In September 2012 Bromley Council gave permission for the floors above 30 High Street to be turned into a Bed and Breakfast accommodation. Since then the owner has changed plans and now wishes to create 15 bedsits instead. Local businesses and residents objected to this and the Council has ruled that the owner cannot change to create bedsits without prior planning approval. We will let you know if the owner makes a fresh application to change the first and third floors of 30 High Street, currently office space, into bedsits.
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
Safer Neighbourhood Panel Meeting Update Sept 2013
At the September Safer Neighbourhood Panel meeting our Copers Cope Ward dedicated Police Officer confirmed that it’s all change for the policing system. However there was no clear explanation yet of how the merging of six Wards is going to affect the local panels apart from the reassurance that dedicated officers will be retained. We hope to bring you a clear explanation after the December meeting.
Meanwhile, whilst crime rates remain low level, there were a total of seventeen burglaries in the Ward between end of July and mid-September, nine of these from residences and garages. So do check windows and doors are secured, especially at the rear of property, and see if you can improve the security or lighting on your garage.
With more than twenty motor vehicle crimes reported over this period, this is still an issue. Some of these were theft of number plates, so if you don’t have them already, consider changing to tamper-proof nuts for your plates.
Two local policing priorities were set for the next period up to mid-December, namely burglaries, and drunk & disorderly behaviour, especially around the High Street, on The Green, and on Sainsbury’s forecourt.
Don’t let a little rain put you off – Beckenham Festival TODAY, 2pm Croydon Rd Rec – Kids under 10 go free
An afternoon in Croydon Road Recreation Ground to celebrate David Bowie (Beckenham’s most famous former Beckenham resident, the legacy of the Arts Laboratory he co-founded, and the sensational Free Festival that Arts Lab members staged on the Bandstand in the park in 1969) and raise money to restore the Bandstand
Gates open at 2 pm for the Festival which will see 3 hours of live music from 3 to 6. The Thin White Duke a Bowie tribute band will perform 5 Bowie numbers including ‘Life on Mars’ and ‘Space Oddity’. There will also be 30 arts & craft stalls, food and refreshment stalls, Bowie themed face painting and a raffle. A modest entry fee of £5 for each adult will raise funds to restore the historic bandstand. Kids under 10 go free.
Bromley Police September 2013 Newsletter
Check out the most recent newsletter.
Bromley Police Station Open Day, Sunday 22 Sept 2013
This event will give a rare and behind-the-scenes glimpse at what goes on inside a police station and see some of the vehicles, specialist units, equipment and resources that the MPS has at its disposal. Visitors and residents will also be able to talk to local Senior Police Officers about policing in their area and will be on hand to give out crime prevention advice and material.
Safer Transport Teams will be carrying out free cycle security marking of bicycles and registering the details on BikeRegister to help tackle and prevent cycle crime. Members of the public can attend the police station in Bromley High Street anytime between 10-4pm where they will be greeted by Borough Police Officers and given a talk and tour of the station and an opportunity to ask questions.
Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has said:
“I want the Met to be an open organisation. We are accountable to the public. These open days symbolise that openness – and I hope people enjoy looking around their local station.”
“We are very clear that we are here to serve London and by inviting the public into our police stations we can give an insight to our daily work to keep them safe and tackle criminals.”
For more information check out the Police website.
Latest on Penge High Street roadworks
The council has told us: “We can confirm that Thames Water have taken responsibility for this situation and we will carefully monitor works undertaken by MGJV (Morrison Galliford Joint Venture), the Thames Water contractor. The close-up picture as attached shows something of the seriousness of this situation and indicates that this is a major piece of work which needs to be undertaken.
It is not clear to us at present what the exact extent of the void is and we understand that exploratory survey work tomorrow will hopefully establish the exact nature of the situation. Realistically, the results of this work will inform the estimated duration of any work but the repair work could take up to 2 weeks but I will update you with a revised estimate in due course.
As you are probably aware, the official traffic diversion is Croydon Road, SE20 – Elmers End Road…
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Independent Newspaper promotes Beckenham event, Sun 15 Sep 2013
Check out their article about the Bowie inspired Memory of a Free Festival on next Sunday at Croydon Rd Recreation Ground to raise money to restore the bandstand.
