In 2001, TNRA celebrated its silver jubilee. Major achievements in our first
25 years included:
- Keeping rents down by representing 10 tenants at Rent Assessment Committee
hearings in 1998
- Securing reductions in council tax banding for over 100 tenants in 1995
- With Simon Hughes MP, arranging meeting in 1996 with Trinity House and the
managing agents, enabling residents to question them about their policy and
plans for the estate
- Obtaining access to the square gardens for residents from 1994 (Merrick
Square) and 1997 (Trinity Church Square)
- Reducing traffic problems by lobbying Southwark Council to install pedestrian
refuges in Trinity Street (1980), bollards in Cole Street (1985), speed tables
in Falmouth Road (1995) and a pedestrian crossing in Trinity Street (1995)
- Organising annual garden fetes in Merrick Square since 1998 as part of London
Garden Squares Day
-
With Southwark Community Recycling, setting up a doorstep paper recycling
scheme on the estate in 2001
-
Maintaining TNRA membership at over 50 per cent of the estate and keeping the
subscription at a modest level for 25 years
The year-by-year summary below fills in more details about the
work of the Association over these years.
1976
Following development work by a small group of residents, supported
by Southwark Council, TNRA is formed at a meeting in November in St Matthews
church hall, New Kent Road, chaired by Councillor Arthur Knight Main
concern of residents is levels of rent Laszlo Kovats elected first chair
of TNRA committee
1977
Street party held in June to celebrate the Queens Silver Jubilee First newsletter issued (two sheets of A4, stencilled and duplicated)
1978
Retired rent officer addresses quarterly meeting about fair rent TNRA survey during redecoration ensures that front doors in Falmouth Road and
Cole Street are painted black, as in the squares, in accordance with residents
wishes First filming takes place in Trinity Church Square: ¥Lillie for
London Weekend Television TNRA party held in crypt of Henry Wood Hall TNRA deputation goes to Southwark Council traffic subcommittee to ask for a
pedestrian crossing in Trinity Street Ë council promises pedestrian refuges at
either side of Trinity Church Square (finally installed in 1980)
1979
Regular meetings begin between TNRA and managing agents, Drivers
Jonas (Mr Bishop and Miss Kelly) TNRA surveyor represents three Gloucester
Court tenants at a Rent Assessment Committee, which reduces their rent
Owls and kestrels spotted in Trinity Church Square
1980
New ¥traditional lamp posts installed in the squares and Trinity
Street TNRA representative sits on Community Panel, set up by Southwark
Council to get local input into environmental issues AGM debates whether
gardens in the squares should be open to residents Ë majority vote against
1981
TNRA boasts membership of 166 households out of 271 on the whole
estate Jays seen in Trinity Church Square Councils draft District
Plan designates the area bounded by Borough High Street, New Kent Road and Great
Dover Street a ¥traffic sensitive area, where through traffic should be kept on
the boundary roads
1982
TNRA committee discusses with Borough Engineers Department how to
reduce traffic in Trinity Street Drivers Jonas agree to pay for cost of
materials if tenants want to insulate their lofts (council grants are available
for the labour costs) Mothers & Babies Group starts regular weekly
meetings in Merrick Square rectory TNRA talks to British Telecom about
disturbance from their large vehicles in Falmouth Road September quarterly
meeting features crime prevention TNRA asks for more residents parking
spaces in Cole Street Local councillors Anne Matthews and John Fowler
address the AGM
1983
Southwark Council plans cycle route along Trinity Street, which will
help to reduce motor traffic At October quarterly meeting, spokesperson
invited to talk about Trinity Houses pilotage work encounters vigorous
questioning about management of the estate
1984
Mr Liddle and Capt Dickens from Trinity House attend February meeting
between TNRA and Drivers Jonas as observers Ë this arrangement continues
annually until 1995 BBC films scenes for Bleak House in Trinity Church
Square TNRA arranges ¥Self-defence for Women classes with local police Visionhire cable television is withdrawn and Trinity House installs communal
