Comments,
Feedback, News and Contributions
Send a message
30/6/20 comment from the
website owner. |
It is noted
that Mrs J Lowes remains registered as
Secretary and Mrs. S Tiplady as Director
with Companies House so they still hold
their positions as officers of the
Sycamores. Given their sudden
resignation from the committee, it is open
to speculation as to what may have
transpired or prompted them to make such a
decision at this particular time.
The fact that
residents were
informed by letter of the above changes
but without an explanation as to why these
events and decisions took place, is another
example of the directors lack of
transparency when it comes to keeping the
residents informed. |
21/11/19 comment from the website owner. |
Another
Milestone - it's been 2 years and 3
months since the website was l aunched back
in Aug 2017 and
it's now
passed the 65,000 hit mark,
it's survived all the trials and
tribulations the
powers that be have throw
at it and it's all down to the support shown
by your goodselves - the visitors.
So I would like to thank you all for
visiting and showing such interest in it's
content. Please don't forget - you are all
welcome to contribute and share your views
whether positive or negative and they will
get included. |
21/10/19
comment from the website owner. |
Has anyone
noticed:
It's almost 3
weeks since the AGM was held on 1/10/19 and
there has been no Minutes issued to the
residents and wonder why, perhaps the
managing agent or her staff had forgotten
about them completely, if thats the case
then they need to rectify the situation! |
29/3/19
|
A resident in
Swalebrook Avenue commented on the 'New
Feature' on the estate because they now have
to look at it on a daily basis saying it was
an 'eyesore', and 'what are they playing at
on the estate!'
It's
something when folks outside the estate are
commenting on whats going on isn't it!!!
|
29/3/19 a
comment from the site owner. |

Did anyone notice that the
hits on the website passed the 50,000 mark
last week - I want to thank you once again
for your support by continuing to visit the
website. Once again special thanks
must go to the director and committee who
continue to be a source of inspiration with
all of their antics, bad decision, incidents
breaking the lease, construction of new
feaures and removal of others - where would
the website be without you. I
know you will continue to entertain all of
us over the coming year by just being
yourselves. |
8/3/19 The
site owner had an encounter with a committee
member. |

Good Morning, Good Afternoon and
Good Evening are all useful and
polite ways to acknowledge and greet
people even if only passing by, why
on earth would anyone object?
I think the 'Strange' bug has returned and
appears to be once again targeting members
of the committee, in case anyone is not up
to speed on the previous episode you can
catch up here. It's
a little early in the year for this
particular bug to strike again, last year it
was in May, still lets blame it on global
warning like everything else these days.
Anyway back to the most recent rather
disturbing 'happening', this morning I was
walking towards the undercroft on my way
over to the other side of the estate and
noticed one of our committee members messing
around with the bins. As I approached I
said 'Good Morning D...', this is the way I
usually treat anyone I meet on the estate if
I happen to see them, he responded with a
lot of arm and hand gestures stating:
'I have nothing to say to you', 'I don't
want to talk to you',
He mumbled
something about 'pleasantries' which
I didn't quite catch,
and 'I know what you are doing'
Unfortunately I am a little hard of hearing
and missed out on most of what he said but I
got the impression that because I had said
good morning to him, it gave him the
opportunity to have vent and a bit of a
rant, he must have been feeling pretty
fraustrated about something.
I have no idea why he would take offence to
being greeted this way but hope he can find
a friend on the committee to seek support
for his problem, because he does have
problem for sure as this is not rational
behaviour! I put it down to the 'Strange'
Bug which, as mentioned earlier, another
committee member suffered from last year -
perhaps she and D... could get together to
talk through whatever is bothering him and
support him through this obviously very
trying time. |
11/8/18
message from the site owner. |
The Website - 1 year on
Who knew
when the website was first launched
just a year ago this month that it would
prove so successful and dare I say - popular.
