Copers Cope Area Residents' Association (CCARA) & West Beckenham Residents' Association (WBRA)
Two residents' associations working together across Beckenham on your behalf
Save the date in your calendar and join in with the town Christmas celebrations…. a Christmassy Market, Candlelit Procession, town Christmas Light Switch On. Details will be added to the market page as confirmed.
Trading Standards are asking residents to look out for itinerant traders who are cold calling residents offering roof and guttering repairs. There are believed to be up to four cases of bogus building scams involving elderly consumers. In each case the victim was persuaded to hand over large sums of cash for supposed deposits for the hire of equipment allegedly needed to continue with the repairs. The equipment has been described as dehumidifiers, specialist equipment to support roof joists and chimney supports. None of the work was necessary. The equipment does not exist.
The descriptions are vague other than they are white males, in some cases with Irish and south London accents. On one occasion one of the men was described as being very big, around 18 stones. On three occasions a white van was used and the men were wearing high viz waistcoats. In two cases scaffolding was erected to give the impression work was being carried out.
Trading Standards and Police are investigating the links between these offences but in the meantime if you spot any neighbours having any work done which was not planned, or you just want us to check them out then please call the trading standards rapid response number 07903 852 090.
A planning application to demolish 6 Manor Way Beckenham BR3 3LJ and build 2 modern detached houses has been lodged. Details can be found on Bromley Councils website at the link below:
Any residents who wish to comment on the planning application may do so by email to planning@bromley.gov.uk (Reference: 13/02534/FULL1). Please ensure you quote the reference and provide your full name and address including your post code. Failure to provide these details will mean your comments will not be not accepted.
The London Assembly’s Transport Committee recently published a report on highlighting how the Mayor and Transport for London’s proposals to increase capacity on the buses risk being seriously outpaced by rapid population growth. The report listed London’s top 10 most crowded bus routes. Beckenham’s 358 and 162 make the list, along with 2 more in the borough, Penge to London 176 and Bromley to Eltham 208. 4 out of 10 of London’s most crowded buses are in the London Borough of Bromley.
At our joint public meeting with West Beckenham Residents’ Association last week, we raised this with our London Assembly Rep James Cleverley. James said he would take this up with the Mayors Office when the bus routes contracts are renegotiated as this is the time changes can be made. We will keep you updated.
You can read the full report at the link below.
Memories or War, a performance of words and music reviving poignant memories from both World Wars.
Saturday 16 November 2013, 7.30pm, St. Barnabas Church, Perth Road, Beckenham BR3 6PP
A proposal to erect a detached two storey four bedroom house with associated car parking and replacement garage for No. 30 at land rear of 32 Church Avenue was refused by Bromley Council, details at the following link.
There are fears that ‘backland’ development behind the houses on Church Road could change the scope of the high density development planned for the Rear of 86 to 94 High Street Beckenham and also set an unwelcome precedent for backland development in residential roads.
Any residents who wish to comment on the appeal must do so by 25 November 2013. The appeal reference number is APP/G5180/A/13/2204226. Comments may be sent by email to TeamP7@pins.gsi.gov.uk, you must ensure that you provide your full name and address including your post code. Failure to provide these details will mean your comments will not be not accepted.
Beckenham Annual Remembrance Service and Parade will be held at Beckenham War Memorial on Sunday 10th November 2013 at 10.50 am.
The Parade will form up at 10.15 am in St George’s Road (adjacent to St George’s Church), to move off at 10.25 am to the War Memorial via Albemarle Road and Beckenham High Street to form up on the road around the Beckenham War Memorial roundabout. Following the Service, the Parade will re-form and march off to proceed to St George’s Road via the High Street, The Drive and Church Avenue, for the march past in Bromley Road outside St George’s Church and dispersal by the Mayoral Representative in St George’s Road Beckenham.
The Police have recorded an increase in doorstep crime over the last week. There have been incidents of residents being approached by cold callers offering to clean out guttering, repair/maintain roofing etc, resulting in inflated prices being charged, and occasionally the resident has felt intimidated into agreeing further work.
With the bad weather over the last couple of days, there may be opportunist cold callers offering to sweep up leaves, take away trees, etc and the official advice is not to accept offers of help from callers, unless they are known to you. Also be reminded that the council will always have ID, and drive liveried vehicles.
There have also been victims of telephone fraud in the borough, where the resident has been pursuaded to give over their pin numbers, and handed their credit/debit cards to persons impersonating Police officers.
The Police will NEVER ask for your credit/card details, either on the ‘phone or in person.
If you are unsure who the caller is, engage your security door chain before you open the door. If you see anyone suspicious, and it is happening now, please ring 999, if you have recently had suspicious activity in your road, then please report it to ring 101.
Our Association is holding a joint open meeting with the West Beckenham Residents’ Association. Between our associations we cover the whole of Beckenham and so have invited a panel of councillors from every ward to take your questions. James Cleverly our London Assembly Member will also be on the panel.
Come along and direct your concerns to the panel. Join us from 7.45pm, at the Beckenham Public Halls, Bromley Road, Beckenham.
We look forward to seeing you there.
A licensing application has been lodged for Raggios Cafe 42A High Street Beckenham BR3 1AY to sell alcohol onsite till 11pm and play recorded music.
