Category: Environment

Beckenham Place Park proposals get stage 1 approval – local public consultation dates in Beckenham.

Lewisham Council has secured a Round 1 pass from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s (HLF) Parks for People programme.  The Mayor of London has approved the HLF bid and the public golf course will close at some point.

Draft proposals for the restoration and regeneration of the park and buildings have been developed and The Council would like to hear your views about these plans. The comments received will be used to inform the next stages of planning the project.

The plans will be available at a series of exhibitions and events over the coming weeks. The events will be staffed by members of the project team who will be on hand to explain the proposals and to answer any questions you may have.

The programme of exhibitions is shown below.

  • Saturday 5 March 2016, 11.00 am – 3.00 pm, Sainsburys forecourt Beckenham High Street, Beckenham 
  • Wednesday 9 March 2016, 1.00 pm – 6.00 pm, 14 -15 Catford Broadway (Opposite Costa Coffee), Catford
  • Sunday 13 March 2016, 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm, Beckenham Place Park Mansion House Visitor Centre.
  • Monday 14 March 2016, 9.00 am – 11.30 am, The Green Man, 355 Bromley Road.
  • Monday 14 March 2016, 12 noon – 4.00 pm, Bellingham High Street (Shop next to the Post Office),14 Randlesdown Road.
  • Thursday 17 March 2016, 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm and; 7.00 pm – 8.30 pm, Evangelical Church Hall, Cromwell Road, Beckenham.
  • Monday 21 March 2016, 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm,The Green Man,355 Bromley Road.
  • Saturday 26 March 2016, 11.00 am – 3.00 pm, Beckenham Place Park Mansion.

These exhibitions are being run as drop in sessions, with the same plans and surveys available at each session. You do not need to confirm your attendance and these sessions are all open to the public. Therefore please pick a date, time and venue that is most convenient for you.

Further public consultation will be carried out later in Summer 2016 prior to the submission of the final proposals to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Enquiries about the project should be directed to  Alison Taylor, Project Manager, Lewisham Council by email bpp@lewisham.gov.uk or on 0208 314 8758.

 

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

 

Beckenham Green Friends spruce up some unloved spots

Our Beckenham Green Friends Group has been busy planting and weeding some unloved spots in the town.  The forlorn round bed on Beckenham Green is now vibrant with colour. The unsightly patch by the Waitrose sign has been planted with some flowers and hardy shrubs we hope will grow strong and tall (to disguise all the litter and cigarette butts dropped in that area).

If you have any free time to help, or some plants to spare, please contact Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association – email: chairman@coperscope.org.uk

green waitrose

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flood storage to be built in Beckenham Place Park

A consultation is underway on plans to build a large flood storage reservoir in Beckenham Place Park. If built it will have a dramatic effect on the park.

Further information can be found on Lewisham Council’s website at:

Lewisham and Catford Flood Alleviation Scheme

Beckenham residents that use the park may wish to comment on the consultation. The Environment Agency is holding events to get feedback to help shape the final scheme. The events will be held on:

  • Friday 4 July, 10am to 3pm, Lewisham Shopping Centre
  • Thursday 17 July, 10:30am to 1pm, Catford Civic Suite
  • Thursday 17 July, 1:30pm to 3pm , the market on Catford Broadway
  • Saturday 26 July, 10am to 2:30pm, Ravensbourne Community Centre

Alternatively, if you can’t attend on these days but would like more information about the project, you can contact Richard Peddie at the Environment Agency on 01252 729541 or email pso.selondon&nkent@environment-agency.gov.uk.

 

New sensory garden opens in Beckenham Place Park

The garden is a space for users to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life in a corner of the park that has been transformed to stimulate all five senses – sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.  It includes features, designed to attract wildlife and create sound including bird baths and feeders, as well as textured floors and raised beds.

The garden has been created for the entire community and includes seating areas, a disability ramp, a wheelchair friendly picnic bench and wheelchair accessible footpaths. A trip to the garden will enhance the physical and emotional well-being of all visitors and residents with a disability, such as dementia or a visual impairment, will be able to enjoy nature in a safe and tactile environment.