Bromley Community Fund grants available from £500 to £3000

The Bromley Community Fund responds to the changing needs and hardships faced by local people. It sees local charities and community organisations as being at the forefront of tackling these issues. Priority for funding will be given to organisations who can demonstrate that they are responding to the most acute needs of our community.

In particular, applicants must be working in Bromley in one of the following areas:

Increasing educational achievement for disadvantaged young people
Supporting older people and their carers
Support for other vulnerable people and communities

The fund is currently open to applications for grants of between £500 to £3000. For more information click on this link Bromley Community Fund. Applications must be made by 5pm Monday November 30th.

Deputy Council Leader takes questions at public meeting – 7.30 pm Wed 28 Oct 2015, Penge

All are welcome at the Penge Forum AGM. Cllr Colin Smith, Deputy Leader of Bromley Council and Portfolio Holder for Environment is the guest speaker.

As Deputy Leader of the Council, Colin Smith should be able to answer questions on any aspect of council policy. His personal responsibilities cover refuse collection and recycling, roads, traffic and parking, street cleaning and fly tipping.

Remember – he works for you! All local people (including Beckenham residents) welcome at the Penge Forum Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 28th October, 7.00 for 7.30 pm, in the Meeting Room, Penge Congregational Church, High Street, Penge. Opposite Kentwood Centre.

Have your say – Plan for development in Beckenham and the borough – consultation ends 31 October 2015

Bromley Council are asking residents to comment on the Local Plan for the borough which sets out development for the next 15 years, including proposed development sites for future school, employment and housing use across the borough.

Comments are invited on the development sites identified as Draft Site Allocations. It also includes a limited number of new and revised policies, and designations which provide the context for the draft site allocations, and the requirement of the Local Plan to be in general conformity with the London Plan. For Beckenham the main points are in regard to schooling.

Local people have until October 31 to respond . See link below for more information

http://www.bromley.gov.uk/info/1004/planning_policy/153/developing_bromley_s_local_plan/3

You may recall that in March 2014 the Council asked for comments to develop the Local Plan. The Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association responded with the following suggestions.

A policy on all Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs). There has been an increase of planning applications to convert properties into HMOs in Beckenham and stronger planning policies are required to ensure HMOs are of a decent standard. Other boroughs have such policies.
A stronger policy of control over the conversion of office buildings to flats to ensure that Beckenham retains office workers who boost the High Street economy.
A policy that requires planning applications for shop fronts to ensure that the cables and water pipes on the party walls are maintained. Beckenham High Street has a number of poorly maintained party walls between shop fronts.
More robust policies on locally listed buildings, tall buildings and the skyline to ensure that the character of Beckenham is retained.
A policy on protecting natural heritage (the plan refers only to built heritage) such as Beckenham’s heritage tree stock.
Securing additional commuter rail services in London (more services from Beckenham to Blackfriars and beyond, plus Beckenham to Clapham Junction)

As none of these suggestions has been incorporated into the plan, we will be responding to this consultation and requesting them again.

Office space in Beckenham Town Centre is now a critical issue.

There have been over 20 applications involving small scale conversions over shops while 7 large office block conversions (from office to residential) have either been approved, are pending, or have been refused but likely to be subject to appeal.

On 13 October 2015 Planning Minister Brandon Lewis announced that the temporary permitted development rights that have enabled offices to be converted to new homes without having to apply for planning permission will be made permanent. We have asked the Council to implement an Article 4 Permitted Development Class J for Beckenham Town Centre, which will remove these permitted development rights and require developers to seek planning permission to change office space to residential. Bromley Council have implemented an Article 4 in Bromley Town Centre. We encourage residents to respond to the consultation requesting an ‘Article 4 Permitted Development Class J for Beckenham Town Centre’. Without office workers our town centre will become a dormitory town with little day time economy, affecting the occupancy of shops and the number of independent retailers.