Further information can be found online on the Council’s website at the link below.
Copers Cope and Shortlands officers will be holding a drop in surgery at Waitrose, Southend Road, Beckenham on 16/11/13 from 1pm to 2pm. They will be there to give advice on any issues you raise and will be on hand for crime prevention advice.
Our Association is holding a joint Open Meeting with the West Beckenham Residents’ Association. Between our associations we cover the whole of Beckenham and so have invited a panel of councillors from every Ward to take your questions. James Cleverly our London Assembly Member will also be on the panel.
Come along and direct your concerns to the panel. Join us from 7.45pm, at the Beckenham Public Halls, Bromley Road, Beckenham.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Residents will be pleased to know a scheme to improve the junction at High Street, Southend Road, Albemarle Road and Rectory Road has been approved by the Council and will be funded by TfL.
The reworking of the junction will give HGVs a larger turning space when turning from Rectory Road over the Bridge to stop them mounting the pavement (making is safer for pedestrians) and getting stuck in the junction (making it safer for pedestrians to cross and avoiding traffic congestion). Currently the design does not widen the pavement outside the Locksmiths which is too narrow, although the bollards and dumbbells will be removed. We raised the blind corner by the Locksmiths with the Council and also whether the pavement will be levelled and resurfaced along this stretch. They have agreed to look at this in the final detailed design, but noted the more the pavement is widened the less space for HGV turning. We will keep you updated.
The report and design can be viewed at the links below.
Report on Junction Improvements
Check out the most recent newsletter.
The ITV1 Martin Lewis Money Show is filming in the Bromley area this week for a piece on car and home insurance.
Martin is looking for local residents who would be interested in saving money on their car and home insurance. His team of financial researchers would find the best deal using Martin’s expert tips. “We would then use them as a case study to help viewers in a similar situation.
Last year we were able to save one family a significant amount of money on their car insurance we’d love to do this again for someone!”
Anyone interested they should contact Becky Colls on 02071574368 or 07798925985.
Lots of free things to do around Beckenham Town Centre on Saturday 19 October.
There will also be lots of great hot food, produce and craft to buy from 10am at the Market, plus vintage fair rides for the kids. Check out the market page to see which stalls are confirmed so far.
At 11am the Heritage Trail will be officially opened and there will be a Tree Planting Ceremony to mark the launch of the trail and commemorate lives lost in the 1944 bombing on the site of The Green.
The Best Night of the Proms featuring the Lewisham Concert Band and the St Paul’s Concert Choir
On Saturday 26 October at 7.30pm. Doors open 7.00pm, Encore 9.30pm
Flags, wine and soft drinks for sale.
Raising money for Help for Heroes and St Paul’s Church Away Weekend.
Tickets £8 available after church services, phone 020 8658 7702, and on the door. St Paul’s Church, Beckenham, Brackley Rd Beckenham, Kent BR3 1RB
The SGCO’s next concert is at 7.45 pm Saturday 12 October at St George’s Church, Beckenham.
Anniversary Concert – opening our 10th Season
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.
Bromley Council (LBB) has confirmed that the development behind Pierluigi’s restaurant will provide 28 x Affordable Rent and 16 Shared Ownership. There will be ZERO for private sale. This is a far cry from the planning permission granted that was based on 5 x Affordable Rent, 10 Shared Ownership and 29 for private sale.
Following the granting of planning permission, the Greater London Authority (GLA) has funded the developer L&Q to provide 100% social housing. We wrote to the GLA to ask the rationale for changing the accommodation mix that had previously been assessed and agreed between the Council and Developer, to ask why they did not seek feedback from the local community as the changes represent a significant change to the development; and to note local objection to 100% social housing and none for private sale. Our Cllrs also objected to 100% social housing.
Due to strong opposition Richard Blakeway, the Deputy Mayor of Housing for the GLA, met with LBB Council. LBB also objected to the site being used solely for social housing, but the GLA were committed to the social housing scheme. LBB also suggested 100% Shared Ownership for the site but this was not supported by the GLA. LBB were able to negotiate a better mix between Affordable Rent and Shared Ownership (the original social housing proposal was 37 Affordable Rent and 7 x Shared Ownership, the current proposal has 16 Shared Ownership the rest Affordable Rent).
Despite local opposition the GLA did not support any private sale units in this development. A site of 50% social housing and 50% private sale or even 34% private sale, 33% Affordable Rent and 33% Social Housing would offer a more diverse accommodation mix.
Residents wishing to comment further may wish to contact one or more of the following:
Please ensure you state your name, address and post code in your correspondence to ensure your objections are registered.
The next Market On The Green is being twinned with the launch of the long awaited Beckenham Heritage Trail. The trail takes you past 23 historical points and you will be following in the footsteps of some well known names associated with Beckenham including children’s author Enid Blyton; poet and composer Carey Blyton; entertainer Bob Monkhouse; actor Julie Andrews; singer David Bowie; and former Prime Minister Sir John Major. There will be lots to see and do throughout the town centre to celebrate the launch.
Do a miniature version of the trail
Along the High Street
Market On The Green
Copers Cope Area Residents' Association (CCARA) & West Beckenham Residents' Association (WBRA) 