Barnwell, Hansfield, near Ongar, Dublin 15

duran

Morning neighbours,

I read in the Metro this morning the train station being referred to as a "ghost station" as there is no road to it. The builders have been working on what looks like the access road for the last couple of weeks - anyone got any updates for us?

prax

I am quite upset to read the news about the ghost station. I've tried contacting the builder recently to get an update but they are reluctant to let us know the exact status.
If they are selling the houses in the name of its very own train station and they are holding us back from having access to the train station then they are at fault. We should not allow the builders to take us for granted.

Polar101

Maybe they should change the sign outside the estate to "Choo choo.. guess what's not stopping here?".

prax

good one Polar101.

Right, so the trains started this morning but obviously didn't stop @Hansfield.
So, I called up Savills to know what's the story from their end and apparently they are saying that Iarnród Éireann is responsible for not completing the train station, setting up electricity, etc.
I've now, reached out to Iarnród Éireann to check if this is true. Certainly what's in the news is that road needs to be completed by the developer.
will keep posted..

monument

prax wrote: »

good one Polar101.

Right, so the trains started this morning but obviously didn't stop @Hansfield.
So, I called up Savills to know what's the story from their end and apparently they are saying that Iarnród Éireann is responsible for not completing the train station, setting up electricity, etc.
I've now, reached out to Iarnród Éireann to check if this is true. Certainly what's in the news is that road needs to be completed by the developer.
will keep posted..

Irish Rail told me the station was "fully complete", see here: http://dublinobserver.com/2010/08/new-station-to-remain-closed-on-dunboyne-line/

As regards to Savills' claim, I'm unsure how something like "setting up electricity" would stop the developers from completing the access road which
they are obliged to build.

Also this cropped image of the station shows the station's platform electronic displays on and the platforms at least looking finished:



Please excuse the poor quality, it's a crop of a much larger image taken far away without a tripod.

prax

Here's the reply from Irish Rail...

"The new station will be provided at Hansfield, which is a developer led
station, providing infrastructure for the Hansfield strategic
development zone (SDZ) is completed by the developer, who is
responsibility for the link road to the new station. This station will
be subsequently opened when a new link road to allow access to the
station is completed by the developer."

The developer is still selling the houses in the name of train station. Its stupid for them to reduce house prices and try selling it when they can just finish the road and get people calling in as soon as when train opens at hansfield

For the residents, here's what we need. do you agree?
*station opens up as soon as possible with the new link road
*footpath to the station through the estate

travist

who can I ring about the new station and when it will be available?

what is being done about the fact it hasn't opened?

monument

travist wrote: »

who can I ring about the new station and when it will be available?

You can ring the developers and their agent, the developers are responsible for building the road. But they are unlikely to differ their response that what they've told anybody else.

So, you may be better getting on to the council and your local councillors to complain.

travist wrote: »

what is being done about the fact it hasn't opened?

Irish Rail and the council are talking to the developers.

ron123

prax wrote: »

For the residents, here's what we need. do you agree?
*station opens up as soon as possible with the new link road
*footpath to the station through the estate

Hi All,

Its been a while since I last logged on but I like you all am interested in whats going on with the station.

Firstly I think all residents need to agree to boycot any maintenance fees until something is done on this station.

Secondly, If the developers (who in fairness have been good to deal with) do not agree to the access road, I think we should protest at the launch phase. They are obviously getting ready to start showing them again (were they on view this weekend - I was not around) and if people are put off by unhappy residents it might make MP sort out the road. On the other side, we need buyers so that the developers have money to finish!

Somebody mentioned a gathering of residents - Maybe we could try to arrange this in the coming days or weeks?

oblivious

ron123 wrote: »

Firstly I think all residents need to agree to boycot any maintenance fees until something is done on this station.

Not a great idea as you really only end up punishing your self. No money in the management company and day to day maintains will not be carried out. Also if the company fails or does not issue returns to the government that a very serious matter for the estate as a whole.

Furthermore its a legal agreement an people will eventually be endup in court

ron123 wrote: »

Secondly, If the developers (who in fairness have been good to deal with) do not agree to the access road, I think we should protest at the launch phase.

That a better idea, contact local TD/county counselors and the press an get it published

travist

thanks

I called Irish Rail, and they said they have no say over the matter, its with the developer
and was told to direct any comments to
Barry Kenny
Connolly Station
Dublin 1

I called Fingal roads and the lady said she was not aware of the issue and has not received any complaint over the matter, which would be needed to do something about it, but would look into it.

prax

Paul Slowey
Customer Relations Manager,
InterCity & Commuter Network
T +353 1 836 3333

had replied to my query and had clearly mentioned Irish Rail has completed all that's required and its with the developer to complete the road.

