Category: Council

Bromley Council Update Newsletter Autumn 2014

In this edition you will find information on how residents in the borough can make senior councillors aware of their views as they reach the difficult decisions  that have to be made about the budget for 2015/16 and beyond. The Council has to save more than £60 million over the next four years from an annual net budget of just over £200 million.

Bromley Council Update

Bromley Council choose not to register Elmers End Green as a Town Green

Earlier this year the West Beckenham Residents’ Association (WBRA) lodged an application to have Elmers End Green registered as a Town or Village Green. Bromley Council had previously attempted to sell the freehold for the toilet block on the Green (this is now currently being sold by leasehold). This raised concern, and local people wanted to ensure Elmers End Green was a protected green space. At our AGM, Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association members agreed to support WBRA’s application and our Association wrote in support to the Council and our local councillor on the committee. Unfortunately the Council voted against registering Elmers End Green as a Town or Village Green.  An application has been lodged by The Beckenham Society to register Beckenham Green we hope the Council will approve this application.  The Council can choose to register both sites voluntarily. If you think the Council should register these sites voluntarily please complete our poll at the bottom of this blog.

West Beckenham Residents’ Association released the following statement:

WBRA are very disappointed that the Council’s Executive Committee rejected the opportunity to register Elmers End Green as a Town or Village Green. The proposal was based on the special history of Elmers End Green. This triangle of land has been in exactly the same place at the junction of the road between Beckenham and Croydon and that to West Wickham for at least 300 years – undeveloped and open space used by residents of the then small Elmers End hamlet right up to the present day. If this doesn’t qualify as a town green, we don’t know what will. Dozens of local people wrote to the Leader of the Council in support of the proposition, as did eminent local groups such as Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association, Elmers End Free Church, The Beckenham Society and Bromley Local History Society. All councillors for Clock House and Kelsey and Eden Park wards supported our proposal.

The Development Control Committee had, in July, recognised the value of local history in fostering community spirit – at no cost. They felt registration would show the Borough in its best “Clean and Green” form and were enthusiastic for registration. Here was a committee that actually listened to what we were saying! On 10 September, Councillor Alan Collins gave a spirited and eloquent exposition of the case in favour. The Executive Committee however dismissed the Development Control Committee’s recommendation for registration without a shred of empathy for local people. Instead they just dismissed the dozens of emails and letters supporting the proposal and dragged up excuses to do nothing.

WBRA could understand (just a little) if we were asking them to spend thousands on the Green, but registration would cost virtually nothing. It is very depressing when our elected representatives show such little regard for the wishes of the electorate.

 

Consultation: Conservation Area for Beckenham Town Centre

At the Council run Beckenham Town Centre Working Group that the Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association attends with other local community organisations it was agreed to progress the idea of creating a conservation area running the length of the whole Town Centre.  Currently there is a small conservation area at Kelsey Square and a larger one covering St George’s Church, Beckenham Green and Bromley Road School. By extending the conservation area and linking both existing ones Beckenham will be able to preserve and enhance the High Street buildings and ensure that new shop fronts are in keeping.  Our Association is in support of this proposal that will see, over time, our beautiful Art Deco parade restored to its former glory and the design of shop fronts more sympathetic to the age of the buildings through out out the town.

The Council have now prepared the long awaited proposal to create a Beckenham Town Centre Conservation Area. Local people are encouraged to comment on the proposal.  The deadline for feedback is 24 October 2014. If you would like to comment on this proposal, please download the questionnaire, complete and either email it to conservation@bromley.gov.uk or post it to Bromley Council, Room P41, Civic Centre , Stockwell Close BR1 3UH.

Further information about the proposed conservationConservation_area area can be found at the links below:

Beckenham Conservation Area

Beckenham Town Centre Character Assessment

 

Proposed open hours reduction of 2 hrs a week for Beckenham Library

To achieve budget savings the Council has consulted on the Borough’s library service. The Council’s recommendations for Beckenham are quoted below, the full report can be found at: BROMLEY LIBRARY SERVICE – OUTCOME OF CONSULTATION

Beckenham Library: 

Council’s Proposal: Closing on Friday at 6pm instead of 8pm, leaving one 8pm closing per
week on Wednesday

  • Alternative Option A: Close on Wednesday at 6pm instead of 8pm, leaving one 8pm closing per week on Friday
  • Alternative Option B: Close on Tuesday at 4pm instead of 6pm
  • Alternative Option C: Open at 10am Monday to Friday instead of 9.30am (a saving of 2.5 hours but needed for consistency)

Survey Findings for Beckenham Library:

  • Of those interviewed at Beckenham Library, 71%, said ‘no’ the Council’s Proposal would not inconvenience them in any way
  • Some 15% said the Council’s Proposal was ‘very inconvenient’ and 9% said it was ‘fairly inconvenient’. The remaining 5% said that whilst it was inconvenient, it was ‘not very inconvenient’
  • Respondents interviewed at Beckenham Library were most likely to say they preferred ‘Alternative Option C’ for reducing the opening hours at the library as indicated by 34% of them (Note: the focus of the interviewing was on the latter part of the day rather than first thing in the morning)

Letter to Bromley Council to take action to save rail service from Beckenham Junction/Kent House/Penge East to St Pancras and beyond

Dear Bromley Council,

The announcement of the new Thameslink and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise has brought unhappy news to Beckenham and Penge residents. The new network map shows that services from Beckenham Junction to St Pancras and beyond will not run for the whole term of the franchise. Those who use and rely on these services will incur disruption to their journey.

