Category: News

Keen Cyclist? Why not cycle in support of “Ride Safe, Ride Bright”, Beckenham next Friday evening

Friday 20th April 2012 – Ride starts at 7.00 pm at Beckenham Green, Near St Georges Church.

Ride Safe, Ride Bright is a 5 mile cycling event to make people more aware of safety issues of Cycling at night, in particular encouraging all cyclists to be more contrastingly luminous and with good working and bright flashing lights on their bikes. For more information please see the flyer below.

Ride Safe, Ride Bright

Cyclists are all too frequently seen at night without lights or any form of luminicity about them. Organiser, Chris Hermon, lost is friend Gary Mason (the famous boxer and Djembe Drummer instructor) earlier this year. Sadly, Mr Mason was was killed in an early morning cycling accident,  he was wearing dark clothes and had no lights on his bike!

We hope you can join us on the ride.

Governor of Belmarsh Prison talked to Beckenham – read all about it.

The Governor of Belmarsh Prison gave an enlightening address at Beckenham Halls, Bromley Road to the AGM of the Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association and other members of the general public, and stimulated interesting and thoughtful exchanges both during and after his talk.

Belmarsh deals with a wide cross-section of the criminal fraternity of about 925 prisoners of whom fluctuating numbers are the most serious Category “A”. To look after them requires about 1000 staff and costs the taxpayer an average of around £45,000 per annum per prisoner. Readers may not know that Belmarsh is the remand prison for the Old Bailey, many high profile case in England and Wales goes through their gates (either before court, on remand or after court if they are sentenced).

The Governor put into perspective how destabilising the prison experience is, the loss of all the norms of everyday living that the public take for granted which the prisoner suffers as soon as he enters the establishment. He will often lose his job, his home and even his wife and family – those ingredients that identify him as a member of the community and have the potential to anchor him on release. If the prisoner lives in Housing Association accommodation, it is inevitable he will lose it as well as any possessions he had left there. Therefore, a prisoner coming out of prison after just three months may find he has no home, all of his possessions are gone, he has no job, and perhaps is estranged from his family. “They should have thought about that before” people will say. That may be true, but equally, that former prisoner after losing everything may find himself on the path to reoffending.

Phil Wragg talked about work undertaken towards the prevention of offending and the training of prisoners with  worthwhile activity so that they had something tangible to offer the community on release. Family Man Courses lasting 12 weeks go some way to eliminating selfishness and establishing a more rational and balanced outlook on life that will hopefully deter the criminal from reoffending. Emphasis is given to teach a trade and to injecting some learning into the prisoners’ lives to increase levels of literacy and numeracy, which better prepares them for life on the outside on release.  He also referred to the mentoring and tracking of prisoners’ lives after release extending to two years, some of which involves prison officers not in uniform within the community working to help former prisoners become better citizens and to forego their former criminogenic behaviour.

Dispelling a well-established myth held by public opinion and regularly publicised in the media that drug taking is rife in Belmarsh the Governor explained that less than 5% of prisoners sampled test positive to drugs from the regular mandatory testing – remarkable considering that over 85% of new inmates are drug users on arrival.

The turnover of prisoners at Belmarsh is high, up to 85 prisoners a day.  Regardless of when they arrive each new arrival goes through the same regime; a search, health check, and risk assessment. Currently England and Wales has the largest prison population in its history. Capacity problems are a constant headache and more accommodation needs to be built to cope with current demand. That is why reducing reoffending is such an important issue.

The Chairman of the Association thanked Mr Wragg for the time that he had sacrificed out of his busy schedule to address the meeting and for producing such a thought provoking and interesting talk.

A celebration of English music – St George’s Chamber Orchestra April 21 2012

7.30pm on Saturday 21st April at St George’s Church, Beckenham

St George’s Chamber Orchestra are holding a concert celebrating the wealth of English music in advance of St George’s day and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Please see the flyer below for further information.

21 April St George’s Chamber Orchestra Concert

The St. George’s Chamber Orchestra (SGCO) was founded in 2004 as the new professional orchestra for the South East, established in order to give local music lovers the opportunity to hear orchestral concerts of the highest standard on their doorstep. All the SGCO’s members play regularly with the famous London orchestras such as the London Symphony, Philharmonia, BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras. Further information can be found on their website:

http://www.sgco.co.uk/

Celebrate 60 as part of the borough’s Jubilee party

Bromley Council are inviting couples celebrating their diamond anniversary this year and businesses celebrating 60 years of trading in the borough to join in the official celebrations on May 15 2012.

Any couples or businesses can contact Kay Coulton, Cultural Business Development Officer on 020 8461 7539 or email kay.coulton@bromley.gov.uk for further information.

