Further update on short extension of Beckenham Improvements work, courtesy of F M Conway, contractor for the works

The work which was planned to last for approximately one week from 15 October has proved more challenging than expected, due to the location.  For this reason a further week is required to complete it and as a result bus stop E will  be closed for a further week.

For more information on a possible temporary relocation of this bus stop or the next available stop, please visit: tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/temporary-bus-changes

Beckenham Improvements work update courtesy of F M Conway, contractor for the works

Following observations from the local community, additional works, which were not planned in the original design, have been commissioned by the London Borough of Bromley.

Please be aware therefore that F M Conway will be carrying out work in Bromley Road throughout the coming week beginning 15th October. This work is programmed to last for approximately one week.

This work will consist of new kerbs and paving being laid in keeping with the scheme already completed in Bromley Road. It will commence from the end of the newly laid paving adjacent to St Georges Church and run along Bromley Road and finish at the junction with St Georges Road.

To facilitate this phase of the work some traffic management will be in place. Bus Stop E just before the junction with St Georges Road will be temporarily closed. TfL will endeavour to relocate a temporary stop within a short distance away.

For more information, please visit :-

tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/temporary-bus-changes

Every effort is being made to minimise disruption and your understanding and support is appreciated in advance if there are unforeseen issues which need to be resolved. If further specific information is needed, please contact Conway’s Helen McConnell who can be contacted, for help and advice. Helen, the Liaison Officer is the scheme contact for businesses and residents. Helen can be contacted on Mobile Tel 07917 518 529 or email Beckenham@fmconway.co.uk if needed.

£300 million of Government funding up for grabs

In July 2018, the Department for Transport published its Inclusive Transport Strategy, and announced that up to £300 million of Government funding would be made available for step-free access improvements at railway stations in Great Britain between 2019 and 2024, including lifts, subways and bridges. We want as much of that money as possible to be used to improve Southeastern stations, and are asking passengers and stakeholders to nominate their local station.

Step-free access improvements have already been made at 13 Southeastern stations in recent years, including Herne Hill, Gravesend and Canterbury West.

The Government is expected to announce in early 2019 which stations will benefit, and we’re asking our passengers to help us make a really strong case, so that a significant slice of the £300m Access for All fund is spent on installing step-free access at Southeastern stations.

How to nominate your local stations

Nominations can be made online at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/southeasternrailway and need to be submitted by Sunday 30 September 2018.

Be careful in this hot weather. Eight hectares of grass caught alight by Monks Orchard Road Beckenham.

https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2018/july/grass-fire-beckenham/

Completed works

• The kerbing and paving has been laid on the South-West corner of the War Memorial roundabout.
• Paving has continued outside Prezzo and across the Kelsey Square / High Street junction and kerbing and has continued outside Haks barbers.
• Snagging and replacement of chipped kerbs has commenced.
• Works to Beckenham Green have been completed. 

Phase 5 works Lidl to Village Way.

From Monday the 21st the junction between Burnhill Road and Kelsey Square has been closed to traffic. Kelsey Lane remains two-way between Uplands and Wayside where it is closed to traffic. Pedestrian access is maintained from Burnhill Road, Kelsey Square and Kelsey Lane to the High Street. This set up will be monitored to see if additional signage will be required. From Fairfield Road to Kelsey Park Road the one way will be reversed meaning traffic will drive up Fairfield and exit Burnhill Road.

 These arrangements have been negotiated with local residents at a consultation meeting.

• Preparation and laying of paving will continue at Kelsey Square. If the narrow footways are made safe the second part of the carriageway will be excavated.
• The parking bays outside Zizzi will be retained for deliveries only.

Phase 6 War Memorial roundabout to Burrell Road

• Excavation and kerb laying will continue.

 War Memorial Roundabout

• Paving work will continue on the third corner of the War Memorial roundabout.

 Scheme Programme

For reference the main High Street improvements are due to be completed in September with only snagging of small defects and some design details to be installed after this date.

Hours of Operation

In order to maintain access to all shop entrances pavement laying will have to be conducted out of normal hours between 18pm and 20pm on some days. We do understand that this can be a nuisance and FM Conway will endeavour to keep noise disturbance to a minimum during these times.

Traffic Management

Left hand turns from Village Way onto the High Street are now banned. The right hand turn from The Drive onto The High Street has also been restricted. All traffic will be sent on the main diversion along the High Street heading towards Beckenham junction then onto Rectory Road. This is likely to be in place until the end of the project to allow the contractor to work safely in those areas.

• Two way traffic has been reinstated between Bromley Road and Manor Road.
• Two way traffic has also been reinstated between Thornton’s Corner and Fairfield Road to enable access to Fairfield Road without using the main diversion.

Bus route changes

TfL have advised that:

Bus routes 54, 227, 352, 354, 367 and N3 are diverted in one direction

All diverted routes should return to normal when the road closures end, expected to be in late September 2018

For more information, please visit tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/temporary-bus-changes

Business Rates

Business Rates are not something that the council is responsible for. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for setting the rateable value of commercial properties and has been notified about the extent and timescales for the Beckenham scheme. The VOA have stated:

“In line with similar schemes in other boroughs, the VOA is intending to apply a temporary reduction of up to 10% of the rateable value of retail properties which are directly affected by the works. These reductions will be phased to reflect the phasing of the scheme itself and will be applied to affected businesses only for the duration of the applicable phase. For example, previously a business located in the High Street between Thornton’s Corner and Rectory Road would be provided with a temporary reduction between the start of Phase 1 (13 March 2017) and end of Phase 2 (circa August 2017).

Changes can now only be made by the Valuation Office to the system from 1 April 2017. Unless a Ratepayer has made a valid 2010 proposal against their Rateable Value that remains outstanding.

Reductions will be applied retrospectively for the phases that have occurred since the 1st April 2017. By mid-May the VOA will be writing directly to businesses affected by the appropriate phases of work to provide full details of the proposed temporary reductions for their individual properties.

Customers will need a CHECK by registering through the Find and check your business rates valuation. This will confirm the facts about their property. After a CHECK of the property details has been completed the customer is entitled to submit a Challenge to the valuation. After 8 May, customers will have the opportunity to group themselves together with Challenge cases which are about the same valuation issue”.

The VOA can be contacted at:

Tel: 03000 501501

Email: ratingsoutheast@voa.gsi.gov.uk