Copers Cope Area Residents' Association (CCARA) & West Beckenham Residents' Association (WBRA)
Two residents' associations working together across Beckenham on your behalf
Residents may have noticed the bright wooden menorah (or chanukiah) standing at Thornton’s Corner. It is for the celebration of Chanukah, the Jewish festival of light. Each evening an additional lamp is lit, building to all eight glowing on the eighth night. Happy Chanukah Beckenham.
Pharmacies are services that typically affect everybody and spaces almost all of us engage with so Bromley Council is working in partnership with Healthy Dialogues in writing a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) that looks at the health needs of people who live in our area.
Part of this PNA will consider finding more out about your experiences and views around your local pharmacy and how you may be currently using them. Responses you provide to the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, Public Survey will help inform potential decisions on future pharmacy services or considerations for changes and improvements at your current pharmacy.
Your input is invaluable in helping to shape the future of pharmacy services in your local area so you are invited to give your views on this research by visiting this link to thePharmaceutical Needs Assessment survey. Your answers will in no way affect the service you receive from your pharmacy and you will not be identified in any reporting.
The survey is open until 13 December 2021 and participation takes less than 10 minutes.
Bromley Trading Standards have received a transcript of a scam call:
“My name is Detective Constable ———. I am based at ————– London Police Station. We have a
young person in custody by the name of —– ——. She has a number of forged credit cards in her
possession. Your name is on one of them. An amount has been withdrawn from an account, possibly
yours. My Police ID is — —-. The Crime Reference is CR———“.
Crucially, the scammer adds “You need to phone the number on your bank card to get
the bank to make sure that nothing has gone”, “Would you like me to do it? I can
transfer you?”.
How you can protect yourself:
• Don’t reveal any personal details.
• Hang Up.
• Call the actual organisation(s) yourself directly to check, if you are
unsure. Don’t rely on information provided by the caller, and use
another phone, or if you can’t wait a good while, as the scammer(s)
may still be on the line.
Report it:
Protect others by reporting incidents.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by fraud or any scam report it to
Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting http://www.actionfraud.police.uk
If you have given out your bank details, contact your bank as soon as possible.
You can also visit http://www.Bromley.gov.uk/scams
The service, provided by, St George’s Church will be held between 10.30 and 11.30 at the Beckenham War Memorial on Sunday 14 November.
The roundabout will be closed during the service.
Our Association will be laying a wreath.
Our Association has partnered with Bromley Living Streets to undertake a Local Travel Survey (some residents may have received a leaflet) to better understand local travel habits, preferences and challenges in Beckenham. Our Association often receives correspondence on these issues and we are keen to hear more views.
Please find the survey link below if you would like to take part.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RYLTTMW
Bromley Council is undertaking a survey on the ‘experimental’ Albemarle Rd Cycle Scheme and its decision to close Westgate Road Bridge to two-way traffic.
We encourage all local people to complete the survey. This scheme remains controversial and our Association regularly receives concerns about is impact and effectiveness, along with suggestions for improvement.
The survey is short and asks just 5 questions about the scheme. Please complete it here by 12 November 2021.
Bromley Council is undertaking a survey on the ‘experimental’ Albemarle Rd Cycle Scheme and its decision to close Westgate Road Bridge to two-way traffic.
We encourage all local people to complete the survey. This scheme remains controversial and our Association regularly receives concerns about is impact and effectiveness, along with suggestions for improvement.
The survey is short and asks just 5 questions about the scheme. Please complete it here by 12 November 2021.
We’ve just been informed that a public consultation event is happening on Tuesday 26th October concerning the entire redevelopment of the estate, after residents voted over the summer in favour of complete regeneration.
Built in the 1980s near the brow of Beckenham Hill, the estate currently has around 200 homes and is operated by Riverside Housing Association, which manages the Borough’s council housing. They also operate Coleridge House, a Victorian villa at 79 Bromley Road, which is proposed for demolition and redevelopment.
According to information published in April by Riverside, the existing homes at Calverley Close are proposed to be demolished and replaced with several new blocks ranging in height from three to seven stories. The total number of new homes would be 358, half of which would be allocated for private sale. The remainder would be for social rent. Demolition and construction would be phased over four stages of redevelopment.
A planning application is expected to be submitted after Christmas.
Riverside’s latest information showing current proposals, consultation process and timescale for the redevelopment can be found here: https://calverleyclose.co.uk/
The Public Consultation Event starts at 18:30 on Tuesday 26th October on Zoom. You can participate in the consultation event by clicking the link below, a few minutes before this time: www.tinyurl.com/CalverleyClose26October
We’ve just been made aware that amended plans have recently been submitted for a planning application made last December involving the demolition of a large Victorian house, and the building of 27 flats. The scheme is still being considered by the Council.