Local Plan for Beckenham

The Draft Local Plan does not focus much on Beckenham, but the notable points are:

Beckenham Town Centre has been proposed as a ‘Key Office Cluster’ which the Council would like to safeguard. Beckenham Office Cluster is very small, only Burrell Row. Respond to the consultation if you agree or do not agree with the boundary. While we agree with the proposed boundary, we also suggest that an Article 4 Permitted Development Class J for the whole Town Centre must be a cornerstone of any policy to safeguard office space.
2 x new free primary schools have already been approved in Beckenham (Harris Academy and Langley Park)
1 x new free secondary school, The Beckenham Academy had approval from the Secretary of State for Education, although no site currently has planning permission.
Harris Beckenham, Manor Road and the former Co-op sports ground in Balmoral Avenue have been identified as potential sites either for an expansion of the existing school or for a new Harris secondary school. Respond to the consultation if you agree or do not agree to the former Co-op Sports Ground, Balmoral Avenue being used for the secondary school.
The new Langley Primary School will require re-designation of the existing two schools (Langley Boys and Langley Girls) complex from Metropolitan Open Land to Urban Open Space to allocate land for an additional primary school (Langley Park Free School). Respond to the consultation if you agree or do not agree to this re-designation.
The Council will safeguard the land and route alignment for investment to extend the Tramlink from Beckenham Junction to Crystal Palace.
One of four areas in the borough suggested for Areas of Special Residential Character (ASRC) status is Central Beckenham (including The Drive, Church Avenue, The Crescent, top of Rectory Road). Note the High Street has recently been designated a conservation area. ASRC status will offer residential areas which are able to demonstrate special character with some planning protection in addition to that conferred by other policies in Bromley’s Unitary Development Plan.

How to respond

The consultation document is available with the opportunity to make your comments up until 31 October 2015.

You can view, download and comment on the consultation document on the Local Plan Consultation Portal. In order to make online representations, you will need to register or have already registered on the Local Plan Consultation Portal. We have produced a guide to registering on the portal which you may find useful. Once registered, you will automatically be informed of future Local Plan consultations.

The easiest and most convenient way to give feedback is online through the Local Plan Consultation Portal. However, if you do need to send your comments by post please address them to Chief Planner, Planning Division, Directorate of Regeneration and Transformation, Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley BR1 3UH.

Please let us know your views too by emailing chairman@coperscope.org.uk

Residents Forum Tonight – question your Councillors – 7.45pm 20 Oct 2015, Venue 28, 28 Beckenham Road

Our Association is holding a joint Open Meeting with the West Beckenham Residents’ Association. Between our associations we cover the whole of Beckenham and so have invited a panel of councillors from every Ward to take your questions.

Come along and direct your concerns to the panel. Join us from 7.45pm, at the Venue 28 (formerly known as The Studio) 28 Beckenham Road (opposite Beckenham Library and The Spa).

We look forward to seeing you there.

Planning Update Oct 2015

83 Copers Cope Road, Light industrial site next to the railway line by New Beckenham Station
Developers have been given consent to demolish the existing buildings and build eight 5-bedroom houses on the site after winning permission at appeal in July.

56 Copers Cope Road

A new application has been recently submitted to demolish the existing late19th-century house and replace it with a four-storey block of nine flats, including basement, after the previous application in March for a five-storey block of ten flats was withdrawn. The Council is currently considering this fresh application.

Further details can be found online under reference 15/03470/FULL . Comments/objections in regard to this application can be sent by email to planning@bromley.gov.uk , the application is due to be decided on 22 October 2015. Please ensure you provide your full name and address including post code to ensure your comments are registered.

Royce House, 56a Copers Cope Road

An outline planning application made earlier this year to demolish the existing houses and replace them with five, three-storey, four-bedroom houses has been refused permission. The reasons given for refusal were that the scheme constituted a cramped over-development of the site; poor provision of outdoor space for what would have been 4-bedroom dwellings; the hard landscaping proposed for the frontage would fail to preserve or enhance the character of the area.

Tudor Manor, Beckenham Place Park

Consent has been granted for the demolition of the existing house and the construction of three new, two-storey houses on the site, after an earlier application was refused permission.

