Month: April 2016

2 weeks to go until Market On The Green on Sat 14 May 2016

Beckenham’s Market On The Green has over 40 stalls selling local produce and craft and lots of yummy food for lunch –  jerk chicken, gourmet burgers, wood fired pizza, pies, cakes, chocolate, artisan breads, handmade sauces and conserves, hand painted cards, handmade children’s and adult jewellery, Kent apple juice, locally produced fruit gin, plants and seeds, rare breed lamb & pork, free range poultry, fruit and veg, Kent strawberries, handmade fudge, pottery, ceramics, soaps, candles and gifts.

Entertainment

Our special guest this May is Supergirl (lookalike), she will be on stage entertaining the kids with a dance party at 11am. The free live entertainment continues with singers, 2 choirs (Churchfield’s Community Choir and Certitude Penge Community Choir), Irish Dancing from Balgowan Primary School, Taekwondo display by Teachsport Bromley.

Free have-a -go sports sessions will be running all day courtesy of the energetic coaches from Teachsport Bromley, come a long to try out some multi sport games, obstacle course and football games for adults and kids.

There will also be a funfair with new Ride’O’Rama ride for kids and adults by Bottons Family Funfair, face painting by Tiger Dragon Butterfly, Sand Art by KME crafts.

Check out the complete line up for the event at on our website and note that the above information was correct at time of writing but may be subject to change.

See you at the Market.
Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association

If you live in Beckenham become a member of your local residents’ association. It’s just £3 a year, this small subscription fee makes a huge difference to the success of the Association and helps us keep this not for profit market going.  Find out more about the market and us on our website.

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Clock house festival – Saturday, 30th April to 7th May 2016

 

A week of events to celebrate 300 years from Huguenot Mansion to Venue 28 – from Admiral Brett & Lady Byron to Enid & Carey Blyton and David Bowie. The Clock House District, the cultural heart of Beckenham, is centred on Venue 28, formerly the Beckenham Technical Institute where in 1901 “there arrived outside the gates of a new school in Beckenham the glistening horses, the shining harness, the polished coaches, the smart coachmen, bearing the dignified guests dressed in a manner befitting the Edwardians for the official opening ceremony”.  Check out the schedule of events below.

Saturday April 30th

  • Bricklayers Arms   –  3pm: Start point for Procession to Bowie’s Bandstand in Croydon Road Rec.
  • Methodist Chapel, Clock House Road (opposite Railway Station)  5 pm:   ‘Who do you think you are?’ Talk by Roy Hanscombe, from Wakefield, about his grandfather Bert Hanscombe (a dustman from Churchfields Road) who survived the horrors of WW1 and was honoured by unveiling the Beckenham War Memorial in 1921.
  • Methodist Chapel, Clock House Road (opposite Railway Station)  7.45 pm: Magic, Music, and Music Hall An evening with Sarah (Magic Circle), Melanie Jones Soprano & Christian Strover, and the Clock House Wind Ensemble (leader Graham Clayden).    

Monday May 2nd

  • Rare Interiors Gallery 249 Beckenham Road (020 3581 5674), Art Exhibition

Tuesday May 3rd

  • Venue 28   10 am: Walking with the Famous led by historian, Cliff Watkins: Starts at 10am, returning at 12 noon to Venue 28 for light lunch. Walk resumes at 1 pm. Numbers limited.

Wednesday May 4th

  • Beckenham Library 6.30 pm: Talk by local author, Mike Uden

Thursday May 5th      

  • Venue 28 2pm: Cliff hangers! Talk by Lena Kroger about her teaching in Venue 28 when the building was used by Bromley Adult Education.

Friday May 6th

  • Venue 28 2pm:  Balgowan School and Beckenham Baths : Happy Memories. Talk by old boys Jack Hilton and David Johnson
  • Alhambra Project:  2a Balgowan Road Open Days –mornings 10 to 1pm May 6th & 7th.
  • Belleberry Gallery 7pm: Art Exhibition (020 8658 2568)
  • Beckenham Library Exhibition: Carey’s Aunt & Enid’s Nephew               

Saturday May 7th     

  • Baptist Church, Elm Road (opposite the Beckenham Library)  7pm:   Concert by Beckenham Junior Choir & Youth Voices and soloists. It is hoped to display in the Baptist Church, the Clock House District Information Panel, designed by the West Beckenham Residents Association (WBRA), to be located between the Library and Venue 28.

