March 2014 The magazine for tenants and leaseholders brought to you by Hammersmith & Fulham Council March 2014 The magazine for tenants and leaseholders brought to you by Hammersmith & Fulham Council S ocial tenants in H&F are to be given the chance to buy their council home one share at a time. The council’s Right to Buy Part scheme, which was agreed at a council cabinet meeting on March 3, enables council tenants to buy a share in their home from as little as 15% and pay rent on the remaining share. Then, as and when they can afford it, they will be able to buy further shares until they eventually own it outright. Called Right to Buy Part, the scheme will work like a traditional shared ownership offer. The council estimates that households with incomes ranging from just under £19,000 to £37,000 will benefit from it. Cllr Andrew Johnson, H&F Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “We’re bringing the home ownership ladder down a few rungs lower to make it easier for hardworking local people to take their first steps on it. “We’re confident Right to Buy Part will enable more council tenants on modest or low incomes to realise their dream of owning their home by purchasing it, bit by bit, over a period of time that suits them. “With H&F having the third highest property prices in the UK even an option like Right to Buy is not possible for many tenants – but this scheme will finally bring it within their reach.” Can Right to Buy Part help you? INSIDE Story continues on page 2 n WATCHING THE DETECTIVES! An afternoon of sleuthing in Fulham uncovered some amazing fun SEE PAGE 3 n SAFER THAN EVER The borough is now safer than it’s ever been thanks to extra beat police as crime continues to fall SEE PAGE 17 n GREEN ESTATES PLAN Residents welcome green improvements to three estates SEE PAGES 4-5 n RENTS REMAIN LOW Social rents in the borough remain some of the lowest in inner London SEE PAGES 8-9 n GUARDIAN ANGEL Fulham mum Tracy Marlow steps in to give young people a place to express themselves SEE PAGE 7 TREE-MENDOUS! l Green-fingered Danny Diskin (right) got some help from fellow Lancaster Court estate residents in Fulham when he created a secret garden! Full story on page 15>> To share stories about your estate or neighbourhood, please email: [email protected]HAVE YOUR SAY!
Transcript
March 2014The magazine for tenants and leaseholders brought to you by Hammersmith & Fulham Council
March 2014The magazine for tenants and leaseholders brought to you by Hammersmith & Fulham Council
Social tenants in H&F are to be given the chance to buy their council home one share at a time.
The council’s Right to Buy Part scheme, which was agreed at a council cabinet meeting on March 3, enables council tenants to buy a share in their home from as little as 15% and pay rent on the remaining share. Then, as and when they can afford it, they will be able to buy further shares until they eventually own it outright.
Called Right to Buy Part, the scheme will work like a traditional shared ownership offer. The council estimates that households with incomes ranging from just under £19,000 to £37,000 will benefit from it.
Cllr Andrew Johnson, H&F Council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “We’re bringing the home ownership ladder down a few rungs lower to make it easier for hardworking local people to take their first steps on it.
“We’re confident Right to Buy Part will enable more council tenants on modest or low incomes to realise their dream of owning their home by purchasing it, bit by bit, over a period of time that suits them.
“With H&F having the third highest property prices in the UK even an option like Right to Buy is not possible for many tenants – but this scheme will finally bring it within their reach.”
Hammersmith & Fulham Council
Can Right to Buy Part help you?
INSIDE
Story continues on page 2
n WATCHING THE DETECTIVES!An afternoon of sleuthing in Fulham uncovered some amazing fun SEE PAGE 3
n SAFER THAN EVERThe borough is now safer than it’s ever been thanks to extra beat police as crime continues to fall SEE PAGE 17 n GREEN ESTATES plANResidents welcome green improvements to three estates SEE PAGES 4-5
n RENTS REmAIN loWSocial rents in the borough remain some of the lowest in inner london SEE PAGES 8-9
n GUARDIAN ANGElFulham mum Tracy marlow steps in togive young peoplea place to express themselves SEE PAGE 7
TREE-mENDoUS!l Green-fingered Danny Diskin (right) got some help from fellow Lancaster Court estate residents in Fulham when he created a secret garden! Full story on page 15>>
To share stories about your estate or neighbourhood, please email: [email protected] yoUR SAy!
Under the Right to Buy Part scheme, which is available to tenants who’ve had a tenancy for three years or more, those taking part may also be entitled to an element of the Government’s Right to Buy discount on the share they buy.
H&F Council has calculated, based on current property prices, that a tenant living in a one-bed council home in Shepherds Bush would need a yearly income of £18,627 to buy a 15% share in their home.
Alternatively, a combined yearly income of £36,605 would be required
for a local family to buy a 15% share in their three-bed council property in Fulham.
If the owner/shared owner later decides to sell, the property will be offered to local people on the borough’s Home Buy register – a list of nearly 6,000 residents who are desperate to become homeowners in H&F.
The council, which will retain the discretion to buy-back property purchased through Right to Buy Part, will use money generated by the scheme’s sales to invest in new homes or existing estates or to repay
historic housing debt, reducing interest repayments in the process.
The council’s dedicated Home Buy team has to-date helped more than 700 low-and-middle-income earners into home ownership, through schemes such as shared ownership and discounted market sales.
Any council tenant interested in Right to Buy Part, which will initially run as a pilot, can register to take part via www.lbhf.gov.uk/homebuy
l For more information about Right to Buy Part, and other home ownership options, call 020 8753 6464 or email h&[email protected].
2 | Your Home Magazine To get regular email alerts from H&F Council – sign up at www.lbhf.gov.uk/newsalerts
Dear residents,
It’s fair to say that 2013 was a year of great change for H&F’s housing department.
We appointed a new repairs and maintenance contractor, outsourced housing management in the south of the borough for the first time and awarded, again for the first time, a new estates services contract – all part of our commitment to improving services and delivering value for money for you.
We hope you’ve started to benefit from the various changes we’ve made and you can rest assured that, along with our contractors, we’ll do our best to ensure improvements continue and further savings are made to help keep rents low.
But having had a year of change, we want 2014 to be the year of housing opportunity.
We remain committed to giving local people, especially
More home ownership opportunities in 2014
New scheme offers help onto housing ladder
WElComE yoUR HomE mAGAzINEby Cllr Andrew Johnson, H&F cabinet member for housing
our tenants, the opportunity to become homeowners within H&F. It is for this very reason that we are challenging ourselves to come up with innovative new ways to create home ownership opportunities and deliver new properties for the many thousands of hard-working local people looking for a property they can afford.
This includes building affordable homes through innovative schemes like Rational House, which sees ultra-
modern homes built in a factory off-site before
being winched into position in a matter of days. You can read all about a Rational House project in Fulham on page 12.