Church Motor Company, Bromley Road

Sadly, Church Motor Company will close before the end of the year, following a successful appeal by Beckenham Methodist Church, which owns the building, against the Council’s decision earlier in the year to refuse an application for change of use from Light Industrial to Storage. Situated in buildings off Bromley Road, next to Beckenham Methodist Church, CMC currently employs four staff and has served the town’s car- owners for eleven years. During that time it has built a reputation in Beckenham for high quality service, borne out by its broad base of local customers. CMC are currently searching for new premises in the Beckenham area.

Ardec Shop, High Street

The Council has refused an application by the owner of the old Ardec shop to convert it to a restaurant. The reasons for refusal were: that the shop is part of the designated Primary Shopping Frontage of the High Street and restaurant use would not complement this function; The proposal would result in an unacceptable loss of amenity to neighbouring residents with regard to noise, smell and disturbance.

61 The Avenue

The council recently refused permission for another planning application for 61 The Avenue to demolish the existing house and replace it with two, new blocks of flats of two and three storeys each, providing 8 two- bedroom apartments.

Rendez Vous Café

Shop front changes have been refused on the grounds that the shape of the shop front and materials used all contribute to the character of the area. Changing these so drastically and without regard for the original designs would have a serious impact on the character of the area and would significantly harm the Conservation Area. This is a good early result for the Beckenham High Street Conservation Area.

Change of use from Commercial to Residential

The glut of prior approval applications shows no sign of abating, with office space in Beckenham being lost at an alarming rate. These are some of the most recent ones:

Kelsey House, 77 High Street (above Kelsey Kitchen & Bar) – Granted prior approval at the end of July to convert offices on the first, second, third and fourth floors to 8 one-bedroom and 8 two-bedroom flats.

St George’s House, 2 Bromley Road (above Ask Pizza Restaurant) – Granted prior approval at the beginning of August to convert offices on the first and second floors to 2 two-bedroom and 4 one-bedroom flats.

Marqueen House, 215 High Street – Prior approval refused at the end of May to convert offices on the first, second and third floors to 18 one- bedroom flats, citing the lack of parking provision as the reason for refusal.

Ironstone House, 205-213 High Street – Prior approval refused at the end of May to convert offices on the first, second and third floors to 18 one-bedroom flats, citing the lack of parking provision as the reason for refusal.

Provident House, 6-20 Burrell Row – Prior approval refused at the end of May to convert offices on the ground, first and second floors to 2 two-bedroom and 18 one-bedroom flats, citing the lack of parking provision as the reason for refusal.

Burnhill House, 50 Burnhill Road (adjacent to Lidl) – Prior approval refused at the end of September to convert offices to 5 two-bedroom and 9 one-bedroom flats, citing the lack of parking provision as the reason for refusal.

Bogus drainage repair scam

Bromley Trading Standards are investigating the following incidents:

Incident 1 – A Beckenham resident was cold called and told there was a problem with a neighbour’s drains. He allowed men into his back garden to inspect a manhole cover and they told him work was needed to clear a blockage. The resident paid a large deposit for machinery needed to do this work, was told he also had damp in his property and paid a further £10,000 to resolve both “issues”.

Incident 2 – An elderly resident in Orpington was cold called by a young male in shorts and told that there was a problem with a blockage in a neighbour’s drains. The resident was asked for permission to inspect his drains and he agreed. The male lifted the manhole cover and left. The resident was then telephoned by a man claiming to be from a company attempting to sort out the problem. He was told a deposit of £4,000 was needed to hire machinery to clear the blocked drain and was asked for a banker’s draft. The resident refused and then received a call from someone claiming to be from the Council who applied more pressure in an attempt to obtain the funds. The resident again refused. The resident then received a call from another male pretending to be one of his neighbours, again applying pressure and trying to appeal to the resident’s good nature. Luckily, the resident knows his neighbours and did not fall for it. When they continued to phone, the resident advised he had informed Trading Standards and the Police after which the caller hung up.
Call Bromley Trading Standards Rapid Response team on 07903 852 090 if you are suspicious of anyone offering any type of property repairs and look out for any neighbours who may be vulnerable to this type of caller.

