Category: Estates Issues

Parking Management Update

Dear fellow Residents,

Following the feedback received via social media over the weekend, we as Directors would like to apologise for what might reasonably be perceived by some as ‘radio silence’. By way of explanation, as volunteers, we were unable to meet as a complete Board until this evening, as the earliest opportunity that presented itself; it would have been inappropriate to respond without discussing matters formally first.

We acknowledge the negative response to the currently-proposed permit-parking scheme, and will gladly halt its implementation.

However, as Directors, we still have a legal responsibility to uphold the covenants, and welcome the opportunity to discuss a mutually beneficial resolution at the residents meeting on the 16th of March.

The intention to introduce permit parking for residents’ cars and those of their visitors is no longer in play. As such any questions submitted that pertain to the permit element of the original proposal will not be specifically answered however all other questions will still be collated with appropriate feedback provided at the residents meeting.

Assuring you of our best intentions at all times,

CCMC Ltd Directors

Parking Update

As advised in January, we have engaged a Parking Management Company to help improve the parking across the development. We have worked closely with both the Parking Management Company & Remus to ensure that the policy is fair to all and addresses the issues that have been raised.

The timeline for implementation will be as follows:

Week Commencing 1st March 2021
The Parking Management Policy & covering letter will be sent to owners/occupiers by Remus and added to the CCMC website.

Week Commencing 8th March 2021
The Parking Management Company (PCM Ltd) will install signage and undertake a manual letter drop of their literature. This will include installation of a section of double yellow lining around the bend at the top of Fairway Drive which has been approved by Highways.

Week Commencing 15th March 2021
Residents Meeting to take place so that any outstanding queries in relation to the Parking Management Scheme can be addressed. A formal Notice of the meeting date will be posted imminently.

Week Commencing 29th March 2021
Parking Management Scheme to begin.

The above timeline is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances however at present it represents the agreed plan for implementation. We thank you again in advance for your cooperation and hope you see this as a positive step to improve the safety of residents and visitors.

Site Wide Cost Queries

The opening of Channels Park, which is part of site-wide communal land that is gradually being opened up for use, has raised a number of questions in recent weeks and has prompted correspondence both to CCMC Ltd directors and the site wide management company.

Channels Park formed part of the original Planning Consent back in December 2012 (which can be found on the Chelmsford City Council Planning Portal). The image below is the Red Line outline for the planning consent that clearly shows the park area. The Skate Park and the Play Area were also part of the original Planning Consent.

The Deeds of sale for every home at Channels include a requirement to contribute towards the maintenance of site wide open space and provision for this is included in the planning consent.

The provision of open space maintenance through a service charge has become the norm for large developments in the last 10 years for several reasons, not least that historically Councils have been poor at maintaining such space, leading to very poor quality public domain space and indeed most Councils don’t want the responsibility.

All of the developers should have made it clear to their buyers that there was a service charge which included site wide elements and additionally solicitors should also have made this clear to buyers.

We have collated some further information on the Service Charges page for your reference that explains the obligations on owners and where the requirement to contribute to site wide open space is documented.

Directors are working closely with Remus and the site-wide management company to better understand future costs and how ongoing decisions in relation to site-wide communal land are made.

The site-wide elements will continue to be collected via the Service Charge however as previously notified, no further monies will be released to the site-wide management company until there is clarity on these matters.

Estate Parking Update

Following significant feedback from residents we have now formally engaged a Parking Management Company to help improve the parking across the development.

This has been necessary due to increased health and safety issues in the manner that vehicles are being parked on pavements, landscaped areas, turning heads blocking signage and on corners forcing vehicles into the centre of the road into on coming traffic.

The scheme will also prevent the inevitable parking issues with the opening of Channels Park. Further discussions are still being held with Highways regarding traffic calming options.

A detailed letter will shortly be forthcoming from Remus which will provide further information on the scheme. A short period of grace will follow allowing residents, where applicable, to amend current parking practices and for signage to be installed. The scheme will be Permit and Visitor App based.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation and hope you see this as another positive step to improve the safety of residents and visitors.