We’re also using planning agreements to encourage developers to provide affordable housing as
part of new-build projects. Work is underway on one such scheme in
Ravenscourt Park, which – as well as creating discount market homes for sale – will deliver new properties for
social rent tenants.One tenant already excited about this
scheme is Pat O’Grady-Walsh, a local lollipop lady who used to
live in the development area and has been given a chance to return to the community by taking up one of the social rent homes – turn to page 13 for
the full story.But affordable house building is not the only thing
we’re doing to help people realise their dream of home ownership.
Right to Buy Part is a scheme that we think will help put many more tenants on the path
toward owning their own home.
Quite simply, it offers the sitting tenant the opportunity
to buy a share of their home, starting at a minimum of a 15% share with a proportional amount of the Right to Buy discount applied. They would then be able to increase their share as and when they can afford it in the years ahead.
If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, see the story below.
A busy year lies ahead, and we hope you’ll be able to benefit from the work we are doing.
l If you want to know about what home ownership opportunities available to you, contact the council’s Home Buy team on 020 8753 6464 or register online at www.lbhf.gov.uk/homebuy.
‘‘
Continued from front page
We remain committed to giving local people, especially our tenants, the opportunity to become home owners
Whodunnit?
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Background image, Iman merimi, six, at the detectives event in lancaster Court. Top right, Arin Tok, six. Bottom, left to right, Ela Tok, nine, Nissal merimi, seven, and Arin Tok
Youngsters put their detective skills to the test as they were given a
glimpse into the world of crime scene investigation (CSI).
A group of girls and boys gathered in Lancaster Court Hall, in Fulham, last month to investigate a crime scene laid out by party organisers The Detective Project.
They dressed up in white CSI suits in order to learn all about investigation techniques in a fun, hands-on way through activities such as fingerprinting, evidence collecting and interviewing. And after following a trail of clues and solving their given crime the children and their parents were treated to tea and cake.
One of the parents who took part, Lila Benmeddour, described the event as “brilliant”, adding that both she and her children had a lot of fun.
Fellow parent, Agnieszka Pezdez, said: “It was really good and I learned a lot as well! My boys really enjoyed the event.”
The detective event was one of many arranged during the February half term by Pinnacle PSG. Housing manager Joynul Miah said: “It was great to see children and parents working together and successfully solving the mystery.”
Whodunnit?
‘‘ It was really good and
I learned a lot as well!
my boys really enjoyed
the event.
4 | Your Home Magazine To get regular email alerts from H&F Council – sign up at www.lbhf.gov.uk/newsalerts
‘Green’ estates plan will reduce flood risk
Residents have welcomed an ambitious plan, which would see the introduction of green
roofs, food-growing patches and flood prevention measures on three estates.
In partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham Council, charity Groundwork London is leading a raft of environmental improvements to housing estates in Hammersmith, West Kensington and Fulham, which could help reduce incidents of flooding locally – and across London if other areas were to adopt the same approach.
The organisations unveiled the plan after becoming one of the few UK beneficiaries of a grant from the LIFE+ programme to support
Eye-catching: Flora Gardens in
Hammersmith has already benefitted from green
improvements
environmental and nature conservation schemes.
Under the borough’s £1.3m project, tenants and leaseholders will see a range of improvements to Queen Caroline Estate, Maystar Estate and Cyril Thatcher, Richard
Knight and Eric Macdonald houses. This will include the planting of approximately 600 trees, installation of 600 sq m of green roofs, creation of 400 sq m of land for growing food and introduction of 10 rain water harvesting systems. Water retention capacity would be increased by 20,000 cubic metres.
Harbledown Road resident, Cara Ward, said: “This is superb. It gives the residents a creative space to express themselves and I feel we need more pioneering schemes like this in society. These improvements will make our estates feel more like home for the residents and a joy to walk around. Hammersmith and Fulham is one of the nicest places to live in London but some people still do not even know their neighbour’s name and I think the gardens will give people a
reason to chat to one another, bringing the community together.”
It is hoped the measures will help prevent flooding during periods of high rainfall by reducing the amount of rainwater reaching the sewer system and, in turn, limiting the risk of sewage spills into the River Thames.
H&F Council has been championing the benefits of Green Infrastructure (GI) such as this – arguing that it is a much more environmentally-friendly way of dealing with rainwater than simply increasing the size of the sewer network as Thames Water intends to by constructing the £4.2bn, 16 mile, Thames Tideway Tunnel.
Council leader, Cllr Nicholas Botterill, said Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) like roofs covered in vegetation and permeable pavements were cheaper and greener alternatives to the planned super sewer – and had the support of senior water industry experts who previously supported the tunnel.
He said: “We are practising what we preach. The benefits of this project are huge as it will transform drab and under-used areas on these estates into lush, green spaces that could be used for recreation, food-growing and environmental learning.
“And it could be the start of something bigger – sowing the seeds for similar environmental projects across other estates.
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Douglas Stuart, 78, Lancaster Court
“I think it is a great idea. It will make the estates a more welcoming place to visit and live in. If I was fit enough I would love the opportunity to do some work in the garden in the fresh air. The sooner they make these improvements the better it will be for residents especially the older ones who have more time on their hands. It will give them something to do and a chance to be part of the community.”
Cara Ward, 43, Harbledown Road
“This is superb. It gives the residents a creative space to express themselves and I feel we need more pioneering schemes like this in society. These improvements will make our estates feel more like home for the residents and a joy to walk around. Hammersmith and Fulham is one of the nicest places to live in London but some people still do not even know their neighbour’s name and I think the gardens will give people a reason to chat to one another, bringing the community together.”
Philip Kennedy, 28, Fulham Road
“I like the sound of that. It will bring some colour to the local estates. Some people will say it is a waste of taxpayers’ money but I do not feel that way. Small things like this give people a better quality of life. The same bare space they walk past everyday will now have vegetables growing there bringing some life to the place.”
“We’ve seen cities across the globe embracing the idea of ‘greening’ urban areas, and tackling drainage problems in heavily-populated neighbourhoods in an environmentally-friendly fashion, and we are following suit.
“Thames Water should take note, as it is high time they realise that sustainable drainage measures, which redirect surface water run-off from the sewerage system and return it to the natural ecosystem or store it for use in times of drought, are a better solution to our city’s sewer problem than spending huge sums on the unnecessary Tideway Tunnel.”
The improvement work will see neglected, grey spaces on the three estates transformed into attractive, greener areas with significant benefits.
During the three-year improvement project, organisers will look to offer work placements, training opportunities and establish 12 jobs for local residents to help with its delivery. They will also look to add a dozen new residents as sustainability champions to assist with ongoing resident-led improvement projects.
Anita Konrad, Groundwork London’s director for strategic partnerships and programmes, said: “At Groundwork we are firmly committed to helping build communities and improving the environment.
“So, we are excited about this opportunity to demonstrate the vital role housing estates and their green spaces can play in tackling challenges such as local flooding whilst also empowering local
A Fulham public square is set to get green, following a decision to create a new
urban meadow. A report approved by H&F
Council’s cabinet member for transport and technical services, Cllr Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, lays out plans for a £40,000 sustainable drainage and greening scheme at Imperial Square (pictured above).