aerials for whole estate Ë one-off connection charge per household is £15
1985
TNRA AGM moves to April Developer begins work on 4, 5, 6
Trinity Church Square Ë the first block on the estate to be converted and sold
on long leases After pressure from TNRA, Southwark Council installs
bollards on pavement edges in Cole Street
1986
Southwark Council organises ward walkabouts with councillors,
officers and residents to check traffic, roads, pavements, lights, street
cleaning etc Drivers Jonas refuse to let empty properties on short-term
leases
1987
At October quarterly meeting, Trevor Wilding from Southwark Councils
traffic department promises that pedestrian phased lights will be installed at
the Borough Station junction TNRA responds to government proposals in
Housing Bill to abolish protected rents for all new lettings and briefs our MP,
Simon Hughes, for committee stage of the bill TNRA party raises funds to
help local baby Rosa Ferraro to go to the Peto Institute in Budapest to have
treatment for cerebral palsy Drivers Jonas agree to put notices in
communal halls giving details of position of main fuses, stopcocks etc, for
emergency use
1988
Local businesspeople Gordon Sabin of Wallins in Cole Street, Joan
Amodio of the Swan Street shop, and Graham Harris of F C Harris (Builders) speak
at AGM July quarterly meeting features fire prevention
1989
Housing Act 1988 comes into force, introducing assured and assured shorthold tenancies at market rents for all new lettings Barrister from
Southwark Law Project explains the Act to quarterly meeting Drivers Jonas
tell TNRA that new protected leases will no longer contain the right to assign Cedric Dickens, great grandson of Charles, talks to TNRA quarterly meeting Friends of the Earth tell TNRA that Southwark Council provides only one
paper recycling site and eight bottle banks TNRA sends representative to
the Traffic, Transport and Environment Subcommittee of North Southwark Community
Development Group to campaign for improvements, such as phased pedestrian lights
at Borough Tube Station TNRA meets Post Office manager to discuss noise
and traffic problems in Cole Street from Swan Street sorting office
1990
Peter Fitzgerald of Trinity Church Square organises a Southwark
Stroll, with actors from the estate and their friends portraying characters from
Southwarks past, in aid of the Terrence Higgins Trust TNRA quarterly
meeting discusses whether residents would like access to the gardens in the
squares Ë a majority votes for a trial period of opening but Trinity House and
Drivers Jonas refuse TNRA surprises Drivers Jonas by counting over 50
empty properties on the estate (out of about 270) TNRA arranges meeting
between Cole Street residents and courier firm to discuss problems of noise in
the night
1991
TNRA takes part in National Spring Clean week by clearing the waste
ground on the west side of Brockham Street Mice and cockroaches are seen
on the estate and Drivers Jonas put poison in empty properties Speaker
from Southwark Environmental Health Department comes to TNRA quarterly meeting Drivers Jonas refuse to let tenants keep their protected tenancies if they
ask to move to another property on the estate TNRA newsletter surveys and
samples the local fish and chip shops Drivers Jonas fail to negotiate
several rent increases on time and then suggest that tenants have a ¥moral
obligation to pay backdated rent Ë TNRA advises against this After Rent
Assessment Committee reduces one tenants rent on appeal, Drivers Jonas
calculate that tenant still owes extra rent Ë TNRA explains to DJ how to do the
calculation
1992
TNRA AGM in Henry Wood Hall is addressed by Paul Strang of Henry Wood
Hall Trust and Terry Palmer, manager of the hall TNRA responds to
government consultation paper Rent Act tenants: rent increases TNRA asks
Drivers Jonas if they will open the estate office in the evening once a week Ë
DJ refuse, but offer to open at 8.30 am once a month from October In
October, DJ relocate staff to head office and open Trinity Street office on
Monday and Friday mornings only, though retaining 8.30 opening once a month Sam Wanamaker talks to quarterly meeting about construction of the Globe
Theatre Council tax bandings, to come into force in April 1993, are