There are a number of people who deserve a
mention and thanks - the regular resident
contributors who have done a wonderful job
in voicing their opinions on matters which
either affect them or on which they hold
strong views, and to all the regular
visitors to the site - my thanks to you all.
Your
continued support is very much appreciated and hope you continue
to visit the website on a regular basis and
perhaps even contribute at some point - all views will be
published whether they be positive or
negative. |
29/6/18 - the last 2
paragraphs of this item has been amended. 26/6/18 comment from the site
owner regarding the solicitors letters.
|
Yet another
solicitors letter received 25/6/18 - the
following should be noted:
It's a bit disconcerting
that the company solicitor had not carried
out some basic research into who he was
addressing his letters to - all
correspondence - letters and emails, have
been addressed to a Ms not Mrs - perhaps
this makes all of them invalid - these
details are important!
None of the letters are
actually signed by the solicitor - rather
someone has signed the company's name
instead - this is not usual practice for a
business letter - does this mean he wasn't
responsible for authoring the letter or is
he distancing himself from them?
The heading to these
letters states AGM - The Sycamores - what
does that mean or refer to?
There is a reason why the
letter dated 12/6/18 was not acknowledged -
after his letter in December 2017 I asked
him to clarify the grounds on which the
director and committee were considering
taking legal action and he ignored the
message,
see
here.
The account for the
solicitors services is mounting and
the residents will have to pay for it in the
2018/19 Annual Accounts, this could come
sooner than that given the Service Charge
may be increased at the upcoming AGM to
cover the extra expense - perhaps they should have
been consulted to see if they agree with
having their money spent in this way! |
21/6/18 message from the site
owner. |

Another milestone passed
on the website yesterday, after only 10 months since
it's launch it has reached an amazing 30,000
hits and it's still in it's infancy. Who knew
it would prove so popular but sadly the
original reason for it's existence still
remains.
Thank you all for the
support you've shown by visiting the site on
a regular basis - it couldn't have gotten
this far without you, and a special thanks
to our director and committee who continue
to be a source of inspiration for it's
content. |
21/5/18 email from Mike
Sherwood |
Hi
to all Sycamores residents and website
watchers.
Following my strange interaction with a
committee member the other week, I’ve
watched with interest as the behaviour of
some folks on the estate appears to have
become even less civilised, and I must
admit, my concern is growing about what
appears to be a culture of bullying (which
includes ostracizing) on the estate by those
in positions of responsibility who should
know better. This all sounds very serious I
know – and it is – but in an effort to draw
the public’s attention to some of the
craziness I’m now aware of, as well as, I
hope – to make a few folks laugh at the
absurdity and sheer wrongness of it all,
I’ve made a short video parody which I hope
will be entertaining. Click here for
further information prior to viewing.
Whoever you are on the estate, please don’t
take offence as really, none is intended:
but if this little piece of comedy helps
folks reflect on whether they really are
behaving well to each or not, then it may do
some good.
Finally, despite the sometimes offensive
behaviour doled out to my mother because of
the website (to those who’ve done this – how
dare you!) – I remain astonished that in
this day and age, all intelligent people
don’t question unfair practices such as lack
of accounting transparency, nepotism and
abuse – and I hope that as time goes on,
more residents will realize that things
would be so much better if there was a zero
tolerance approach to bullying, and if the
estate was run transparently, with goodwill
for everyone.
Best Regards,
Mike (Lucy’s son) |
8/5/18 - message from the
site owner. |
To the
committee member mentioned below - Yep - I
was waving at you,
I am always polite and
cheerful towards all my neighbours
when I see them! |
5/5/18 - email received from
the site owner's son Mike. |
“Very Strange People Round
Here….”
Thursday, around 2pm I was just leaving my
mother’s house on the Sycamores Estate, we
stood for a moment in the sun outside her
front door, and she waved at a couple of her
neighbours who were stood chatting in the
car park at the time. The female neighbour
who facing towards us, and saw my mother’s
greeting – did not respond at all until my
mother went back inside, and I started
walking towards my car, which was in the car
park…
“ She
wasn’t waving at me” said the neighbour as
I approached the car park. “She wasn’t
waving at me”, the neighbour repeated as I
got closer.
