Contact us via the DSRA letter box Gaumont Tower Lobby or the Site Management Office if you would like to add additional items
Next DSRA Zoom meeting: May 9, 2023 @ 7:30pm
The next interim DSRA meeting will be held over Zoom on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 7:30pm, and should not last more than 45′. Here is the zoom link, you will be required to register so that we can automatically take attendance. Sorry for the inconvenience.
VERY IMPORTANT: If you are a leaseholder, and you have not yet signed-up to the new Dalston Square RA, please consider doing so: https://tinyurl.com/DalstonSq
Tentative Agenda (to be finalized on Tuesday)
- Status updates on building block reps; sign-ups; liaising with DS businesses, Curve, the school; insurance; townhalls
- Discuss communication channels (WhatsApp DS community groups, emails, etc)
- Call for help re: organizing the 2 Townhall-style meetings with
a. Mayor, Council, Barratt, re: the state of the square and the cladding works and with
b. FP re: service charges, communication, quality of service and maintenance - Call for more building reps. If your building is not represented, please consider volunteering (ideally via the WhatsApp groups prior to the meeting)!
- Anything else members might want to bring up. If possible, flag via WhatsApp prior to the meeting.
May 2023: The DSRA is back!
We are in the process of rebooting the Dalston Square RA! We have an interim RA in place, with a primary goal to have a recognised RA. We need all Leaseholders to sign up to it via this form: http://tinyurl.com/dalstonsq
DSRA Buildings Sub Committee : 10-12pm Friday December 7th
Note there will be a 30 minute ‘walkabout’ with site manager starting in Gaumont Tower Lobby at 9.30am
1) First Port Log
Additional issues raised by residents:
a) Gym
b) Setting up a gardening club
c) Lifts repairs
d) LED lighting
e) Asset Managment
2) Dalston Square
Hackney Council update
3) First Port 2018-19 budget
Summary of spending to date- against predictions
4) AOB
Next meeting : Spring 2019
Proposal for a live music event in Dalston Square
Dear Dalston Square Cultural Forum members
I hope you are all well and had a good summer.
I’m attaching a proposal for a live music event in Dalston Square on 12 October, as part of Hackney’s Black History Month celebrations. The proposal is being made by Hackney’s library service and a representative of the service will meet with us before the event to talk through their plans. As soon as I have been able to set a date for that meeting I will be back in touch. In the meantime, if you have any comments, suggestions or concerns about the proposal, please do get in touch with me.
Best wishes,
Lucy
Lucy Mcmenemy
Cultural Programme Officer
Communications, Culture and Engagement
Chief Executive’s Directorate
Hackney Council
Hackney Town Hall
Mare Street
London E8 1EA
Tel. 020 8356 2919
Email: lucy.mcmenemy@hackney.gov.uk
Seeking… Chairperson / new members DSRA Building Maintenance Sub Committee
After 7 very productive years, the current Chairperson of the ‘Buildings Committee’ is stepping down. The DSRA is now looking for new members and someone to take on the role of chairperson.
The group meets every 3 months with First Port management to go through issues related to the day to day running of our estate.
The kind of things we focus on are:
- Building glitches -(ie chase Barratts)
- Cleaning
- Waste management
- General repair and maintenance
- Terraces and greening
- Security issues
- Issues related to the Square
- Long term refurbishment projects and costs
If you are interested in helping out, but perhaps do not feel ready to take on responsibility for chairing a group, please nevertheless contact us. We are always looking for fresh members for the committee. A friendly welcome is guaranteed!
Contact us via the DSRA letter box Gaumont Tower Lobby or the Site Management Office.
Residents Association ‘Buildings Maintenance Group’ Friday 8th June
Agenda:
1) First Port Log.
2) First Port surveyor’s MAY walkabout review- additional items for Capex / AMP
3) FP Asset Management Plan ( AMP or Capex) -Predicting long term maintenance and repair costs. A summary review
4) ‘Buildings Committee’ future … working in tandem with Finance Committee – solutions
5) AOB
BMC May 2018
Comments?
If you are a DALSTON SQUARE resident and have any items you would like to add to this agenda please email Gerald at Gerald.Bernard@firstport.co.uk or put a note in the DSRA letter box in the reception area of Gaumont Tower.
The Residents’ Buildings and Maintenance Committee
The Residents Association set up a ‘Buildings’committee from the first days of the complex opening. The committee works closely with FirstPort to ensure our buildings are well maintained.
The ‘Buildings Committee’ meets four times a year. Face to face with First Port regional and local managers. A resident always chairs the meetings. Our aim is to ensure that our buildings, and all common areas, (lobbies, stairwells, corridors, roof terraces, garages, lifts etc) are kept in good order. The committee also considers the longer term upkeep of the buildings.