Ideas for the site – currently a neglected, residential, hard landscaped area with paving – include turning it into a meadow that would hold water and drain it away naturally, and planting new shrubs and trees. No decisions have yet been made about specific designs and the council will be speaking to residents to get their views before any work begins.
The project, which was given the go-ahead on January 15, falls under the council’s priorities to implement sustainable drainage systems - better known as SuDS – on a wide-scale across the borough.
Cllr Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler said: “This scheme is important as it will help prevent flooding in the local area and also will make the square look much more pleasant and brighter. It is a win-win for residents – not only will they get a practical solution to potential flooding but also a new green space, with flowers and plants.”
All money for the scheme comes from the council’s flooding budget, which has come from the Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Other similar projects recently approved include a new green roof on the Podium in Hammersmith Broadway an d pocket parks and tree planting as part of the Shepherds Bush town centre improvements. l For more information on flooding in the borough, visit: www.lbhf.gov.uk/flooding
The Imperial Wharf square goes green
people to improve their quality of life and shape a sustainable future for their estates.
“The project will show that well-designed projects can achieve investments in climate change adaptation while creating employment and training opportunities that help strengthen the local economy.”
Funding for the £1.316m improvement project has been secured through a grant from the EU LIFE+ programme ‘Climate Proofing Social Housing Landscapes.
Consultation with residents on the estates will begin later this year.
Last year, the council became one of the first local authorities in the country to include the provision of GI or SuDS, in its new Water Management Policy.
The proposed project follows recent work at Flora Gardens, in W6, which saw green roofs and rain gardens installed.
Thames Water’s plans to use residential south Fulham – with Carnwath Road Estate tenants potentially affected for a major sewer construction site for the next decade are being investigated by Government planning inspectors and they want to hear from residents. The Planning Inspectorate is examining Thames Water’s planning application to use a large area of the Fulham riverside for major sewer excavations and will submit a recommendation to government ministers on whether they should grant approval for Thames Water to use Carnwath Road as their major drive site.l For more visit www.lbhf.gov.uk/supersewer
yoUR SHoUT> What do you think of green spaces?
6 | Your Home Magazine To get regular email alerts from H&F Council – sign up at www.lbhf.gov.uk/newsalerts
Residents in one Fulham street can expect to see a bit more colour this Spring after they took
part in a garden makeover.The two-day project, which was
organised by Pinnacle PSG and the council, saw a patch of land in Aintree Street given a new lease of life (pictured above).
Residents joined the local housing
team as weeds were removed, a variety of new plants were bedded and the planters themselves were spruced up with a lick of varnish.
Local resident Ms Greenaway praised everyone who took part, describing the result as “looking 50 times better than before”.
Barry Butcher, Pinnacle PSG’s technical
liaison manager, said: “The residents really got stuck in and were overjoyed with the transformation. All in all the makeover was a great team effort.”
The space was targeted for improvement work following a recent estate inspection. Similar improvement projects are being planned for other areas in the borough.
Help look after your neighbourhood
Residents’ delight at garden makeover
Residents are being reminded how they can help keep their communities clean and tidy by
reporting fly-tips, graffiti and litter.Any problems on housing estates
should be reported to the local housing team while anyone spotting rubbish-related issues on public land around the borough can tell the council using a dedicated mobile phone app.
Launched in November 2012, the free ‘h&f Report it’ app has been downloaded by 2,063 people with 5,450 issues being reported.
They have ranged from blocked gullies and drains, to cigarette butts on floors and fly-tipping.
The Smartphone app allows residents to take a photo of the problem on public land – including local roads, pavements, parks and other public spaces – and add details of the exact position, such as a street name or door number, and a short description with information about the problem.
Easy-to-use, Report it works by allowing GPS signals to find the location of the incident and logging that area via
a map. It then automatically appears on the ‘to do’ list of the council’s relevant team – and all at the touch of a button.
Cllr Andrew Johnson, said: “We are proud of our borough and we need people to help us do everything possible to make H&F a clean and tidy place to live, by reporting issues through the relevant channels and not letting the minority of filthy fly-tippers spoil things for law-abiding citizens.”
Problems on housing estates relating to litter, graffiti or fly-tipping should be reported to Pinnacle PSG on 0800 059 9925 or 0845 160 0845. Alternatively, emails can be sent to hammersmithandfulham@ pinnacle-psg.com.
Any repair-related issued should be reported to MITIE on 0800 023 4499.
H&F Council has been encouraging residents to help the council make the borough’s streets the cleanest in London, lower recycling contamination rates and put rubbish out for collection properly, on the right day.
Litter, graffiti or fly-tipping should be reported to Pinnacle PSG on 0800 059 9925 or 0845 160 0845.
The makeover was a great team effort‘‘
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Tracy Marlow is a real Fulhamite – she was born and raised on the streets of SW6 and now she is on
a mission to steer the next generation in the right direction.
The mother-of-three runs the St Michael’s Centre in Townmead Road on the same site where the now defunct Townmead Youth Club used to sit.
After services previously in the Sands End Community Centre moved there was a need for a new place for the local kids to let off steam.
Thankfully, Tracy came to the rescue and with her team of volunteers she tries to cater for all youngsters down at St
Michael’s with a plethora of activities on offer throughout the week.
She is like Fulham’s own Superwoman. One day, Tracy is donning an apron and showing the kids how to make a delicious plate of pasta and the next she is helping the aspiring artists record their own tracks in the sound booth.
“My passion is kids. They are the future of our community. It is so important that they are given the right direction and support so that they can make
something of their lives. Here we give the youngsters an opportunity to try different things and learn new skills. We want to keep them active and on the right path,” said the 49-year-old.
Her own children attended the old Townmead youth centre as kids and in this case, the expression that the apple does not fall far from the tree was never truer – youngest son, Luke, 23, is a nursery teacher at James Lee in Gliddon Road, Barons Court, and daughter, Ruby, 20, is a teacher assistant at Langford Primary School.
Meanwhile, Teddy, 28, has got into the plumbing game which Tracy could not be happier with after he suffered a tough, few formative years.
The St Michael’s project manager lives on Bulow Court in Pearscroft Road and grew up in William Parnell House so she knows Sands End better than the back of her own hand.
“It is a strange part of town. We have million pound houses on one stretch going up to Imperial Wharf and then normal working class people living in close proximity. So there is a huge gulf in wealth and class, and that is not easy for the youngsters to see. So we want to give the kids confidence and help them to progress in life with a career that they want. They need to have the same opportunity as others to do well for themselves,” she added.
Before taking over at the new centre, Tracy was running a youth café at St Matthews Church in Wandsworth Bridge Road.