CCMC Ltd Directors

New Salt Bins

As our old salt bins were in a poor state of repair, two new bins have been installed in the same locations (see image below). There is a supply of salt in both bins and we are also waiting for some additional salt due to be delivered by Broomfield Parish Council.

At present neither Remus nor Channels Estates provide regular gritting as part of their service offer however the salt is available for all residents to use as necessary. The salt bins are not currently locked however if it is found that rubbish is being left in them (as they were in the old bins) then they will have to be locked and a system introduced to gain access.

Feel free to use the salt as required during periods of cold weather but please look after the bins and please do not block access to them.

If you observe any issues with the bins, please log them in the usual way via this website. Costs associated with repairs or replacements will be recorded as expenditure against the annual service charge.

Estate Roads Update

As residents will be aware from previous updates, both CCMC Ltd Directors and the Community Group have been in regular contact with Chelmsford City Council (via planning officers and councillors) about the estate roads remedial work, maintenance issues and safety concerns, some of which are parking related as evidenced by the recent incident where emergency vehicles could not navigate to their destination.

The update below, as at 17th September, has been received from the City Council following ongoing discussion between planning officers, Bellway & Essex Highways:

The remedial works (weed removal, repair of broken paving etc) to be undertaken to the Phase 1 and 2 roads are being left for now so that they can be undertaken alongside the implementation of the traffic calming scheme for both phases.

Bellway had a further meeting with Essex Highways last week and they are due to issue the engineers report and the traffic calming scheme next week. I have previously advised that all of the matters you and other residents raised regarding traffic speeds, parking issues, additional yellow lines, were discussed at the meeting between Bellway and Essex Highways so they were fully aware of the issues when drawing up the scheme. I have also indicated that you will have the opportunity to comment on the scheme, but understandably Bellway do not want to be sharing a scheme with you and other residents, before they know that the highway authority can lend its support.

The works to the RDR are agreed and as such Bellway will recommence on site at the end of next week; these works will, I understand, complete the crossing, bus gate and the connection with the Beaulieu section of the RDR.

Bellway will be looking to keep you informed of their progress going forward.

Whilst the above does not provide any specifics, it does at least demonstrate that concerns have been considered and the perceived delay in progressing some matters is due to plans being re-worked.

As soon as we have a further update it will be communicated and especially prior to any local enforcement measures being implemented in relation to parking.

On behalf of the Directors
Channels (Chelmsford) Management Company Ltd

Litter Bins


It is important that the black litter bins that are situated across the development are not used for normal household waste or recycling.

Recently black bin bags, food waste and cardboard has been found in the bins and in one case so much was stuffed into the bin that it has been damaged and may need to be replaced.

The Residents Management Company has responsibility (via POD Management) for maintaining and emptying the litter bins, the cost of which everyone pays for via the annual service charge.

If costs increase as a result of bins being damaged or because more collections are required to prevent the bins from over-flowing, everyone will ultimately bear that cost.

It is also important to note that any waste that is generated within the boundaries of a residential property whether it be food, general household waste, garden waste, dog poo etc. must be disposed of in the bins provided by the local authority to be taken away on bin day. If household waste is disposed of in any other way such as dumping it outside the property, putting it in a litter bin or dog poo bin it is classed as fly tipping which is a criminal offence and can be dealt with accordingly.

Many thanks 👍

Logging Issues

As you will be aware, POD Management commenced delivering their service for us on 1st August 2019. As mobilisation of the service has now been completed, POD will take over formal responsibility for logging, reviewing and resolving estates issues raised by residents.

The Channels Residents Community Group will no longer review submitted issues and any escalation required will be via RMC directors.

To raise concerns or issues please log them using the Estates Issues Form to ensure there is a robust audit trail. The information will be sent directly to POD for review and action. POD can also be contacted via e-mail:
channels@podmanagement.co.uk

It is also important that every resident (or least one from each property) submits contact details to PODs online system so that the managing agent can easily and efficiently communicate with you. If you have not yet done so, please visit www.podmanagement.co.uk/customer-contact and submit your details. You will need your unique property reference and this would have been included on your Welcome Letter from POD Management.

Andrew Wright, Director
Channels (Chelmsford) Management Company Ltd