We had three people around today two from Dodds and one from PV company to assess for Solar Panels and put an estimate into the Council. The PV man did mention a limit on amount of panels to 2.1 kw which PV man thought would be a waste when it could be made more efficient and produce
8 kw.. Either way lets hope its done for Christmas!
We are still waiting for Surveyor to come round and look at garden, to lay more slabs we need a holding or retaining wall put in as the garden slopes so badly.I am hoping to be able to use it myself with some raised beds it will be fantastic and to have somewhere to sit and eat.
My front door still is not sealed, again waiting for someone to come and do as wind howls through which as you know with Passiv it is actually a sealed unit - supposedly.......
Friday, 2 September 2016
Sunday, 31 July 2016
Looking forward to using the garden!
Well had a good Holiday, weather was nice for UK and most places accessible. Now I am looking forward to having my garden made accessible so I can actually use it! My linen line is to be moved so its usable and my garden levelled although I think the council will only slab a section of it, it does need to still be levelled all over. Looking at the guidance for accessible gardens it looks like it is supposed to be any hard flat level surface as long as its not grass!
I also need advice on catflaps? I see they can now be fitted and any advice on who does them, It looked like they were about £1500 which is understandable.
I also need advice on catflaps? I see they can now be fitted and any advice on who does them, It looked like they were about £1500 which is understandable.
Friday, 20 May 2016
Tree Surgeon finally visits my neighbour
Well finally a tree surgeon has visited my neighbour to discuss giving the overgrown Oak a decent trim, well if I had my way it would be back to an acorn stage. Also my neighbour is getting his garden laid with paving slabs, honestly who in their right mind would give a wheelchair user a grassed lawn to care for, one that is far from uneven. We still have a surveyor due out to look at ours, it will need shearing up at fence as the incline is such a steep slope that the ground will slide down if not held back.
I have been as always reading up on the requirements (legislatively that is) of the provision needed for a level 3 new build and not as a surprise I would hasten to add, we are not as we should be. It helps that the Minister who helped draw up this legislation is actually our local MP so some help should be here if we need it. I will be quite happy as long as its a level hard surface for the full use of a wheelchair, not a part paved temp fix.The guidance actually says anything but not grass that is the worst, it should be a surface with some grip and gradient should never be greater than 1:2 and ideally almost level. Drainage also needs to be thought about as we are set low down, the ground was dug out to site the bungalows on so we sit below the level of most peoples gardens which means the water will run down to us.
I have been as always reading up on the requirements (legislatively that is) of the provision needed for a level 3 new build and not as a surprise I would hasten to add, we are not as we should be. It helps that the Minister who helped draw up this legislation is actually our local MP so some help should be here if we need it. I will be quite happy as long as its a level hard surface for the full use of a wheelchair, not a part paved temp fix.The guidance actually says anything but not grass that is the worst, it should be a surface with some grip and gradient should never be greater than 1:2 and ideally almost level. Drainage also needs to be thought about as we are set low down, the ground was dug out to site the bungalows on so we sit below the level of most peoples gardens which means the water will run down to us.
Friday, 1 April 2016
Met with Graham and Richard today
First time I have actually met Graham from GY council who seemed pleasant enough and had a good understanding of the builds - Richard I have met before who is always polite.
Heating is finally going to be addressed or at least discussed with best way forward for next winter so we have some chance of being warm and maybe at a cheaper rate. The average usage for this size property in this area is around 803 kWh whilst we are using 1350 kWh so well above average. Bearing in mind the insulation quality of our house we are using a lot more energy than expected and its not as we use extra appliances so council will discuss pros and cons of what will work without putting up the electricity bill further. I am in favour of Solar Panels as really need to reduce costs of energy, however to be warm again open to suggestions. My next door neighbours are keen also to have a warmer winter later in the year. I await suggestions with interest.
The patio and garden area, I am desperate to be able to do some gardening and would love to have some raised beds but need a flat surface to stand them on, also a reasonable rotary airer to use and dry my linen on without dragging on the floor still giving me access to a patio which can be enjoyed. Luckily the council have a duty to promote well-being, care and support functions under The Care Act 2014 which includes housing and suitability of living accommodation including access and use of garden. I didn't need to mention any of this as it is obvious we have problems with the garden, Graham is bringing out the surveyors to see what can be done. Happy Happy.