announced Ë TNRA advises residents how to appeal TNRA newsletter samples
take-away pizzas
1993
After several years pressure by TNRA to get badly peeling lamp posts
repainted, Southwark Council says that it is the estates turn this year in a
seven-year cycle TNRA arranges training on presenting a case at a Rent
Assessment Committee hearing TNRA protests to Drivers Jonas about allowing
filming in TCS for three consecutive nights, without consulting residents Ë DJ
promise not to permit filming after midnight again TNRA committee meets
Southwark Council planner to discuss open spaces in the area, particularly
Dickens Square and Harper Road TNRA co-ordinates appeals by 27 members against
council tax valuations Woollard Smith & Associates show residents
their first proposals for converting the empty Wallins factory in Cole Street
into flats Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 gives
long leaseholders of blocks of flats the rights to buy their freehold
collectively or to extend their leases TNRA helps London Wildlife Trust to
tidy the wildlife area in Dickens Square
1994
Drivers Jonas/Trinity House agree to give residents keys to Merrick
Square garden for a trial period TNRA quarterly meeting takes place at Raj
Bilash restaurant for cookery demonstration and food sampling TNRA asks
Drivers Jonas whether satellite dishes can be added to the communal TV aerial
system and for a list of which properties are connected to the system (this was
never found) DJ offer TNRA an empty flat to use for storage and meetings
(deemed by committee not to be suitable) TNRA representatives attend
Southwark Councils traffic subcommittee and ask again for pedestrian crossing
in Trinity Street Cllr Steve Lancashire shows quarterly meeting plans for
improving traffic management in Trinity Street, including pedestrian crossing
(installed outside number 66 in 1995) Valuation officer inspects
properties and reduces council tax banding for 21 of the 27 properties in TNRAs
appeal Tom Amodio from the Swan Street shop plays Father Christmas at TNRA
childrens Christmas party
1995
Daniel Smith, with Julian Briant as the responsible partner, take
over from Drivers Jonas as estate managers on
1 April and begin a thorough inspection of the properties Trinity Street
office is opened only on Monday mornings, or by appointment Following
negotiations with TNRA, Valuation Officer reduces council tax bandings for a
further 81 properties on the estate, saving residents up to £250 per year Speed
tables are installed in Falmouth Road Videotron lay cables for
television in Swan Street, Cole Street and Falmouth Road First TNRA book sale
held in Trinity Church Square Amodios shop in Swan Street closes
1996
Three houses in TCS are offered for sale and refurbishment TNRA
complains to Daniel Smith about state of gardens Southwark Councils
proposals for improved parking scheme include more residents parking spaces on
the estate, as requested by TNRA (never implemented) Daniel Smith tell
TNRA that there is no demand from incoming tenants for long leases 100
residents return TNRA questionnaire and information is collated about the
pattern of occupation on the estate, showing considerable long-term occupancy
and desire to remain for a long time on the part of many tenants Simon
Hughes chairs well-attended meeting with Richard Dobb of Trinity House and
Daniel Smith at which there are some heated exchanges about estate policy
TNRA meet Traffic Director for London to discuss traffic problems in Trinity
Street and possible solution with ¥red routes in Great Dover Street and Borough
High Street TNRA represents seven protected tenants at Rent Assessment
Committee (RAC) hearing
1997
Trinity House appeals to High Court against RAC decision, which is
quashed in December Ë TNRA briefs barrister to represent tenants Ë case is
reheard in 1998 Daniel Smith merges with Cluttons to form Cluttons Daniel
Smith (CDS) TNRA joins protest to save ¥dog park on Swan Street/Harper
Road corner from sale by Southwark Council for redevelopment along with Brockham
Street/Harper Road site CDS allow residents access to Trinity Church
Square garden as well as Merrick Square Trinity Arms closes
1998
Southwark Council presents provisional proposals for traffic calming,
including closure of Trinity Street Planning applications are made for
