Covent Garden London
The heart of London's West End
Burleigh Mansions Residents' Association
We are never certain in Burleigh Mansions whether we are in Covent Garden or Soho. Perhaps we are on the edge of both. We have frontages and entrances in Charing Cross Road and St. Martin's Lane and the block runs the length of Cecil Court with it's little bookshops, bric-a-brac, etchings, antique prints and framing shops.
We are members of the Leicester Square Association and support the Covent Garden Community Association. We have been very grateful for their support in the past, particularly a couple of years ago when the St. Martin's Hotel proposed a night club on the site of the old Lumiere Cinema - just opposite us. We are still concerned as to what will happen with this space.
This year, the ownership of our building reverted to the Salisbury family, represented by the freeholders, the Gascoyne-Cecil Estate. They have pursued a vigorous policy of upgrading about thirty "short let" flats after years of neglect. Residents have been faced with the inevitable disturbance, discomfort and distress caused by major reconstruction of these flats and work on the common parts. Individual flats have been rewired and a massive new electrical mains is being provided. We are promised new water mains, a video entry system and new lifts.
So this year our energies have been concentrated on internal struggles to bring constant pressure on the managing agents and their contractors to minimise disturbance and preserve security of access. Work is expected to continue for another six to nine months.
Stanley Prothero - "feeling the first effects of my 85 years" - stood down as Chairman after six years but continues on the committee. Irene Wolfe, Secretary and Jeanne Church, Treasurer carry on with their splendid efforts.
Selwyn Hardy, Chairman
Covent Garden Community Association Annual Report 2000-2001
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