Protecting our community: building safer spaces
In January 2024 we completed the construction of the Webber Row Gates across each of the courtyards for Mawdley, Algar, Dauncey, Delarch and Overy Houses.
This was the culmination of a three-year programme. The Gates Working Group, worked together to find funding, plan the design, procure the construction company and manage the installation and maintenance of the new gates.
Residents along Webber Row had been calling for this development to help stop the instances of illegal parking, anti-social behaviour, drug use & dealing and create a safer space for our children to play.
The TMO Board was able to secure funding from Southwark's Cleaner Greener Safer grants scheme which promotes projects that improve our local areas. The Gates Committee then worked diligently to plan, commission and manage the implementation of this structural project.
Six residents from the Webber & Quentin Estate have been working together for three years to get the Gates project done. Jose, Orenda and Claudia are three of the members and they are delighted it will finally become a reality.
Can you say more about what it took to get this project off the ground?
Once we analysed the survey results and understood residents’ priorities, we engaged with Southwark Council to apply for funding. This took us three years. It also took a lot of effort: discussions, presentations and influencing Southwark of the benefits and opportunities the project would bring to the estate.
What were the biggest hurdles that the committee had to overcome?
Apart from budget issues, the most difficult thing was dealing with the Planning Application. The project required both planning approval and Listed Building consent. We engaged an architect to prepare the documentation that included access statements, fire risk assessments and highway visibility splay (yes that is a thing) checks.
What are you most looking forward to about having gates?
What excites me is the possibility to change the layout of the courtyards, says Orenda, and potentially to open up access to the central green space on Webber Row from the back. This access has been blocked up for years, to prevent non-residents gaining access to these areas.
What are you most proud of?
Jose calls out the teamwork, harnessing the strength of different neighbours to achieve a common goal. One of our residents is an architect and they were able to produce the design. Another is a highway engineer, who was responsible for preparing splay statements for the Council Highways department.
Orenda adds, it was important that all the residents were with us on this journey and we worked together to create the flyers distributed to all the residents to ensure everyone was aware of progress and were invited to join the Gates group. Putting the flyers together and distributing them was a real team effort!
What has been installed?
At each of the courtyards along Webber Row, end to end gates have been installed at a height of 1.8m [approx. 5’ 11”]. For each courtyard there are two entry points: one for vehicles, locked with a padlock that uses an FB14 (Fire Brigade) key, and one for pedestrians, operated with an electro-mechanical key fob that will be provided by the TMO office (3 per residency and additional fobs will be charged @ £20 each). The gates are also GSM-enabled.
How has this project been funded?
We were able to secure the funding for the project through three individual grants from Southwark's Cleaner Greener Safer programme. Any additional charges will be clarified once the installation is complete. Leaseholders will be notified in advance of any additional charges.
Now that the gates are in place, how can residents and their visitors get in and out?
The pedestrian gates will be operated with a key fob. These will also be GSM-enabled to give access to guests and enable deliveries. Keys to operate the vehicular gate padlocks to operate the pedestrian gates can be purchased cheaply at cost of approximately £1.50 each.
How will guests and delivery companies gain access?
Guests and people making deliveries will access courtyards via the pedestrian gates. These will have a GSM-enabled system whereby visitors will be able to ring a phone number pre-assigned to each flat, which will allow the gates to be unlocked remotely. These can be operated from wherever that phone is located, no need to be at home to control this. If it is necessary for delivery vehicles to access the courtyard, you will be able to open the gates using your personal key, if you have purchased one.
How do I make sure that my GSM is recognised by the door-entry system?
This is overseen by our TMO Manager. Up to three GSM numbers can be entered for each residence. The system will ring the numbers in a sequential order, so if the first call is not answered, it will automatically call the second number and so on. When you receive a call to open the gates, you will be asked to access your keypad and type “#” to open the lock. Remember to close the call before moving on.
For any additional questions, please reach out to your TMO Manager in the first instance.