High Street Carriageway Collapse
As you may have heard on the ITV London news tonight, part of the carriageway in Penge High Street by the Penge Turkish Bakery collapsed yesterday afternoon leaving a 12 foot square crater. Officers inform us that meetings are behing held with Thames Water to determine the cause. In the meantime, the bus lane is not operational to assist traffic flows in the area. We will keep you informed of future developments.
Thomas Cook Close Beckenham Branch
Although unfortunately we do have another vacant shop in the High Street as Thomas Cook closed their Beckenham branch last week, with the support of you loyal locals we remain well below the national average, with 9 empty shops, of which 3 are under offer and one has a firm enquiry.
New Langley Park Primary School proposed for 2015
Kent County Cricket Ground Planning Application for Spectator Stand
Leander Sports and Leisure who have outline planning permission to redevelop and regenerate Kent County Cricket Ground on Worsley Bridge Road have submitted a planning application for a Permanent spectator stand (capacity 2,048 seats) and associated landscaping including remodelling of earth mound. The application can be found at the link below.
13/02711/FULL1 | Permanent spectator stand
Any residents who wish to comment on either planning application should do by 19 Sep 2013. You can comment by email to planning@bromley.gov.uk quoting the relevant planning reference noted above. 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.
Festival to raise funds to restore Beckenham bandstand – 3pm to 6pm Sun 15 Sept 2013, Croydon Road Rec
MEMORY OF A FREE FESTIVAL
“…The Sun machine is Coming Down, and we’re Gonna Have a Party…”
CELEBRATING DAVID BOWIE AND THE BECKENHAM ARTS LAB
Sunday afternoon in Croydon Road Recreation Ground, a local park in Beckenham, the residential south of London may not conjure up visions of youthful exuberance and rock music – but on Sunday September 15th the Friends of Croydon Road Recreation Ground are hoping that hundreds of people will descend on their park to celebrate David Bowie – Beckenham’s most famous former Beckenham resident, the legacy of the Arts Laboratory he co-founded, and the sensational Free Festival that Arts Lab members staged on the Bandstand in the park in 1969.
This year’s Festival will not be free. A modest entry fee of £5 for each adult will raise funds to restore the historic bandstand.
Gates open at 2 pm for the 2013 Festival which will see 3 hours of live music from 3 to 6. The Thin White Duke a Bowie tribute band will perform 5 Bowie numbers including ‘Life on Mars’ and ‘Space Oddity’ – both of which have links to the band stand. Bowie’s song – ‘Memory of a Free Festival’ will be performed by Bill Liesegang. Other groups taking part are Raf and O, Keval, Low Rent Tractors, Scott Fuller and John Aldington.
There will also be 30 arts & craft stalls, food and refreshment stalls, Bowie themed face painting and a raffle.
Message from Safer Neighbourhood Team – stealing cycles from garages and sheds
Across London there has been a growing trend of stealing cycles from garages and sheds. Cycle owners should be vigilant to this type of crime and be aware of the benefits of two good quality locks placed on cycles (as thieves generally carry only one type of tool) and securing them to an immovable object. Audible sheds alarms are also a great deterrent and please lock away tools.
To successfully deal with this type of crime the police need information as to where these stolen cycles are being taken to and sold from. Residents should contact the police if they become aware of any premises (residential or other) where different cycles are being regularly seen. A recent arrest found a male with 3 stolen cycles in the living room of his flat and he was busy filing off the serial numbers.
Many stolen cycles are being sold through the Internet. Cycle enthusiasts who regularly visit specialists sites can help the police combat this type of crime by reporting web activity and adverts which lead them to believe stolen cycles are being sold.
Anyone having information or concerns should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Bromley Police August 2013 Newsletter
Check out the most recent newsletter.
Public Meeting – Council Budget Savings – 7pm Mon 30 Sept, Citygate Church, Beckenham
Bromley Council are holding public meetings in the borough regarding budget cuts to find savings of £55 million over the next four years. Beckenham’ s meeting will be held 7pm to 8.30pm Monday 30 September at Citygate Church, Rectory Road, Beckenham, BR3 1AA.
Further information can be found on the Council website.