Enid Blyton statue in Beckenham?

Recently Hachette Publishing announced that Enid Blyton’s well loved books are to be updated, re-illustrated and digitised, for a new generation of children. This news has led some to ponder why Enid’s literary contribution has not been celebrated by a statue.

Should the children’s author have a statue where she spent her own childhood, in Beckenham?

You can vote in the Newsshopper Poll, please see the link below.

http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/9617664.Calls_for_Enid_Blyton_statue_in_Beckenham/

3 Beckenham Rd Site Refused Planning Consent

pengeandcatorcouncillors's avatarPenge and Cator Councillors

Planning consent was refused last night for an extension to the Barclays Bank building just before you get to the Beckenham roundabout. The proposal for a four storey building to provide 8 two bedroom apartments was rejected on the grounds of lack of privacy to neighouring properties. The bank will remain operational.

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Upcoming Mayor of London Vote – Make sure you are registered to vote.

Bromley residents have until Wednesday 18 April 2012 to ensure they are registered to vote. If you are new to the area or have recently turned 18 and not registered yet you should contact Bromley Councils Electoral Services asap.

http://www.bromley.gov.uk/info/364/elections-electoral_register/223/registering_to_vote

A Walk through Dickens’ London – Beckenham Library

A Walk through Dickens’ London 

With Ian Porter

Don’t miss Ian Porter, novelist and historian, as he talks about Dickens’ life, takes you around the streets of the London of Dickens’ stories, and shows us the Kent of Great Expectations

 

Beckenham Library – Wednesday18 April 6:30 pm
Central Library – Saturday 21 April 10:30 am
Tickets £2.50

 

Update: Kent County Cricket Ground, Worsley Bridge Road

Those who have followed the case for many months on our website  will recall that the application by Leander Sports and Leisure to develop and regenerate the site was given outline planning consent at Bromley Council’s Development Control Committee on 12th January 2012. It was then subject to direction by the Mayor of London.

Sport England  lodged an objection to the Greater London Authority (GLA) and to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in regard to football facilities,  this was in spite of the fact that Leander Sports and Leisure had agreed a substantial contribution to the LBB to repair and upgrade football pitches the Council already owns in other parts of the Borough. Naturally there  was concern that further unnecessary delay could lead the Kent County Cricket Club to reassess their position in Beckenham.

However, after major discussions and negotiations last week, Sport England withdrew their objection and the GLA have confirmed that they are satisfied. The Secretary of State should now respond as to whether the application will be “called in” n for decision at that level.

We can confirm that the Secretary of State will not be “calling in” the planning application. The development now has final approval for the outline application.

In due course there will be a further application for approval of details such as height, bulk, external appearance of buildings including the residential element, sight lines between buildings as they will affect outlook for residents in adjacent roads, access arrangements from the highway to the site, specific layout of parking areas, landscaping etc. We will keep you informed.

See previous post on Kent County Cricket Ground

New planning rules announced this week

The National Planning Policy Framework

Last July a new draft policy framework document was published which was intended to replace more than 1200 pages of planning guidance set out as rules regulations and laws in numerous different documents. The really controversial element in the draft was the presumption in favour of sustainable development in adjudicating on any planning application. It was not so much the idea of sustainability but the lack of precision as to what “sustainable” meant. There was a public outcry about this and what were regarded as the other harmful elements within the draft and The National Trust and the Daily Telegraph (amongst many other institutions) spearheaded public campaigns within the consultation period and have largely kept the pressure up ever since. From mid-October the Coalition partners in Government have been rewriting the framework and it was the revised document that was published on Monday this week.

Initial reaction seems to be that the revision, with the checks and balances now inserted, go a long way to allay the earlier fears and concerns. The full document can be picked up from the Government website but the major changes are set out below.

* Local plans produced by Councils should take account of market signals, such as land prices and housing affordability and set out a clear strategy for allocating sufficient land which is suitable for development in the their area, taking account of the needs of the residential and business communities. The framework stresses that proposals should be approved unless any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.

* There is a substantial definition of sustainable development set out in the five guiding principles of living within the planet’s environmental limits, ensuring a strong healthy and just society, achieving a sustainable economy, promoting good governance and using sound science responsibly.

* Apart from the earlier protections given for the green belt, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty there is now explicit recognition of the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside. Planners are instructed to take account of the different roles and character of different areas, promoting the vitality of our main urban areas, protecting the green belts around them, recognising the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside and supporting thriving rural communities.

* Greater emphasis is given to brownfield development. Planners are urged to encourage the effective use of land by reusing land that has been previously developed, provided it is not of high environmental value.

