Author: Copers Cope Area Residents' Association (CCARA)

Residents Association covering central and northern Beckenham. Founded in 1939 to protect and promote the interests of residents in matters of local concern

Beckenham Toilets will close as part of £11.6m cuts – Council Tax to rise 1.2% – local people object at Council meeting on 23 Feb 2015

Despite objections from the Copers Cope Residents’ Association, West Beckenham Residents’ Association, the Beckenham Business Association, The Beckenham Society, 80 direct objections from residents and a petition of over 700 local residents, 7 out of 8 Bromley Council Executives (including one from Beckenham) voted to close the Beckenham public toilets and offer the building for sale or demolish it.

At the same meeting the Council agreed to increase Council Tax by 1.2% (£16 a year for a Band D property). The Council could have increased Council Tax by up to 2% to avoid some of the £11.6 million of cuts planned. Local people have told us they would be happy to pay increased Council Tax to retain basic services, such as public toilets.

Our members have highlighted the following areas affected by budget cuts, no doubt there are many more affecting Borough residents.

The Council also plan to increase parking charges.

London councils are able to increase Council Tax by up to 2% each year. Should Bromley Council be increasing Council Tax at 2% to retain services local people want and are willing to pay for?  If you think so contact your local Councillors. We have checked back and note that the Council applied the following increases to Council  Tax over the last 4 years; 2011/12 =0%, 2012/13 = 0%, 2013/14  1.89%, 2014/15  = 0%.
Services have been cut over this period and many more to come to balance the books.

Bromley Council will vote on the final budget at a full Council Meeting,  7pm February 23 2015, Bromley Civic Centre, Bromley BR1 3UH.  The News Shopper advises local residents will be lobbying the meeting to  protest against the cuts and call for the budget to be rejected. More information can be found below.

 

 

SGCO String Quartet – 7.45pm Sat 7 Mar 2015, St George’s Church

St George’s Chamber Orchestra (SGCO) String Quartet – Saturday 7th March 2015 7.45pm

Beethoven String Quartet Op.18 no.5 in A

Shostakovich Elegy and Polka

Schubert String Quartet No 14 in D Minor, ‘Death and the Maiden’ D 810

Find out more about the SGCO at http://sgco.co.uk/

Book in advance from The Beckenham Bookshop and St. George’s Church Office (Monday to Friday until 3.30pm). Best seats will be reserved for pre-concert sales. Tickets also available on-line at http://www.stgeorgesbeckenham.co.ukand on the door.

St. George’s Church is on the corner of High Street and Bromley Road Beckenham BR3 1AX.

200 year old London Plane Tree on The Avenue to be felled.

In September 2012 the Copers Cope Residents’ Association assisted in getting the beautiful Plane Tree on The Avenue under a Tree Protection Order. Unfortunately Bromley Council gave permission for the tree to be felled on the 5th of February 2015.

The tree is suspected of contributing to subsidence under a nearby house. Local people have fought hard to ensure that there is conclusive evidence that the tree is actually the cause of the subsidence. There have been numerous technical reports by the  house insurer’s consultants over the last few years, none of which have been conclusive. Even the Council’s own independent report does not recommend felling the tree, stating that the findings of the insurer’s consultant reports are inconclusive and incomplete.  It recommended that three courses of action are undertaken before further consideration is given to the removal of the Plane Tree:  1. Shrubbery close to the house is removed;  2. Drains are tested and repaired if found to be defective;  3. Monitoring is continued for one year.

We are gravely disappointed that the Council chose not to follow its own professional consultant’s advice, instead recommending consent to be granted for the removal of this tree based on the insurer’s reports.

Heritage trees are an intrinsic part of the character of many roads in Northern Beckenham.  Because of the detrimental effect the felling of a healthy tree has on the character of the area it should be an action of last resort.

The Council report can be found at the link below.

Consent to remove a London Plane tree on land adjacent to No.76b The Avenue, Beckenham

Beckenham’s Heritage Trees have been under threat in recent years, with a number lost due to development or subsidence claims such as this. Not all our heritage trees are under a Tree Preservation Order, whereby you must apply to the Council to fell or pollard them, and the ones that are not covered by a TPO are more at risk. If you have an old or mature tree in your road why not contact the Council to see if it is covered by a Tree Preservation Order and if not whether it should be.  You can do this online at the link below.