Annual Film Maker Show, 29 October 2015

TfL responses to Bakerloo extension issues

TfL have published their response to issues raised by local people about the proposed extension. Below is an extract of the report relating to Beckenham. The full report can be found at:

https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/tube/bakerloo-extension/user_uploads/bakerloo-line-extension-responses-to-issues-raised.pdf

8.1 Beckenham Junction and Hayes already have sufficient public transport links & 8.2 The proposed route duplicates the current Hayes branch

The option of extending a Bakerloo line onto the current Hayes branch has been proposed for three key reasons:

The trains that currently operate on these lines could be reallocated elsewhere to provide greater capacity on other rail lines.
Converting the Hayes branch to London Underground is expected to increase the frequency of services and most journey times could reduce. For more information see Appendix C – Proposed Bakerloo line extension (to Hayes and Beckenham Junction) frequency in comparison to current rail services and Appendix D – Estimated journey times with a proposed Bakerloo line extension.
Converting the Hayes branch to London Underground and utilising the existing infrastructure is currently expected to cost less than installing new infrastructure for the proposed extension beyond Lewisham.

The conversion of the Hayes branch to London Underground was also suggested by Network Rail in the Kent Route Utilisation Strategy (2010) for the rail network from London into Kent.

As part its long term planning process, Network Rail is commencing a Route Study for the Kent region in 2015. This study, which is anticipated to be completed in 2016, includes consideration of the Hayes line branch TfL will work with Network Rail and other industry partners during this study to understand the options that exist for improving capacity More information about Network Rail’s planning work is available online at: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/long-term-planning-process/

8.3 Extending beyond Lewisham is cost prohibitive

Extending the Bakerloo line beyond Lewisham to Hayes and Beckenham Junction could be achieved by converting the existing National Rail branch to London Underground. Without this existing infrastructure, a longer extension would have a higher total cost.

8.4 Tube access is not required as far as Beckenham Junction and Hayes

The Central, Piccadilly, Northern, District and Metropolitan lines all have stations at a similar distance, or further away, from central London than the Hayes station.

An Underground extension could improve the frequency of services to locations along the route of the proposed extension, as shown in Appendix C – Proposed Bakerloo line extension (to Hayes and Beckenham Junction) frequency in comparison to current rail services and in Appendix D – Estimated journey times with a proposed Bakerloo line extension.

8.5 Extending the line to Beckenham Junction and Hayes could lead to overcrowding on the Bakerloo line

The Bakerloo line offers an opportunity for an extension as it has spare capacity and this is forecast to continue following the planned line upgrade.

For more information see Appendix E – Future crowding forecast for Underground and DLR, 2031. In addition, the Bakerloo line is planned to operate up to 27 trains per hour (tph) following its upgrade. Modern systems provided by this upgrade might have the capability to enable service levels above 27 tph – the Victoria and Jubilee lines both achieve train service frequencies of over 32 tph. As option development work continues, demand modelling will be reviewed and updated.

8.6 Preference to extend the Bakerloo line to Beckenham Junction or Hayes (one or the other, but not both)

Extending the line to either Beckenham Junction or Hayes would require the proposed extension taking over the Hayes National Rail branch south of Lewisham. As National Rail services that currently serve these destinations would be reallocated, if the proposed underground extension terminated at Beckenham Junction and did not serve the terminus at Hayes, stations south of New Beckenham would lose a rail service.

Currently, there are no timetabled services on the Hayes to Lewisham National Rail branch to or from Beckenham Junction. If the proposed extension only served the Hayes Page 24 of 40 terminus and not Beckenham Junction, there would not be a loss in rail services for existing passengers. However, a proposed extension also serving Beckenham Junction could provide an interchange opportunity with Tramlink and other rail services towards Kent, Dulwich and Brixton.

8.7 Concern that the proposed extended Bakerloo line would not have the same capacity and provision that current National Rail train services provide, i.e. passenger capacity and bicycle carriage.

Although London Underground trains are smaller than National Rail trains, they operate at a high frequency, and therefore can provide high overall capacity.

The extension option to Hayes was based upon an estimated service of 27 trains per hour (tph) between Elephant & Castle and Catford Bridge, 21 tph between Catford Bridge and New Beckenham, six tph between New Beckenham and Beckenham Junction and 15 tph between New Beckenham and Hayes.