We get sight of FirstPort’s budget and their Asset Management Plan to help ensure proper measures are taken to buffer against future large item expenditures.
While FirstPort deal with day to day maintenance issues as they arise, the committee maintains its own ‘Repair and Maintenance Log’ of items raised by residents. We check on progress at each meeting. Any resident can attend this meeting or add an item to the Log.
The minutes of the last meeting are available in hard copy for residents only. They can be obtained from the Site Manager’s office in Gaumont Tower, during office hours. Ask the concierge desk for directions or contact Gerald Bernard the Site Manager directly if you want a copy.
Future meetings and agendas will be advertised on this site. Next meeting is scheduled for June the 8th 10 am.
All residents are welcome to attend. Please contact First Port offices to express interest.
Welcome & Easter Egg Hunt report
Welcome to the Dalston Square Residents Association website
The ‘DSRA’ is composed of volunteers who represent residents’ interests. We hold regular meetings with FirstPort to ensure the best level service and ensure our money is well spent. We are a welcoming group. If you want to help organize a social event or join a committee, please get in touch!
We have two working ‘committees’; The ‘Finance Committee’ which reviews First Port’s budget and accounts; and a ‘Buildings Committee’ which works closely with the Site Manager to ensure standards of upkeep, cleaning and maintenance meet requirements.
The aim of this website is to keep residents informed of our activities and events.
Upbeat 2018 Easter Egg Hunt
Thank you to all those residents and children who turned up for this lively event! It was very good to meet some new neighbours, sip hot tea and coffee, drink wine and to enjoy some roof top sunshine and warming spring air.
The Thomas – Burke roof garden proved an ideal place to hide chocolate eggs. Thanks to all those who brought them along and especially for Gerald Bernard for his generous contribution!
There were plenty of keen and energetic children to add to the mix. There were several ‘hunts’ organized as little hands delved into the shrubbery and grasses. Over a hundred chocolate eggs of all shapes and sizes were found, consumed or smuggled home.
Hopefully the event will become a Dalston Square Easter tradition.
The DSRA usually holds a late summer (September) roof top garden party. Interested in helping? Get in touch with the DSRA via the letter box in Gaumont Tower or by email.
Cultural events in the Square?
Have you ever felt that the Square could be enlivened? Do you want to help create a sense of community? A sense of things going on in the Square on those warm summer days?
Lucy McMenemy the energetic Hackney Arts and Culture coordinator and driver is keen to hear from residents in the Square.
Join in and make yourself heard!
TP24 downlighter bulbs
The issue off the dodgy TP24 downlighter bulbs in flats on southwest side of Square (i.e. Sledge Tower and others)
Yes there seems to be a problem with many of TP24 long-necked bulbs set up in ceiling of Kitchen areas blowing inside of a year of their installation. While followup this up I contacted the people who sell the TP24 yesterday ( http://www.tp24.com/shop/all-products/lamps-bulbs) for some replacement bulbs ( 3 5.50 each) and they told me to guarantee them into the future, to ‘register’ my fresh purchase of the what they call the ‘replacement bulb’ ( see ref number below) which will guarantee them for 2 years. .
It does all seem very tedious but hopefully they have designed a new bulb with a better life span
For those residents who are still within the five-year life span guarantee for their flat. It would be worth contacting Barratt Homes customer service to see if you can claim the cost of the bulbs from them.
Their ref to bulb is 8722 LED 3W Opaque Spot L1/GU10 Cap (2886, 2884 & 2318 Replacement)
Regards
Ben
DRSA News Update March 14, 2016
Turtle Bay
The new restaurant is now open. Residents will have mixed views about this new complement to the Square. Some are concerned about the noise disturbance that Turtle Bay’s ‘beach party’ pitch might cause to the peace of the Square. Others are however looking forward to a piece of ‘Caribbean spirit’ adding warmth and sunshine to Dalston. Only time will judge how things will work out. The restaurant has however made a rather ‘mixed’ start!
Weary of the potential problems of more kitchen smoke entering the buildings immediately above, a small group of DSRA members were invited last week to look around Turtle Bay’s smoke extraction and filtration system. Billed as a ‘state of the art’ set up, it all certainly looked impressive! We will see if this ‘eco filter’ stands up to heavy use in the weeks ahead!
Noisy opening event causes nuisance noise
Those residents whose windows and balconies overlook the Square sadly took the full impact of Turtle Bay’s boisterous first-night event last week.