In Beckenham Library all week are two quizzes. One by Graham Clayden, based his original wood engraving limited edition print of the skyline used as the Festival Logo. The other is a set of “Twenty Questions” prepared by Cliff Watkins. The answers to both quizzes will be available in Beckenham Library from May 6th.

Scam warning – fake calls from Bank

Copers Cope Police advise of the following scam:

There has been a few reported crimes where unknown persons claim to be calling from the victims bank.

Please if you receive a call from anyone claiming to be from your bank DO NOT give any of your card details, pin numbers.
Your bank will never ask for these details.

Please do not fall victim to these people. Email coperscope.snt@met.police.uk Phone 0208 721 2772 http://www.met.police.uk/saferneighbourhoods In an emergency always dial 999

Save Beckenham Post Office Demo Today 10am 16 April – Post Office Press Release confirms 10 year deal with WH Smith

SAVE BECKENHAM ‘CROWN’ POST OFFICEPost Office Ltd plan to close Beckenham’s Crown Post Office and replace it with a downgraded franchise (most likely in the small WH Smith on the High Street). Local people are campaigning to Save Beckenham Crown Post Office.

  1. Sign this petition to retain a ‘Crown’ Post Office in Beckenham.
  2. Read the Post Office Ltd press release confirming a 10 year deal with WH Smith.
  3. Attend the demonstration at 10am today (16 April) outside Rectory Road Post Office.

SIGN THE PETITION – www.change.org/p/baroness-neville-rolfe-minister-for-postal-affairs-save-beckenham-crown-post-office

Why Beckenham’s ‘Crown’ Post Office must be saved

  • Crown Post Offices offer more services than franchised branches. DVLA, Passport and Border Agency services are only provided by Crown Post Offices.
  • Once franchised out Post Office Ltd have limited control. If the franchise sells up in a few years Beckenham could be left without a Post Office.
  • The most likely store to take on the franchise is WH Smith. The Beckenham branch of WH Smith is small and crowded, local people and businesses will likely receive an inferior service with less staff, less counters and less space.
  • Beckenham is a busy Post Office with people travelling from far afield to use it. If Beckenham is closed only one Crown Post Office will be left in the entire Bromley Borough (the Orpington branch).  Bromley is geographically the largest borough in London, it deserves 2 Crown Post Offices, one in Beckenham to the North and another in Orpington to the South.
  • There is mounting evidence that closure of a Crown Post Office has a severe negative impact on the local economy.  Local footfall and retail trade in a town centre nosedive once a Crown Post Office is closed. TfL and Bromley Council are spending £4.7 million to boost Beckenham Town Centre, there may be little gain if footfall significantly decreases due to the closure of the Crown Post Office.

If the Post Office in Rectory Road is not profitable we urge Post Office Ltd to consider moving to a smaller site (there are empty shops in Beckenham High Street) or co-locating in another store rather than rush to give away the franchise to a third party.

A Crown Post Office is an essential service required by local residents, by local businesses and for the vibrancy of Beckenham Town Centre.  The Crown Post Office must be retained for our community.

Beckenham Place Park events April to June 2016

All events are free and open to members and non-members alike. Donations welcome. More details at www.beckenhamplaceparkfriends.org.uk

Sunday April 24th Bluebell Walk
Meet 2.00pm at the Mansion. Nick Bertram
(Creekside Education Trust) will lead. If no bluebells, knowledgeable Nick will keep your attention with all manner of information. This walk is dedicated to Roy Ramsey who died 20 years ago and fought diligently to protect this park.

Thursday May 5th Bat Walk
Meet Crab Hill entrance near Ravensbourne rail station at 8.15pm The weather is always a factor in the bat sightings, but by May it will hopefully be warm and dry.

Sunday May 15th Beating the Bounds
Meet at the Mansion 1.30pm. Walk around the perimeter of the park as part of this ancient tradition.

Sunday June 12th AGM
In the mansion 2.00pm. There is a need to elect a new Chairperson as the present Chairman needs to retire after decades of working for the Friends. A new newsletter editor would be good too!

SENSORY GARDEN WORKDAYS
Saturdays 9th April, 14th May, 11th June (About 2 hour sessions) Meet at the Mansion 10.am or in the garden. Routine garden work, something for everyone. Tools and instruction provided.

Beckenham Town Centre Working Group March 2016

The minutes and supporting documents from the last meeting can be found at:

March 2016

Our association was most vocal on the Council’s inaction to pursue an Article 4 Direction for Beckenham Town Centre to remove the permitted development right to convert offices to residential without planning consent. Most office space has now gone in the High Street, the lack of employment in Beckenham will have an adverse affect on the local economy and the vibrancy of our town.