The table below shows how the capacity of London Underground Bakerloo line train services compares to existing National Rail services to Hayes. Currently the Hayes National Rail branch receives two Cannon Street services consisting of 12-car Class 376 Electrostar trains and four Charing Cross services consisting of 10-car length Class 465 or 466 train types. The 465 train has been used in the table below as it has the higher total capacity.

The table shows that on the Hayes branch there would be a slight reduction in seated capacity between Hayes and New Beckenham but an increase in total capacity.

Beckenham Junction would benefit from new regular train services of at least six tph. From New Beckenham to Lewisham, there would be an increase in seating capacity and an increase in standing capacity for users of the line compared to the existing services that operate. If the 10-car trains that currently operate were lengthened to 12-car, seated capacity would still be lower than the proposed Bakerloo line service.

Note: the table below assumes the current forecast capacity of a Bakerloo line train following a planned upgrade to trains. The train timetabling estimates are also subject to further development.

Foldable bikes are permitted on the entire Underground network at any time of the day. Non-folded bikes are currently permitted on above-ground sections of the Underground network outside the peak times of 0730 to 0930 and 1600 to 1900 hours. Based upon this current policy, non-folded bicycles would be permitted between Ladywell and Hayes outside of these peak times as this extension option is expected to run at surface.

8.8 What will the train timetable be for services to and from Beckenham Junction and Hayes

Planning for the extension has assumed an estimated service pattern of 15 trains per hour (tph) to Hayes and six tph to Beckenham Junction. A further six tph is assumed to reverse at Catford Bridge, making 27 tph on the extension north of Catford Bridge into central London.

Trains would be scheduled to service termini and intermediate stations in a regular service pattern to manage demand and provide predictable departures. The service assumptions for any proposed Bakerloo line extenison option would be developed in more detail as part of future work.

8.9 Suggestion to tunnel all the way to Beckenham Junction and Bromley, rather than taking over the Hayes branch

Constructing an extension in a tunnel would be more expensive than converting the existing rail corridor. For this reason, it is likely that a tunnelled extension beyond Lewisham would represent lower value for money.

Further, a tunnelled extension would not provide the potential capacity benefits elsewhere on the rail network. One of the key drivers of the proposed extension is converting the Hayes line so the current National Rail services on this line can be reallocated.

8.10 Concerns regarding disruption that may be caused to services during construction

Subject to construction methodology, it would be TfL’s aspiration to maintain a rail service on the Hayes National Rail branch during construction.

8.11 Oppose a Tube extension serving Hayes and Beckenham Junction as this would lead to too much new development

An extension to Hayes and Beckenham Junction has been proposed because it can improve the rail services on the line by increasing their frequency and capacity.

Further, by converting the line to London Underground, trains that currently operate on these lines could be reallocated elsewhere to provide greater capacity on other rail lines, helping to support future growth in southeast London.

Copers Cope Police Newsletter October 2015

Hello and thank you for reading this months Copers Cope Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) newsletter.

The team details and ward map along with other useful information can be accessed at http://content.met.police.uk/Team/Bromley/CopersCope

Your team includes

PS 12py Steve King, Sergeant
PC 128py Steve Allen, Dedicated Ward Officer ( DWO )
PCSO 7256py Julie Oldfield, Dedicated Ward Officer ( DWO )

Street Surgery

Come and talk to your local Officers and discuss your concerns and for crime prevention information. Our next surgeries are on the following dates:

Saturday 17th October 2015 between 10.00 a.m & 11.00 a.m at Waitrose Southend Road.
Wednesday 11th November 2015 between 11.00 a.m & 12.00 p.m at Waitrose Southend Road
Friday 4th December 2015 between 5.00 p.m & 6.00 p.m at Waitrose Southend Road

Crime

Our ward priorities are:

Burglary
Motor vehicle crime
Robbery – personal property

Our promises are:

ASB related to alcohol
Shoplifting
Traffic

We are currently suffering from vehicle crime in the Copers Cope area. The majority of these vehicles have been vans belonging to people working on building sites in the area. Most of these have been victim to theft of tools however there has also been a couple of vans stolen where the victim has left keys unattended. Please remove all valuables and do not leave your keys with your vehicle.