Situated in a prominent location at the brow of the hill between Beckenham and Shortlands, at the corner of Downsbridge Road, 79 and 79a Bromley Road is a distinctive building from the mid-1800s and one of the last remaining grand villa houses that once lined Bromley Road.
The three-storey building is run by Riverside Housing Association (which also runs Calverley Close on Southend Road) and currently accommodates 13 flats and an adjoining, four-bedroom single family house. The £12M development involves the demolition of the entire building, replacing it with a five-storey block of 27 flats, and underground car park. The proposed scheme comprises 5 No. one-bedroom, 17 No. two-bedroom and 5 No. 3-bedroom flats, providing space for up to 95 occupants.
It is very disappointing to see in their Affordable Housing Viability Statement that the developer, like the others involved in residential schemes in Beckenham at the present time, doesn’t include any affordable housing provision. The smallest one-bedroom flat in the £12M development is expected to market for £325,000. The developer’s claim that they can’t afford to provide affordable housing in the scheme, is unacceptable in our view and the proposed Section 106 payment of £120,000 to the Council, insubstantial.
The amended plans show the number of car parking spaces reduced by five, down from 27 (one for each flat) to 22. All parking is now shown underground, and a small amount of additional landscaping replacing the five parking spaces previously shown at ground level.
If you commented on the original scheme earlier this year, we recommend you submit your views again for this amended scheme. The closing date for comments is 26 October. Beyond this date, you can still submit your comments by email to both planning@bromley.gov.uk and robin.evans@bromley.gov.uk. Don’t forget to include the case reference number, and your name and address, or your comments will not be registered.
In the last few days we’ve been informed that amended plans have recently been submitted for an application made last Christmas for the demolition of these two 1930s houses, replacing them with a five-storey block of flats, and houses to the rear of the site, is also still under consideration by the Council. The application also includes the resurfacing of The Avenue between the site and the junction with Westgate Road, which is an unmade road.
The new block of 18No flats comprises 10No one-bedroom and 8 No two-bedroom units. 3No three-storey terraced, mews-style houses are proposed behind, providing accommodation for up to 70 people. Car parking is provided for 16 cars behind and in front of the block.
The three houses appear fairly well appointed, however the layout and size of the flats is cramped and many barely meet the minimum space standards required.
This development doesn’t include any affordable housing provision.
Some residents on the road are concerned about the size and height of the development, that it is an over-development of the site and the traffic problems that could result from any resurfacing of the road.
The amended plans include additional windows to several individual flats and some of the common areas to improve natural light into these spaces.
If you commented on the original scheme earlier this year, we would recommend you submit your views again for this amended scheme. The closing date for comments is 26 October. Beyond this date you can still submit your comments by email to both planning@bromley.gov.uk and the case officer jessica.lai@bromley.gov.uk. Don’t forget to include the case reference number above and give your name and address, or your comment will not be recorded.
The case is expected to go before a planning sub-committee meeting either on 25th November or 9th December.
The October 2021 Bromley Trading Standards Newsletter is unfortunately a full edition of scams. You can read it here.
Bromley Council’s Open Space Strategy Engagement Session will take place on the 7th October from 6pm to 7:30pm. We encourage all residents with a interest in our parks and green spaces to take part.
Our Association called for many improvements including increased accessibility (toilets, lighting, disabled access), no reduction in spending, no disposal of open spaces, increased amenities in parks, better management of events (read our full response here). You can read the much improved Councils revised strategy (that doesn’t not refer to disposal of green spaces) here.
The Engagement Session will be hosted on Go To Webinar with the support of sustainability consultancy Anthesis. Should you wish to attend please register in advance using this link:https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7584683414413148943
You will then be able to access the session on the night through the link provided in the confirmation email.
Imposters are tricking people into divulging personal and sensitive information or parting with cash and high value items.
Some examples of cold calls include claiming to be a:
➢ Police Officer – victims are told to withdraw a sum of money or purchase high value items such as jewellery, watches and gold. Someone is sent to their home to collect it. They are often told to keep their involvement in the ‘Police investigation’ secret.
➢ Bank official – victims are convinced to transfer money to a ‘secure’ bank account (which is operated by the criminal)
➢ Citizens Advice representative – offering to help people with accident claims and debt problems. A Bromley resident was contacted and asked for by name and offered help with debts against her.
➢ Large/well known organisation – advising of a problem on the victims account or confirming whether a fictitious purchase has been made by the victim
Protect yourself, your family & friends:
✓ HANG UP if you receive a cold call – wait 5 minutes then contact the organisation to check whether the call was legitimate. Use a trusted number from a letter or Contact details on their website or on the back of your bank card. Do NOT rely on anything provided by the cold caller.
✓ Keep your personal information to yourself – never confirm or provide your details during a call
Knowing you name and address does NOT mean that the caller is genuine and works for the organisation they claim to be from
Banks, Police or other ‘law enforcement’ agencies will never ask for your PIN, bank card, or ask you to withdraw money or buy items on their behalf.