During the summer of 2012 the rail franchise consulted on which services from South London (Sutton, Wimbledon, Ashford (via Maidstone East), Rochester, Sevenoaks, Orpington, Beckenham Junction and Kent House) should proceed through the Thameslink core to St Pancras and beyond.  Network Rail recommended that rail services from Wimbledon Loop should terminate at Blackfriars and not go through the core.  Despite the recommendation by Network Rail, Wimbledon trains will go through the core at the expense of those from Beckenham Junction, Kent House and Penge. West London were successful in lobbying to keep their services, Bromley residents lost out.

We want Bromley Council to fight to save our rail service.  So far over 270 local residents have signed a petition to ‘Save train services from Beckenham Junction/Kent House/Penge East to St Pancras and beyond’. People plan their lives around direct commuter services, the proposed change will cause significant disruption to commuters and a vital transport link in the borough will be lost. Further, it is not certain the service from Beckenham Junction/Kent House/Penge to Blackfriars is safe. In 2018 the service will  transfer from Thameslink to South Eastern, when the South Eastern franchise is reviewed in 2015/16 services from Beckenham Junction, Kent House and Penge may face further reduction.

Question for the Environment Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee meeting Tuesday 1 July 2014:

What action is Bromley Council going to take to secure the future of  Thameslink services from Beckenham Junction, Kent House, Penge to St Pancras and beyond, to Blackfriars from 2018, and to lobby for improved/additional commuter rail links from Beckenham Junction onwards?

Members can access the petition at: www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-train-service-from-beckenham-junction-to-st.  We encourage members to read the comments, this is an important issue for local people and one we want action on.

Yours sincerely

Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association

Beckenham Town Centre Improvements March/April 2014

The Beckenham Town Centre Team (TCT*) have presented the following list of suggested improvements to the Council led Working Group for the public realm improvements:

  • Beckenham Green – Beckenham Green is a community meeting place akin to a European Town Square, recent events on The Green have been successful in creating community spirit and increased footfall on the High Street. The funding for the following amenities to be considered: Stage cover; water tap; storage shed; new refuse and dog litter bins to be placed considerately for events on the Green.
  • Town Clocks – The cost of repairing the clocks has been obtained –  request funding be allocated so the work can be undertaken this summer?
  • Barclays Bank Planter – Barclays have indicated they will remove the planter, suggest this space be utilised as a community space (perhaps a sculpture?)
  • Bus Shelters – location and style of bus shelters to be reviewed to maximise pedestrian space. The bus shelter outside Wimpy is set back from the kerb creating a bottleneck for pedestrians. The bus shelter outside Em & Lou’s (previously Raggios) could be moved along a few metres toward Marks and Spencer where the pavement is much wider. Request TfL consider different styles of shelter
  • Improvement to High Street alleyways – request funds be allocated to clean, light, resurface, name and sign all the access ways to the High Street (including behind Sainsbury’s) The TCT are researching a list of potential names for each alleyway.
  • Heritage water pump – The pump outside Haks Barbers to be restored.
  • Trees – More trees to be planted throughout the Town Centre.
  • War Memorial – Clean up, remove surrounding wall and landscape the roundabout to include at least one bench. Options for a direct crossing to the War Memorial should be investigated.
  • Step-free-access to shops – 60% of shops in Town Centre currently are not step free, improvements should include making access to shops level wherever possible.

At the last meeting of the Working Group it was agreed to formally take forward:

  • Beckenham Green stage cover
  • Beckenham Green storage unit
  • Beckenham Green water tap/utilities
  • Beckenham Green replacement bins and dog litter bins
  • Refurbishment of the heritage water pump outside Haks Barbers
  • Repair of the town centre clocks
  • Naming of the alleyways

It was noted that the following proposals from the TCT will be captured as part of the overall major scheme design:

  • Location and style of bus shelters
  • Trees
  • War Memorial
  • Consideration for step free access to shops.

It was noted that there were not enough funds to improve all the alleyways to the High Street, the Council Officers have identified the following as a priority:

  • The Mews
  • Covered entrance to Lidl
  • Pedestrian entrance to Sainsbury’s
  • Burrell Row alley
  • Pedestrian alley to cinema car park

CCARA requested the designers look on the areas outside Barclays Bank, the Post Office, the Odeon car park exit on Rectory Road and the War Memorial as a significant focal point for improvements. This was agreed and the Council will ask the designers to work up some options for this gateway into the town centre.