There had been a few burglaries in October the majority have been garage or shed burglaries. There has also been a few attempted burglaries.

The Police in Bromley are still conducting operations in the worse affected areas for both burglary and motor vehicle crimes.

Crime Prevention Burglary

Front Door Security: Doors should be solid timber, not hollow, a minimum of 44mm thick, supported by three 100mm ( 4” ) hinges. The frame to be of sound timber, securely bolted or screwed to the walls every 600mm ( 23” ) around the whole frame.

– Fit a good automatic deadlocking latch cylinder lock a third of the way down the door.

– Fit a British Standard 3621 mortise deadlock with boxed staple a third of the way up the door ( avoiding joints in the timber ).

– Strengthen the door frame with metal reinforcement. A “ London Bar “ on the lock side and a “ Birmingham Bar “ on the hinge side.

– Fit a letterbox cowl / basket to prevent fishing for keys or access to lock handles.

Back Doors: Fit a British Standard 3621 mortise sash lock halfway up the door ( avoiding joints in the timber ).

– Fit key operated bolts to top ( max height 1.5m ( 4’ 11” ) and bottom of the door.

– Reinforce any weak door panels with either sheet metal or 9mm plywood.

Double French Doors: Fit key operated bolts to the top and bottom of each door securing it to the frame.

– Fit hinge bolts or interlocking hinges to any outward opening door.

Patio Doors: Fit patio door locks at the top and bottom of the opening section of the patio door.

– Fit an anti-lifting device to prevent the door being lifted and moved.

Window Security:

Sash Windows: Fit 2 key operated sash stops to the upper window. The maximum window opening should be 100mm ( 4” ) to allow ventilation when the house is occupied.

Casement ( Hinged ) Windows: Fit key operated locks on the opening side. If replacing windows fit those that have achieved British Standard 7950 and have laminated glass 6.4mm thick in ground floor and accessible windows.

Gardens: Secure your rear gardens by locking gates and fixing trellis to the top of fences. Trellis should support climbing plants but not climbing intruders.

Sheds: Secure your shed or ensure that tools that may prove useful for breaking in ( e.g. forks and spades ) are secured elsewhere.

Please if you can take simple steps to help prevent these offences take place, lock all windows and doors of your house even if you leave for just a few minutes. If you have an alarm please use it.

Vehicles

When you leave your car please lock it and use your alarm or immobiliser if you have one and take any valuables with you.

Mobile Phones

Please consider using the immobilise website to register your mobile phone. It only takes a couple of minutes and it’s completely free. If your phone is lost or stolen you’re much more likely to get it back and possibly help catch a thief as well. http://www.immobilise.com

Cash Point Machines

Please be aware of your surroundings if and when you use a cash point machine. Be vigilant of people near you when entering your PIN and don’t allow yourself to be distracted if some body tries to talk to you whilst you are using the cash point. If uncertain, use another machine.

Pedal Cycles

Please remember to lock your bikes and consider getting it security etched and registered.

Further crime prevention information is available from http://www.met.police.uk/bromley and follow the link to Crime Prevention.

Scams

Copers Cope work closely with Trading Standards if you have been or know someone who may have been a victim of a rogue trader or any mass marketing scam then please report this to the Police.

If you think you have a rogue trader at your front door call Bromley Trading Standards on their rapid response number 07903852090.

Neighbourhood Watch

Copers Cope ward would like to have a neighbourhood watch co-ordinator(s) on every street. If you know of anyone who wishes to take part please find information on info@bromleynwa.org.uk

If you know anyone who has set up a neighbourhood watch please can you send me their e-mail address so I can send them our monthly letter.

Panel Members

We are looking for local residents to join our ward panel. There are 4 meetings a year and panel members help decide on the wards promises and discuss local issues.

If you would like to have your say on how your local community is policed please contact us for details.