* Major sporting bodies had worried that the policy changes embodied in the earlier document might lead to a reduction in facilities for schools and clubs. Now assessments made must clearly show the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or the development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the needs of which clearly outweigh the loss.

What will the mean for Beckenham and Bromley Council? Its too early to say, a grace period of 12 months has been inserted so that Councils can update local plans or draw up new ones.  We will keep you updated.

Beckenham Town Centre Working Group Meeting 15 March 2012

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 15th March, the following points were raised:
  • The Council advised that £50,000 could be allocated to bring in design consultants to assess and propose regeneration ideas for the High Street. 
  • Funds have also been allocated to look at what can be done to improve the road network in the town centre.
  • Considerations include increasing the width of pedestrian crossings, raising the height of the curbs,  creating a level surface for pedestrians crossing and a hump for vehicles to calm traffic in the high street.
  • The possibility of the Council renting empty Beckenham High Street properties to, for example, have computers available for public use was discussed.
  • A request for parking bays in the side roads off the High Street, to be marked out to prevent a single vehicle taking the space for two was tabled.
  • Sainsbury’s are to be approached to discuss the standard  and payment alternatives for the Village Way car park .
  • A preference for peak parking restrictions to be changed so that they end at the same time was proposed.
  • Bromley Council could install vinyl shop fronts on vacant shop premises, however the landlord’s permission is needed.
  • After a brief discussion regarding re-branding Beckenham from a Town as a Village, it was agreed there was a need to find local opinion. Have your vote on our poll.
  •  CCARA to hold a poll through its media.
  • Recommendation approved at the meeting for strong control of approval of solid shutters on High Street premises.
  • Heritage & Conservation: It was suggested that as well as linking the two heritage areas from St George’s to the Old Police Station and round to Kelsey Square and The Three Tuns (Zizzi’s), this should be extended to the War Memorial and the Odeon. Also, the heritage lighting and bin style in use around St George’s Green should be extended throughout the whole High Street area.
  • A report is to be made on The Beckenham Heritage Trail booklet being updated and brought back into print. A permanent Heritage Trail delineated by plaques was proposed. Also the idea of a site for a heritage museum is to be explored.
  • Heritage Lottery bids are to be considered for funding heritage/conservation upgrading.
  • Stables Green  – if the Village Green application is accepted before 4th April it would override London Quadrant’s permission for development on R/O 86-94 High Street (a local residents’ group put an application to turn the land into a village green and stop development on the land).

R/O 86-94 High Street – Appeal Hearing 24 May

Developers of a three story block of flats at the rear of 86-94 High Street (behind Pierluigis Restaurant) lodged an appeal against Bromley Councils non-determination of their planning application. The Planning Inspectorate will decide whether or not the planning application should be permitted. Bromley Council will contest the appeal. The date for the hearing has been set for 24 May 2012.

See previous post on R/O 86-94 High Street

Beckenham has a Ziggy Stardust plaque too

You may have heard on the news or read in the paper that a Blue Plaque to mark David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust was unveiled today. It marks the spot where he was photographed for the cover of his album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

Did you know back in 2001 a Ziggy Stardust plaque was unveiled in Beckenham on the Three Tuns pub (now Zizzis) where Bowie’s career was launched?

Beckenham has a Ziggy Stardust plaque too

You may have heard on the news or read in the paper that a Blue Plaque to mark David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust was unveiled today. It marks the spot where he was photographed for the cover of his album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.

Did you know back in 2001 a Ziggy Stardust plaque was unveiled in Beckenham on the Three Tuns pub (now Zizzis) where Bowie’s career was launched?

Tonight 8pm – Governor of Belmarsh Prison and our AGM – Beckenham Public Hall, Bromley Road

Why not come along?

Phil Wragg is the current Governor of Belmarsh Prison (our closest prison). He speaks of prison life, and is most passionate about how to cut reoffending (specifically how communities can help). We are told he is a lively speaker and will hold an interactive Q&A session after his talk. After the riots last summer his talk will be quite topical. If you would like to stay the Copers Cope Area Residents Association AGM and open meeting will follow.

We hope to see you there.

AGM and Open Meeting Weds 21 March 2012

The Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association AGM and open meeting is Wednesday 21st March at Beckenham Public Hall, Bromley Road (doors open 7.45 for an 8pm start).

Before the AGM we have a guest speaker. Phil Wragg is the current Governor of Belmarsh Prison (our closest prison). He speaks of prison life, and is most passionate about how to cut reoffending (specifically how communities can help). We are told he is a lively speaker and will hold an interactive Q&A session after his talk. After the riots last summer his talk will be quite topical.

We hope to see you there.