I said -
“ I think she was waving at you”.
The
woman, who was standing as if rooted to the
spot and staring straight ahead – repeated
“No, she wasn’t waving at me” and as I
approached to get to my car, I said again –
“I think she was waving at you”…
“She
wasn’t waving at me…” the woman said – and
then said, rather loudly – “I’m on the
committee”
I said –
“er…and what’s that got to do with
anything?”
She said
– “ because of the website”
By this
time I felt like I’d stepped into some
psychological horror film, or a parallel
universe, and it seemed that I was
conversing with someone with considerable
anger management, as well as logic issues –
where a simple wave from someone could
elicit a completely illogical and disturbing
response. All I could think of to say was…
“….right…..hmmm. some very strange people
around here…’
To which
she responded – “ very strange people round
here”
I said “
very strange” as she continued to stare
straight ahead of her, still rooted to the
spot – upon which she turned and walked
away, repeating the mantra “very strange”.
I
couldn’t help myself – I simply said ‘Wow!”
and, feeling genuinely disturbed by this
interaction – got into my car and drove off. |
19/4/18 - message from the
site owner. |

Another Milestone for the Website
The website passed the 25,000 mark
this morning and it's all down to
you our stalwart visitors, it's
amazing when you think about it -
the site has only been up and
running since August 2017.
Thank you all so much for your
continued support and look forward
to the next milestone in the not too
distant future.
|
17/4/18 - comment from the
site owner. |
Minutes
of the 'Quarterly' Meeting 10/4/18 delivered
to residents 17/4/18
1)
The actual quarterly committee meeting was
held on on Monday 5/3/18 and minutes issued.
2) Re the formal notice
from the Hartlepool Property Manage Ltd -
informing the residents that
there is no
change with regard to bank details for the
Service Charge payments.
- Residents informed of
this on
17/4/18,
HPM
Ltd or the committee should have
notified the residents prior to the
handover.
Invoice
dated 6/4/18 was not delivered to the
residents until15/4/19 - no mention of bank
details staying the same - this has
caused confusion and distress to some
residents.
3) Drains
- The
actual drain problem is that the fall of
the drains are inadequate and the
committee were advised some time ago
when experts were called in to
investigate the problem. They were
informed that the drains would continue
to get blocked until such time as the
fall was sorted out. The work was
not carried out.
|
16/5/18 - email sent to Mrs.
D Clark - director of the SRA from Mrs.
Patricia Brown. |
To the
director
Once
again our director has really dropped
another bollock. Why she let Vicky
Maddison take over the running of our
accounts? People on this estate are
old and poorly and what did they get in
their letter box? A letter asking how they
are going pay a maintenance lump sum, this
is a large amount and people think the full
amount is due. Why couldn’t this be
sorted before they (the agent) took over, is
it too simple for people who don’t know how
to treat old people? I cannot believe
this director is still doing her job, I think
we should have a residents meeting to talk
this over with the residents. |
31/2/18 - a
follow up email from Mrs. Patricia Brown. |
Following on from the topic below - my
grandson has been on phone today to see if
the clothes line is still intact, I said yes
it was up till now, .I also told him it
would be a very stupid person to try
something like that again. Why don’t
they all get over themselves and leave my
property alone. These people must have very
sad lives to worry about a clothes post -
they need to get a life and are pathetic
cowards who haven't got the guts to talk
directly to me instead they sneak around
when no one is looking and do their stupid
deeds. |
31/3/18 - email from Mrs.
Patricia Brown. |
To All
Residents & Committee
I just want to
keep you all up to date with clothes line
saga, it was definitely a deliberate act of
vandalism what they done to my clothes line.