Local Information

If there is any information you would like to share with the Copers Cope safer neighbourhood team and residents of Beckenham in relation to crime then please e-mail us using the address on the bottom of this letter.

Local Events

There was a market on Beckenham Green on Saturday 19th September. There were many stalls, rides for the kids and entertainment from the stage and a horse display. Many residents came along during the day.

The next market will be taking place on Beckenham Green Saturday 5th December.

Thank you for your time reading this letter, if we can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to call or e-mail us and we will get back to you as soon as possible and we will be more than happy to help.

If you need police for an urgent matter where you are in danger or fear always dial 999. If you wish to see a police officer for a non emergency matter, then please dial 101

Copers Cope Safer Neighbourhood Team Telephone 0208 721 2772
E-Mail Coperscope.snt@met.police.uk

New online community creates a WoW buying experience for Beckenham locals

Beckenham and Bromley borough residents can now check out local businesses and services before they buy, thanks to a new website that lets them search social media reviews as well as those listed on the site itself, WoW Bromley: www.wowbromley.co.uk.

The WoW Bromley site, which stands for ‘Word on the Web Bromley’, is unique in the way it captures reviews from Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for the businesses listed, as well as allowing people to post their own reviews direct on the site. This means users can view a wide selection of reviews – and they can contact reviewers direct – before they make a buying decision.

WoW Bromley is the brainchild of Lynda Wright, owner of Baccarat Hair Design in Beckenham and co-founder of the successful local Twitter hashtag (#) community, #BeckBromFL. She came up with the idea of WoW Bromley to bring the success of the hashtag to a wider audience and got together with developers Steve Spice and Ian Robb to create the site.

Lynda explains: “When we started the #BeckBromFL hashtag some three years ago to help local businesses and residents connect, we had no idea it would become one of the most successful Twitter communities in the UK! We now want to share this success with other locals who may not be on social media, so we’ve created WoW Bromley to be a useful, unique, easy to use and fun way of searching for local businesses and services.”

Users can currently search for businesses and offers, read the reviews and ask questions to reviewers. But the site is intended to be more than just a business listings site – there are plans to add local events, jobs, property for sale/let and local news to the site soon.

“We have lots of plans for local content that will engage our users and make WoW Bromley a successful online community hub,” adds Lynda.

Within its first week, the site registered over 1,300 unique searches and already has nearly 300 Bromley-based businesses listed, with numbers growing daily. These include small and micro businesses, as well as big names such as Bromley College and The Churchill Theatre.

Businesses based in the Bromley borough can have a listing for free. All listings showcase social media feedback across Twitter, Facebook and Google+ platforms and invite organic reviews from visitors. There is also the option to pay for an enhanced listing and those businesses based outside the borough but trading extensively within it can have a listing for a small monthly fee.

For more information, to sign up as a user or to list your business, visit www.wowbromley.co.uk

Have your say – Residents’ Forum and Open Meeting – 8pm Tues 20 Oct 2015 Venue 28 (opposite Library and The Spa)

Come along and direct your concerns to the panel. Join us from 7.45pm, at the Venue 28 (formerly known as The Studio) 28 Beckenham Road (opposite Beckenham Library and The Spa).

We look forward to seeing you there.

Closure of road junction at Lawn Road and Copers Cope Road

Some residents may have received a letter advising of the decision to trial the closure of the road junction at Lawn Road and Copers Cope Road. This came as some what of a surprise to our Association as previously we had been advised (and published in our newsletter) by Bromley Council that the favoured scheme to deal with the notorious accident hotspot at the junction of Copers Cope Road, Bridge Road and Lawn Road was:

to leave the junction almost the same with possible minor adjustments to curb lines
the whole junction to be re-tarmaced with coloured anti-skid covering
and possibly using 2 sets of warning signs

Noting there was not enough room for a mini roundabout at the junction unless Lawn Road was closed and such a closure may have a detrimental to affect on traffic flows in surrounding roads.

Our ward councillors subsequently met with the Council Traffic engineers and it was decided to install a mini roundabout requiring the closure of the Lawn Road junction with Copers Cope Road.

