Newlarks Residents Association

RECENT WORKS CARRIED OUT THIS YEAR

New PVC doors and windows have been installed to most of the properties in Woodlark Close.

Kitchen refurbishments to another 2 blocks of flats in St Caths.

More landscaping

More front door replacements to the houses in St Caths - so its just the maisonettes to go now.

Replacement of water cyclinders.

Top up of roof insulation to properties which were not up to the legal requirement.

The whole estate has had a paint make over including, the communal stairwells in the flats and the front doors, painted wood works around the properties; gates, door frames, bin shed doors etc and even the garages.

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Thanks to Ipswich Borough Council, Liveability funding, our local Councillors, and Orwell Housing Association as we now have a pathway in St Catherines Court.

Prior to this installment it was a cobbled area  why, well I have not got a clue, but you could not walk on it without twisting your ankle let alone take a pram/buggy or a wheelchair on it.  The main way in and out of the estate was up and down a flight of about 15 concrete steps again not very practical for anything with wheels, small children, the elderly and even the disabled of which make up our community.

Everyone walked up and down the road which naturally was not very safe for the people walking or the drivers of any vehicles coming in or leaving the estate.

So we are very happy with our path it really has made a difference to the residents safety and the estates appearance 

ESTATE PROBLEMS

Our main big problem is flooding.

Since 1997 at least 4 of our properties in St Catherines Court have suffered with internal flooding on one occasion it got so bad that the fire brigade had to be called to pump the water out from one property.  The tenants have had to; replace carpets, redecorate and on the not too bad occasions, at the least, have a massive clean up.

This happens normally around May - August time when we experience a lot of what's now called 'flash flooding' and these properties have been known to flood twice in that period. 

Last year Orwell Housing Association kindly issued the tenants in the 4 high risk properties with floodboards which have at last helped the tenants feel safer in the heavier rain falls.  However the problem is the drainage system it just can not cope when the rain fall is that bit heavier so to now protect the outside of the houses and the foundations we need to look into long time solutions and hopefully a much better drainage system or storm drains at least.

We are currently in discussions with Anglian Water who have recently carried out CCTV investigations down the drains and in the system and we are waiting to hear the results of that. 

Also one possible contributory fact is a little brook that runs behind the estate, as the rain water runs down hill through the estate it meets with the brook (which has burst its banks and water is rising back up to the estate) and I am sure this makes the situation worse, possibly causing a back surge, I do not know perhaps this will show up on the investigation??

Whatever actions need to be installed or updated will bound to be expensive and take time.

I will keep you informed of updates as they come in!