Next Marie Curie Coffee Mornings: Monday 18 th April, 10.30am to 12.30pm and Monday 16 th May. Website: April / May 2016 Brentford Dock Newsletter April / May 2016 Website: Grounds / Clubroom 14 Dock Shop: Telephone: Opening time 8 to 10, 7 days a week. Large milk and a loaf of bread £1. Two bottles of Italian wine £5.99. Mobile phone top-up available for all providers. Dry cleaning (better value than the High Street) now with a new company. Many more offers in store, and door step delivery available on the Dock. Gas Consumption / Cost – GOOD NEWS!!! Please see list of events attached and details of the BDRA AGM. We have received several comments praising the colour that the tulips have brought to the Dock in the newly arranged planters around the marina. Brentford Dock Residents’ Association & Social Events Riverside Area In anticipation of an improvement in the weather (!) further lidded metal wheelie-bins will be placed in the riverside area to assist Residents to keep the area tidy by clearing up after themselves – also preventing the local foxes and birds from helping themselves to leftovers… The bin pictured right is for hot coals and disposable barbeques only and should have no other waste put into it. This is the memorial bench for Augustus Close resident David Hague who died last autumn; it is by the Syon Park wall facing the river and Kew Gardens, and was donated by David's widow, Caroline van den Brul. Bellyfit fitness classes for women 9.30am-10.30am medium intensity £10 per class or £25 per calendar month Burn calories - tone – stretch -relax visit or call Arriane At the end of the financial year it is possible to see how steps taken in preceding 12 months have had an effect on the running costs of the Estate. In 2014 over 30% of the Estate Service Charge was the cost of gas for the communal heating and hot water system (£346,000). Since the underground pipework and the boilers were replaced, we have encouraged residents to install double glazing and ensure that there is a functioning thermostat on each radiator and the hot water cylinder. It has also been possible to operate the system more efficiently as a whole due to the new boilers and pipework; we have also been fortunate with mild winters. As a result of this, combined with falling wholesale gas prices, the total cost of gas in 2015/16 was £272,000 which is less than 25% of the Estate Service Charge. We are using less Gas: Gigawatt hours (GWh) in 2014, 9.61 GWh in 2015/16 Gas is cheaper: £31,100 per GWh in 2014, £28,300 per GWh in 2015/16 We are pleased to report that the wholesale gas price has fallen further for the contract placed in 2016/17, with the budget set at £255,000 for the year (details of this and other charges were sent out with Service Charge demands last month). BUT! It is essential that flat owners take responsible steps to ensure that the heating system within their flat works efficiently: it is better for everyone (the Dock, your pocket and the planet) to turn a radiator down rather than opening a window. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ALL BARBEQUES MUST BE NOTIFIED IN ADVANCE TO SECURITY

3 2  Cycling – please, no cycling on Dock footpaths. Though the new river path provides an excellent surface, this was intended to improve access for pushchairs and wheelchairs and is for pedestrian access only.  Smokers – Please do not throw cigarette butts anywhere. We get so many complaints about this, and it is a subject that is regularly raised at block meetings. It is not nice for anyone – residents, visitors, cleaners – so just don’t do it! Residents’ Comments / Housekeeping Issues Syon Park Season The new key system for the Syon Park gate is now installed and fully functional. There is still time to apply for membership. If you have lost the application form, you can get another from the office. Prices have remained the same and members can now get a 10% discount on all stock items in the Visitor Centre (but not the Garden Centre) on production of their member’s pass. Summer opening hours for the Park 10.30am to 4.30pm Murdered by my Father - BBC Abandoned Scooter The BBC drama ‘Murdered by my Father’ which was made for BBC3, has now been shown on prime time BBC1. Much of program was filmed on the Dock (particularly Otho Court) using residents flats and communal areas. The story is based on true events and is available on the BBC iPlayer for the next 5 months. This scooter has not moved from this position for several months and is in state of disrepair. It has no registration plate and is becoming an eyesore. If you have any knowledge regarding ownership of the scooter please contact the Dock Office We will shortly be arranging to have the scooter removed if we do not find the owner. We have investigated the possibility of making these services available to residents on the Dock. There is now new technology available which works within our existing system, using the existing infrastructure situated on the roofs (see photo). The additional signal required for Sky + or Sky Q can be sent down the existing single wire. Depending on the exact circumstance our contractor suggests that the cost would be around £350, but if a number of properties near each other wished to take advantage it may be possible to split part of this cost.  Bin chutes again – since the last newsletter we have had several more blocked chutes. We were staggered to learn that a TOILET SEAT had been put down a chute (see right – photo looking ‘up’ the chute): this took the cleaners 4 hours to remove. Bin chutes are only for small items of bagged household refuse. Definitely no builders waste or irregular shaped items. If you have larger items / bags these should be put straight into the bins inside the ground floor cupboards Sky+ and Sky Q Augustus Close – Bridge Works update London Borough of Hounslow Highways have informed us that they are in the process of tendering the works to refurbish the Augustus Close bridges. It is expected that the works will be on site towards the end of May, though some minor preparatory works may take place before this. You will be kept advised of any works which will affect vehicle or pedestrian access to the Estate via Augustus Close. It must have taken ages to get this in here. It took even longer to get it out…