NEWS

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This goes out to residents/owners at Sandown Lodge by email where possible, by hand otherwise and is posted here in the News section on our website www.sandownlodge.org.uk. 

AGM - no longer 30th July, now 16th July 

St Martin’s School secured late funding for major building work and need to close the entire school site from 17th July. It means our AGM date needs to come forward by two weeks. We apologise for the diary disruption.

Formal AGM notices have already been sent to everyone. Please come along, we have some important matters that need your support – and it’s always good to get together once a year to share a glass of wine together.

The two biggest items on the AGM agenda are door replacement and entry system. A sample ‘benchmark’ door has just been installed at flat 10. If you would like to come and see it ‘in situ’ before the AGM - and inspect sample units for the new entry system - please call Richard on 07801 238060, or email richard.grace@sandownlodge.org.uk

Important: #1 - door measuring before replacement 

Subject to AGM confirmation, we will need access to each flat to measure doors and frames. Each door and frame is made to measure and takes up to eight weeks to manufacture. The longer we delay, the harder it is to sustain quoted prices.

The measuring schedule has been set for five days starting Monday, 3rd August and each appointment takes about 20 minutes. Block reps will circulate exact details. If you can’t be around, some kind of alternative access will be needed – perhaps via a neighbour or the emergency key-holder register that we updated a few months ago. 

Important #2: - entry system upgrade   

This too is subject to AGM confirmation, but equipment prices are about to increase by about 3% and we want to get in ahead of the change.

The standard internal unit on the planned new system has a screen and cabled phone and measures 185mm wide, 180mm high. This standard unit is included in the cost.

Our present internal phone units are narrower and longer, at 80mm wide and 220mm high. Backing plates are promised to accommodate the size adjustment. Please note that in some flats, the size difference may require slight relocation from door surround to adjacent wall.

Urgent question:
A hands-free option offers a slightly larger screen and no phone or cable, in a slightly smaller unit of width 135mm, height 170mm. This costs an extra £27, payable by you. If you want hands-free, we need to know by 23rd July.

A further option is a (hands-free) wifi-enabled version that allows you to link the unit to phone and internet, so you can see who is there even when not at home. This adds £192 to the cost, again payable by you. Here too, we need to know by 23rd July.

These upgrades will still be available if you decide to upgrade later, but the price is likely to be a lot higher. We hold samples of both the standard and hands-free new units. If you want to inspect before deciding, email richard.grace@sandownlodge.org.uk or call 07801 238060 - before 23 July.

Units aside, provisional installation dates have been diarised subject to AGM confirmation. In each case, the plan is to spend the morning installing the entry system, and the afternoon preparing for doorbell replacement. Here too, access will be required.

Block A – 11 August
Block B – 18 August
Block C – 20 August
Block E – 25 August
Block F – 27 August
Block G – 1 September
Block D – 3 September

We hope our wonderful block reps will be able to help resolve any issues with access.

 
Important #3: - ceilings/lighting    

The entry system schedule puts block D at the end, because block D has been ear-marked for initial ceilings and lighting replacement.

This is planned to take 10-12 days from 10th August.

While some disruption to stairwells is anticipated, along with some periods of temporary lighting, this work doesn’t require access to individual flats.

As with everything else above, this is subject to AGM confirmation. We anticipate the first block will take longer to complete but hope that the knowledge gained will mean faster completion thereafter in our other blocks. These are yet to be scheduled. 

Date checklist  

AGM – 16th July
Entry system upgrade requests – by 23rd July
Door measurement access – 3rd to 7th August
Block D ceilings and re-wiring – from 10th August
Entry system installation access – from 11th August (see above)
Door installation access – over 10-11 weeks, provisionally from 21stSeptember (details to follow)

Common parts refurbishment is one of the most complicated projects ever undertaken by the estate. Preparation has taken over a year of work on the part of the board. Now we need your help to make it happen successfully. 

Please ensure access to your flat on the dates when its needed.   

Thank you for reading this update.  Any questions at all, please ask,

Your directors 

Terry Davey (flat 53), Tony Green (flat 47), Richard Grace (flat 10), Andrew Humphreys (flat 26) and Paul Stokes (flat 41)