Spring Into Springtime!

Everybody welcome – whether you are a veteran Redbricker or a newbie to the neighbourhood. No need to book just come along on the day. A post-pandemic community get together for the Redbricks Estate! Come eat and drink with us. Neighbourhood reconnection, family friendly fun and idea generation for future projects. 2pm-6pm on Sunday 24th April 2022 at Niamos (foyer space) Chichester Rd, Hulme. Free light vegan buffet from 3pm and a free drink for early birds. Bar open as normal. For more info please email tara@redbricks.org

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Bentley Exchange on hold

05/08/2020:

Unfortunately the Bentley Exchange is currently on hold due to COVID-19. However we are trying to think of alternative ways for people to recycle their unwanted items so watch this space!

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Winter Feastival!

The Redbricks’ annual festive get-together: Monday 16th December 2019, 5pm-9pm @ St Wilfred’s Enterprise Centre, Hulme. All details including how to book on the poster :)

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Save our green space!

What is happening?

The council is planning on changing the Princess Road and Medlock Street roundabout. The plan will see the subways removed and the roundabout reconfigured into branching roads. The plan also includes provisions to change cycling and walking routes. We have been told that clearing work will begin at the end of July with proper works starting in September. So far residents have not had any information or consultation about the plans.

You can see the maps of the plans here.

How will it impact the Redbricks?

Hugely. While we aren’t opposed to the idea of the roundabout changing, the current plans will have a hugely detrimental impact on the estate.

The main issues are:

Loss of the community garden at the back of the Rockdove flats. There is currently a green space at the back of the Rockdove flats which provides an important buffer between the block and the roundabout. In the plans this garden will be ripped out and paved over, with public paths running right by people’s houses. In addition to all the people currently going via the subways, this new public path will direct everyone who crosses under the Mancunian Way round past these flats. We are really concerned about the loss of this important buffer from the noise and pollution. Residents at the end of the block already have to put up with a lot of anti-social behaviour (such as students making noise late at night) and this will spread to all the residents in these blocks.

This space is co-managed by residents of the Redbricks who have spent countless hours and thousands of pounds turning it into a quiet oasis. The space has bats, birds and other amazing wildlife.

We want the council to redirect the path so it doesn’t run through this space.

Felling of trees. The current plans will see 24 trees cut down. We already have some of the worst air pollution in Manchester so it’s really important we keep these trees to help protect against this .

Site entrance on Clarendon St. The plan is for the site entrance to be in the same spot as when the Aaben was developed, but with more heavy machinery. This will mean an increase in cars and noise on the estate, causing extra disruption to those at the end of Rockdove who will also be losing their green space.

Increased noise and dust during the works. We’ve already suffered with huge amounts of dust from the building of the Aaben (and no window cleaning even though we were promised) and this building work will be the same if not more. On top of this will be increased noise pollution from the works such as drilling.

Increased pollution as there are no plans for green screening. We’ve been campaigning for green screening to help reduce pollution during the works (and in the long term) but we’ve still had no confirmation that this will happen, without this there will probably be an increase in pollution in an already highly polluted estate.

Why has no one told us about this?

We’re not really sure (but probably because we’d object)

Residents and councillors weren’t told anything about the plans, until we accidently came across them. We’ve been working alongside our councillors to try and find out more but we’ve been struggling.

At no stage have we been offered a chance to formally object to any of the plans. We weren’t consulted about the plans before they were decided. There will be 2 consultation events about the scheme but they will be just before work begins.

These events will be:

Thursday 11 July, 4.30– 7.30pm at Z-Arts (Brayshaw Room), 335 Stretford Rd, M15 5ZA

Tuesday 23 July, 4.30–7.30pm at Z-Arts (Rylands Room), 335 Stretford Rd, M15 5ZA

What can I do to help?

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Carbon Coop

Here are the full reports for 2 Redbricks flats who received an energy assessment by Carbon Coop. The first section has a lot of introductory information. The second section goes into detail making recommendations for measures. The recommendations are split into three scenarios, from simpler first steps you could do yourself, through to large measures that would need the building management involved.


Important disclaimer: These reports were designed specifically for the two flats assessed. There will be some information in the documents that are relevant to all the flats, like much of the draught proofing and ventilation recommendations, and some of the ‘scenario 3’ large measures. There are also specific recommendations based on the particularities of the two flats assessed. Please only use these documents as guidance and not as if they are the exact right recommendations for you.

Useful Videos
Energy saving at home
Moisture guidance – very good, a must watch!

Useful factsheets
Centre for Sustainable Energy: https://www.cse.org.uk/resources/category:advice-leaflets

Recommended production and installation videos- check these are the correct products for you!

Airtightness tape:
https://www.ecomerchant.co.uk/interior/airtightness-products/airtightness-tapes/pro-clima-tescon-profil-roll.html

Door seal: come in different colours. Unfortunately cheapest I’ve found is on Amazon. Here is the link to it from B&Q
https://www.diy.com/departments/diall-aluminium-rubber-draught-excluder-l-1050mm/1802824_BQ.prd
See this video for installation

Keyhole cover
https://www.doorfurnituredirect.co.uk/keyhole-draught-excluder.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxvT75bvt4AIVYbXtCh2U8A4kEAQYAiABEgIgXvD_BwE

See this video for installation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o__TFXXxek
Letterbox cover
See this video for installation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiA8bKTKTes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiA8bKTKTes

Sealant
Recommend using exterior frame sealant (if you don’t need to paint over),
Use decorators chalk/polyfiller if you want to paint over (i.e. crack in a wall)

Chimney draught excluder
Chimney balloon: https://www.chimsoc.co.uk
Chimney Sheep: https://www.chimneysheep.co.uk/ (not vegan!)

Eco product suppliers
Ecomerchants
Ecological Building Systems
Green Building Store


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Redbricks Tree Survey

One Manchester recently carried out a tree survey of the Redbricks estate. The survey sought to identify any trees which required work carrying out on them. One Manchester identified 19 trees which will be worked on over the next 12 months.

You can view the complete tree survey below:

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions please email tara@redbricks.org

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Meeting minutes: May TARA & March quarterly meeting with One Manchester

TARA meeting May 2018

20.03.18 TARA – One Mcr mtg

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Manchester Day Parade Sunday 17 June

Come and watch this bird take to the streets surrounded by a gaggle of riotous Redbrickers! Even better, join our Parade group. There’s spare costumes already made.

Here’s the plan:

– 10.30am Leaving from Tenants Office to walk up together or

– 11.00am Gathering at WoW workshop, Upper Campfield Market, M3 4NN

– 12.30pm In place and in costume on Liverpool Road

– 1.00pm Start of parade from Liverpool Road

– Approximately one hour walking for each group

– 2.30-3pm End of parade at Cathedral Gardens

Paraders: Please bring water/snacks and eat beforehand; there won’t be time/space/facilities to buy stuff while we’re there. Don’t bring valuables, because we can’t store them safely.

More info at http://manchesterday.co.uk/

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Leaf St Gardening: Sat 16th June & Sun 1st July

Join us Saturday 16th June and Sunday 1st July for some summertime gardening.

We will be gardening on Leaf Street from 1pm

No experience necessary. Tools, brews and snacks provided.

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Manchester Day 2018 – free Making Workshops 7 & 9 June

6-8pm this Thursday 7th June – float-making

12-5pm drop-in this Saturday 9th June – costumes and headgear

Everyone is invited to join our next two informal free making sessions at the Wow Workshop, Upper Campfield Market, off Deansgate/Dimitri’s. Continue reading

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