With the support of St Matthews and Christ Church, the community facility was opened in 2011 and they have not looked back since.
The west London young’uns are even given the chance to do a
spot of graffiti on blank walls alongside more traditional forms of arts and crafts.
And if you want to put on your boogie shoes, there is a street
dance class every Monday to satisfy the kids’ itchy feet.
Tracy has a heart of gold and that sensitivity seems to be rubbing off on the youngsters after they raised
over £2,000 for the victims of the recent typhoon in the
Philippines with the help of the local Filipino community.
Good things come to good people, as Tracy likes to say.
By Nick Skoricl For more information on activities available at St Michael’s visit: www.stmichaelsfulham.org
Good things come to good
people‘‘
Tracy is an angel
Superwoman: Tracy marlow is passionate about supporting young people
8 | Your Home Magazine To get regular email alerts from H&F Council – sign up at www.lbhf.gov.uk/newsalerts
Rents remain among the lowest in inner London
Social rents in Hammersmith & Fulham will continue to remain some of the lowest in inner
London, it has been announced.Earlier this month, H&F Council
approved a proposal to increase social housing rents by an average of 5.79 per cent, meaning council tenants in the borough, which has the third highest property prices in the UK, will see average weekly rents rise by £5.73 – to £105.21.
This is a fraction of the cost of private sector rents in the borough.
Last year alone, the average cost of a three-bed house being rented privately in the borough was £760 per week. When the changes to social rents in H&F come into effect in April, a three-bed council property in H&F would be £133.98 per week.
Meanwhile, a two-bed council flat in the borough will cost £100.83 per week – while a similar size property in the private sector would cost in the region of £425 per week. The average 2013/14 weekly rent for other central West London boroughs is between £111.45 and £123.71.
Cllr Andrew Johnson, said: “H&F is a hugely desirable place to live, as reflected by the fact that the borough has the UK’s third highest house prices.
“This year we’ve done all we can to keep rents down through delivering £4m in savings and paying off some of our housing debt.
“Even after this proposed increase our social rents still remain lower than other inner London boroughs and the average rent of a little over £100 a week still offers a very good deal when compared to the private market.”
Under the new rents policy 93% of tenants will see an increase of less than
£7.01, and no tenant will see an increase greater than £12.70
per week.Cllr Johnson added: “Now
more than ever, the housing department has a duty to continue to bear down on costs to enable us to keep rent increases low, yet
continue to deliver
improved services for our residents.”“We would much rather protect tenants
from large rent rises, pay off our historic housing debt, and continue to invest record sums in our housing stock, by employing other measures, such as selling
run-down and disused properties that are too expensive to bring back into use.”
The council has also announced a freeze in the
communal heating charge – despite major energy providers announcing hikes to bills.
In addition, a freeze in garage and parking charges has been approved.
There will be an average increase in water charges of
0.1% – equating to an average rise of less than one penny per
week – and an increase in tenant service charges for 2014/15 of 3.7%.
Separately, H&F Council cabinet members have approved a proposal that will see under-occupying tenants offered £2,000 per room should they opt to downsize their property.
The council’s housing department, which has been self-financing since 2012, has to balance its own books through rent collection and other methods in order to keep the stock in good condition.
In addition, the council is also paying off more than £200 million of housing debt that was borrowed to improve homes as part of the Decent Homes Programme. This is currently costing the council almost £12m a year in interest payments.
And across the borough, plans to cut both parts of the council tax bill and freeze parking charges have been agreed in a boost for local residents.
While nationally council tax costs have doubled over the past decade, H&F Council is set to reduce bills by 3% this April.l To read more about the council’s budget for 2014/15 visit: www.lbhf.gov.uk/counciltax2014
‘‘In addition to social rents remaining low, the council has announced a freeze for local heating and garage charges and a cut to council tax bills
Our social rents remain lower than other inner London boroughs
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Rents remain among the lowest in inner London
property sizeAverage rent per week
lBHF %
Studio Flats 280 75.46 27%
1 Bed Flats 291 87.30 30%
2 Bed Flats 425 95.37 22%
3 Bed Flats 636 106.97 17%
2 Bed Houses 549 114.21 21%
3 Bed Houses 760 127.52 17%
4 Bed Houses 1,055 140.38 13%
5 Bed Houses 1,328 148.57 11%
6 Bed Houses N/A 150.66
RenT BenCHMARKIng2013-14 private sector rents in Hammersmith & Fulham as of 23/10/2013 (source: Rightmove.co.uk)
RenT BenCHMARKIng 2013-14: Inner London Local Housing authorities12
nB: For Wandsworth council, the only average rent figure is available under cabinet report.12 CIPFA Benchmarking Club – figures are provisional only. 13These figures have been updated to incorporate the merging of the Sheltered Accommodation charge into the basic rent. The aggregation of the Sheltered Accommodation charge with basic rents was approved as part ot the Housing Revenue Account Financial Strategy and Rent Increase 2013/14.
10 | Your Home Magazine To get regular email alerts from H&F Council – sign up at www.lbhf.gov.uk/newsalerts
Leaseholders will now be able to get all the latest news relevant to them in
Your Home Magazine.The last Your Leaseholder
newsletter was sent to residents in January before the annual leaseholders’ conference – but from now on they can expect to receive this news in Your Home instead.
This will include dates of future leaseholder meetings, important service announcements and other relevant news.
Record numbers attended this year’s conference; where in the
region of 100 leaseholders listened to the council’s executive director of housing and regeneration discuss the way service delivery has changed over the past year.
There were also presentations from housing management and estate services provider Pinnacle PSG and Mitie, the council’s repairs contractor, before audience members were invited to take part in
Q&A sessions.l If you want to speak to the council about anything to do with your leasehold property, simply call 0800 840 4501. A new phone system is now in place to help put leaseholders in touch with the council officer best equipped to deal with their enquiry.
Leaseholder news moves to Your Home
Subletting:Leaseholders wanting to rent out their property are able to do so – providing they formally advise legal services.
Just telling the council to change the council tax payer or renting your property back to the council is not the same as registering a sublet.
To rent their property, leaseholders will need to provide a copy of the tenancy agreement, their forwarding address, contact telephone numbers for the leaseholder and the tenant(s), details of any managing agent involved and pay a fee of £30.
Subletting a leasehold property without telling the council is a breach of the lease and may lead to the forfeiture of the lease.
l To find out more, contact legal services by calling 020 8753 2723.
Reminders for leaseholdersCorrespondence Addresses:Leaseholders are advised to provide Leasehold Services with their correspondence address if they are going to be away from the leasehold property for a period of time to ensure that all important information, such as invoices, statements and major works consultation notices are still received.
The council has recently been involved in cases in which a court judgement on debt against a leaseholder has been reached in their absence – with the leaseholder only explaining after the hearing that they had been living away from their property.
l To let Leasehold Services know about a correspondence address, send an email to [email protected] or write to leasehold Services, 3rd Floor, 145 King Street, W6 9XY.
