News

Elena, our first Representative of the Residents Association, to the Council’s Consultative Committee Panel, has taken on the voluntary responsibility of looking after the condition of Fawcett Close (i.e. that path which is connected to Wye Street).

Thus for over a Year and a half, Elena has been constantly taking residents complaints about the over grown bushes and trees along the pavement, near the ‘Boris Johnson’s Bike Parking place’, to the Council, at various meetings and contacts with Councillors.

As a result the Estate Manager Patrick Byrne – sent workers from the “Surrey Environmental Group” to clear and tidy up the entrance, windows and pavement, from overgrown bushes, trees and foliage that were growing uncontrollably over the years.

Above you can see the difference this clearance has made. While residents are now relieved to walk on their pavements and enter their dwelling blocks in safety.

On the 7th of November Elena Kidane (a prominent member of our Kambala Estate Residents’ Association) was invited to Wandsworth Town Hall to receive a Prize, in a Gardening Competition for the “Private/Remote Garden Category”.

She won the 2nd Prize in this truly competitive competition.

Elena states – 

“My garden was looked after by my husband, before. After he passed away 3 years ago, I try to maintain what he has done. That’s all. 
It takes time, but in the summer it’s really nice to be in our garden.”

The invitation about her success in this Competition was sent by “Mr. Donovan R.” in an email and stated

“Dear Elena,
We are delighted to inform you that you have been selected as a winner in the recent gardening competition organised by Wandsworth Borough Council’s Housing and Regeneration Department. The judges were truly impressed by the creativity, beauty, and dedication you demonstrated in maintaining a vibrant and thriving private garden.”

Elena also added “I was the only person from Kambala Estate.  
However I hope, that even more people can participate in future.”

Last May, the KERA Committee received a request from a resident, to install a bike hangar on the Estate, along with a request to rent two spaces.

The 1^st KERA representative forwarded this request to the Resident Participation Officer – Vanessa Santos. A funding request was then raised, for a new Green Cycle Hangar. This was granted for installation at the entrance of Hicks Close, through approval from the Eastern Area Housing Panel, on July 8, 2024.

The new Green Bike Hangar was installed in August 2024 and is now fully operational.

If you would like to apply for

• a space or
• request an additional hangar in Kambala,

please contact KERA (Kambala Estate Resident Association) via email:-

[email protected]

for more information.

In August, Kambala Estate hosted the second Mega Skip Day outside the Community Clubroom in Fawcett Close. It was a huge success and we hope to host other mega skip days in the future. 

In the meantime should you need to dispose of large items, click the link below for the next mega skip days:

www.wandsworth.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling/mega-skip-days/

At the Kambala Resident meeting, held on August 19, 2024, concerns were raised about the increased dumping of rubbish within the estate.

Several areas, including Fawcett Close, Coppock Close, Hicks Close, Mac Dermott Close, and Wolftencroft Close, have become regular dumping grounds for both residents and non-residents.

This dumping not only attracts vermin but also creates a ghetto-like atmosphere, affecting our community’s morale.

The key issue identified is the lack of adequate waste management facilities.

With no large bins for bigger items, residents are forced to dispose of waste improperly.

The immediate solution proposed was to provide large bins at strategic points across the estate, similar to the system used at the nearby Falcon Estate.

To tackle this issue in the long-term, a multifaceted approach was suggested, including:-

• community engagement initiatives
• CCTV deterrent & fines
• public awareness campaigns
• improved waste management services

By combining these efforts, our estate aims to create a cleaner and more liveable environment for all.

The Red dots on the map (above) show the areas proposed by KERA to put large silver bins to collect the extra residents bins when their tiny cupboard bins are full, and stop this negative culture of just dumping everything on the street.

When Tony Papard and his life-partner moved to McDermott Close forty years ago the area at the back of the block was a children’s playground with swings, etc. Then this equipment was removed by the council and the area became neglected and overgrown.

The Residents’ Association helped with council support to:

• Cut back the bushes, 
• Rebuilt the decaying walls around the raised flowerbeds, 
• Erected six gates leading from the surrounding blocks into the garden and 
• Keys to the padlocks (for these gates) were given to residents, via the association.

The Council also provided two tables and eight chairs for the garden and installed a tap for watering the beds,  together with lighting.

Several barbecues were held in the garden with musical entertainment. Residents from other blocks in Kambala were also invited, courtesy of the Residents Association.

Tony has now taken over the rental for the shed where the hosepipe and gardening tools are kept. He waters the beds in Summer and maintains a small plot, with rose bushes, in memorial for his deceased mother and life-partner.

In one of the gardens backing on to the Community Garden is a tree which bears lots of grapefruit. The area is quite sheltered, to allow them to grow to full size, and these are edible – if a little dry.

The Community Garden is a pleasant place to sit in the good weather, and for all residents of the surrounding blocks to have full access, the locks have now been removed from the gates by the council. If KERA decides to hold more barbecues or other events in the garden, invited residents (from other blocks) would need to have access via one of the Entry-phone doors, by ringing someone’s Smartphone to let them in.

During the pandemic residents were using the garden for exercising and to just sit out in the open air enjoying the environment. Recently the council collected all the rubbish in the garden and cut back the bushes. With the help of the council and KERA the garden should be a pleasant place for residents to enjoy, for years to come.