Epping Close News - Spring 2000

IMPROVEMENTS SET TO CONTINUE

At the most recent meeting of the Epping Close Management Company it was decided to investigate and carry out a number of further improvements to enhance the look and improve the quality of our flats.

Perhaps the most significant suggestion was that we invite suggestions from residents to suggest how communal hallways could be made to look better. Ideas such as carpeting and using the services of interior designers be looked into and to that end we have asked our gardening contractors ‘All Angles’, who are also interior decorators to put forward some ideas.

A policy that will be implemented immediately will be to replace all light bulbs with low energy, long life replacements, which should help keep our electricity bill down.

BIKE SHED

A number of residents that own bicycles are storing them in communal hallways this not only looks unsightly, but causes a nuisance and could be extremely dangerous in the event of fire.

Subsequently, we are proposing that all bikes be kept in this shed with all bike owners having their own access key. It is proposed that the shed be located in the ‘shady’ part of the garden in the extreme right hand corner, with a small path or paving slabs laid to ease access.

We would welcome comments as soon as possible from bike owners and other residents.

NOISE PROBLEMS

We have always been lucky in Epping Close that we have only on one or two occasions, had problems with noise generated by neighbours.

We are once again coming into the time of year when all of us start leaving windows open all night. It is therefore, an appropriate time to remind everyone to be considerate towards their neighbours by keeping the volume on your hi-fi and TV turned down. The noise from your stereo and TV etc. carries surprisingly easily through the buildings and even more so in the ‘dead of night’!

For those of us living in the front flats, myself being one, the problem is worsened by people coming home late at night, talking loudly and shouting as they are dropped off by taxi or by friends, then, continuing their loud conversations in the hallways as they stomp up the stairs before slamming their front doors!! I would ask all of you to close your front doors with a key when leaving and try not to slam them when arriving home.

PLEASE THINK OF YOUR NEIGHBOURS AND REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE ALSO SMALL CHILDREN SLEEPING IN THE FRONT FLATS.

If you order a taxi for late at night please meet the taxi - don’t allow him to sit their sounding his horn as often happens - Go and meet it - SHOW CONSIDERATION FOR YOUR NEIGHBOURS!!

It is a condition on everyone’s lease that there is to be no loud music, television or washing machines etc after 11.00pm, please ensure that this rule is adhered to.

CAR PARKING

We are still having problems occasionally with residents and their visitors parking to close to the garages, causing difficulty and sometimes completely blocking access. There is sign up to this effect, but to further reinforce this message, parking lines will be painted. Let’s hope this makes things easier!

Also on the subject of parking, a replacement sign has been ordered to replace the one that was stolen.

AND FINALLY...

Epping Close has probably one of the lowest maintenance charges for flats in the area.  This is due mainly to the hard work of your management company, the members of which are all residents and are unpaid volunteers.

We have, in the last year or so reduced the management charges to £100.00 per half year through careful money management. In the coming years, the exterior will need to be re-painted and work on the hallways mentioned earlier will commence.

However, as a result of number of residents who have arrears in their payments, charges are set rise.

One idea being considered is that there be an increased charge levied to all residents, with a discount equating to the increase for prompt payment - say within fourteen days.

A monthly payment scheme can be put in place for any residents that are in arrears and it is only right and fair to the rest of us that you also make a contribution to th upkeep of Epping Close.

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