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BBC TV Centre plans approvedPlans to regenerate the world famous former BBC Television Centre in White City – preserving the Grade II listed central ring, the famous Studio 1 and other historic features at their heart – have been approved.
H&F Council’s Planning Application Committee gave the green light to Stanhope, the new owner of the five-hectare site on Wood Lane, to build more than 1,000 homes, a hotel and new shops.
The plans – which bring £10 million in community improvements and could create around 2,745 jobs according to the developers – will enable the centre to remain at the heart of the community where it has stood for the past 53 years.
Free Wi-Fi in Lyric SquareHammersmith residents can now take advantage of the brand new Wi-Fi that has been installed in Lyric Square.
Now Hammersmith’s prime public space is fully interactive, as people can connect to the HammersmithLondon Wi-Fi for free and with no password required.
Hammersmith London is now encouraging people to use the Wi-Fi to download the free I Love Hammersmith APP.
Cycle Cinema comes to FulhamResidents on the Clem Attlee Estate were given the chance to watch a Hollywood blockbuster on a pop-up cinema that runs on pedal-power.
Audience members were given free popcorn and invited to power the big screen and sound system by peddling bicycles at the Pinnacle-sponsored Cycle Cinema screening of Iron Man 3.
Pinnacle has told residents to expect more community events like this in the near future.
Hammersmith & Fulham is leading the way in London in the fight against payday lenders
and loan sharks in partnership with London Plus credit union.
Credit unions are not-for-profit run organisations owned by their members, with any profits shared fairly amongst the members or reinvested to provide better services. They manage personal savings accounts of up to £15,000 and these are protected in exactly the same way as bank and building society deposits. Anyone who lives or works in the borough is able to become a credit union member, and be eligible for loans of between £50 and £7,500.
Residents can take advantage of low loan rates from 17.9 per cent to 26.8%APR which compares with the over 5,000%APR routinely charged by unscrupulous money lenders. This is a real boon for some of the capital’s most vulnerable citizens.
The council has also pledged it will sign up to a Loan Shark Charter, which promises to clamp down hard on those who take advantage of residents. The Charter will make it clear that illegal moneylenders will be prosecuted, leading to safer neighbourhoods free from the fear of loan sharks. Residents will be encouraged to come forward to report illegal activity, and the opportunity of support will be given to those who have been victims of crime.
This is just one of the things the council is doing to relieve the pressure on hard-working residents. H&F already has the third lowest council tax in Britain, and is striving to do the best for local residents by helping them to save money through sharing services and management costs
with neighbouring councils. This will save £40 million for the three councils by 2016.
The credit union has now issued over £2.4million in loans to the residents and workers of H&F. As a result of people borrowing from the union over £2million has been saved in interest repayments. Many people working in the borough will be able to have payments to the credit union made directly from their pay packet, making it easy to save regularly or repay a loan.
The amount owed by the town hall has been driven below £80million for the first time since the 1980s. Council debt has been falling steadily since its peak in 2004 when the authority owed an eye-watering £176million – costing £9.5million a year in interest repayments. Debt repayments are now less than £5million a year.
H&F council leader Cllr Nicholas Botterill said: “Too much debt, especially with extortionate levels of interest, can be crippling. The council is doing its bit to reduce the cost of living by reducing our own debt and passing on the savings through regular council tax cuts. We now want to enable residents to reduce their personal debt by driving the loan sharks and pay day lenders out of our borough. By signing up to the Loan Shark Charter and working with the local credit union the council will promote sensible lending, at reasonable rates, which do not break the bank.”l For more information and to find out how to apply for a loan, please look at the union’s new website at www.londonpluscu.co.uk where you can apply for a loan online and learn more.
Council takes on payday lenders and loan sharks
12 | Your Home Magazine To get regular email alerts from H&F Council – sign up at www.lbhf.gov.uk/newsalerts
Work to provide more homes for modest and middle income-earners shows no
sign of slowing down after approval was given for new affordable properties to be built as part of a new Rational House project.
The proposal – to create a three storey building containing a one-bed and five two-bed flats on an under-utilised piece of land in Fulham’s Barclay Close Estate – has been given the go-ahead by the council’s planning applications committee.
Cllr Andrew Johnson, H&F Council’s cabinet member for housing said that three of the six homes built will be offered first to local people who are on the borough’s Home Buy register.
He said: “We’re acutely aware that there are many hard-working people living in the borough who are desperate to buy their own home and we are doing what we can to help them take their first step on the housing ladder.
“With Barclay Close’s Rational House project, half of the available homes will be affordable housing. So, modest and middle income-earners in H&F who may ordinarily be priced out of the market will have an opportunity to purchase their first property at a discounted market rate.
“The borough may have the third highest property prices in the UK, but we are always looking to create more opportunities for aspirational first-time buyers to buy their own place at a decent price.”
The Rational House product sees ultra-modern homes built in a factory off-site using pre-made panels. Once finished, they are winched into position in a matter of days.
And, because they are constructed
More Rational Houses for first-time buyers
off-site, the impact on the local community in terms of noise, dust and traffic movements is kept to a minimum.
A home built in this way already exists in the borough. The three bedroom property in Biscay Road, Hammersmith, took just 11 days to erect in 2011.
Later this year, 10 state-of-the-art ‘Rational Houses’ are due to be built on the Spring Vale Estate. Six of these homes will be sold at a discounted market rate to potential first-time buyers on the council’s Home Buy register.
The method of construction adopted by the Rational House product is ideal for building high-density low-rise development – making it perfect for a tight urban borough like H&F.
The discount market sale properties will be available to local people whose yearly household income is between £30,000 and £60,000.
In total, the council intends to build several hundred new homes on council land over the next five to ten years through a variety of means. Further sites have been identified and could lead to the construction of up to 100 new Rational Houses.
H&F has promised to work very closely with local residents ahead of any development and will hold various consultation events so that residents can come and talk to council representatives face-to-face.
l To find out more about low cost home ownership opportunities in Hammersmith & Fulham, contact the council’s Home Buy team on 020 8753 6464 or register online at www.lbhf.gov.uk/homebuy.
NeWS iN BrieFFirst prize-draw winner named
Fulham resident Esther Woodhams won £50 in shopping vouchers after completing a survey at a Pinnacle road show.
Fulham North Village manager David Campbell, who presented Ms Woodhams with her prize, said tenants and leaseholders in the south of the borough could expect more prize draws in the future.
Breeze blows criminals out of FulhamA day-long blitz on crime and antisocial behaviour, codenamed Operation Breeze, swept through Fulham recently.
The council’s neighbourhood wardens made hi-visibility weapons sweep patrols, in a joint operation with the police, at the Fulham Court and West Kensington estates. Officers recovered drugs paraphernalia, dealt with a group of youths causing antisocial behaviour on Cheeseman’s Terrace and attended an incident at a betting shop on North End Road.
