Albany Wood InfoWEB
A resource of information for residents, managing the Estate.
Exploring alternative ways to stabilise maintenance costs
version 09:00 27th March 2025 .
Hello all,
Very good gardening weather. 🪴
Which reminds me to ask, has anyone seen the estate gardeners recently?
Last seen was on the 28th of March. Prior to that, they spent the day on the 10th of March in the east meadow, and their start day was planned for the end of February. March was first seen for the start of their contract as far as I can recall.
Prior to that, if you recall the Handover, we had no gardeners since September 2024 until these new gardeners started. We were charged in 2024 , £5000 for gardening, pro rata.
No gardeners appearing after the Handover date were caused possibly because the prior team had their contract terminated, plus with all the hurry and scurry about what was included in the new contract, eg Meadows in or out. The boundary map at that time did not include meadows, leaving out the waste bins also. . The new 2025 contracts was rushed without care of our interests, and now all of the managed meadow was added into the contract as well. New news to most, even Spamco. ( We have no one in AWMco to represent our interests over the Director J Sinnett's business view.)
Some gardeners came and did a survey walk of the estate with me, then left.That was Nov 2024.
SPAMco has told us they are preparing new invoices , now without the waste bins in the Meadow, for the rest of 2025. This will be without including the other additionally planned bins for the central Estate Common green area. These could be installed later if Crest insist on the same reasoning as other waste bins ( recall Customer Services Director is insisting the Meadow waste bins stay ( inconsistent logic since they can be permissibly be removed). Oddly insisting due to a planning requirement (SPAMco and Crest) , if true, why haven’t they installed ALL waste bins on the landscape maps, agreed upon in the application? Partial compliance , pick and choose at the discretion of whom?).
We hope we see a reduction of charges in the new invoices from two aspects of gardening, at least…
Reductions due to
A) The new local gardening contractor started at the beginning of March 2025 (22 visits a year - 3 visits since March 2025, none in April ?)
B ) The old contractors last visit was pre Sept 26th hand over. They were stood down at that time according the 2024 invoice letter.
They never did any gardening since that time, as I recall.
So , we should expect compensation reductions of charges for gardening from Sep 2024 to end Feb 2025 .
That is 5 months of no gardening to be refunded/ recalculated. Refund for 2024 of 3 months 3/12 of £5000. £1,250.
2025 Charges total recalculation of the ‘surprise ‘ gardening invoicing, now for 10 months gardening only, not 12 months as at Jan 2025, since no gardening Jan through March.
2025 gardening was £16920 , thats £1410 a month, so for comparison when we see the new invoice for 2025 which is with the new local contractor for 10 months, must show better than £14,100. 10 months only of the original rate presented.
Do you agree?
Carefully appraise the new gardening costs because it will be 10 months new contractor vs 12 month old contractor.
We await the promised new invoice.
The invoice schedule plan saw Dec invoice for the first 6 months.
We would expect, as the normal schedule, the last 6 months invoice presented in June 2025.
So we maybe see a complex invoicing change mid year.
10 month versus 12 month gardening, or, an earlier invoice for each listed invoice item but for maybe the next 7 months for everything, instead of 6 months , or … what this space.
About Albany Wood InfoWEB
Founded in December 2024, Albany Wood InfoWEB is dedicated to upholding the estate's high standards while providing valuable insights into the factors affecting maintenance costs. Our goal is to help stabilize or potentially reduce estate management fees to fair and reasonable levels.
Learn more about its beginnings on the page entitled The Inception of InfoWEB.
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DOUBLIING of CHARGES- Infoweb INCEPTION
MISLEADING COST- SALES HAND-OUTS.
* What are FREEHOLD ESTATES
PLANNING APPLICATION (2017) Plus More
ESTATE MAPS-COST BOUNDARIES
Albany Wood Management Co. (AWMco) (RMC)
The Estate Maintenance Co.(SPAMco)
Maintenance Co.. Fee Categories
Crest Nicholson Operations (CNO)
$ ABRI
* Compliance
+ Who is Who Running the Estate
Residents Management
Association (RMA)
Prominent Specific
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+ Bishops Waltham Parish Council
# Winchester City Council
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Albany Wood Residents InfoWeb
SO32 Bishops Waltham, United Kingdom
