N o. 3, Vol. MMXI Es. 1879 “The finest independent newsletter west of the Walworth Road” “ t FULLY ILLUSTRATED : Pullens Estate News The next TRA General Meeting will be held at 7pm on Tuesday 15 th November at 184 Crampton Street. Z#z Remember, all tenants and residents are welcome! Come along to the Q&A session with Yemisi Adebayo of Southwark Council Housing. KEEP SUNDAY 4 TH DECEMBER FREE! Thanks to a generous grant from Southwark’s Walworth Community Council we are arranging some exciting events on Sunday 4th December in the Pullens Centre on Crampton Street. In the morning and afternoon there will be face painting and a ‘Fruit & Veg’ hat competition – with prizes! Then in the evening we’ll have social events, featuring live musicians and a DJ. Look out for a leaflet with more details very soon! A date for your diary! How secure do you feel on the Pullens Estate? There has been a question of whether to introduce secured entrances to the staircases for some time, but now we want your opinion. Unfortunately several residents on the Pullens Estate have recently been subject to burglaries. These have occurred at various times of the day, so may be the work of thieves who monitor the flats to establish when properties are unoccupied. There have also been some issues with antisocial behaviour on the roof terraces. Pullens security Continues on page 2 Something to share? Contribute to the Pullens Estate News — email your submissions to [email protected]
Transcript
No. 3, Vol. MMXI Es. 1879“The finest independent newsletter west of the Walworth Road”
“ t FULLY ILLUSTRATED :
Pullens Estate News
The next TRA General Meeting will be held at 7pm on Tuesday 15th November at 184 Crampton Street.
Z#z
Remember, all tenants and residents are welcome! Come along to the Q&A session with Yemisi Adebayo of Southwark Council Housing.
keep Sunday 4th december free!
Thanks to a generous grant from Southwark’s Walworth Community Council we are arranging some exciting events on Sunday 4th December in the Pullens Centre on Crampton Street.
In the morning and afternoon there will be face painting and a ‘Fruit & Veg’ hat competition – with prizes! Then in the evening we’ll have social events, featuring live musicians and a DJ.
Look out for a leaflet with more details very soon!
A date for your diary!
How secure do you feel on the Pullens Estate? There has been a question of whether to introduce secured entrances to the staircases for some time, but now we want your opinion.
Unfortunately several residents on the Pullens Estate have recently been subject to burglaries. These have occurred at various times of the day, so may be the work of thieves who monitor the flats to establish when properties are unoccupied.
There have also been some issues with antisocial behaviour on the roof terraces.
Pullens security
Continues on page 2
Something to share? Contribute to the Pullens Estate News — email your submissions to [email protected]
It’s not possible to lock the doors giving access to the roof terraces due to fire and safety risks. However, this creates additional opportunities for unauthorised access to the buildings and roofs.
The installation of an intercom system requiring key fob access could help prevent unwanted individuals from entering the building, and deter potential burglars in future.
However, this would impact on the appearance of the blocks, and would likely incur a Major Works bill for leaseholders and a rent increase for tenants.
What do you think?
Would the addition of doors affect the buildings’ character and incur unnecessary costs?
Or do you feel that an increase in rents and service charge would be offset by a greater feeling of security and reduced concerns about burglary?
Give your opinion at the TRA General Meeting on Tuesday 15th November at the Pullens Centre, 184 Crampton Street.
Continued from page 1
Pullens security
A Pullens resident puts forward an argument for why we should consider installing entry doors on our stairwells:
“I have been living on this Estate for many years and in all those years have found on our stairwell: a few times dog crap and often urine; syringes, a crack pipe, and crack smokers sitting on the top of the stairs; gangs of teenagers using the roof to hide; younger kids playing on the stairs and roof; tramps who need a shelter.
For a while we had a homeless person living on our roof and unfor-tunately he used the roof as a toilet, and empty bags, rolling papers, cigarette ends and other types of trash were left on the stairs.