Best is we need to get hold of local council/TD. Protest at showhouse is also good option.

noBrain

Hi all,
not sure if this is the place for this post hopefully it is. I want to warn people out there in their dealings with Bord Gais.I bought a 2 Bed house in Barnwell Hansfield in Nov 2008. I gave my bank details to the gas company and indicated that I was willing to proceed with direct debit. I got the odd letter saying they needed to perform work on boiler etc but nobody came. Finally it dawned on me that I received no bill. So I call them and apparently they never knew I existed. Now am facing 2 year gas bill and am livid. Did anyone else out there have this issue with these people. The funny side is I can now laugh at those adverts telling everyone to switch their electricity bills to these crowd. why would they bother when they'd never get the bill. Any info would be helpful. I am contacting the consumer association of Ireland to figure out my position. Any other tips suggestions are very welcome

Thanks for reading
Ciaran

Gaspode

I'm going to move this to the main Barnwell thread as it's quite active

ernestuke

We were thinking of buying there, but as far as I understand management company is doing poor job there.. so what would be the advice of you living there? Not worth buying? How is the area overall?

oblivious

Regarding the situation with the train station I thought this may be of use to the people in Barnwell. Its a mail from the Ongar community council to members of Ongar Residents Association but its general message is applicable

"Hi All,

I have sought out some local T.D's to aid with the non opening of Hansfield train station.

The OCC will be officialy sending a letter to Fingals Manager at the appauling time lines, I believe its Manor Park Homes responsibility, but it could also be Menolly.

I would be most grateful if you could all individually write your fury at the train line not being open to the Manager of Fingal Co. council.

If it starts to operate without Hansfield as a stop, when will the station be worked into the schedule once it is finished.

It is a huge blow for commuters and huge blow to the value of everyone’s property.

The more letters to the Manager of Fingal co.council, from you all, the better."

monument

Ongar community council to members of Ongar Residents Association wrote:

...I believe its Manor Park Homes responsibility, but it could also be Menolly.

As said here: Irish Rail confirmed that Menolly Homes and Manor Park Homes are responsible for building the access road.

Ongar community council to members of Ongar Residents Association wrote:

If it starts to operate without Hansfield as a stop, when will the station be worked into the schedule once it is finished.

Times/time for stopping at Hansfield Station is already built into the timetable.

oblivious

monument wrote: »

[
Times/time for stopping at Hansfield Station is already built into the timetable.

Yea but if there is any changes need to be made to this it can take up to a year to happen apparently. This is not really Irish rails fault they need to set their timetable as the development was supposed to be finished by the time this came round

monument

oblivious wrote: »

Yea but if there is any changes need to be made to this it can take up to a year to happen apparently. This is not really Irish rails fault they need to set their timetable as the development was supposed to be finished by the time this came round

The timetable is fine, and it is unlikely to change anytime soon.

There's no issue with the timetable, it allows for stops at Hansfield Station. The only issue seems to be the access road.

marksquirt

As some of you may be aware both Ruth Coppinger and Joe Higgins (Socialist Party) were making door to door calls tonight in Barnwell regarding a meeting on the train station.

For those of you who wish to attend it is at 8pm on Monday 27th September in The Paddocks in Littlepace.

I know I am not the only in one in the estate that bought the house because of the benefits of a local train station and I thinks it's important that as many of us attend as possible.

Thanks
Lesley

oblivious

monument wrote: »

The timetable is fine, and it is unlikely to change anytime soon.

That was my point, it set for at least a year now they have begun operating on the line

duran

Hi all,

i was away and missed the meeting. any good news to report? are we getting the train station that we were promised? or to be more precise the road leading into it......?

Regards.

Grumpy commuter

lmd

Just wondering if anyone else received letter today from management company looking for this years management fees???

dubdec99

Yeah, got mine too.....In the budget for 2010 there are charges for Fire alarm maintenance, Intercoms and emergency lighting amongst others - Do any of the dwellings have fire alarms and/or intercoms?

Re: Managing Agents fees - Is this the charge from Wallis property management Ltd for acting as the management company for barnwell?

Bookkeeper09

dubdec99 wrote: »

Yeah, got mine too.....In the budget for 2010 there are charges for Fire alarm maintenance, Intercoms and emergency lighting amongst others - Do any of the dwellings have fire alarms and/or intercoms?

Re: Managing Agents fees - Is this the charge from Wallis property management Ltd for acting as the management company for barnwell?

Yep thats the charge for Wallis's to act a smanagement company.
I think the other charges you mentioned above are for the duplex's/apartments. Dont see why the houses are paying for that!
Also Audited Accounts for the Management company for 2009 have not been filed with the companiesd office to date

dubdec99

I live in a townhouse with an apartment above me - I have neither an intercom nor a fire alarm - Does anybody????
The service charge for the townhouses is EUR740 which is a lot more than for a house as far as I know...

oblivious

dubdec99 wrote: »

The service charge for the townhouses is EUR740 which is a lot more than for a house as far as I know...

Because there is an apartment there is a need for sinking funds and other such

ongarboy

dubdec99 wrote: »

I live in a townhouse with an apartment above me - I have neither an intercom nor a fire alarm - Does anybody????
The service charge for the townhouses is EUR740 which is a lot more than for a house as far as I know...

That seems rather steep for a house as I thought houses have to pay their own refuse charges and building insurance. I have a 2 storey own door duplex across from you and only pay 485eur to Wallis. (they dropped it from 550 last year due to general deflation in maintenance/service costs). My fee includes block building insurance but not refuse collection.

central

Hi,

Just wondered had anyone decided what to do about their Direct Debit for Management Company? I don't believe the Financial Statement we were given in recent correspondence from Wallis and feel a bit hard done by with the whole Fire Maintenance etc which is clearly for apartments (I am in 2 bed Ivy). Just wondered really what your thoughts were on this fellow Barnwell Residents.

lmd

I haven't paid this yet. I sent them emails last week looking to see what the charges were for exactly. Surprise surprise they have not yet responded.