Tree Protection Orders

HM Government ePetition to Protect Beckenham Golf Course

Lewisham Council plan to close Beckenham’s 107 year old public 18 hole golf course as part of  £4.9 million improvements to Beckenham Place Park. An ePetition has been created on the HM Government petition site to save the golf course. The petition is open until 30 March 2015.

ePetition to Protect Beckenham Golf Course

Further information about plans for Beckenham Place Park can be found on Lewisham Council’s website via the link below.

Beckenham Place Park

 

Beckenham Public Toilets is listed as an Asset of Community Value

The Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association has been successful in its application to have the Beckenham public toilets listed as an Asset of Community Value.  This means that should the Council decide to sell the building they must offer time for the community to  time to come up with a bid for the building when it is sold.

This is a last resort, we urge the Council to continue to provide a public toilet or to retain the building for community use.

Good news – Sunday service for the 354 Bus Route being evaluated.

The Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association has been working closely with the organisers of the ‘354 on a Sunday Campaign’ as well as lobbying the London Mayor’s Office directly. Boris Johnson has responded positively  to the campaign…  “I fully appreciate there is a strong local desire to see bus route 354 operated seven days a week. Transport for London (TfL) would like to offer a Sunday service on bus route 354. As I am sure you will understand, in order to do this it has to ensure that the extra subsidy needed demonstrated good value for money.”

TfL are currently evaluating the value for money and a decision is expect by the end of February.

Our Association continues to lobby for a Sunday service on the 352 bus route.  Please sign the petition below:

 

Sale or demolition of Beckenham Public Toilet Building – 3 days left to object

The Council have confirmed their intention to close the public toilets and either sell them (presumably with favourable planning permission in the wings) or demolish them.

Despite receiving 44 objections against closing the public toilets and only 1 in favour  the Environment PDS Committee has recommended that the Council Executive agrees to:

  1. The closure of Beckenham, Bromley and West Wickham High Street public toilets from 31st March 2015;
  2. Declare the Beckenham public toilet surplus and offer it to the market, on the basis that if offers are not forthcoming that it should be demolished; and
  3. Authorise the expansion of the Community Toilet Scheme as the alternative provision.

Local residents have been contacting us concerned that the toilets will close as there is a genuine need for public toilets in Beckenham, the Community Toilet Scheme  has proven  inadequate and is unwanted, a  relatively cheap public service will be closed against local people’s wishes even though an increase in Council Tax is inevitable, there is no information on what will replace the toilet block, or whether the Council may include the flower beds in the sale/demolition and a public space will be lost, that closing the toilets is short-sighted given the £3.2 million investment in Beckenham Town Centre.

There are 3 days left to object. Email (until 30 Jan 2015) to express your objections to csc@bromley.gov.uk, you may also wish to copy in your local Councillors and the Council Leadership/Portfolio Holder that make up the Executive.      

 Further information can be found below:

Mid week £3 Cinema at the Odeon in Beckenham

Silver Cinema at the Odeon is on Tuesday and Thursday every week at 11am and 2pm (it has not changed from Tuesday to Thursday as previously advised). Silver Cinema showings are open to all ages, serve free tea/coffee and biscuits, have no adverts or trailers, and best of all, cost only £3.

Check out what’s on at the Odeon Beckenham . Look out for the Silver Cinema logo on Tuesday and Thursday listings.

Help your ‘Safer Neighbourhood’ and have your say.

  • Do you live on Copers Cope Ward in Beckenham?

  • Would you like a say in your ward priorities and promises?

  • Then why not consider joining the Copers Cope Safer Neighbourhood Ward Panel?

The panel meet quarterly and you will be encouraged to voice your views, concerns or words of thanks during an informal public meeting with your local neighbourhood team. The meeting provides an excellent opportunity to not only stay in touch with your local team but really make a difference by setting our objectives to make your ward a better place to live, work, shop or socialise.

The panel is also  in need of a Chairperson – this is an exciting opportunity for someone to lead members and be a pivotal contact between the police and your community. If you are interested in this or wish to attend the next ward panel meeting (Date to be confirmed) then please email our local police team at coperscope.snt@met.police.uk

The Copers Cope Residents’ Association has a representative on the panel and we look forward to welcoming you.

Local people campaign to save Public Toilets – News Shopper Photo Call 2.30pm, 11th January 2015.