The other day there was a situation which made me very angry. In the morning I went outside my front door to go out with my little son and there was a very big and scary Rottweiler dog. He was also, I think, a bit afraid and so he started to growl. I took my son inside and called the council who told me that I should have called the RSPCA. I asked if was possible to do something about it ur-gently and they told me that someone would call me back. The dog was there for another 10 minutes and then left. Someone from the council called back after about 40 minutes. I don’t know why the dog was there in the first place, but I’m not sure this would have happened if we had an entry door at the bottom of the stairs.
I also believe that insulating the stairs from draughts and cold dur-ing the winter could save us lots of money, and we would also be able to keep better and safer roof gardens.”
Something to share? Contribute to the Pullens Estate News — email your submissions to [email protected]
On Sunday 4th December we’re holding a competition to find the best homemade ‘Fruit & Veg’ themed hat. Use headbands, baseball caps, woolly hats, cardboard boxes, paper, plastic, fruit & vegetables, balloons – and especially your imagination!
Just bring your hats to the Pullens Centre between 11am - 5pm on Sunday 4th December. We’ve got some great prizes for the most original hat created by a child – and by an adult too!
‘Fruit & Veg’ hat contest!
We are nearing completion of this phase of the Amelia Street Design Project that started in November 2008 with a public launch in Crampton Primary School.
8 semi-mature apples and a quince tree have been planted in Peacock Street, with 4 walnuts, 2 pears and a pine tree to follow in Crampton and Iliffe Street. The new planting compliments three areas of re-designed public space that will help to calm traffic, enhance and support public interaction and improve biodiversity. More information can be found at www.ameliastreet.com or www.dp-q.com
Tenants & Residents Association member Diana Cochrane writes: “On behalf of the TRA I would like to sincerely thank all residents, members and Council representatives and professionals who were involved in realising this project. We hope that all residents will enjoy using these spaces and that one more of the remaining initiatives may be implemented if the budget allows it.”
Green fingers? Local residents are setting up a Pullens Gardening Club that will be active in looking after these areas and the fruit that they will produce. Email [email protected] to sign up!
Eight semi-mature apples and a quince tree are planted in the new orchard at the end of Peacock Street.
Something to share? Contribute to the Pullens Estate News — email your submissions to [email protected]
The TRA and Council Housing Officer make an inspection of the Estate stairwells and roofs every month. They take place on the first Friday at 10.30am starting outside the Pullens Centre, 184 Crampton Street.
Everyone is welcome to take part, or if you have something in particular that needs to be brought to the Council’s attention, please let us know.
The Housing Office also want us to grade the cleaning service from 1-10. The last grade given by the housing office was 9.
What score do you think we should give the cleaners?
Give your opinion at the TRA General Meeting on Tuesday 15th November at the Pullens Centre, 184 Crampton Street.
Estate cleaning
Starting a knitting circle?
Interested in setting up a knitting circle? How about a book group, or maybe a film club? Perhaps you have another idea for a club or society and you just need a venue?
The Pullens Centre is ideal for hosting any sort of social activity. It’s a comfortable venue with plenty of space, folding chairs and a kitchen for making a cup of tea. And as Pullens resident you can hire the Centre for just £6 per hour.
Call to book on 07853 674 138 or post your proposal into the Pullens Centre, 184 Crampton Street. Better yet, come along to the TRA meeting on 15th November and tell us about it!
Wanted: TRA SecretaryWe are looking for a volunteer to take the role of secretary in the Pullens Tenants & Residents Association.
We can offer you support and training, and it’s a great opportunity to get involved in the local community.
Apply at the TRA General Meeting on Tuesday 15th November at the Pullens Centre, 184 Crampton Street.
If the light fittings or bulbs on your stairwell are broken then please don’t wait for someone else to report it!
You can call the freephone Southwark Council 24-hour repairs line on 0800 952 4444.
Stair lighting
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