My grandson has now put a new one up - touch
this one and see what happens. Here is
a photo of the bracket of old one, whoever
is responsible man (or mouse) twisted
it anti clock wise to bend it - why don’t
you man up and come to me, we could talk
about it and sort the problem out - someone
must have a major problem to stoop to these
tactics.
|
22/3/18 - email sent to the
director of the SRA from a resident. |
Just a
few things to point out regards the theft of
the lead, I hope the police have been
informed about this as it’s a bit worrying
as there are an awful lot of sick and infirm
people here. Also my line was vandalised
and I can buy another one, but theft as far
as I’m concerned the people responsible
should have their fingers chopped off.
I hope
when Vicki takes over I get a better deal
from her regards my repairs, the water is
still running off my porch, the person who
did the tile pulled something off the front
of the porch and it drips all over since
then.
f we are
still keeping a director do we really need
committee members now or are they the ones
still going round looking at the estate.
Thanks Pat Brown |
21/3/18 - ponderings on the
management 'takeover' of the estate - L
Sherwood. |
As financial control is being
handed over to the new agent, has the
Director and Committee
committed an illegal act given the residents
(who own the SRA) were not consulted prior
to this decision being made? It's also
interesting that the Hartlepool Property
Management Ltd calls it a 'take-over' rather
than them being newly appointed as estate
agent - do any of these participants
actually know the difference?
The new agent specialised in
Lettings, Sales and Refurbishments – how
does this relate to the Sycamores as we are
a private estate, run by a private company
where all of the owners of the properties
actually own the private company, the
properties are never let, and all properties
are sold privately? Perhaps HPM
believe that obtaining this kind of
appointment would enhance their profile and
their reputation.
Will the new agent have
complete autonomy over the running of the
estate, handling all financial matters, and
making all decisions?
What
role will the committee now play as it would
appear they no longer have any function and
it is questionable if the SRA actually need
a committee at all?
Are all account, records/paperwork for the
past 6 years going to be handed over to the
new agent by the previous accountant?
Will HPM be transparent and accountable with
regard to their handling of the SRA
accounts, and furnish the residents with any
and all information they request as to how
the their monies are spent?
Given that HPM has
never had their accounts audited - as
clearly stated on Companies House filing
information on them - do we the residents
really want this company looking after our
interests? |
18/3/18 - Messages and
questions from a very concerned resident. |
Message 1:
Your updates make very
interesting reading.
Has there been no solicitor
involved in this take over? How have they
done bank account? Just told bank to change
names etc? I now definitely think someone on
the committee knows this company personally
for them to be chosen do you think this? As
committee had a meeting with someone else
before meeting Vicky Maddison. I
know she advertises on Facebook as I have
seen her page.
Do you know 4 properties here
have had lead strips stolen from above our
porch roofs? Will this be insurance claim?
Will it be dealt with by our present
management? I am waiting to see what happens
as one of the committee is dealing with it
as a neighbour of mine said she phoned her
about it.
Message 2:
A
further email received from the same
resident today asking more questions:
Is this change over legal?
Has Sycamores solicitor been involved ? Did
the committee have the right to do this
without consulting All residents ? ARE the
new agents going to give us residents
newsletters frequently about their dealings
with community AND bank account balances as
we usually receive after committee meetings
?
Message 3 from the same concerned
resident:
How did the committee decide on this company
? Did they get recommended to them ?
A response has been sent from the
Sycamores-estate.uk stating that these
questions should be addressed to the
Director Mrs. Doris Clark and the Committee of the SRA for
answers.
|
12/3/18 - Message from a
concerned resident. |
Hi,
I have had my papers out
again. It was discussed in previous years
about getting management company in to run
this estate but they turned them down due to
them wanting to have our bank account
putting in their name. I do not see any
mention of bank account in this change over
so how are they going to pay for repairs
etc?