The swoop came as the latest Met Police figures show that recorded crime continues to fall in H&F, down 15% last year compared to 2012, and is now at an all-time low.
HS2 chairman visits Old Oak to pledge savingsThe new chairman of HS2 pledged to deliver the high-speed rail project more cheaply during a visit to Old Oak Common.
Sir David Higgins said his priorities were to build the £50billion project more quickly and “get benefits to the north earlier”. There is “no other way” to make a “step-change” to the UK’s transport capacity, he told BBC Radio 4 Today.
H&F Council believe HS2, which would link Birmingham and London by 2026, will help create local jobs and boost the economy. For more visit www.lbhf.gov.uk/hs2.
To share stories about your estate or neighbourhood – email [email protected] Your Home Magazine | 13
Bright start to 2014 for outstanding schoolA Hammersmith & Fulham school put into special measures by Ofsted in 2006 has achieved an outstanding rating from inspectors.
Once labelled one of London’s worst comprehensives, Burlington Danes Academy has been judged outstanding
by Ofsted in all four categories. “The mission to provide the very
best education for every pupil within a caring and safe environment has
become a reality in this outstanding academy,” said the Ofsted report.
H&F employee becomes MBeHammersmith & Fulham employee Aysha Esakji received a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2014 New Year’s honours list.
She was given the award for services to challenging extremism and empowering communities.
Aysha has worked jointly at H&F and Kensington and Chelsea councils for the past nine years with the Prevent team; a Government funded initiative which aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
All aboard for boat raceThe 160th Boat Race takes place on Sunday April 6, 2014 and you can watch the action from two of the best vantage points on the route, Bishop’s Park in Fulham and Furnivall Gardens in Hammersmith.
H&F Council will be hosting two family-friendly Boat Race in the Park events, where revellers can catch all the action on giant screens for free, accompanied by beer tents and food. Both events take place from 12noon to 7pm, with the race itself starting at 6pm. Call the events team on 0845 337 0314.
Work is underway on new affordable homes as part of a scheme to build family
houses in goldhawk Road.Under the planning agreement
between H&F Council and developer First Base, 40 per cent of the homes built in Ravenscourt Park will be affordable – and offered to local people first.
In addition to the creation of seven homes for discount market sale, which will be available for about a quarter of their open market value, three social rent properties are being offered to some of the council tenants who used to live in the now-vacant Elizabeth Finn House building on the site.
One of the former Elizabeth Finn House residents to have already taken up the offer of one of the homes is Pat O’Grady-Walsh, a local lollipop lady who has lived and worked in the borough since 1963.
She said: “This is my community and the opportunity to live in one of these brand new homes is so exciting. I’m pleased to see the works have started and I look forward to moving in with my family in the very near future.”
If there are no more
New affordable homes in Goldhawk Road will put local residents first
former tenants who opt to move into one of the remaining social rent properties, these homes will also be put up for sale at about a quarter of their open market value. The remaining 15 houses will be four-bed family homes.
Cllr Andrew Johnson said: “This is yet another example of the work we are doing to secure new homes for hardworking people on modest and middle incomes.”
“And, in addition to providing much-needed affordable family homes on under-utilised land, the council and First Base have been able to offer some newly-built properties to former council tenants who had previously expressed an interest in returning to that part of the borough.”
Local residents have been involved in developing the proposals, including the selection of architects for this
conservation area site.Kate Ives,
development director at First Base, said: “The Ashchurch Villas scheme presents a unique opportunity to develop large spacious family homes in a popular central London location.
“Demand is already high and we look forward to delivering these in partnership with H&F.”
Balfour Beatty’s Alex Boyd, Cllr
Andrew Johnson and Kate Ives from
First Base
14 | Your Home Magazine To get regular email alerts from H&F Council – sign up at www.lbhf.gov.uk/newsalerts
should also be given more powers when allocating temporary accommodation – such as ensuring local people are given greater priority – and this is something we plan on raising with Government officials.”
Last year, H&F Council introduced a
number of radical policies which seek to increase low-cost home ownership, tackle the social and economic divide in the borough and prioritise council housing for people who are making a community contribution.
Housing staff redecorate community hall
The government is encouraging local authorities across the country to follow H&F Council’s
lead by ensuring local people are prioritised for council homes.
Welcoming the publication of new statutory guidance, the council’s cabinet member for housing, Cllr Andrew Johnson, said he hoped the Government would now turn its attention to giving local people greater priority when allocating temporary accommodation.
The announcement comes as H&F Council announced that a former soldier who served in Afghanistan has found a flat in Hammersmith after the council began prioritising former members of the armed services.
H&F Council introduced a raft of measures in April last year that aim to give far greater priority to local, working residents and those who have made a contribution to the community when allocating social housing lettings.
Councillor Johnson said: “Councils
Are you local? new test for council homes
PoLICIeS InTRoDuCeD InCLuDe:
• Preventing households earning more than £40,200 from accessing the housing register.
• Prioritising local, working residents and those who make a community contribution for social housing lettings.
• Ending the notion of a council house for life by introducing five year fixed-term tenancies, with two years for those aged 18-25. Secure tenancies will still be available for the most vulnerable residents.
• Promoting local lettings plans to produce more mixed, balanced and sustainable communities.
• Breaking the link between a homelessness application and a social housing tenancy and removing the perverse incentives the current system can create.
• Getting back into building homes – and selling these properties at a discounted market rate to those on low to middle incomes who live or work in the borough and might struggle otherwise to get onto the property ladder.
Housing staff successfully took on the challenge of redecorating a community hall following a
request from residents.Robert Owen House Residents’
Association asked Pinnacle PSG staff for help brightening up their local community hall and – not to shy away from a hard day’s graft – several officers donned their overalls and set to work repainting it.
Housing manager Mairead Masterson said: “It was a great day and residents kept popping in to see us and offer cups of tea – one lady even offered to make us some sandwiches. With everyone chipping in we were able to get the job done in no time.”
To share stories about your estate or neighbourhood – email [email protected] Your Home Magazine | 15
Danny the champion of gardens in Fulham
He is a man full of wonderful ideas and has turned our community into something that should be envied
‘‘
left to right, lancaster Court
residents plant a fruit tree: lucie Saul;
Janaina, Sophia and Gilda Diskin;
Armando Hedat and Danny Diskin. Inset
below, Armando
The green-fingered Danny Diskin has transformed Lancaster Court into a secret garden on the
Fulham Road.It all started with a few seeds that
Danny and his wife, Gilda, planted in the communal area of the estate.
Sunflowers bloomed after several months and since then the place has simply turned into a gardener’s paradise.
With the help of his fellow residents including the young kids on the block, the father-of-two recently got his hands dirty planting new apple, nut and cherry trees in the ground to add to the tomatoes, courgettes and pumpkins already on display.
