January 2022 Newsletter

Hi Everyone,

As a new management team for the estate, we thought it would be a good idea to update you on the key points from our first Board meeting of 2022.

Security and gates (David Morris)

We’re aware that security is an important issue for many residents as a result of increased local criminal activity and other estates installing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), CCTV or roaming security vehicles. A questionnaire, with a covering letter explaining our options, is currently under review and will be circulated imminently. The timeline we're working to is:

·         Mid February: Survey to be distributed to the estate residents (subject to renewed estimates of security components to provide context)

·         Early March: Residents’ responses submitted

·         Early April: Data analysed to determine a consensus

·         April AGM: Results of survey to be presented and residents will be given the opportunity to vote on a security package that meets the consensus.

The management team will then form a plan to roll out the agreed solution.

Drains and Roads (Paul Vasili)

We are investigating our options regarding improving and maintaining the drainage system.  He will start a conversation with Thames Water to evaluate our options on leveraging their system.  This will determine the need for a full drain survey.  Our aim here is to build a 3-5 year plan for drains and this will feed into the plan for road resurfacing.

Planning (Nick Murray)

We recently created and circulated a proposed set of new guidelines for planning and development on the estate that we hope are less complicated and more up to date than the current procedures. These proposed guidelines will be voted on at the 2022 AGM.

Trees and Verges (Tiggy Walker)

You may have noticed that a number of mature trees have, regrettably, been felled in recent weeks. The estate performs a survey of the whole estate each summer with the estate’s tree surgeon to ascertain the health and safety of our trees and identify maintenance actions. Last year several silver birch trees of a similar age showed signs of disease which results in rapid failure should it be ignored. Similarly, disease and old age in a few other mature trees was also discovered and thus they have been felled. In total, this equates to approximately a dozen trees across the whole estate this year. These trees will then be replaced (in some cases planting has already happened) towards the end of the year. This is an ongoing cycle that we’ve adopted for many years on the estate.

Communications (Verity Peatfield)

We’re currently updating the OWRA website to ensure that it is a useful resource for the residents, containing helpful updates on important issues. We would like it to become a key medium of communication between the residents and the management team.

We are committed to providing concise updates from each management meeting (newsletters) to keep everyone informed of neighbourhood matters. These will be posted on the website as well as communicated by emailed.

For residents with queries for the management team, our preferred communications protocol going forwards would be:

·         check the OWRA website for the required information

·         if unable to find a satisfactory answer on the website, email the relevant member of the team.

Please click here for a full list of the team and their email addresses.

Finances (Rebecca Mayhew)

We have committed to undertake a full supplier review in 2022, to ensure that we are getting the best value and quality for the estate from all our contractors. We will communicate the outcome of this review in due course.

To date, we have received 173 payments of the annual contribution from 205 owners i.e. 84%.  After 31st January, the full contribution of £475 will be payable.

The annual contribution is used to fund the upkeep of the Estate. We are currently working on finalising the budget for 2022.

3-Year Plan (David Cope)

We aim to present the 3-year plan (activities and relevant finances) at the 2022 AGM.

Best wishes,

The OWRA Team.