developments in Swan Street (on site of former PO sorting office), Falmouth Road
(on former British Telecom site) and Brockham Street/Harper Road corner (on
former temporary court site) TNRA advises tenants with 9-year assured
leases about rent negotiation and arbitration by ¥expert surveyor TNRA
takes part in first London Garden Square Day with Garden FÁte in Merrick Square Cluttons Daniel Smith turns into Cluttons TNRA represents ten
protected tenants at two Rent Assessment Committee hearings and succeeds in
arguing that there is scarcity of similar accommodation, thus achieving rents
well below those asked by Cluttons TNRA holds meeting for long
leaseholders (now occupying over 50 properties on the estate) with Cluttons Management of long leaseholds moves to Cluttons Tower Bridge office
Richard Dobb of Trinity House and Julian Briant attend TNRA committee meeting Ë
asked about the empty Trinity Arms, Mr Dobb says that Trinity House would like
to see it let as ¥some kind of hostelry TNRA holds classical concert in
Henry Wood Hall, with ¥Sounds Lyrical performing Abendlieder TNRA and CDS
send out joint notice reminding residents about rubbish collection days
1999
22 Trinity Street (next door to the Trinity Arms) is renovated to let
after being empty for 25 years Trinity Church Square features on BBC TVs
¥House Detectives programme Local musicians ¥The Jazz Pilgrims play at
TNRA Jazz Evening in Henry Wood Hall crypt Government introduces
regulations to cap increases in registered rents (then temporarily overturned by
High Court, but finally confirmed in 2001) Trinity House ask Cluttons to
draw up guidelines for requests for filming after residents block proposal to
film over Easter holiday period TNRA Christmas concert in Henry Wood Hall
is a performance of excerpts from ¥The Messiah TNRA representatives
attend local forums on regeneration at Bankside and Elephant & Castle
2000
Cluttons tell TNRA that they have failed to let the Trinity Arms and
intend to convert it to residential use TNRA works with Southwark Council
and Cluttons to try to eliminate household rubbish on doorsteps and pavements
except on collection day Ë Cluttons supply new bins and council supply wheelie
bins where appropriate Simon Hughes MP asks Trinity House for details
about types on tenancy on the estate and this information is given to TNRA also TNRA responds to government consultation about private sector housing TNRA gains lottery grant of £3,525 to produce information pack Southwark
Council holds meeting in Henry Wood Hall to display plans for closure of Trinity
Street TNRA protests to council after another exhibition, by consultants
about parking proposals, disappoints because they appear not to have been
briefed about street closure plans TNRA committee sets up system of
subgroups in order to involve more members on particular topics TNRA
membership cards are introduced as receipts for subscriptions Cluttons
install boosters to improve television reception TNRA Christmas card,
depicting Trinity Church Square in the snow, proves popular TNRA conducts
survey of wildlife on the estate Meeting for long leaseholders reveals
dissatisfaction with management fees, financial information and level of service TNRA survey reveals interest in free communal bike sheds After
Cluttons cause confusion by changing bank account, TNRA attempts to help them
and tenants to find the lost payments
2001
TNRA arranges meeting between long leaseholders and Cluttons partner
Janie Strange Southwark Council says that there is no money to alter the
parking scheme TNRA conducts survey to ascertain members wishes about
social events Cluttons locate property manager Derek Brown in Trinity
Street office Monday to Friday to supervise repairs and all other Cluttons staff
move to St Johns Wood office TNRA buys tables and marquees for residents
to borrow and uses them at Garden FÁte in June TNRA Wine Club holds first
wine tasting evening TNRA works with Southwark Community Recycling to
introduce a doorstep paper recycling scheme on the estate and to start trial
composting schemes with wormeries TNRA hosts free performance of
Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew by bold & saucy theatre company in Merrick
Square
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