Even his four-year-old twin daughters, Sophia and Janaina, got stuck into their dad’s latest green idea and the young girls definitely have it in their blood – their grandfather over in Brazil is a coconut planter.
Back in Fulham, the private tutor has more plans for the estate including water collection points but his proudest achievement from the garden project has been the revival of a community spirit amongst the residents.
“For example, I began to notice rosemary being laid and vegetables being trimmed back and no one knew who was doing it until I discovered that it was an old Italian fella from across the road who was simply lonely. He was sitting at home and had nothing to do and this garden space gave him a chance to be part of the
community,” said the 41-year-old. “By simply planting flowers
and fruits on the estate, neighbours began to talk more to each other and this brought the community together. Many people these days do not even know the name of their neighbours but we need to have the community spirit of old that graced these
streets.”Danny used
to visit Lancaster Court as a kid when he came to see his grandmother who lived in the ground floor flat he is now raising his children in.
The family man wants to see flowers on every estate in the borough and has already earmarked a few in Hammersmith that he thinks need a bit of love and care.
Neighbour Marie Thomas sang his praises as she walked past the
new fruit trees that line the Fulham Road end of Lancaster Court.
“He is a man full of wonderful ideas and has
turned our community into something that should be envied. The place now has a more homely feel and it is a pleasure to live here,” she added.
The toddlers from Little Lillies nursery in
the estate have even got in on the act but Danny has not
stopped there.He has begun to tutor nine-year-
old, Lucie, a fellow resident, to help her get the grades she needs at school.
Top marks for Danny and the Lancaster Court team of volunteers. Let’s hope Lucie can ace the books too. By Nick Skoric
16 | Your Home Magazine To get regular email alerts from H&F Council – sign up at www.lbhf.gov.uk/newsalerts
Dogs defecating and fighting, litterers, drunks and other forms of antisocial behaviour
could be significantly reduced in west London parks after council officers were issued with high tech body worn cameras.
Council parks police officers across H&F are being supplied with lapel worn cameras – in a first for London. The council says the move, which will enable officers to capture court ready evidence at the touch of a button, will help cut crime and antisocial behaviour in the borough’s 54 parks and open spaces parks and speed up prosecutions.
Parks Police will wear the Revealmedia RS3-SX body-cam system – which is an all in one, weather-proof, high definition video recorder with integrated evidence management software. Parks cops will wear the pager-sized gadgets attached to their shirts to record any interactions
while on duty. The move is expected to capture much-needed evidence and reduce paperwork and bureaucracy.
The high tech gadgets are able to capture high quality footage at night and will come with a date and time on all videos. The council says the cameras, which cost taxpayers £300 each, are a huge money-saver because they save court preparation time and often force an early guilty plea.
Cllr Greg Smith, H&F Council deputy leader, says: “A picture is worth a thousand words and video footage is much more effective in securing convictions than verbal accounts, which can be challenged. Dog poo, littering and other forms of antisocial behaviour could soon be a thing of the past in our parks. My
message to anyone thinking of causing a problem in our parks is: smile – you’re on camera and we will see you in court.”
The Parks Police team, which is 33 officers strong and operates 365 days a year, also utilise a GPS tracked digital radio system which
allows controllers to track the location of staff on computer maps and ensure the nearest unit is dispatched to an incident. In the event of an officer needing urgent assistance a ‘red button’
can alert other staff to the location where help is
required.The news comes as Met Police
figures show that crime is down to an historic low in H&F after falling by 15% last year.
Smile! Criminals on camera as parks police start filming
A picture is worth a thousand
words‘‘
To share stories about your estate or neighbourhood – email [email protected] Your Home Magazine | 17
Crime is down to an historic low in Hammersmith & Fulham after falling by 15 per cent last
year, according to the latest Met Police figures.
There were 3,295 fewer crimes in Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) in 2013 when compared to 2012. Overall there were 19,250 crimes recorded in H&F in 2013 compared to 22,545 crimes in 2012.
A detailed breakdown of the stats reveals the number of personal robberies is down by 21%, while burglary has fallen 18%, or 337 offences. There were 1,789 fewer offences for theft and handling offences and the number of motor vehicle crime decreased by 21%. Violent crimes such as common assault, harassment and use of an offensive weapon fell by 278 offences.
The news comes as H&F Council continues to spend £1.3million a year for three squads of extra town centre beat Police with local businesses adding an extra £350,000 a year. The additional cash means the borough has 42 more Police officers than it would do otherwise.
The council is also deploying the latest in CCTV and mobile camera technology to target and deter offenders. The council’s state-of-the art CCTV command centre at Hammersmith town hall streams images from more than 800 cameras 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Around 500 incidents are captured each month leading to
around 100 arrests on average.Meanwhile, the council’s parks police
officers are using lapel worn cameras to crack down on crime in the borough’s parks and open spaces.
Cllr Greg Smith, H&F Council Deputy Leader, says, “Crime is at an all-time low in H&F and continues to fall thanks to the fantastic joint working between residents’ groups – like Neighbourhood Watch – and various council and police teams.
“Extra beat Police combined with a comprehensive network of CCTV cameras and good work from the council’s neighbourhood wardens and parks police teams mean H&F is now safer than ever.
“We will continue to relentlessly target the criminal minority and are determined to drive crime down further.”
To read more about the ways the council is fighting crime and antisocial
behaviour in the borough visit www.lbhf.gov.uk/crime.
The borough’s very own ‘supercop’ has been rewarded for the part he has played helping make Hammersmith & Fulham’s streets safer than ever.
News that Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) has seen a 15 per cent fall in crime over the past year comes in the same week that borough-based PC Anthony Morgan was named ‘PC of the year’ at a Metropolitan Police awards ceremony. And, the recognition for PC Morgan did not stop there, as he was also unveiled as ‘thief taker of the year’ at the same event.
PC Morgan was honoured after making 212 arrests in 11 months - the highest number of individual arrests in London, equating to more than two arrests for every shift he worked.
The efforts of officers like PC Morgan and joint working between residents’ groups – such
as Neighbourhood Watch – and various council and police teams have combined to bring crime in H&F down to an all-time low.
Colleagues who nominated PC Morgan for the Excellence in Total Policing Awards said in their nomination statement: “PC Anthony Morgan, Tony to his friends, is head and shoulders the most productive individual officer in London in terms of arrests.
“He is the definition of a thief taker.“
Crime hits all-time low
H&F parks police officers with Cllr Greg Smith (centre) show off their new cameras as the borough’s crime rates hit a record low
Streets even safer thanks to ‘supercop’. Image of pC morgan at the awards
18 | Your Home Magazine To get regular email alerts from H&F Council – sign up at www.lbhf.gov.uk/newsalerts
Broadband speed and coverage is set to get better for residents
and businesses across the borough following a landmark agreement between H&F Council and a leading technology company.