I had a chat to fireman who
were going round estate yesterday afternoon
checking smoke alarms but they don't seem to
know much about survey work. It comes
under building dept. I have found a
committee meeting notes dated Monday 17th
August 2015 under Bank Account it says the
Accountant confirmed that the letter had
been sent I wonder what this was for to
change account??? I don't have a
previous one to tell me but a person who was
on committee then maybe he could help?
I am going to email committee
as it says on minutes from last week's
meeting lights have been sorted well mine
not coming on at night that 1 near another
resident is still not working properly.
|
4/3/18 - a BIG Thankyou! |
It’s
so encouraging to see that our committee are
taking such a lively interest in the website
and would like to thank them for their
ongoing unfailing support by visiting the
website on such a regular basis. They must
be enjoying the content and no doubt it
helps to keep up to date with ongoing issues,
the majority of which they have generated
themselves which in itself is quite an
achievement – they may even be basking in
their own notoriety, whatever the reason –
thank you all so much. |
27/2/18 - Message from the
website owner. |
A Milestone for the Website
The website has reached a
milestone in its short existence – it has
passed the 20,000 mark which far exceeds the
expectation when first launched in August
2017 and it is all down to you - the
visitors to the site.
I would like to take this
opportunity to thank everyone for their
continued support, the site will continue to
inform, raise issues, and challenge
practices which are not in the interest of
all Residents who are looking for more
accountability and transparency on how the
estate is run, how their monies are spent,
and fairness when it comes to obtaining
permissions for their own personal projects.
|
21/2/18 - Message received
from a Committee Member in response to the
article entitled 'Criminal
Vandalism Perhaps?' |
WASHING LINE VANDALISM The resident involved re the
damage to her washing line casing firstly
needs to report this matter to the Police,
given damage to her property is a criminal
offence.
The
resident should then inform the Committee. |
14/2/18 - Message received
from a resident |
Hawking and
Spitting in the street!
Will the
offender please take note (you know who you
are) – this is an absoluitely disgusting
habit and would have thought even old men
have a sense of decorum, you do yourself no
favours and show your self up no end - so
give your head a shake and think on before
you repeat this behaviour– there are such
things of tissues! |
10/12/17 - an open letter from the website
owner. |
Dear Residents and Visitors to the website, It has become necessary to reorganise some
of the website pages to consolidate
information and generally make the site more
user friendly.
All of the original content is still there
and available, however in some cases where
there has been multiple entries for a
particular subject, these have been
summarised. Should any viewer wish to see
all of the correspondence pretaining to a
particular item them please don't hesitate
to email the website and the relevant
correspondence will be forwarded to you.
The Pages most affected by these changes
are:
Outstanding Queries - this page
has been merged with Requests and
now falls under the heading in the
navigation bar Estate Issues. All items
have been summarised, however as stated
at the top of the page, a transcript of
any relevant correspondence can be made
available by request, this not only
tidies up the page and makes it much
more readable.
The Painting Contract Queries,
can now be found under Estate Issues, all original information has been
summarised, once again a transcript of
relevant correspondence is available by
request.
The original Estate Issues
navigation tab has been changed to
Estate Issues Content Page with
links to Estate Issues and other matters
which don't fall into any existing
category. All original information has
been summarised to make the pages more
readable and less cumbersome, however as
stated at the top of the page, all
relevant correspondence is available on
request.
A new page
Company Solicitor has
been created to accomodate letters
received on behalf of the SRA, you will
find this as a sub category under
Estate Issues.
It is sincerely hoped that these changes
proves helpful in navigating the site and is
a more logical approach to the content.
Please get in touch if you can think of any
further improvements which would be
beneficial to our viewers.
Regards |
22/11/17 AGM Minutes Update |
One of our residents telephoned the
managing agents office yesterday to ask
what was happening with regard to the
AGM Minutes and when they would be
issued due to the fact that they were
well overdue and normally were issued
within a few days of the AGM meeting
itself.
