Access to GLLC

[Peter Luckham]

At the November 22nd meeting a resident raised concerns about noise and disturbance due to use by non-resident users who may not be fully aware of, nor respect the private, residential nature of the Estate.

 

I think it would be appropriate if the Fusion management company were informed that the City Walkway accessed from Fann St was constructed specifically to provide members of the public access to the GLLC, in respect of the private residential nature of the Estate.  Obviously this is not the most direct route for most users, and neither the City nor Fusion can enforce non-resident users to use this route.  However I think it is encumbant on both the City and on Fusion to highlight this as the main access route and encourage non-resident users to use this access route, as well as respect the residential area.  Therefore I would like to propose that the City require Fusion to ensure that this is publicised as the main access route in all literature, marketing material, website etc, as well as highlighted within the Leisure Centre itself, and that GLLC employees should be trained to be aware of this and to be conscious to encourage users to be aware of this.

Similarly I would like to see the City support this with appropriate signage.  Currently the signs around the Estate are somewhat confusing.

On both ends of Fann St the signage currently (and correctly) directs people into Fann St when looking for the GLLC.

However on Fann St itself the sign to the GLLC that stands by the road ramp seems to point people to walk across the podium area between Gt Arthur House and the Shakespeare, while the sign on the side of Cuthbert Harrowing House discourages people to use the City Walkway because of the big "Private Estate - No Entry" sign (which is correctly telling vehicle drivers not to drive down the ramp, but it's placing means that it may discourage pedestrians from using the City Walkway).

Access via the podium area is further encouraged by the signs on either side of the steps by Cullum Welch House which direct pedestrians to use the steps below Cullum Welch House to access the GLLC.

I think some of these signs should be removed and clearer signage to encourage access by the City Walkway would be appropriate.


On a similar note some of the other local signage is also confusing.

1.  The direction to COLCEC on the sign at the corner of Fann St and Golden Lane is incorrectly pointing along Fann St rather than up Golden Lane.

2.  The sign on Golden Lane at the end of Basterfield House inappropriately encourages pedestrians going to Barbican Station to enter Golden Lane Estate no doubt leaving them lost within the Estate, rather than continue south along Golden Lane.

 

 

What do other residents think?

 

[15 storeys high]

Whats the City Walkways I dont know what they are ?

[Peter Luckham]

A City Walkway is basically a way that the public have right of access to walk on foot, and it is maintained by the City Of London.  Therefore the City Walkway on Golden Lane Estate (which is the footpath ramp which runs from Fann St by Cuthbert Harrowing House and then runs alongside the Leisure Centre) does not form part of the Estate nor it's service charges and I believe should be maintained separately by the City Of London.  This one was put in specifically to provide public access to the GLLC for non-resident members of the public who otherwise have no public right of way to cross the Estate.

 

It is hard to find any documentation about City Walkways, but I found this definition...

 

"A City Walkway is a way or place, declared under section 6 of the City of London (Various Powers) Act 1967, on which the public may have access on foot and may pass and repass on foot as of right, subject to some restrictions. A City Walkway is not a highway except for certain limited purposes but the City Corporation has responsibility for maintenance of the surface unless agreed otherwise."

 

This is from section 5.3.2 of the following... City Of London Tree Strategy

[15 storeys high]

it all sounds like pretentious nonsense and hypocrisy to me, there does seem to an element of people living on this estate that have nothing better to do than moan about anything that is normal .this is not a gated commune ,there is one person moaning about city workers having lunch on the grass that is allowed to use it as a dog toilet is that fair ? when nobody else is even allowed a dog.and the basterfeild lawn mob with there cats that have turned that into private locked garden to keep kids out that want to start running around the roof of great arthur house is that fair ? do any of these people care that the building is falling apart ? filthy rotten leaking windows half full of vulnerable pensioners that only ever get to talk to the low paid black cares that look after them is that fair ? this is a council estate where are the Black and Asian family's housed by the corporation ? down the old kent road thats where out of site out of mind but they make up 90% of population in the city silly propaganda magazines ,bunch of barbican estate wannabes here and thats a public estate bunch of selfish no lifers .   

[Misty Hay]

I think it would be a shame not to welcome people onto our estate who want to use the swimming pool. After all it's no exclusively for residents - it's a public amenity. The reason I like living here us because golden lane is a friendly and welcoming estate rather than an exclusive and shut off one. I don't want it to feel like the barbican - devoid of people and unwelcoming. There are already signs up that remind people that golden lane is a residential estate - I don't think we need any more of them.

[Peter Luckham]

15 storeys high - in response to your post...

 

I totally agree that there are multiple issues that need to be addressed - including but not limited to - better repairs and maintenance such as fixing leaking and rotten windows, improving thermal insulation, better management of open spaces such as improving communal access to Basterfield House Lawn.  All of these - and others - are important.  Just to be clear, my posting is not meant to say that Access to GLLC is a higher priority than every other issue.  But it is an issue that I care about, and this is the purpose of this posting, and it deserves space just like any other issue.  There is space for these other issues.  They are often discussed in other postings on this website as well as at Residents Association meetings.

 

I certainly do not want to see Golden Lane turned into a gated commune.  That is not the intent of my suggestion.

 

Although I have not personally raised the issue about Hatfield House Lawn usage, I am aware that this issue has been raised by numerous people and not just by "one person moaning".

