Category: News

Charity Family Fun Day at Beckenham County Cricket Ground – 9 Sept 2012

09 Sep 2012 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Beckenham County Cricket Ground
Worsley Bridge Road
Beckenham
London
BR3 1RL

Charity Family Fun Day in aid of Demelza Hospice care for children. There will be a hog roast/ BBQ, bouncy castle, Pimms tent/bar and a 5 a-side inflatable football pitch plus lots more.

Adult Ticket: From £5.00 per ticket
Child Ticket: Up to £2.50 per ticket

Council asks for views on Council Tax Support Scheme – consulation ends on 12 Oct 2012

In April 2013 the government will reduce the grant for the current Council Tax Benefit scheme.

The Council operates a national council tax benefit scheme which supports pensioners and working age people on low incomes to pay their council tax.  In April 2013 the government will reduce the grant for the current Council Tax Benefit scheme.  In its place the government has instructed all councils to develop their own local scheme called Council Tax Support.

Under the new scheme to be implemented from April 2013, Bromley Council will receive an estimated reduction in funding of £3.1million towards the cost of council tax benefit. This means Bromley Council will have £3.1 million less to spend on council tax support. The government has also said that all current and future pensioner Council Tax benefit recipients must be fully protected from the changes. The reductions to benefit will therefore only affect working age people.  Bromley Council is currently lobbying the government about this much reduced level of funding and has written to local MPs expressing concern and dissatisfaction about the financial impact on our residents.

Said Councillor Graham Arthur, Executive Councillor for Resources:

“This Council has a well-earned reputation for sound financial management.  We are determined that the scheme we put in place recognises that the significant cut in the funding we receive from central government will be for the long term. The changes we are forced to make will place a financial burden on the benefit recipients of Bromley. We have a responsibility to make sure our Council Tax Support scheme is sustainable and is the best and fairest for all our residents”.

Whether the new Council Tax Support scheme affects you directly or indirectly, the Council is asking for your views on a draft Council Tax Support scheme.  There is a consultation questionnaire at www.bromley.gov.uk/consultation or if you have any questions you can ring 020 8603 3478 between 9.30 am and 4.30 pm Monday to Friday. The consultation will close on 12 October 2012.

 

 

Beckenham Town Centre Working Group Update – August 9 2012 Meeting

The Beckenham Town Working Group (set up by the Council to identify potential improvements for the town) on which the Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association sits met on Thursday 9 August the following points were raised:

Street lighting – The Working Group had previously expressed a preference for the heritage style lamps with hanging baskets. However such lamps may not cast enough light downwards so extra lamps may be needed which will increase street clutter. Other options may include; lights set on buildings (this required the owners’ permission), lights at different levels for the carriageway and the pavement, or catenary lights (on wires) where additional lighting is needed.

Carriageway & Pavements – TfL requires a minimum carriageway width in A roads of 7.3m, this means the pavement can be widened along the High Street. Bus stops and loading bays can potentially be moved to get the best pedestrian and traffic outcome. The designers are proposing a nearly level carriageway/parking area/footway, with the different areas separated in the surface by different materials rather than painted lines, our association expressed concern about not having a clear/structural delineation between parking bays and the pavement.

Markets – There were various potential sites for a market, including Beckenham Green and Kelsey Square and the area near the toilets in Kelsey Park Road. In some locations the footway could be widened, but for safety reasons there needed to be a clear separation between pedestrians and cars.

Conservation Areas – A single conservation area for the town centre would help to protect and enhance the character of the town and control shopfronts in particular. This is being pursued.

The bid for TfL funds – Is due to be submitted by 7th September.

Christmas lights – The Town Centre Manager is looking into fixed Christmas Lights, funded by the Council,it will not be possible to get them in time for this Christmas so temporary lights will need to be installed.

Improving the junction of the High Street/Rectory Road/Southend Road/Albemarle Road – Unless a new bridge was built over the railway at a cost of several million pounds it would not be possible to alleviate congestion, however there is part solution that will assist large vehicles making turns from Rectory Road into Southend Road and provide increased footway width in the High Street and enhanced facilities for pedestrians crossing Rectory Road at a viable cost (in the region of £150-£175k.) The Working Group supported pursuing this option.

Hold the Paralympic Torch when it comes to Beckenham – Monday 3 September 2012

A unique experience for Beckenham residents and shoppers, next Monday 3 September between 9am and 1pm the Paralympic Torch will be at Sainsbury’s!

Customers will have the opportunity to hold the torch and have their photograph taken. There will be a backdrop, however everyone should bring with them their own cameras as there will be no official photographer.

Did you know that Sainsbury’s, official sponsor of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, was the first ever Paralympic Games-only sponsor. Sainsbury’s is utilising its network of over 875 stores to help promote the Paralympic Games and lucky for Beckenham the torch is coming here.

Design Consultants unveil plans for Beckenham High Street – Thurs 23 Aug 2012, 12.30 to 7.30 p.m.

East (architecture, landscape and urban design practice)  was hired byBromley Council to create a design concept for the regeneration of Beckenham Town Centre.  East  invite Beckenham residents and businesses to view the plans. Why not pop along to 181 High Street, Beckenham BR3 1AH (next to Sainsburys, Beckenham Cricket Specialists and The Soccer Shop) between 12.30 to 7.30 p.m. on Thursday 23rd August.

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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