Water Meadow Place News

Q2 2024

Late spring litter pick

As summer approaches, we're looking to do a litter pick around the estate and the SANG. If you have a spare half hour, do come and join us! It would be lovely to see you.

When: Sunday 2nd June at 11:00

Where: At the Thames Water pumping station

Bring: Just bring yourself, some good footwear and some gloves.  We'll organise litter pickers and rubbish bags etc

Upcoming SANG event

Do you want to learn more about the wildlife on our SANG?  The Land Trust is organising an event in July. See below for details.

We also have some invasive species such as Himalayan balsam on the SANG. It's great fun to pull them up so do join if you'd like.

This event is aimed at adults, but later in the summer they are planning an event for children. We'll share the details once we get it.

Speaking of the SANG...volunteers needed!

The directors of the management company recently met with the lovely people from the Land Trust, who own the SANG, as well as Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership who maintain it. The SANG is largely maintained through volunteers. The big project being planned for 2024 is opening up of the drainage channels that run through the middle of the grass meadows to improve water flow and reduce the amount of iron oxide deposits.  Naturally we're looking for volunteers to help with this and other projects.  

So if you like helping out, or like to get out and get your hands dirty in nature, do let one of the directors know and we can coordinate things with the Land Trust. 

Historic planning conditions 

Over the past few months a number of people have asked us about making changes to our homes and how previous planning conditions could affect them.  So we put together a short guide on this topic.  You can find it on the website here. 

Q4 2023

Estate rules 

Under the terms of the transfer deeds of the estate, the management company directors are responsible for creating a set of estate regulations.  We have updated the draft set of rules following your feedback (thank you!). You can find a copy of the estate rules here.

Landscaping

We have been let down by our contractor who was going to replace the 12 dead trees on the estate.  Luckily we have an alternative contractor ready, so we hope to get the dead trees replaced in time for spring.  We're also working on getting a new gardening company in place by spring.

Rubbish 

Every time a storm (or flood) blows through, we seem to end up with a lot of rubbish lying around in the estate. Could we ask everyone's help to pick up rubbish and pop it in a bin if you see it lying around?  We also know the landscape company didn't empty the SANG bins like normal - we're on it.

Preparing for future floods

Speaking of storms blowing through, you can keep an eye on the river's water levels here.  

As a rule of thumb, on 5 January 2024 (when Somerset bridge was flooded) the river level reached approx 1.8m

You can also sign up for flood alerts straight to your phone here. 

Q3 2023

Call for feedback on draft estate rules

Under the terms of the transfer deeds of the estate, the management company directors are responsible for creating a set of estate rules (called Estate Regulations in the transfer deeds).  We have created a set of rules, taking into account the properties' restrictive covenants, common sense and various practical matters we've come across in the past couple of years. To make sure everyone is comfortable with the rules, we need your feedback!   It is important to get it right as it is legally binding. 

Our ask:- Please review the rules (available here) and give us your feedback by emailing wmpmgtc@gmail.com 

Please be sure to send us your view before 30 September.

We will meet in October to review everyone's feedback and update the rules accordingly.  

Dead Trees 

No doubt you have noticed that there are various dead trees on the estate. We will be replacing them, but to give them the best chance of success, they have to be planted when they are dormant in deep winter.  So look for workmen all over the site in the winter, ready for spring next year.

Gardening Company

We are aware that the gardening company is not doing a great job.  We have met with their operations director and made clear our expectations and it seems things have improved in their last two visits.  However we're not leaving it there: we have asked Grange to put the contract out to tender so that we can find a better gardening supplier. Apparently finding a good gardening company is extremely challenging because most companies are struggling to find enough staff.

Sewage - our pump station is struggling!

The Thames Water pump station has been very busy lately, with lots of contractors and tankers coming and going.  Apparently they are having a lot of trouble with their pumps that keep getting clogged up by things that don't belong in drains: grass clippings (yes, grass clippings!  How?!), wet wipes and more wet wipes. 

Our estate lies below the level of Elstead's sewage works, so we have a pump station that pumps all our sewage uphill to Elstead.  We all share a single 4 inch wide rising sewer.  That's a rather small pipe!  So please help by not flushing things like wet wipes down the toilet.  

We're told that we shouldn't worry about the pumps: Thames Water is monitoring it 24x7 and will take action where needed.

Q2 2023

Update on the care home land

The derelict land next to Tiger Moth Lane was originally meant to be a care home.  However the developers decided to sell the land to another developer rather than build the care home themselves.  At the end of June 2023 the property was sold to a local care home provider, called CHD Living.  So it's probably safe to assume that the site will eventually see the construction of a care home.  Given the complex and lengthy planning process it is likely to take a long time before anything is built there.