutton Tennis and Squash Club, so if you want to meet us and some of your neighbours, come along! Details are in the AGM documents all flat owners receive prior to the meeting. Tenants are also welcome; just leave a note in the 32a box and we will let you know the date and time.
Replacement entry door tokens can be supplied at £15 each. Please leave a note in the 32a box with your name and flat number, together with a cheque for the appropriate amount, made payable to "LAUREL MANOR MANAGEMENT (No.1) LTD".
For security reasons the main entry doors should not be hooked open for longer than necessary - for example, when tenants are moving in/out or during deliveries.
Did you know that you can gain access to any Block by using the Trade button? This now operates from 5.30 am to 2.00 pm all year round and is useful for deliveries.
There are gardens and garden benches to sit on and enjoy the sun shine behind the Blocks for the enjoyment of all residents. The playing of ball games is not allowed except with a soft ball or shuttlecock. During the hot weather you need to be aware of the large windows on the ground floors being open and avoid walking/running into them! It hurts! Please also try to keep noise to a low level. Barbeques are not allowed.
The TV system we have enables residents to receive all five main television channels and all the freeview channels. If you require more channels, there are satellite dishes on the roofs of the Blocks, supplied and paid for by Management. If you wish to be connected to SKY or FREESAT, please leave a note in the 32a box and details will be supplied. Please note that there is currently a £100 charge, payable by the Flat Owner to the Installer, to connect you and run the cable down the outside of the Block and to supply and fit a new connection socket. You may, of course, require the appropriate set top box.
As you will no doubt be aware, smoking in communal areas is now against the law, and to help those of you who wish to smoke under the porch, we have provided a wall mounted ash tray in each porch for you to use.
Information on Freehold Purchase and Lease Extensions may be of interest to Leaseholders and can be viewed by clicking HERE..
And finally . . . I would like to thank warmly all my colleagues on the Committee and all other residents who have, in countless ways, contributed to the continuing improvement of our "Manor".
In fact, you may be able to do more because the Committee is not at full strength numerically and enquiries from interested owners or residents would be most welcome.
Laurel Manor is not just a Development of flats, it is so much more than that. We have heard reports of buyers waiting for a flat here to become available rather than live somewhere else, such is the magic of "The Manor". So please keep in touch via the 32a box and together we can make life here even better.
With kind regards.
Brian Putt
Hon. Chairman