Naturally we are very pleased the Council and ward councillors are taking action to make the junction of Copers Cope Road, Bridge Road and Lawn Road safer. However, we have raised our concerns with our ward councillors and Bromley Council that this decision was taken without sufficient consultation of local people. As far as we are aware there has been no formal consultation at all, which seems remiss for such a significant change to the road layout.

That aside it does not mean the proposal is not an effective solution to the accident hotspot and we are keen to hear your views. The Council are planning to implement the proposal imminently so any feedback (positive and negative) should be provided to the Council and ward councillors as soon as possible. We would be grateful if you could copy us in also.

Bromley Council emails: john.joyce@bromley.gov.uk, angus.culverwell@bromley.gov.uk
Ward Councillors emails: russell.mellor@bromley.gov.uk, stephen.wells@bromley.gov.uk, michael.ticker@bromley.gov.uk
Our email: chairman@coperscope.org.uk

Stamp & Postcard Fair – 9.30 to 4pm Saturday 24 October 2015, Langley Park Boys School

Flower Beds at Thorton’s Corner and sale of toilet block

The Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association have successfully registered the flower beds and surrounding land not built upon at Thornton’s Corner as an Asset of Community Value (which means the Council have to offer it to the community before selling it privately). The main purpose of doing so was to ensure the community was informed if any additional land was sold alongside the toilet block (concerns were raised of corner being redeveloped with a larger footprint than the existing toilet block).

Unfortunately no community groups were able to submit a bid to acquire the toilet block. This is not surprising as it would not cost effective to continue to run the building as a toilet and the cost of repurposing the building would be prohibitive. The toilet block is now up for sale (it does not include any additional land), the particulars can be found below. Hopefully the new purpose of the building will enhance the High Street.

Beckenham_WC_SALES_PARTICULARS_17th_September_2015

If no buyer is found the building will be demolished, we will ensure to engage with the council if demolition will occur to see if the building can be utilised or influence what will go in its place to enhance Thornton’s Corner

Croydon Road Rec Bandstand bid to lottery fund submitted!

Message from the Friends of Croydon Road Recreation Ground

The grant application to The Heritage Lottery Fund for the refurbishment of our bandstand was submitted by the London Borough of Bromley in partnership with The Landscape Group, the Council’s greenspace contractor, and The Friends on 14th September 2015.

This marks a major milestone in the project to restore the bandstand to its former glory. The application includes restoration costs as well as a series of community events and activities. This was a first stage application to HLF’s Heritage Grant programme and, if successful, we will be invited to complete a second and final application.

The Friends would particularly like to thank The London Borough of Bromley and The Landscape Group for their help and encouragement and their hard work in putting together this bid.

We expect to hear the outcome during December and will let you know as soon as we have confirmation.

Many thanks for your continued support.

Friends of Croydon Road Recreation Ground

Petition to stop cuts to local neighbourhood policing.

A petition to help stop the cuts to Community Support Officers (PCSO’s) in London (including Beckenham and Bromley Borough Police). Please sign the petition (ignore the part about a donation at the end). Once signed please pass on to friends, family and neighbours.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-neighbourhood-policing-in-london

Sunshine for Market On The Green – tomorrow 19 Sep 2015 on Beckenham Green

Sunshine is due for Market On The Green tomorrow. It will be a packed day with over 50 stalls (we have some great new ones and many of our favourites) of local produce and craft, Horse Trick Show (yes real live horses on the green), vintage fair ground rides, face painting, pony rides and free live entertainment on stage. Find our more here.

Entertainment

11.00 – Rodeo Dave’s Western Trick Riding – action packed horse trick show.
11.30 – RA Parade – songwriter and musician.
12.oo – Hayley Ince – vocalist.
12.30 – Rodeo Dave’s Western Trick Riding – action packed horse trick show.
13.00 – Churchfield’s Primary School Choir.
13.30 – Martin Ericson – 60s and 70s Soul and Motown
14.00 – Hayley Ince – vocalist.
14.30 – Rodeo Dave’s Western Trick Riding – action packed horse trick show.
15.00 – Martin Ericson – 60s and 70s Soul and Motown

The above information correct at time of writing but may be subject to change.