 

Perhaps what we need is a mechanism to better understand the total set of issues that residents are concerned about, and their relative priorities based on all residents input?  Perhaps this is something that we all collectively should be pushing the City Corporation Housing Department to organise better?

 

What do you think of this suggestion?

 

15 storeys high said:

it all sounds like pretentious nonsense and hypocrisy to me, there does seem to an element of people living on this estate that have nothing better to do than moan about anything that is normal .this is not a gated commune ,there is one person moaning about city workers having lunch on the grass that is allowed to use it as a dog toilet is that fair ? when nobody else is even allowed a dog.and the basterfeild lawn mob with there cats that have turned that into private locked garden to keep kids out that want to start running around the roof of great arthur house is that fair ? do any of these people care that the building is falling apart ? filthy rotten leaking windows half full of vulnerable pensioners that only ever get to talk to the low paid black cares that look after them is that fair ? this is a council estate where are the Black and Asian family's housed by the corporation ? down the old kent road thats where out of site out of mind but they make up 90% of population in the city silly propaganda magazines ,bunch of barbican estate wannabes here and thats a public estate bunch of selfish no lifers .   

 

[Peter Luckham]

Misty Hay - in response to your post...

 

I agree that one of the features of Golden Lane is that it is full of life, and is not the Barbican!  However I think it is a tricky balance to maintain between resident's rights for peace and quiet, and spaces that can be accessed and used by any member of the public.  My feeling is that there are users of GLLC (and not just users of GLLC, but other members of the public who use the Estate spaces) who do not fully appreciate the residential nature of the Estate and perhaps the question really boils down to how to make non-residents who use the Estate more sensitive to respect the space and it's residential nature?  I am not convinced that the current residential estate signs are totally effective in this regard.  My thought is that if publicity materials - as well as signage - are more direct about making this point then non-residents will become more aware.

 

I agree that if any changes were implemented then they should be done in a way that maintains a welcoming nature to users of GLLC.

Misty Hay said:

I think it would be a shame not to welcome people onto our estate who want to use the swimming pool. After all it's no exclusively for residents - it's a public amenity. The reason I like living here us because golden lane is a friendly and welcoming estate rather than an exclusive and shut off one. I don't want it to feel like the barbican - devoid of people and unwelcoming. There are already signs up that remind people that golden lane is a residential estate - I don't think we need any more of them.

[15 storeys high]

prove it then were is all this info ? love to see it

[Maria Elizabeth Prior]

15 storeys high!  You are making false allegations against me!  How dare you.  You are clearly stating that my dog uses Hatfield House lawn as a 'toilet'!  If you got your facts right you would know that I am very careful, and clean up wherever my dog may go, and everyone is aware of this.  You do not know my case as to why I have my little dog, so who are you to judge me?   And, I am not alone in being concerned that non residents take over the area at lunch times.  I am sorry you appear to make claims over things you clearly know nothing about. 

15 storeys high said:

it all sounds like pretentious nonsense and hypocrisy to me, there does seem to an element of people living on this estate that have nothing better to do than moan about anything that is normal .this is not a gated commune ,there is one person moaning about city workers having lunch on the grass that is allowed to use it as a dog toilet is that fair ? when nobody else is even allowed a dog.and the basterfeild lawn mob with there cats that have turned that into private locked garden to keep kids out that want to start running around the roof of great arthur house is that fair ? do any of these people care that the building is falling apart ? filthy rotten leaking windows half full of vulnerable pensioners that only ever get to talk to the low paid black cares that look after them is that fair ? this is a council estate where are the Black and Asian family's housed by the corporation ? down the old kent road thats where out of site out of mind but they make up 90% of population in the city silly propaganda magazines ,bunch of barbican estate wannabes here and thats a public estate bunch of selfish no lifers .   

[Maria Elizabeth Prior]

I also wish to add 15 storeys high, is that some residents from another area have allowed their dogs to foul Hatfield House lawn, and have not cleaned up after them.  I have repeatedly drawn this to the attention of the Estate office, and our local police, who have made efforts to find them.  I trust that clarifies matters for you!!
15 storeys high said:

it all sounds like pretentious nonsense and hypocrisy to me, there does seem to an element of people living on this estate that have nothing better to do than moan about anything that is normal .this is not a gated commune ,there is one person moaning about city workers having lunch on the grass that is allowed to use it as a dog toilet is that fair ? when nobody else is even allowed a dog.and the basterfeild lawn mob with there cats that have turned that into private locked garden to keep kids out that want to start running around the roof of great arthur house is that fair ? do any of these people care that the building is falling apart ? filthy rotten leaking windows half full of vulnerable pensioners that only ever get to talk to the low paid black cares that look after them is that fair ? this is a council estate where are the Black and Asian family's housed by the corporation ? down the old kent road thats where out of site out of mind but they make up 90% of population in the city silly propaganda magazines ,bunch of barbican estate wannabes here and thats a public estate bunch of selfish no lifers .   

[Daniel Elson]

Whilst I agree with Roland and Peter that it would be good to encourage GLLC visitors to use the city walkway, I don't think that additional signs will make much, if any difference.  Perhaps the first time users go to GLLC they may follow the signs, but since there are many other more direct approach routes to GLLC I think it's unlikely that the city walkway would be used on subsequent visits. 

I do think that the CW should be emphasised as it provides the best step free access. The existing signs could also be improved so that they are more consistent across the estate although I'm not convinced it will have any effect on overall numbers.