If you would like to receive Trading Standards Alert! direct to your inbox please visit http://www.bromley.gov.uk/scams and complete the online form.
If you think you have been targeted by a scam:
➢ Contact your bank as soon as possible
➢ Contact the organisation you believed were contacting you
➢ Tell someone you trust so they can help you to get the help you need
➢ Call Citizens Advice for advice and guidance 0808 223 1133
➢ Report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or http://www.actionfraud.police.uk
Suspicious emails: report to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service by forwarding the email to – report@phishing.gov.uk
Suspicious text messages: forward to your service provider on 7726.
Please share with family, friends, neighbours, colleagues & clients
Read it. Share it. Prevent it
Planning policies and housing targets have changed since Bromley Council adopted their ‘Local Plan’ in 2019.
The Local Plan includes planning policies covering a range of areas, such as housing, employment, sustainability and community uses. It also includes some site allocations which identify sites to be developed for specific uses. The local plan can be found here.
As a first step in the process of updating the Local Plan due to recent changes, the Council is undertaking a ‘Call for Sites’ exercise, which invites landowners, developers and any other parties to put forward potential development sites for allocation, for development of housing, employment and retail uses or any other uses.
Local groups may be aware of sites that would be ideally suited to be developed for housing, employment (office, retail, light industrial) and community use (including green spaces) or existing sites that need protecting and investment to reach their full potential. They may also have submitted suggestions for particular sites for the 2019 Local Plan that were not included and this may be an opportunity to raise them again. Further details on how to submit a site can be found here.
Please get in touch regarding any sites in Beckenham by email to hello@coperscope.org.uk
Hugely disappointing that Crystal Palace Football Club (CPFC) have installed a fossil fuel based system to provide under-pitch heating at their new training ground on Copers Cope Road in Beckenham. Especially as under pitch heating is ideally suited to ground source heat pumps and other renewable energy sources can easily be installed.
The Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association has objected to their retrospective application for the storage tank which will hold 10,000l heating oil and we have requested the Council require a CPFC to undertake a sustainability study.
Furthermore, our objection supports local residents who are concerned about the visual intrusion of a large oil tank at the rear of residential properties, the traffic implications of oil deliveries, the air pollution implications and the potential safety issues of oil leaks or spillages.
How in 2021, with great advances in renewable technology and grave concern about air quality and pollution in cities have CPFC decided that an oil burning pitch heating system is the best they can do! Further details about the planning application can be found on Bromley Council’s website, search planning applications with Ref 21/03379/FULL1.
Southeastern have still not yet reinstated the Blackfriars service from Beckenham Junction in their new timetable from 12 September. Beckenham risks losing this service. Southeastern recently advised told our Association…
“On the Beckenham Junction to Victoria route we’re now running the same level of service as before the pandemic – with four trains per hour at peak times. This is complemented by four Thameslink trains per hour between Tulse Hill and Blackfriars, which provides an interchange opportunity at Herne Hill for passengers on the Beckenham Junction route. Passenger demand on this route is still significantly reduced compared to pre-pandemic, and the most recent data shows that passenger numbers are only at 37% of the levels we were regularly seeing in early 2020. As we’re currently operating 67% of the pre-pandemic service, there is still available capacity on these trains – but we appreciate that the direct peak-time journey opportunity between Beckenham Junction and Blackfriars is not currently available.
As we have done throughout the pandemic, we’re keeping passenger numbers under close review and carefully balancing decisions on where to increase capacity in partnership with the Department for Transport. This reflects the significant financial support the government has provided to ensure the railways keep running through the pandemic – up to £800 million per month across the country. Prior to the pandemic our data showed that demand for peak time Victoria services was around three times larger than for Blackfriars services, and that pattern is similar today – albeit with only around a third of the passengers. As passenger numbers continue to increase in the coming months, we will carefully monitor levels of demand and consider whether it would be appropriate to reintroduce some direct services between Beckenham Junction and Blackfriars.”
Unless local people fight for this service we fear it will be lost. Southeastern begrudgingly took it over from Thameslink in 2014 after our campaign, and the pandemic creates the opportunity for them to terminate it now.
Sign the petition at the link below:
Write to Southeastern at:
www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-the-direct-train-service-from-beckenham
George Paterson
Stakeholder Engagement Manager
Southeastern Railways
Floor 2, 4 More London Riverside
London SE1 2AU
Email: george.paterson@southeasternrailway.co.uk
We have written to our MP Bob Stewart about our campaign and he has written to Southeaster in support of retaining it.
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Become a member at https://membermojo.co.uk/coperscope
If you are interested in becoming part of a local “snow friends’ group to help with keeping paths and streets clear in the winter the Council are holding an information session next week, you can find out more at the link below.
Copers Cope Area Residents' Association (CCARA) & West Beckenham Residents' Association (WBRA) 