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

Bromley Council Public Consultation on Licensing Policy – comments by 10 Sept 2012

Licensing policy consultation

Our licensing policy has been amended to reflect the changes in law introduced  by the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and the revised guidance issued by the  Secretary of State. We are required to undertake public consultation on any change to the policy.

Main changes

  • The Licensing Authority is now also a Responsible Authority which means that it can now make representations on applications in its own right and can also make applications to review a licence.
  • The council must now suspend a licence if the annual fee is not paid.
  • The policy now refers to the councils guidance to members hearing a review.
  • The section on licensing hours has been revised in light of the Secretary of States guidance
  • Councils will be able to justify licensing decisions as being ‘appropriate’ rather than ‘necessary’ to promote the 4 Licensing Objectives. The policy has been updated to reflect this
  • Copies of licence applications will have to be sent to The Director of Public Health who becomes a Responsible Authority under the Act and can make representations on individual applications.
  • Anyone can now make a representation on a licence application. Previously only people living or working in the ‘vicinity’ of the premises could comment on an application.
  • The section on ‘Diversity and Equality’ has been rewritten
  • The statutory period for formally reviewing the councils Statement of Licensing Policy is increased to five years from three years. This means that our current policy will now need to be reviewed in 2016.
  • The section on applicants for Personal Licences with previous convictions has been revised to allow greater flexibility for licensing subcommittees to grant a licence in exceptional and compelling circumstances.

Temporary Event Notices

  • The key change is to allow Environmental Health Officers (EHO’s) as well as the Police to object within 3 working days to a Temporary Event Notice on the basis of all 4 licensing objectives.
  • To give licensing authorities discretion to apply existing licence conditions to a Temporary Event Notice.To allow a limited number of late Temporary Event Notices to be made (i.e. those submitted less than 10 working days, but more than 5 working days, before the beginning of the event) unless there are objections by the Police or EHO’s.
  • To increase the total annual period covered by a temporary event notice in a single premises from 15 days to 21 days per year.
  • The period covered by each Temporary Event Notice has been increased to 168 hours from 96 hours.

You can view or download a copy of the draft statement of licensing policy 2014-16

Your views and how to respond

If you have any comments please make them by 10 September 2012

A new Creative Craft Studio has opened in Beckenham

Crafts Bee offers a wide variety of craft classes and workshops to suit all levels of ability, beginner to advanced.

Classes include Sewing, Papercrafts, Silk Painting, Stained Glass, Felting, Jewellery, Upcycling, Paper Crafts, Knitting & Crochet, Flower Arranging and Seasonal Crafts. Most classes are run as half day, day and taster but private sessions and term classes are also available.

Crafts Bee is located on the War Memorial Roundabout opposite the Cinema on Beckenham High Street, above Bairstow Eves Estate Agents at 247 High Street, Beckenham, BR3 1AB.

For more information please see their website www.craftsbee.com.

Update on rear of 88-90 High Street, Beckenham – planning approved by Planning Inspectorate

Decision of Planning Inspectorate

The appeal by the developer is allowed and planning permission is granted for 3 four storey blocks comprising 9 one bedroom, 32 two bedroom and 3 three bedroom flats, with 41 car parking spaces, bicycle parking, landscaping and access to the rear of 88-90 High Street, Beckenham BR3 1ED.

Bromley Council are also liable to pay the developer partial costs.

Conclusions of the Planning Inspectorate

For the above reasons the overall conclusion is that by comparison with the extant permitted scheme there would be no greater impact on the character and appearance of the area or the living conditions of neighbouring residents and some effects would be reduced.

The proposed scheme also makes suitable provision for access, parking, the mitigation of flood risk, education infrastructure, affordable housing, landscaping and wildlife. The proposal would help to meet the need for market and affordable housing in an accessible location whilst making efficient use of previously developed land.

The appeal scheme is in overall accordance with the provisions of the development plan and there are no material considerations indicating that a decision should be taken other than in accordance with the development plan. The appeal should therefore be allowed.

Planning Permission given for final part of fomer Glaxo Site

pengeandcatorcouncillors's avatarPenge and Cator Councillors

Planning permission was given last night at a meeting of the Development Control Committee in Beckenham for 179 units of accommodation on the former Glaxo Wellcome site in South Eden Park Rd.  There will be 79 affordable units with 46 for rent and 33 being shared ownership.  The former pavilion buidling will be used as a community centre and the sporting facilities will be retained.  A GP/medical surgery will also be included in the development.

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The Celebration Summer Fair & The Beckenham Bake-off Saturday 18 August, 1.30pm – 6pm

Saturday 18 August, 1.30pm – 6pm
Beckenham Methodist Church, entry in Bevington Road
Event organised by ‘The Hidden Teapot’

No matter the weather, come and join us for fun and frolics at our Summer Fair in Beckenham.
We will also be hosting the Beckenham Bake-off whilst supporting Breast Cancer Care.

What’s it all about? We’re a growing group of like-minded creatives and the Hidden Teapot is where we showcase our work, share our skills and eat cake! There will be taster workshops, our delicious pop-up teashop and the judging of the Beckenham Bake-off! You’ll even be able to get a mini tarot reading. Phew.

Our workshops were a massive hit at the spring event. Suitable for little teapots they will be held on the hour between 2 – 4pm but places are limited. Check the blog for more info.

http://thehiddenteapot.blogspot.co.uk/

9.30 ish this morning, get down to the High Street for music, freebies and Olympic Torch

Beckenham High Street is welcoming the Olympic Torch in style. The Torch is due to pass through the High Street from 9.45 to 10.15, coming down Manor Road along the High Street to the War Memorial. While we are waiting for the Torch there will be music.

