Archive for February, 2010
WERA Asks…Cllr Diana Morris
Feb 19th
How long have you been doing this role?
I was first elected in May 2006. Although I have lived in Thornton Ward for over 30 years, this was the first time that I had stood for election as a local councillor.
Do you do any other job apart from being a Councillor?
No, not any more. I am now retired. I used to work as a town planner and I am also a qualified electrician. After retiring I worked on a freelance basis but I don’t seem to have the time now that I am a councillor. And I still have a school age child to look after and, until recently, had caring responsibilities for two very elderly parents.
You are one of three councillors in Thornton Ward, what role do you feel you have within the ward?
Because I am available during the day and can therefore attend estate walkabouts, I tend to deal with a lot of housing management issues, trying to improve conditions on our estates. I chair the Neighbourhood Forum that is organised by the Clapham Park Project. The Forum is designed to bring local people together and to give them a voice. I’m an active member of the Friends of Agnes Riley Gardens and I sit on the Board of the Clapham Park Project trying to ensure that there will be a worthwhile legacy from that project to the benefit of everyone in the area.
First Block Scaffolding Comes Down
Feb 12th
What goes up, must come down and today it did. Scaffolding erected to carry out the installation of new windows, and works to estate blocks, began to come down after six months.
Weir House is the first block, made up of 12 properties to have its netting, scaffolding and fencing taken down, signalling the end of the major works. It is now expected removal of scaffolding will continue with West House next week as well as across the estate in the coming weeks. Windows have now been completed to most flats on the estate and works to spruce up the external areas of the blocks is almost completed.
Residents will now be delighted as the full makeover (with the exception of front doors at the moment) being visible for the first time.
Scaffold was erected in April last year to allow for works to commence. Weir House, one of the smallest blocks, was started first and is now on schedule to be completed ahead of schedule.
Despite some delays caused by recent adverse weather and damp in the walls, the scaffolding can be removed while doors are being installed. The programme of works now nears the final phase bringing a new era to the look of Weir Estate.
Chair, Dave McEvoy expressed his delight “This shows that Weir Estate is seeing change before our very eyes, having the scaffolding coming down is a very significant indicator that we are coming to the end of the disruption endured by residents. I am ecstatic to see it finally coming down and am very much looking forward to seeing the whole estate with a new lease of life”
Residents had been screened in by netting and fencing which has hampered many other aspects of work to the estate such as ground maintenance. This also blocked light from residents’ homes. There have also been little complaints of crime since the scaffolding was installed on estate blocks.
Mr McEvoy added “Now we can really look to the future. Seeing the removal of the scaffolding now proves that change is good and this association is at the forefront of it.”
Many blocks have already had the netting removed in preparation for the scaffold surrounding the block being taken down.
Long Awaited New Doors Installed to Resident’s Homes
Feb 12th
West House residents have become some of the first properties to get the long awaited new securer doors fitted to their homes. The new stained coloured individual property doors were installed to number of flats in West House last week, which is now the last phase of the major works on Weir Estate.
The new doors with various glass panel designs have been installed at a number of flats on West House, alongside the new secure double glazed windows which were installed at the end of last year.
After months of waiting, works to make residents homes safer and securer got underway this week as twenty percent of properties have been given the new front doors and this now rolls out across the rest of the estate in the coming weeks.
Residents, who had been given the choices by ballot last year, had voted by majority in favour of the stained effect with a different glass panel which consist of large square, diamond, four squares or plain. Works have progressed to at least 8 flats so far to date and is expected to carry on in West and next Weir House.
The doors which are secure by design and will see all homes on the estate safer and better insulated than ever before, the doors which are part of the works taking place on the estate, take just a few hours to install and is the final new addition to be made to properties on Weir Estate.
Recently re-elected Chair, Dave McEvoy who has been involved in getting the works and throughout the works has told of his delight and seeing the new doors installed “This signals a fantastic change for residents as well making their homes safer and warmer. I am thrilled that the final vital part of work has begun and will now hopefully continue to a successful conclusion. It has drastically improved the appearance and security of this estate and our community. WERA has worked hard to see this happen and to actually see it happening is a real sense of achievement”
The doors which are part of other works in blocks such as the new windows, re-decoration to internal communal areas as well as some external re-decoration. This has also involved additions of Carbon Monoxide detectors and new extractor fans.
It is expected the works to install all properties with the new secure by design doors will end within 
the next few weeks, signalling the end of the programme of works.
Appointments are being made at the moment by Breyer Group’s Resident Liason Officer, Shuzna Begum.
Closed blocks will have there own choice of colour and design.
The doors which are triple locking and approved by the Association of Chief Police Officers, will now give residents a relief from drafty wooden doors that had long passed there use.
The new doors will now change the very face of Weir Estate.
WERA Asks…PCSO Karen Rose
Feb 5th
Can you please tell us who you are and what your position is?
My name is Karen Rose and I am a Police Community Support Office (PCSO) for Thornton Ward Safer Neighbourhood Team. I am also the Liaison Officer for Weir Estate.
How long have you been doing this job?
I have now been employed by the Metropolitan Police Service as a PCSO since February 2008.
What aspect of your role do you most enjoy?
The aspects of my role I most enjoy is representing the Metropolitan Police, engaging with the community, learning about different cultures, and working with other partnerships, solving problems and making the community feel like it’s a safer place to live.
If you could change one thing about this country what would it be?
Tougher laws, and jail sentences to deter people from committing crime.