We also suggested that the paving samples be laid elsewhere in the High Street, outside Zizzi’s is a dark spot and it is hard to visualise how the paving will look along the whole High Street.

In regard to new street lamps we noted that along the main high street pedestrian space is an issue and that the most compact slim line lamp columns should be installed and where possible lights should be installed on buildings.

 

Petition to Save Beckenham ‘Crown’ Post Office

IMG_5034Post Office Ltd plan to close Beckenham’s Crown Post Office and replace it with a downgraded franchise. Sign this petition to retain a ‘Crown’ Post Office in Beckenham.

www.change.org/p/baroness-neville-rolfe-minister-for-postal-affairs-save-beckenham-crown-post-office

 

Why Beckenham’s ‘Crown’ Post Office must be saved

  • Crown Post Offices offer more services than franchised branches. DVLA, Passport and Border Agency services are only provided by Crown Post Offices.
  • Once franchised out Post Office Ltd have limited control. If the franchise sells up in a few years Beckenham could be left without a Post Office.
  • The most likely store to take on the franchise is WH Smith. The Beckenham branch of WH Smith is small and crowded, local people and businesses will likely receive an inferior service with less staff, less counters and less space.
  • Beckenham is a busy Post Office with people travelling from far afield to use it. If Beckenham is closed only one Crown Post Office will be left in the entire Bromley Borough (the Orpington branch).  Bromley is geographically the largest borough in London, it deserves 2 Crown Post Offices, one in Beckenham to the North and another in Orpington to the South.
  • There is mounting evidence that closure of a Crown Post Office has a severe negative impact on the local economy.  Local footfall and retail trade in a town centre nosedive once a Crown Post Office is closed. TfL and Bromley Council are spending £4.7 million to boost Beckenham Town Centre, there may be little gain if footfall significantly decreases due to the closure of the Crown Post Office.

If the Post Office in Rectory Road is not profitable we urge Post Office Ltd to consider moving to a smaller site (there are empty shops in Beckenham High Street) or co-locating in another store rather than rush to give away the franchise to a third party.

A Crown Post Office is an essential service required by local residents, by local businesses and for the vibrancy of Beckenham Town Centre.  The Crown Post Office must be retained for our community.

Save Beckenham Crown Post Office – TODAY Sat 2 April 2016, 9.30 am to 12.30pm outside Rectory Road Post Office

Get down to the Rectory Road Post Office this morning (Saturday 2 April 2016) between 9.30am and 12.30pm to show your support to the Save Beckenham ‘Crown’ Post Office Campaign.

The Post Office are planning to close 42 branches across the country in 2016, Beckenham is one of the Post Offices on the hit list.  The Post Office will offer up franchises nearby to replace most Crown Post Offices closed.   Local people and the Post Office Workers Union (CWU) are fighting to retain the Crown Post Office in Beckenham for the following reasons:

  • Crown Post Offices offer more services than franchised Post Offices, such as DVLA, Passport and Home Office services – these will not be offered by a franchise.
  • Once franchised out the Post Office have limited control – what happens if the franchise sells up in a few years – Beckenham could be left without a Post Office.
  • The most likely store to take on the franchise is WH Smith, the Beckenham branch of WH Smith is small and crowded and is unlikely to be able to deliver a similar service.
  • Beckenham is a busy Post Office with people travelling from far a field to use a proper Post Office  (crown Post Offices in West Wickham and Bromley have already been closed).
  • There is mounting evidence that closure of a Crown Post Office has a severe negative impact on the local economy.  Local footfall and retail trade in a town centre nosedives once a Crown Post Office is closed as so many people are drawn into a town to use a fully functioning Crown Post Office.

The Post Office will argue that the Beckenham Branch is not profitable which is why they have to close it. We say… that may well be the case, so why not move it out of the Rectory Road site to a smaller premises in the High Street rather than give away the franchise to a third party like WH Smiths?  The old Clarks show shop could be a suitable alternative site. A fully functioning Crown Post Office is essential for our local community.  If Beckenham Crown Post Office is closed, there is not another one for miles (Orpington and New Cross Gate will be the closest).

Our local MP Bob Stewart is supporting this Campaign, although technically the Post Office falls outside his Beckenham and West Wickham constituency by a couple of meters. It actually lies in Lewisham and Penge West whose MP in Jim Dowd.  We will be contacting Jim Dowd for his support.

 

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