Because the gate padlocks had become increasingly unreliable they were all replaced yesterday.
KEYS: All existing keys should work. Please leave a message here if yours doesn’t.
STIFFNESS: The new padlocks can be a bit stiff to close. They need a firm push. We are working to make the mechanisms smoother. Please bear with us!
EWAA Committee
New padlocks on all gates
We have two keys. One works perfectly – the other is a real struggle but worked on the old padlock. Only tried on the Howard Street end gate next to 66 Cricket Road.
I had a struggle with the gate near the main shop. My key did work in the end but it is not easy. Nor is it easy to close the lock afterwards. And since we found it unlocked when leaving, I guess that others are having problems too. Do they need oiling?
My key doesn’t work with any of the new padlocks
Had a mild panic that I was locked in this eve! Managed to get the Cricket Road (Howard street end) lock open eventually – Found the trick is to pull the key out ever so slightly and it just clicked open.
My key doesn’t work in the new padlocks. I’ve tried pulling it out slightly and lots of jiggling, but no joy. Can I get a replacement? Thanks, Karen
I’m afraid that even with a whole load of jiggling and patience my key doesn’t work in any locks. Luckily I’m a member of the OUWG so come in the gate that way (and Pete’s key seems to work). Any chance of a new key? How do we go about that?
Hi Marguerite, will text you.
Just entering by bottom gate padlock is broken needs urgently replacing I think best wishes Michael Harloe
Today (Oct 8 2021) I wrestled with the lock at the gate nearest the shop for several minutes first to unlock and then to re-lock the gate on my way out. The padlock has a long loop so it can be easily manoeuvred, but the arrangement of the chain and an extra hoop (from an old lock?) seems designed to thwart that. Has it perhaps been designed by an architect who despises functionality? Maybe this is why the gate is sometimes left open. Can this be reviewed? I think my swearing might upset the neighbours.
Just to be clear – the key works OK in the lock – but the lock did not want to come off.
I have loads of clean (washed) screw top jars that I was saving for Jam making but no one I know seems to be planning to make jam this year. But they would do for storing apple juice for a while. If anyone wants any jars, let me know before Sunday and I will bring some down.
Re, screw top jars, sorry, will bring some down tomorrow if anyone is interested – for apple juice or jam, etc.
£7.50 per key seems to me like a lot of money, especially when multiplied by all the allotment holders at EW. The only problem I’ve had with the Cricket Road padlocks is that there is annoying surplus hardware on the chains which makes entry from the outside more difficult than it needs to be. The solution would be to cut the redundant padlocks off the chains. £7.50 multiplied by a large number seems unnecessarily extravagant.
People have had a lot of problems with the existing padlocks, so we have to change them. It was decided by the committee that it was necessary to replace with a padlock with registered keys, so that we can keep track of who has them. This has made it more expensive.
Wonderful news about the gate having to be locked before the key can be removed. Last Saturday, I remonstrated with someone at the bottom of the shop road, just past the skip, who had left both vehicle gates wide open while he unloaded his car. He said he was only going to be 5 minutes. I pointed out that the whole of the time I was walking down the shop road he was facing me and it only took seconds for someone to come in. He didn’t look convinced but the new padlock has sorted matters.
The padlock looks more secure because of the short hasp but can someone reassure me that the chain and fittings are robust enough to stand up to someone trying to break in?
New locks are great, thanks to those who organised everything.