IMPORTANT: We need everyones help...

As you know, there are a dozen or so people that are actively involved in running CIRG, and we all put in many hours in doing so. However, this is a one off email, where we really need all of you to help...please do all you can to assist, so we can continue to try and make City Island a better place to live...

Solicitors
Are there any solicitors out there who could help CIRG out with some legal issues we are facing? Or do you know a solicitor who could offer some advice for free?

We are fighting some injustices at City Island, but we are inhibited by the fact that as a group of volunteers we cannot foot the bill of £180 per hour for a solicitor which is now the only way we can progress some of these matters, and so yet again we are blocked from getting the right thing done.

If there is anyone who can help please get in touch with us.


Electricity
One of our members has been conducting research into sourcing cheaper, and/or greener electricity, as it seems nPower (who we are all with by default, unless you have asked to change to another supplier), are the most expensive and least green. Anyway, we are looking for 10-15 volunteers to participate by providing us with your KW usage from the last three months. If we can collect this, we can perform some average calculations on how much electricity is being used and try and negotiate lower rates in a “if you don’t give us a better rate, then x hundred apartments are going to switch suppliers” kind of way....

1. If you would like to volunteer for this, please let us know your previous 3 months KW usage and with which company it was with.
2. Also, if you want to get cheaper electricity, and would like to be represented in the group bargaining for cheaper electricity, let us know your address and we will include you.
3. Also, what is most important to you? Price or Greenness?


Please try and do all you can to help with the above three matters, we really need everyone’s help....

Cheers,
CIRG

Window Cleaning / Wasps

Window Cleaning
Just a reminder that a full window clean of City Island is scheduled for the 17th of September. If you own a penthouse, please ensure you contact Tony (Antony.Foy@Accentgroup.org) to arrange access so that not only your own apartment windows are cleaned, but all of those people below you. Hopefully this will be the first of ongoing bi-monthly cleans.

Balcony glass is not included in the pricing for cleaning this year – this will be factored in to costs for next year. And remember that tilt and turn windows or any other windows that you can access yourself are not included – you need to do these yourself.

Finally, Cinderella are offering to clean all internal duplex/penthouse glass for £25 plus VAT per property. If you require this service you can email Tony to confirm next clean date and then give him a cheque payable to Cinderella for £29.37 with key or access arrangements.

Wasps
We have received an email about wasps and I have also noticed quite a few about. Has anyone else had problems? Do we have a problem, or is it just coincidence? Hopefully there is not a nest somewhere...

Waterside / Litter / Crime / Canal / Large Items

Waterside Apartments
The phone number for the new “showroom” (the bit underneath where the security guards are in the management suite), is 01132 453514, and the sales negotiators name is Jeanette Hollindrake. The “showroom” is now open to visitors, and there is apparently a show apartment completed ready for viewings by appointment. If you fancy having a look, call Jeanette on the above number.

Litter – Waterside Apartments
You may remember that in January, during the high winds, our apartment was clobbered with a large piece of wood that bent the metal stanchions around our apartment in two and took a large chunk of rendering out of our wall. On Friday, we got clobbered again, breaking a few items on our terrace, and leaving a 8 foot by 4 foot piece of insulated wall behind. I’ve complained, again, to the site manager, who has agreed to pay for the damage, and whom has said that all he can do “is apologise” but I don’t think that this is good enough. Apart from my personal circumstance, Waterside apartments allows endless litter to be blown off their site every day, ending up in and around City Island and the Rivers and trees making the place look unsightly.

I have complained to the site manager, who is now Dave Akitt (david.akitt@davidmclean.co.uk) and to the council, Elaine Saul (elaine.saul@leeds.gov.uk), and the health and safety executive (foi.leeds@hse.gsi.gov.uk) – if you are fed up with the endless litter we have to endure whilst they are building Waterside Apartments, I suggest you email them and tell them how bad it is too – the more people who do so, the more likely there is something will be done about it – CIRG complaining in isolation may not be enough, so please email these people. Let us know if you get any responses.

Burglary in Other Developments in Leeds
In the Yorkshire Evening Post a few days (weeks?) ago there was a report about a spate of burglaries in Leeds City Centre developments, such as Whitehall Waterfront, West Point, etc, whereby the burglar was entering the buildings by whatever means, knocking on doors, and when they received no reply, kicking the door in and taking valuables. Although this has not happened at City Island so far, we need to be extra vigilant as we will no doubt be a target too - don’t admit people you don’t know if you can help it.

There is even more need for vigilance when you consider the reports from our last email about apartment doors being tried from the corridors. Tony and the security team are working proactively to make sure crimes do not happen at City Island, so if you have had your door tried, or see anything suspicious let him know at Antony.Foy@Accentgroup.org or 24 hour security on 0113 243 1380.

Canal Entrance
Our local mischievous youths who frequent the canal and canal side entrance of City Island have been sliding the bolt across to prevent the gate from closing. If you are entering or leaving via the canal side entrance, please ensure it is closed behind you. Especially given the previous item in this email.

Large Items
Hi Chavs! Thanks for dumping yet more furniture in the car park! Now we all have to pay £300 for each large item you have dumped, when you could have simply (and still can), have contacted the council and had the items removed for free (as part of the council tax you have already paid), on 0845 1240113, or see details on the website here.

Or alternatively, leave the stuff there (and why not add some more as and when you feel like it?) and continue to waste the council tax you have already paid, incur more management charges for us all, make the place look like a dump and know that the rest of City Island think you are Chav scum – which you are.

False CCTV Camera on Canal Tow Path
Do you think it would be a good idea / deterrent? Let us know. It will not be progressed unless we get enough support for it.


Blog: www.cityislandleeds.blogspot.com
Email: cityislandleeds@googlemail.com