A live Band struck up which could be heard from all corners of the Square. Added to this was some energetic behaviour which as the evening wore on, spilt out onto the Square while residents were settling down for the night. The reports of disturbance were considerable and the concierge service was overwhelmed with calls. Their team tried to intervene but from all reports the managers were less than cooperative.
It should be said that the band did stop at 11pm but it was again frustrating that the roadies took their time to pack up and the disturbance did not finally abate until after 1. 30 am.
Don’t be a kill joy?
Everyone enjoys a party once in a while. However loud music late at night is nearly always a source of ill feeling for neighbours living in a block of flats. It should be pointed out that our leases state that noise should not be so loud as to be heard beyond the four walls of our homes. The good news is that we have received fewer complaints about noise in recent months.
In the case of Turtle Bay’s party an effort by the managers to forewarn its many neighbours would have made a difference while also conveying a degree of community spirit too.
The DSRA met with the management the next day. It was told that the event was a ‘one off’ and should not happen again. Sadly, we did not get an apology however.
Residents who feel strongly should ‘log’ their complaint on the Council’s online noise pollution page.
Restaurant Smoke- Gaumont Tower and the Gym.
For those who want an update on the protracted smoke saga…
The smoke emanating from the restaurant kitchens beneath Gaumont Tower continues despite the efforts by the DSRA to get Le Ziz to service and repair its kitchen filters. The situation in the gym has nevertheless, improved as Barratts have headed The DSRA’s request to install new inward ducting to bing in fresh air from outside the building. This seems to have worked.
The service tunnel behind the restaurant however is still filling with smoke at peak cooking times and we continue to campaign for proper extraction ducting to be retro fitted by Barratt Homes to take the odours and smoke away. Barratts have consented that this is needed but are awaiting planning consent from the Council.
We have engaged the support of Councillor Peter Snell to help chase this matter up at the ‘highest level’ in the Council. He has done so but progress is slow. We understand, legal measures are to be taken to impose lease agreements on Le Ziz.
We ask residents to keep up the pressure on the smoke pollution by notifying the Council again via their online pollution page.
On a more positive note…
Things are of course by no means all gloomy. The DSRA can claim a long list of achievements and improvements since the Square opened.
As always our work requires activists and so we are always looking for new residents willing to join us in whatever capacity.
If you are Interested and want to meet engaging and interesting neighbours, we would love to hear from you! Contact the Residents Association at dalston.square.com and we will get back.
DSRA committee.
Smooth You, Dalston Ward, Hackney Film Club
Smooth You Residents’ Discount
Now firmly established and in their second year of trading here in the square since their move from Islington, Smooth You have been in touch with a great offer for all Dalston Square residents: A 10% discount on all of their services and treatments until further notice. With experienced staff and the newest equipment (though no expert when it comes to beauty related equipment, the manager invited me for a quick tour and I was amazed at the quality and class of their facilities), more than just hairdressing they offer just about every service and treatment there is to help you look and feel your best. Check out their website or pop in to discover the full extent of what they have on offer. Click the first of the thumbnails below to see the poster they have produced to advertise this residents’ only deal.
Dalston Ward Forum Report
Further to my previous post regarding the Dalston Ward Forum meeting, DS resident Kim attended and has written a report on the topics discussed. With some 30 attendees it seems conversation was lively and informed. Apparently notes were taken and minutes will be produced and sent out when complete, but in the meantime Kim’s report can be found over at our discussion forum HERE. A big thanks to Kim for taking the time to write this up for us. I will share the official minutes with everyone when and if I can lay my hands on a copy.
Dalston Square Culture and Community Engagement Forum
Back on April 1st, representing the DSRA I attended a meeting of Hackney Council’s ‘Dalston Square Culture and Community Engagement Forum’. At the meeting we were presented with 3 proposals Hackney Council have received to stage public events in Dalston Square. All 3 proposals were welcomed by all those present, although some clarification was needed on the details of a ‘World Food Market’, offering an artisan market in conjunction with a hot food court, to be run over the course of a 3 day weekend in May. Proposed by Lambeth Smith Hampton (the company that owns and manages the commercial properties in the square) and organised by Epicurean Events Ltd., it is hoped the food festival will be both of interest to the local community and an attraction to people from other areas of London. If successful, this could become a regular (monthly?) event. I will keep you all abreast of developments of this proposal. The second, confirmed, proposal is a project entitled ‘Super Dads’, set to run during the first 4 Saturdays in August (the 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd) from 2pm to 4pm. Run by Universal Board Games, the events will be open to all families living in Hackney, and are aimed at encouraging families to enjoy time playing games together while boosting literacy and numeracy in a fun, low-cost manner. Although aimed at promoting the relationship between fathers and their children, all members of the family are invited and welcome to participate. As well as traditional favourites such as chess, backgammon, and dominoes, less well known games, such as Mancala from Ghana, Crokinole from Canada, Go from Japan, Carrom from India, as well as many more games from around the world, will be available to reflect the cultural diversity of the area. The third and final proposal will be launch event of…….