Budget Meeting – A meeting to talk about Building a Better Bromley
Winner of Beckenham Best Dressed Window 2013
Thank you to all the shops and businesses that took part, it certainly spiced up the High Street for a couple of weeks. This year the theme was ‘Celebrating Beckenham’s Green & Pleasant Parks’ and over 500 people voted for their favourite window instore and online. The votes have been counted and the top five (out of the 17 businesses that participated) are:
- Thackray Williams (solicitors) with 18% of the votes
- Raggios (cafe) with 15% of the votes
- Jumping Bean (gifts) with 14% of the votes
- Gallery Seventeen (art gallery) with 11.3% of the votes
- Beckenham Pharmacy (opposite the old police station) with 10.7% of the votes
Well done Thackray Williams the trophy is on its way to you.
Planning application for 2 large developments on Worsley Bridge Road
Planning applications for the redevelopment of the site where Henderson Biomedical used to be and the site next door where Dylon International was on Worsley Bridge Road have been lodged. Combined they will create 221 residential units.
Maybrey Business Park (on the Henderson Biomedical Site)
Demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment to provide a part 5, part 7 storey building with 4,122 sq m of Use Class B1 floorspace on the ground floor with 147 residential units above with new access arrangements, provision of 183 car parking spaces at basement level and landscaping, refuse and recycling facilities. Details of the planning application can be found at the link below
Reference 13/01815/FULL1 – Maybrey Business Park
Former Dylon International Site
Erection of five storey building comprising 74 residential units; A1 retail; A3 cafe/ restaurant and a D1 creche in place of Block A03 forming part of the approved planning permission 09/01664 for the redevelopment of the Dylon site.
Reference 13/01973/FULL1 – Former Dylon Site
Any residents who wish to comment on either planning application should do so ASAP. You can comment by email to planning@bromley.gov.uk quoting the relevant planning reference noted above. 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.
Thank you for supporting Market On The Green Aug 2013
It was a great day, wonderful weather, yummy food, fabulous stalls, fun entertainment, top bands and even a bit of Lindy Hop. Next Market 19th October 2013. Until then why not keep it local… subscribe to your local residents’ association and shop local too.
Thank you to Peach Design for donating some banners and to Buddies Kitchen, Beckenham Flower Studio, Ardec, Beckenham Toys, Crafts Bee, Deens Garage, Deli Nene, Duke, Red Boutique, One 65, Antonios, Basil Restaurant, Beckenham Bookshop, Dos Amigos, Love A Slice, Gallery Seventeen, The Odeon, Jumping Bean, Mr Simms Olde Sweet Shop, The Boutique Spa for donating prizes for the Market Free Prize Draw. Cllr Stephen Wells adjudicated the draw on the day and prize winners will be contacted shortly.
Organic produce
Stylish accessories
Delicious tarts and pastries
Beautiful glass fusion
Yummy cup cakes
Copers Cope Residents getting new members
Busy Market
Authentic pasta sauces
Superman
Wood fired pizza
Giving out balloons
Copers Cope Residents getting new members
So much cheese, yum!
Dancing parents
Dancing kids
Quality tea
Sunny at the fair
Pretty cards
4G technology and Freeview TV problems – free help for vulnerable residents
The introduction of 4G (mobile technology) over the summer may affect the television signals for people who watch Freeview television.
If you know someone who is over 75 years old, registered disabled or registered blind or partially sighted free help is available to them if their Freeview television is affected.
Residents may receive a postcard in the mail if Freeview signals are expected to be affected by the 4G switch on. Some residents may also receive a small black box to rectify signal problems.
If your elderly or disabled neighbour has received a black box through the post or has a distorted television picture or sound, they can call 0333 31 31 800 for help.
More information about the switch over can be found at the link below.
Win Beckenham Prizes at Market on the Green, 10am to 4pm Sat 3 August on Beckenham Green
At Market on the Green tomorrow there is a free prize draw to win prizes from Beckenham businesses. To enter go to the Information Tent and complete an entry slip before 3pm. The draw will take place at 3pm. You can win prizes from:
Copers Cope Area Residents' Association (CCARA) & West Beckenham Residents' Association (WBRA) 