Barbershop Choir – Chessingtons Forecourt

Jazz Band – Sainsburys Forecourt

Children’s Choir – War Memorial

Look out for free flags to wave and the many special promotions offered by our retailers, which may include:

Beckenham Toys – face painting, cupcakes and giant bubble toy

Caffe Nero – free coffee and cake samples

Love A Slice – free samples cakes

Zizzi’s – tasty food buffet

Odeon cinema and Bricklayers Arms – special early opening

Wimpy – Mister Wimpy (man in costume) outside premises

Villager sausages – free samples of cooked sausages

Blockbusters video – free samples popcorn and fizzy drinks

Mr Simms sweetshop – free sweet samples

Beckenham High Street Olympic Celebration – tomorrow 9.30 am Monday 23 July – free event

Beckenham High Street is welcoming the Olympic Torch in style. The Torch is due to pass through the High Street from 9.45 to 10.15, coming down Manor Road along the High Street to the War Memorial. While we are waiting for the Torch there will be music.

Barbershop Choir – Chessingtons Forecourt

Jazz Band – Sainsburys Forecourt

Children’s Choir – War Memorial

Look out for free flags to wave and the many special promotions offered by our retailers, which may include:

Beckenham Toys – face painting, cupcakes and giant bubble toy

Caffe Nero – free coffee and cake samples

Love A Slice – free samples cakes

Zizzi’s – tasty food buffet

Odeon cinema and Bricklayers Arms – special early opening

Wimpy – Mister Wimpy (man in costume) outside premises

Villager sausages – free samples of cooked sausages

Blockbusters video – free samples popcorn and fizzy drinks

Mr Simms sweetshop – free sweet samples

London Borough of Bromley Trading Standards Warning

London Borough of Bromley Trading Standards have received intelligence relating to an individual, who gives his name as RICHARD GREEN (aka Richard Green Larry) cold calling residents and claiming to be from Trading Standards.

His MO is to cold call residents claiming that work needs doing on their roof. Intelligence also suggests that he is using the name AQUASHIELD and says that he is ‘investigating’ the company who had carried out previous work to the consumer’s property.

It has been reported that he may be working with two other suspects posing as builders

One description gives Green as an – IC1male – 40 to 50 yrs (possibly 60) – medium build – short – shaved head – tanned – wearing a black plastic/leather jacket. He wears an ID card on lanyard around neck possibly with a blue edge.

L B Croydon has reported that two victims in their area have lost £800 and £2000 respectively to this individual.

We are also aware of a previous incident in Havering and a couple of incidences have been reported recently in Surrey .

Scam warnings from Police

1. A booklet has recently been produced about scams, which may interest you. You can see the e-version of the booklet on the Met Police website, by clicking through fraud alert on the website.
Here is the link: http://www.met.police.uk/fraudalert/docs/mps_little_book_big_scams.pdf

2. Watch out for emails claiming to be from the DVLA asking you to verify your driving licence details via an online link – it’s a scam.

The DVLA has not sent any such email, so if you get one delete it immediately. This is a copy of the email that is circulating:

From: DVLA Subject: Update Your License Details
We are currently upgrading our database and all drivers are required to update and verify their driver’s license details. To complete your license verification with us, you are required to fill out the form in the link below.

{Fake link}

Drivers that refuse to upgrade his or her details within two weeks of receiving this verification email will lose his or her driver’s License and will have to take a fresh driving test.

We sincerely apologise for any inconveniences this might have caused you.
Thank you for your co-operation.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Swansea SA6 7JL

3. You may receive a phone call from an intruder alarm company saying that ‘home intrusion’ is up in your ‘postcode’ area (latest Home Office figures) and that you have been selected for a free Group 1 Security wireless system, one of only 3 to be approved by the police. Covers fire, medical and security monitoring.

Please consider the Police advice that is: ‘never deal with Cold Callers’ and only use companies known or recommended to you. Many cold callers do not offer good value for money.

Beckenham Police advise of rise of thefts on High Street

Recently in Caffe Nero and Costa Coffee in Beckenham High Street we have seen a rise in thefts from/of bags and mobile phones.

Bags are being left on the back of chairs some open some not and then they are dipped or in some cases stolen.

Mobile phones are being left on the table and the suspects are coming in handing out leaflets and either putting them on top off or next to mobile phones, once the conversation is finished the suspect then picks up the leaflet along with the phone. People are distracted by the conversation and then don’t realise until a little later that there phone has been taken.

We advise that everyone keeps there bag and phone in sight at all times or on there person.

Basil Restaurant, Old Police Station, Beckenham – licence granted

Bromley Council have granted the licence for Basil Restaurant. The application was granted the subject to the following hours and conditions:

1. Hours of Operation

  • Sunday – Thursday 11:00 – 23.00
  • Friday – Saturday 11:00 – 23:30

2. Sale of alcohol

  • Sunday – Thursday 11:00 – 22:30
  • Friday – Saturday 11:00 – 23:00

3. Regulated Entertainment

  • Sunday 13:00 – 17:00 and 19:00 – 22:00
  • Thursday 19:00 – 22:00

Controversial Glades planning application for restaurants in Queens Gardens – refused

Last week Bromley Council refused the planning application to build restaurants in Queens Gardens (behind the Glades, adjacent to Kentish Way). The application has caused controversy as part of the land is in a conservation area, the new restaurant chains may take trade away from the recently regenerated Bromley North area and a view that Bromley is currently too saturated with restaurants (what will happen to the site if the new restaurants are not profitable).