Hackney Film Club – Turkey East Asia Season
Scheduled for Saturday 2nd May, from 8pm to 10.30pm, organised by Hackney Council itself (a library initiative), there will be a public film screening in the square. This will be a screening of the film ‘Bana Masal Anlatma‘ (‘Don’t Tell Me Tales’), a Turkish film with English subtitles, rated 12A (this movie receives an impressive score of 8.2/10 on IMDb.com). This launch will be followed by further screenings of films from Turkey and East Asia inside the C.L.R. James Library on the first Thursday of each month. There will also be further film screenings at both the Rio Cinema and the Hackney Playhouse. Details of all film screenings will be publicised in the C.L.R. James Library. Below you can see their event posters in English (the 2nd thumbnail), Turkish (the 3rd) and Kurdish (the 4th).
Mussel Men Special Plus Foyer Door Security
Just a quick post to say your Dalston Square resident only special offer from Mussel Men can now be found in your post-box. If you decide to take it up (and I highly recommend you do), do not forget to take the card with you: You will not get the deal without it.
One last thing before I sign off: In the process of posting these cards into everyone’s post boxes, I tail-gated into 4 blocks within the square, and encountered residents in 4 further lobbies. Not a single person questioned me as to what I was doing. For your own security, as well as that of your neighbours, please question apparent post-box spammers, and ensure those attempting to tail-gate you in have an entry fob of their own. If they do not have one, ask them to leave: If they refuse, report the issue to the concierge. Foyer entrance doors are the front line of your security.
Meetings And Merriment
The ‘Merriment’ first I think. So you have probably seen posters are now up, on each block’s notice board, for our Christmas social (in case you have missed it you can click the thumbnail at the bottom of this post to check it out). Two things. Firstly, our thanks to resident Stephen for putting together yet another great poster. Secondly, you will see on the poster that it says “Mulled wine and warm apple juice from Eastern Curve at reduced rate on presentation of invitation”. These invitations will be posted to every mailbox in the development the week before the event. Don’t forget to bring it with you.
And now to the ‘Meetings’. A report from Ben Collins, Chair of the DSRA, on last weeks regular 6 weekly meeting with Barratt Homes that turned into a high level meeting with Barratt and Consort.
Representatives of the DSRA met with both Consort and Barratt senior management on Thursday the 5th of December, at their regular 6 weekly ‘Buildings & Maintenance’ meeting, to go over the ‘log’ of issues needing attention. Here is a brief summary of what was discussed, and agreed for action.
1) The 2012-2013 budget: The DSRA Finance Commitee has long been questioning the way in which costs are established. Common electricity (lifts and corridor lighting), water charges, building insurance, cleaning ‘value for money’, and fair Concierge wages, have been some of the key issues we have questioned. After two years of pressing, Consort is getting closer to setting our service charges on the basis of sound cost analysis rather than on estimates. Given the current evidence, it seems that many residents may learn of ‘above inflation’ increases in their service charges next year. Given past experience, this may be especially true of new residents moving in to the Phase 3 buildings.
2) Flooding garage under phase 1 buildings: Barratt are calling in the original sub- contractors who may have to reseal some of the joints in the concrete foundation slab and walls. A separate contractor is looking at the leaking drains. Barratt promises that is will look into basement drainage problems with specialist engineers to ensure all drips and flooding are cured and prevented.
3) Waste air extraction from restaurants below Phase 1 buildings: Residents in Phase 1 buildings have long been complaining about smells from refuse bins, and now restaurant kitchens, permeating into the building from the service tunnel below. Barratt have accepted our concerns and agreed to install a modern extraction system, which will require a new ducting system carrying foul air up to above roof level in Gaumont Tower.
4) Ventilation for the Site Manager’s office: Sean Stone has been operating from a very unhealthy, unventilated ‘storage space’ office. A new ventilation system is being installed and should be operational by January.
5) The playground in the Square: This is holding to its original plan and Barratt says it should be open by Christmas: With Luck
We would like to thank all those residents who have helped with the work of the DSRA thus far: Together we have made an important impact on the way the Square has been built and managed. If you would like to be a part of the team, and help us going forward, please do get in touch. The best way would be via our website email address at DalstonSquareRA@gmail.com.
Dalston Square Residents' Association 