Our Association and has been contacted by many local people objecting to the closure of the public toilets at Thornton’s Corner. The News Shopper are running an article on this issue and are holding a photo call for those objecting to the closure at 2.30pm, this Sunday 11th January outside the public toilets.

It is likely the Council will recommend closure of the toilets to save money.  Very little information has been provided to local people, significantly how much the toilets cost to run, how often they are used, what alternative provisions will be made and how accessible alternative toilet facilities will be. There is also no information about what the Council intend to do with the building once the toilets are closed (in Elmers End the freehold was put up for sale).

We will be lodging an objection to the closure of the toilets noting that local people have not been adequately consulted and that not all relevant information has been considered. We also encourage residents to  raise their concerns directly with the Council  by 15 January 2015 via email to csc@bromley.gov.uk. Please provide your name and address in your email to the Council so they register your comments officially. You may also wish to cc us in at chairman@coperscope.org.uk and also contact your local councillor(s).

 

 

 

 

 

Closure of Beckenham Public Toilets due to be decided at Council Meeting 11 Feb 2015

There are only three public toilets remaining in the Borough (Beckenham, West Wickham and Bromley Town), the Council have decided to close Penge public toilets.

It is highly likely the Council will recommend closure of Beckenham’s public toilets. Many residents have raised concerns about the loss of the public toilets especially given the community toilets in the town are inadequate. We encourage residents to  raise their concerns directly with the Council  by 15 January 2015 via email to csc@bromley.gov.uk. Please provide your name and address in your email to the Council so they register your comments officially. You may also wish to cc us in at chairman@coperscope.org.uk and also contact your local councillor(s).

Limited information is available on the Council’s website, see link below:

CLOSURE OF BECKENHAM, BROMLEY AND WEST WICKHAM PUBLIC TOILETS

Christmas On The Green tree at Bromley Road School

Bromley Road Christmas Tree donated by Christmas On The GreenKaren Minnis, Head Teacher of Bromley Road Primary School, has passed on many thanks to all at Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association (CCARA) for sharing the Christmas tree so kindly donated to CCARA by Layhams Farm in recognition of the work the Residents’ Association does in organising the regular Market/Christmas On The Green. As clearly seen in the photos, the children loved decorating it!!

Planning is underway for next years events if you have any ideas or would like to get involved please email localmarket@coperscope.org.uk .

Christmas On The Green Beckenham, today Sat 29 November 2014.

Saturday 29 November 2014.
Beckenham celebrates the arrival of the festive season with a day of live entertainment, funfair, the Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association Annual Candlelit Procession, Christmas Lights Switch On and a community sing-a-long. Pass this on to your friends and neighbours, they may like to sign up to the mailing list for events Beckenham Green.

On The High Street 

Get your Christmas shopping done in Beckenham, support local shops and enjoy carol singers, the Salvation Army Band and  the Haverettes All Girls Marching Band. You may even spot Nanny and Father Christmas and get a free mince pie. Shop Local this Christmas.

On The Green 12 noon to 6pm

From midday, a funfair, hot food and mulled cider to keep you warm. Plus a packed afternoon of festive entertainment on the stage.

  • 1.00pm The Strawberries
  • 1.30pm Beckenham Junior Choir
  • 2.00pm Micky Magic
  • 2.20pm Bianca Nichols
  • 2.45pm The Strawberries
  • 3.10pm Kent Stage Academy
  • 3.30pm Rock Choir
  • 4.00pm The Popsicals
  • 4.20pm Fundamentally Gospel Choir

Candlelit Procession 4.30pm

The Copers Cope Annual Candlelit Procession is the biggest yet, those little Residents’ Association elves have been busy making 500 free child-safe lanterns, give them your support by joining up. Meet outside the Post Office on Rectory Road at 4.30pm. At at 4.45pm the Haverettes All Girls Marching Band will lead the procession down the High Street to Beckenham Green. Look out for the Carol Singers from our local churches on the way and a very large Candy Cane.

Christmas Light Switch On 5.30pm

Arrive at Beckenham Green to be welcomed by the ringing bells of St George’s Church, and gather in front of the stage for the Switching On of Beckenham’s Christmas  Lights at 5.30pm. Look out for song sheets being passed round for the festive sing-a-long extravaganza.

Above details were correct at time of writing but may be subject to change.