If you have seen anything in other town centres you think would work well in Beckenham (for example materials, street furniture, landscaping, street art, etc) please send us a picture and we will pass them on to the designers. It would be great to get a mood board of ideas from local people.

The TCT are working on a list of potential names for all the alleyways which we will share for comment before it has been finalised.

Times Scales

  • The £14k project to declutter the High Street of unnecessary street furniture and signage has been commissioned and will be taking place over the coming months.
  • The redesign of the junction at Rectory Road, Albemarle Road and the High Street is due to take place in June/July 2014.
  • The survey work and traffic modelling for the major scheme improvements should be finalised by July, the design work by September, the formal consultation on the final design should be in October/November 2014 and the scheme signed off in December/January. Work on the major improvements will not start until 2015.

To find out more about the scheme come along the Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association’s Market On The Green when the Council and designers will be showcasing the project in an exhibition bus.  The dates for the Markets are Saturdays 10 May, 12 July and 20 Sep 2014.

 

*The TCT is chaired by the Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association and has representatives from the Beckenham Business Association, Beckenham Rotary Club, Beckenham Town Centre Manager, Bromley Cyclists, Bromley Road School, Bromley Mobility Forum, Churches Together, , Central Beckenham Residents’ Association Copers Cope Ward Police, Friends of Kelsey Park, The Beckenham Society, Waitrose Beckenham and the West Beckenham Residents’ Association.

 

 

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Your Say! In developing Bromley Borough’s Local Plan

Bromley Council are consulting on their Local Plan until 24 March 2014.  The Local Plan required by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 sets out the vision and objectives for the Borough in 2030 and the strategic and more detailed policies used in determining local planning applications together with a proposals map and specific site proposals. The links below provide further information.

Information about the Local Plan

Direct link to the Local Plan

Below are some points we have considered the plan could include:

  • A policy on all Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs). There has been an increase of planning applications to convert properties into HMOs in Beckenham, stronger planning policies are required to ensure HMOs are of a descent standard. Other boroughs have such polices.
  • A stronger policy on converting offices to flats to ensure Beckenham retains office workers which boost the High Street economy.
  • A policy that requires planning applicants for shop fronts to ensure the cables and water pipes on the party walls are maintained. Beckenham High Street has a number of poorly maintained party walls between shop fronts.
  • More robust polices on locally listed building, tall buildings and skyline to ensure the character of Beckenham is retained.
  • A policy on protecting natural heritage (the plan refers only to built heritage) such as Beckenham’s heritage tree stock.
  • Securing additional commuter rail services in London (more services from Beckenham to Blackfriars and beyond, plus Beckenham to Clapham Junction)

If you wish to comment on the plan you may do so online at the link below, or by email to ldf@bromley.gov.uk.  You may also wish to share your comments with us by email to chairman@coperscope.org.uk

Online Consultation Portal: http://bromley-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/lpdpd/lpdpdc

 

Public Meeting Tonight- Council Budget Savings – 7pm Mon 30 Sept, Citygate Church, Beckenham

Bromley Council public meeting regarding budget cuts to find savings of £55 million need to be made over the next four years is tonight 7pm to 8.30pm Monday 30 September at Citygate Church, Rectory Road, Beckenham, BR3 1AA.

Further information can be found on the Council website.

<a href=”http://www.bromley.gov.uk/press/article/723/a_meeting_to_talk_about_building_a_better_bromley”>Budget Meeting – A meeting to talk about Building a Better Bromley</a>

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

Beckenham Bid for TfL Funds for Town Centre Improvements

Many of you would have read our updates from the Beckenham Town Centre Working Group established by the council to identify improvements for the town. The working group worked closely with the Council and their appointed design consultants (East) in creating a formal bid for funds from Transport for London’s (TfL) Local Implementation Plan Major Schemes programme.

The bid has now been set to TfL and we hope hear whether our bid has passed stage 1 some time in November 2012.

How does the bid process work

Beckenham will be in competition with bids from other London boroughs.  Bromley Council invested £50K on design consultants East, a polished and innovative bid should beat the competition.

If we pass the first stage TfL will provide funds to investigate the design concepts further.  The second stage, is the official TfL funding assessment process where we hope secure up to £1.68 million. This will be matched by Bromley Council giving a total of some £2.5 million for Beckenham Town Centre public realm improvements.

You can view the design proposal submitted to TfL below.  This is only a proposal, a concept. Materials, fixtures, designs, layout etc have not been finalised. Should the first stage bid be sucessful any changes to road layout, bus stop locations, widening of pavements, street furniture etc will undergo thorough investigation by the Council and the working group.

Design Concept for Beckenham Town Centre Improvements

In the short term Bromley Council have allocated £250K for interim improvements, the working group meet next week to discuss how this should be spent.

Please let your association know of any feedback you have so we can represent it at the working group. The working group allows all residents to be part of the consultation process.