This note from Jonathan Pegler is also being delivered in hard copy to each household.

Dear Resident,

I am writing to tell you about changes to our plans for resurfacing this Autumn, and am taking the opportunity to deal with several other matters.

Resurfacing plans

The Committee’s note of 20 October (*text appended for reference) set out plans by National Grid to renew the gas mains along many of our roads. We expect much of the work to take place on verges and not to involve major disturbance of the road surfaces. However, we did not want to run the risk of disturbance to newly-resurfaced roads, so we have postponed the planned resurfacing on Ellis Avenue and Halfacre Hill until Spring 2015, by which time the National Grid work should be complete.

Road Sweeping

We do not yet have a date for road sweeping; many leaves are now down, but many more remain to fall. We shall let you know when the sweep is due and would be grateful if, as usual, residents would cooperate by asking visitors not to park on roads of verges – and, of course, not doing so themselves.

Speeding

There is a 15mph speed limit on the Estate’s roads. The vast majority of residents observe the limits but some residents, and some visitors do not. This is particularly true on Chiltern Hill; the two speed humps at the bottom suffer damage almost every day and yet cars still then speed upwards from the junction with Lincoln Road. We appreciate that the main culprits are probably delivery vans and unauthorised vehicles driving through the Estate but we should nevertheless like to remind everyone to stick to the speed limit and to ask their visitors to do the same.

Sandy Rise and Lower Chiltern Hill parking

I met the Chairman of the Youth Centre and the Head and Deputy Head of the Montessori School last week. They are making determined efforts to control parking by parents – both face-to-face and every three weeks or so in their newsletter – and my impression is that they are meeting with some success. They are anxious to assist, and ask that if you encounter any problems with parents’ parking (or speeding) you contact the Headmistress (07973 165821) with a date, time, vehicle number and description. Please remember that it is the parents who cause the parking problem, not the school or its staff.

Controlling Access to the Estate

You will recall that at the 2014 AGM a group of residents undertook to research the possibilities for controlling access to the Estate with a view to limiting through traffic and improving security. That group will shortly be providing an interim report on its findings and seeking views on how to proceed, with a view to presenting a detailed proposal at the 2015 AGM.

Committee changes

Kris Krokosz has resigned from the Committee after many years, during which he served on the Development Subcommittee and the Roads Subcommittee.  We shall greatly miss his drive, enthusiasm and experience.

Peter Gourd has volunteered not just to join the Committee but to chair the Development Subcommittee.  Peter is a retired Chartered Accountant and has practical experience of dealing with planning matters.

Membership of Chalfont Heights Roads Committee Limited

You will remember that at the 2014 AGM, we changed the constitution of the company so that freeholders of each household could become members. Many of you have become members but many have still not done so. If you would like to become a member of the company, please let me know on 01753 889373 or by email.

Subscriptions

Almost all residents have paid their subscriptions, but a small handful have still not paid or made arrangements to pay the £300 subscription that was determined by residents at the 2014 AGM. If you have not yet paid or made arrangements to pay, please contact our Treasurer, Keith Quilter.

Trees and verges

A number of residents have very helpfully commented on the felling of some trees on the Estate and on damage of changes to verges. Please continue to do so, but bear in mind that CHRC’s jurisdiction is over the verges and trees on the verges (which it owns), not on individual properties. Sadly it is necessary in most years for us to remove a few trees from the verges because they have died or become diseased or for other reasons. In all cases, we aim to plant suitable replacements within a reasonable time.

Hours of building work, and associated noise

We have recently encountered a few instances of noisy building work being carried out on Saturday afternoons and Sundays. The general conditions for work by contractors on the Estate (available on the website) specify that there should be no noisy external work carried out on Sundays or after 13.00 on Saturdays. This is for the benefit of all residents. Please therefore ensure that your contractors observe this condition.

Changes in ownership

New residents receive a welcome pack which explains how the Estate operates, including matters such as the Estate’s development policy and how to become a member of the company. We do not always know when a property has been bought and sold. Keeping up to date so we can welcome new residents is a task you can help us with. If you are selling a property on the Estate, please let George Eykyn know ([email protected]) and/or ask the purchasers to contact him. If you have bought a house on the Estate and not yet contacted George, please do.

Jonathan Pegler

Chairman, Chalfont Heights Roads Committee

www.chrc.org.uk

* Residents living in many of the estate’s roads are being notified of disruption as National Grid contractors carry out work to upgrade the gas mains in the area.

National Grid has written to residents warning them of impending work.

Woodside Hill residents have been told the work there will last for five weeks, from 27 October until 28 November 2014.

Other roads affected are:

Halfacre Hill (13 October to 7 November)

Ellis Avenue (11 November to 12 December)

Lewis Lane (15 December to 21 January 2015)

Sandy Rise (23 February to 27 March 2015)

Morris Close (15 February)

There may be temporary interruptions in the gas supply for properties which use it. Engineers requiring access to houses will contact residents beforehand.

Any queries should go to the contractors, TRIIO, on 0800 096 5678.