Chair's Notes Garden Waste Recycling

Issue 174 June 2012 Distributed to residents and friends of Brentham Garden Suburb Chair’s Notes Our annual subscription has remained at £2 for several years now. We ask all residents to join We all know that the Brentham Estate has a rich the Brentham Society, so that we can truly and fascinating history – it’s one of the reasons represent the estate as a whole whenever it is that we live here. We are lucky that the Pioneers necessary. Just over 50% of residents have paid recognised the value of the estate at the time it their subscription this year, many with was built, so that numerous records from the additional donations. Our thanks to you for this, beginning and through the years have survived. but ideally we need a higher proportion of The Brentham Society residents in the Society and there is still time to maintains an archive of join if you haven’t already done so (either via these items and has your membership collector, as shown on your expanded it whenever envelope, or direct to Alan Henderson at 47 possible. The archive Meadvale Road). contains photographs Any change in subscription would need to be from the early days, agreed at our AGM, but before we take that step many of the original we are interested in getting the views of plans of the houses, and residents on any proposed increase. We note other items of interest that other local organisations have an annual fee such as programmes for of £10. Should we consider raising our sub to the May Day celebrations this level? through the years. Browsing through it is an Returning to the archive, we intend to maintain excellent way to get a feel for the history of the it so that future generations can learn and estate. understand the history of our estate. There are The archive is kept in a room in a house on the estate. This has several disadvantages, including possible deterioration, restricted access and danger of loss. There is a programme to catalogue all the items, which is going slowly and always needs more volunteers. The ideal solution would be to digitise the whole archive. This would maintain the archive for the future but also allow much wider access. However, this could be an expensive project to undertake. The finances of the Brentham Society, whilst being healthy, are not structured in a way to take on a project like this, neither the initial cost nor the ongoing maintenance. The Committee has been thinking of ways to change this. some other projects that we would like to do as well. Our aim is to ensure this remains a One way considered is the inclusion of beautiful place to live, but in this case we may advertising in Brentham News, and to test the need some help to do so. Richard Costella waters we have included one commercial advertisement in this edition. For some years, Garden Waste Recycling Grimshaws the estate agents have sponsored BN, The Council’s new recycling contract with for which we are very grateful, but with the Enterprise seems to have got off to a sticky start, expansion in size and advances in the quality of but things are gradually improving. The new printing, in recent editions this has not covered chargeable garden waste collection also seems to the full cost. There would need to be limits on have had teething problems, with late collections the amount and type of advertising taken. What and delivery of the wrong type of container. do residents think of this? As noted before, Update on Renovation of the the view of the Brentham Club Tower Brentham Society The work needed on the outside of the Tower is that in a largely comprises the replacement of a large conservation area, number of bricks that have started to crumble. particularly one where many of the This is of interest houses do not have throughout the easy rear access Estate, in fact, as and have small the cause of the front gardens, decay is that wheelie bins are an hard mortar was eyesore and detract used between the from the general ambience of the estate. In the relatively soft past, we have successfully fought off the threat of bricks, instead of wheelie bins for refuse collection. lime mortar. As a result, it is the If you take up the garden waste service, we bricks that give, strongly recommend that you take up the rather than the hessian sack option, which is more in keeping mortar, and then with the nature of the estate. We understand start to let in moisture, which makes the from the Council that just 10 residents have problem worse. Interestingly it seems that this taken up the wheelie bin option, showing that hard mortar was used when the Tower was built, residents generally feel the same way as us. This and not during later maintenance - presumably is very pleasing but we need to ensure this the builders did not expect any problems. number does not rise. It is also interesting to note that the original The Brentham Society works hard to maintain mortar would have been black, and indeed one the garden nature of our estate. Please help by can still see black mortar in protected parts of opting for the hessian sacks. the walls and elsewhere around Brentham, for example under the eaves. Books and DVDs for Sale This raises some interesting conserv- Earlier mention of the archive reminds us that ation questions: more recently arrived residents may not be should we repoint with aware that the Brentham Society has published a hard mortar, since that book and produced a DVD of the history of the was what was used estate. originally. And should The book Brentham, a it be black? In fact, the History of the Pioneer answers according to Garden Suburb by Aileen our conservation Reid tells the story of the officers are that soft mortar should be used, and estate, explores how the it is allowed to be the pale colour to which we are visionary aims of the founders were realised, and accustomed. uncovers the rich architectural, social and All this is worth bearing in mind when planning legacy that survives today. repointing houses on the estate - use an The DVD, “The Brentham Story – the Pioneer experienced bricklayer and ensure that he uses Garden Suburb” tells the story of the the right kind of mortar for your bricks. development of the estate, looks at community Having established what work needs to be done life here and gives a more and the rough cost, the Club is considering how detailed account of some of the to proceed. It could possibly raise the funds architecture. It runs to 73 itself with local assistance, or set up a charitable minutes. trust to manage the building and rent it back to Both are available on the the Club. A trust would be eligible to apply for bookstall at the Brentham funding for renovations from such sources as Society’s various events. They English Heritage. At present the original can be purchased from proposal to build a house on part of the grounds Pitshanger Books, which will be holding a and use the profit to carry out repairs is not promotion from 1 st June, with the DVD given being pursued. free with every copy of the Brentham book which The Brentham Society is ready to assist wherever is bought. it can. Clive Evans 20mph Zone Meanwhile there is no progress on the site of the Following the consultation last year, the Empire Cinema, substantially demolished in proposal for a 20 mph zone on the east half of early 2009. There does not seem to be any the estate is progressing, chance of redevelopment in the near future, as and work is expected to the owners of the site have consistently failed to start in the next few fulfil their promises. weeks. This will include new signage, some minor pavement re- Blue Plaque Ceremony alignments and some The official English Heritage Blue Plaque for strategic road humps. Fred Perry will finally be installed at 223 The Brentham Society Pitshanger Lane and formally unveiled on has agreed with the Friday 15th June at 10.30am by his Council that the signage grandson, John. It’s a pity that this couldn’t will be localised, and so have been scheduled for the weekend, but the decisions on timing lie with English Heritage. will carry the name of the estate. Roads affected are North View, Holyoake Walk, Denison Road, The Chairman of its Blue Plaque Panel, Woodfield Road and all points eastwards. distinguished historian Professor Sir David Cannadine, will introduce proceedings, which should take no longer than 30 minutes. All Ward Forum Update Brentham residents are most welcome to come The latest Hanger Hill Ward Forum was held at and watch from Brunner Road. the Brentham Club on 8 th March. If you are elderly The meeting started with a presentation from and need a chair, Transport for London on the London 2012 please let Sue Elliott Olympic Route Network. There are two lane know beforehand closures affecting the Brentham area. One lane (8998 9978). will be closed on the A40 Afterwards, we will Western Avenue eastbound encourage people to at Greenford to channel the repair to the Fred traffic into two lanes prior Perry Coffee Shop at to the Hanger Lane Brentham Club for junction. Also one lane will refreshments and to be closed on the A40 continue celebrating westbound slip road up to the Hanger Lane the memory of one gyratory, to allow Olympic traffic a free run.

Load more