The draft through the door is going to be repaired, luckily a draft could be felt on the day to prove it was not just in my head.
And last but not least removal of dead tree, although having been promised this several times now I will wait until it has gone prior to celebrating, and a healthy trim to the giant Oak tree who has waywardly strayed over the fence causing us, and both neighbours problems.
As always I will keep you posted.
Heating is finally going to be addressed or at least discussed with best way forward for next winter so we have some chance of being warm and maybe at a cheaper rate. The average usage for this size property in this area is around 803 kWh whilst we are using 1350 kWh so well above average. Bearing in mind the insulation quality of our house we are using a lot more energy than expected and its not as we use extra appliances so council will discuss pros and cons of what will work without putting up the electricity bill further. I am in favour of Solar Panels as really need to reduce costs of energy, however to be warm again open to suggestions. My next door neighbours are keen also to have a warmer winter later in the year. I await suggestions with interest.
The patio and garden area, I am desperate to be able to do some gardening and would love to have some raised beds but need a flat surface to stand them on, also a reasonable rotary airer to use and dry my linen on without dragging on the floor still giving me access to a patio which can be enjoyed. Luckily the council have a duty to promote well-being, care and support functions under The Care Act 2014 which includes housing and suitability of living accommodation including access and use of garden. I didn't need to mention any of this as it is obvious we have problems with the garden, Graham is bringing out the surveyors to see what can be done. Happy Happy.
The draft through the door is going to be repaired, luckily a draft could be felt on the day to prove it was not just in my head.
And last but not least removal of dead tree, although having been promised this several times now I will wait until it has gone prior to celebrating, and a healthy trim to the giant Oak tree who has waywardly strayed over the fence causing us, and both neighbours problems.
As always I will keep you posted.
Sunday, 27 March 2016
My Grassed area is a soggy muddy patch
Oh it would be nice to go onto my garden, at present its a soggy muddy bumpy and in places steep area - not accessible to. me in Alice it would be lovely to get into my garden - why oh why was it not paved all over. I could have raised beds and sit in my garden like a normal person. I miss being normal.
Thursday, 24 March 2016
Certainly not energy efficient for us!
This is taken directly from my bill, it is not up to 90% cheaper as we were lead to believe in fact we are above average as per below and we are still cold!
Usage summary
Comparing your Electricity consumption with households in NR, based on 3 full months from your last bill.
Saturday, 12 March 2016
Well campaign Warm Home/Accessible Garden is only just beginning
I and my neighbours are still waiting to hear what is going to be done about the
1. Heating
2. Accessing the Garden
3. Dead and overhanging trees
the deadline keeps moving, promises are made and yet not one kept.
My Mother once said I was the most stubborn person she knew other than herself, however she did not factor in my fathers genes, I am actually a lot worse than she thinks .Once I get the bit between my teeth and my goodness I have, I am only just beginning to warm up. The one thing I do know is how to raise public awareness and create a fuss when something isn't right, after all hundreds have ploughed into training me to do just that. The results I would like to see are
1. Solar Panels/Combi Boiler
2. Paving, Slabbing or even concrete as long as its flat
3. Chopped and Trimmed.
All this is without the returning our keys, at this rate I will have to have locks changed myself, its principal really, if something is handed into a government body they should have it recorded especially when it has a value on it. If records are not being kept then this is potentially misconduct and the government treats this seriously potentially dismiss-able, there are codes of conduct in place for such things..
1. Heating
2. Accessing the Garden
3. Dead and overhanging trees
the deadline keeps moving, promises are made and yet not one kept.
My Mother once said I was the most stubborn person she knew other than herself, however she did not factor in my fathers genes, I am actually a lot worse than she thinks .Once I get the bit between my teeth and my goodness I have, I am only just beginning to warm up. The one thing I do know is how to raise public awareness and create a fuss when something isn't right, after all hundreds have ploughed into training me to do just that. The results I would like to see are
1. Solar Panels/Combi Boiler
2. Paving, Slabbing or even concrete as long as its flat
3. Chopped and Trimmed.
All this is without the returning our keys, at this rate I will have to have locks changed myself, its principal really, if something is handed into a government body they should have it recorded especially when it has a value on it. If records are not being kept then this is potentially misconduct and the government treats this seriously potentially dismiss-able, there are codes of conduct in place for such things..
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