She spoke to the managing agent who said
that he was very busy at the moment due
to pressure of work and that he was
still going through the minutes, he was
unable to say when they would be issued.
|
21/11/17 WHY |
WHY
WHY have the minutes of the AGM
not been issued?
WHY has the full details of the
‘petition’ to bring down the website not
been published?
WHY
has the promised report on the Painting
Contract not been done?
WHY
has the accountant not given an adequate
explanation regarding the discrepancy in
2012 Account?
WHY is there such a reluctance
from the SRA, it’s officers and
committee’s part to be open, and
transparent on estate matters?
Can anyone answer the above ?
|
20/11/17 Info only |
There has been a record number of hits and
visitors to the website this week and is an
indication of the interest the website is
generating.
Weekly Stats Report: Nov 13 - Nov 19
2017 Summary
|
Mon |
Tues |
Wed |
Thur |
Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
Total |
Avg |
Pageloads |
100 |
71 |
310 |
122 |
95 |
109 |
73 |
880 |
126 |
Unique Visits |
23 |
27 |
29 |
21 |
28 |
30 |
11 |
169 |
24 |
First Time Visits |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
Returning Visits |
22 |
25 |
28 |
20 |
27 |
30 |
11 |
163 |
23 |
|
3/11/17 from the site owner. |
Due to the increased level of visitors
to the site, a mailing/distribution list
is planned for the future. If you would
like to be included and notified when
the site is updated, then please send
your name and email address to the site
and you will be added to the list. I would like to take this opportunity to
thank you all for your support to date
and hope you find the information
contained within useful and informative
and at times amusing. |
16/10/17 -
letter from a resident - unsigned. |
This is
the year 2017. The internet plays an
increasing part in peoples lives today
where one can access information about
almost everything.
The
Sycamores website is a necessity for
people to obtain information on
everything that goes on here on the
estate. I wish this had been available
to me when I took up residence as the
information given to me before I bought
my property did not cover much.
Where is
the community spirit - the coffee
morning is on a Wednesday morning for
one hour a week which is the only time
new residents get to meet their
neighbours. The quiz is on once a month
but that is not suitable for everyone.
Why no other activities? I’ve been
told that in the ‘good old days’ all
sorts were organised – why did they
stop?
The
committee who have been voted in by
residents should deal with everyone the
same and especially where repairs are
concerned, after all the Service
Charges is is paid by all of us.
As I
reside on the far side of the estate I
am treated quite differently to people
who live on the other side, this has
also been told to me by other residents
when problems arise. |
Friday 15/9/17 -
message received from a resident who felt
there was no need to put her name to it as
the other participant knew who was being
referred to. |
Altercation on the estate
A small number of residents were sitting in the
sun enjoying the weather minding their own
business and chatting when resident 'A' came
along to have a few words and was invited to sit
and join the company - the invitation was
rejected as resident 'A' said she was on her way
to visit another neighbour. During this
conversation resident 'A' offered some words of
wisdom - not crossing ones legs was one bit of
advice, keeping ones joints warm was another,
this was taken as helpful information although
one resident in question (we'll call her
resident 'B) was already well wrapped up in a
blanket and a warm coat. Anyway resident 'A'
eventually walked off to visit another
resident.
A little while later resident 'A' decided to
come back to continue where she left off stating
how she wished that things on the estate were
like they used to be because in her opinion,
things had changed, this statement was obviously
her sole purpose to her stopping and chatting
and she appeared determined to get her point
across. Resident 'B' asked resident 'A' to
elaborate on her statement about how things had
changed and what she meant as all of the group
were really interested, this unfortunately did
not go down too well with resident 'A' and ended
up as a heated argument accompanied by a lot of
finger pointing, hand gestures and raised
voices. |
An event to celebrate. |
Diamond Wedding Anniversary for one of our
residents.

Congratulations Ron and Marion, You've
set the bar high for todays generation
and what a wonderful achievement.
|
|