In a pioneering move, H&F has become the first council in England to let out access to all 15km of the underground ducts through which the authority’s CCTV network runs.
The duct asset contract, which has been awarded to ITS Technology Group (ITS), will see technicians install fibre optic cabling within the ducts. This new resource will then be used by ITS to offer internet users in H&F improved connectivity and increased speed getting online.
Under the terms of the agreement, ITS will pay the council for access rights along with a share of future profits generated by the venture.
H&F Council’s deputy leader Cllr Greg Smith said: “At a time when every council up and down the country must tighten its belt, we’re also exploring innovative new ways to generate income that will aid our ongoing efforts to improve services for residents.”
Landmark deal offers improved web accessITS has indicated the deal
will enable improved internet connectivity to blocks of flats and
other large-scale properties. In addition, the move will make
it possible for registered social landlords to offer broadband services to tenants as part of their accommodation package.
Last year, the council announced the start
of a digital revolution in the borough with the
onset of free wifi coverage. This move saw H&F awarding a contract to communications company Arqiva to provide an H&F-branded wifi service – using the council’s lampposts to install the network.
Through the service, registered users get 30 minutes of free wifi a day and unlimited access to the council’s website at zero cost to the taxpayer. There is also a flexible pay-as-you-go model without any commitment from users to spend after the first 30 minutes free has finished.
The first part of the borough to benefit from the scheme is Shepherds Bush which received free wifi at the end of 2013. Hammersmith will receive the free wifi soon and Fulham by mid-2014.
...we’re also exploring
innovative new ways to
generate income that will
aid our ongoing efforts to
improve services for residents
‘‘
If Starpath proves popular
with park users here it
could be rolled out to other
under-lit public places in
the borough that are a
little more off the
beaten track
‘‘glow-in-the-dark paths are
lighting up a dimly-lit park after H&F became the first
London borough to embrace a new approach to lighting public places.
Starpath, which is a spray-on coating that can be used on any solid surface, works by absorbing UV rays during the day and then expelling them at night – creating a blue glow that lights up the surface.
Earlier this month, the council asked Starpath’s makers – Pro-Teq Surfacing UK – to apply the product to the main commuter route through William Parnell Park, in Fulham.
Not only will Starpath brighten up the dimly-lit park’s path at night
without needing to resort to traditional, costly and more intrusive lighting, its application process helps repair and reinforce surfaces on to which it is sprayed.
Councillor Nicholas Botterill, H&F Council’s leader, said: “As well as improving safety by lighting up one of our less well lit parks, Starpath is environmentally sound, with no ongoing energy costs or light pollution – and it breathes new life into old pathways.
“If Starpath proves popular with park users here it could be rolled out to other under-lit public places in the borough that are a little more off the beaten track.”
Let there be light for park paths
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Don’t put your safety at risk
Some residents consider using portable heaters during the colder months of the year. While this may be a good solution for many, there are associated risks that they should bear in mind.
Please remember the following if you’re thinking of getting a portable heater:
Calor gas powered Heaters
• Gas appliances produce carbon monoxide when they burn. Long term exposure can lead to unconsciousness or death.
• It’s against Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s housing policy to have gas canisters in your property.
• In the event of a fire, gas canisters represent a significant danger because they can explode violently.
electric Fan Heaters
• Never leave an electric heater unattended in a room. • Ensure no children or pets can get close to them while
in operation. • Never leave then close to any flammable items of
furniture or use them to dry clothes. • Always check the condition of the heater casing, cable
and plugs for damage. • Do not use if any part of the heater is damaged.
oil filled Heaters
• H&F’s housing department considers these to be the safest heaters to use.
• Plus, they provide 360 degree heat dispersion compared to electric heaters.
Portable heaters
If you have any questions or need advice, email the Compliance and Health & Safety team at [email protected].
To share stories about your estate or neighbourhood – email [email protected] Your Home Magazine | 23
NeWS iN BrieFHammersmith footway improvementsFootways in Hammersmith town centre are getting a facelift.
Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s contractors Conway FM are removing unneeded street furniture like bollards, railing and signposts, laying new paving slabs, planting new trees and installing new cycle stands to make the area around Hammersmith Broadway better.
Work to the following compact areas will be done in stages over a number of months to reduce the impact on pedestrians and businesses.
For more information on the works, contact Nicky Moodley in the council’s highways team by calling 020 8753 2402 or emailing [email protected].
New residents’ association for Browning CourtWest Kensington has a brand new residents’ association after one was established to represent Browning Court.
The association, which was formed with support from housing manager Geraint Dearman, is already planning a Leap into Action event which will aim to transform the residents’ room into a more attractive space. Pinnacle PSG will look to assist residents with any improvements.
responding to residents’ concernsWork will start soon at Pearscroft Court, Fulham, to relocate the communal bins after concerns raised by a resident about fly-tipping. Working with Pinnacle PSG, council officers have developed plans to improve the area and how waste is managed.
If you have improvement ideas for your estate, contact either your resident association, your tenancy management team or H&F’s improvement officer Bini Shah on 020 8573 5726.
A new website has been launched which serves as a one-stop resource for people in White
City and Shepherds Bush – including those who are less confident online.
Users who visit teamwhitecity.org can see the latest local job vacancies, follow quick links to pay bills, learn about community activity and events, have a say on local issues and find out about support and opportunities available on the doorstep.
The website is packed with news,
Team White City website heralds a new digital era in W12
features and information that reflect the diverse character of the area, and it is designed to be visually appealing, easy to use and jargon-free.
Giles Piercy, chair of the White City Enterprise, an independent social enterprise set up to manage projects in the area, said: “The Team White City website looks fresh, modern, accessible and inviting, and is a fabulous new resource for the community.”
The Team White city website is live at teamwhitecity.org.
Cyclists in H&F are being encouraged to take part in cycling safety and
maintenance courses in 2014.Now that the borough is home to the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme, it is a great time to sign up to Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s courses.
There are now around 1,700 of the popular bikes in H&F at around 60 docking stations in the borough including at well-known locations like BBC White City, Olympia Exhibition Centre and Charing Cross Hospital, and near the train stations at Imperial Wharf and West Brompton.
There are also stations near the parks of Eel Brook Common, Parsons Green and South Park, and at tube stations including Ravenscourt Park, Putney Bridge, West Kensington and Barons Court. The most westerly docking station is at Ravenscourt Park Station in Hammersmith.
Free or subsidised cycle training is available to all people living, working or studying in H&F. The sessions are arranged at a date, time and place to suit the trainee and are tailored to the trainee's level of experience.
Stay safe with cycling courses
To book an individual lesson please contact Bikeworks, the borough’s adult cycle training provider, by phone 020 8980 7998 or email [email protected]
There is normally a booking fee of £5 but people who are unemployed can attend a course for free. Further information can be found at www.bikeworks.org.uk
