Proposed open hours reduction of 2 hrs a week for Beckenham Library

To achieve budget savings the Council has consulted on the Borough’s library service. The Council’s recommendations for Beckenham are quoted below, the full report can be found at: BROMLEY LIBRARY SERVICE – OUTCOME OF CONSULTATION

Beckenham Library: 

Council’s Proposal: Closing on Friday at 6pm instead of 8pm, leaving one 8pm closing per
week on Wednesday

  • Alternative Option A: Close on Wednesday at 6pm instead of 8pm, leaving one 8pm closing per week on Friday
  • Alternative Option B: Close on Tuesday at 4pm instead of 6pm
  • Alternative Option C: Open at 10am Monday to Friday instead of 9.30am (a saving of 2.5 hours but needed for consistency)

Survey Findings for Beckenham Library:

  • Of those interviewed at Beckenham Library, 71%, said ‘no’ the Council’s Proposal would not inconvenience them in any way
  • Some 15% said the Council’s Proposal was ‘very inconvenient’ and 9% said it was ‘fairly inconvenient’. The remaining 5% said that whilst it was inconvenient, it was ‘not very inconvenient’
  • Respondents interviewed at Beckenham Library were most likely to say they preferred ‘Alternative Option C’ for reducing the opening hours at the library as indicated by 34% of them (Note: the focus of the interviewing was on the latter part of the day rather than first thing in the morning)

“Tennis for Free” in Beckenham

This scheme run by the Park Langley Club allows you and your family to play tennis for free in Kelsey Park, Croydon Road Recreation Ground and Kings Hall Road.

There is a one off payment of £25 covering the period until end of August 2015. This payment covers all members of the family and includes the cost of the fob that gets you onto the courts. All courts are booked on-line and booking is free of charge.

To find out more check out  www.theparklangleyclub.co.uk/tennis-for-free/

How would you spend £2.4mn to improve Crystal Palace Park. Consultation session Saturday 21st June

pengeandcatorcouncillors's avatarPenge and Cator Councillors

Latest from the Crystal Palace Park Community Stakeholder Group.

The GLA have made £2 million pounds available for regeneration projects in the park. After a number of months work, the CSG along with other stakeholders, have helped to identify an ‘Interim projects list’ of capital projects, to be funded by the GLA money. The projects are drawn from the widely consulted 2007 Masterplan, the Heritage Lottery Fund application and community feedback.

The list covers a wide range of projects, including restoration of the park’s heritage assets (such as the dinosaurs and sphinxes), bringing the concert bowl back into use, landscaping and a skateboard park.

Before a final selection is made the CSG is conducting a consultation with park users to gain your views on the list and to provide feedback. CSG members will be outside the Information Centre in the park (Penge entrance) at 11am – 4pm, Saturday 21st June

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Flood storage to be built in Beckenham Place Park

A consultation is underway on plans to build a large flood storage reservoir in Beckenham Place Park. If built it will have a dramatic effect on the park.

Further information can be found on Lewisham Council’s website at:

Lewisham and Catford Flood Alleviation Scheme

Beckenham residents that use the park may wish to comment on the consultation. The Environment Agency is holding events to get feedback to help shape the final scheme. The events will be held on:

  • Friday 4 July, 10am to 3pm, Lewisham Shopping Centre
  • Thursday 17 July, 10:30am to 1pm, Catford Civic Suite
  • Thursday 17 July, 1:30pm to 3pm , the market on Catford Broadway
  • Saturday 26 July, 10am to 2:30pm, Ravensbourne Community Centre

Alternatively, if you can’t attend on these days but would like more information about the project, you can contact Richard Peddie at the Environment Agency on 01252 729541 or email pso.selondon&nkent@environment-agency.gov.uk.

 

Letter to Bromley Council to take action to save rail service from Beckenham Junction/Kent House/Penge East to St Pancras and beyond

Dear Bromley Council,

The announcement of the new Thameslink and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise has brought unhappy news to Beckenham and Penge residents. The new network map shows that services from Beckenham Junction to St Pancras and beyond will not run for the whole term of the franchise. Those who use and rely on these services will incur disruption to their journey.

During the summer of 2012 the rail franchise consulted on which services from South London (Sutton, Wimbledon, Ashford (via Maidstone East), Rochester, Sevenoaks, Orpington, Beckenham Junction and Kent House) should proceed through the Thameslink core to St Pancras and beyond.  Network Rail recommended that rail services from Wimbledon Loop should terminate at Blackfriars and not go through the core.  Despite the recommendation by Network Rail, Wimbledon trains will go through the core at the expense of those from Beckenham Junction, Kent House and Penge. West London were successful in lobbying to keep their services, Bromley residents lost out.

We want Bromley Council to fight to save our rail service.  So far over 270 local residents have signed a petition to ‘Save train services from Beckenham Junction/Kent House/Penge East to St Pancras and beyond’. People plan their lives around direct commuter services, the proposed change will cause significant disruption to commuters and a vital transport link in the borough will be lost. Further, it is not certain the service from Beckenham Junction/Kent House/Penge to Blackfriars is safe. In 2018 the service will  transfer from Thameslink to South Eastern, when the South Eastern franchise is reviewed in 2015/16 services from Beckenham Junction, Kent House and Penge may face further reduction.

Question for the Environment Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee meeting Tuesday 1 July 2014:

What action is Bromley Council going to take to secure the future of  Thameslink services from Beckenham Junction, Kent House, Penge to St Pancras and beyond, to Blackfriars from 2018, and to lobby for improved/additional commuter rail links from Beckenham Junction onwards?

Members can access the petition at: www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-train-service-from-beckenham-junction-to-st.  We encourage members to read the comments, this is an important issue for local people and one we want action on.

Yours sincerely

Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association

Mary and Bert confirmed for Market On The Green 10am to 4pm

Market On The Green celebrates 50 years of the Mary Poppins film.  Did you know that Julie Andrews used to live in Beckenham?

Mary and Bert will be our special guests at The Market, they will be singing a few of our favourite songs from the film and mingling with market-goers. If you love Mary Poppins why not join in and come as one of the characters from the film.

There will be a fun-fair, face painting, pottery painting, live music, dance, yoga and martial arts. And, of course, the local produce and craft market. We have some wonderful new stalls, check out the Market page for stalls and entertainment line up.

Market On The Green 12 July

 

 

 

Drum roll….. 2014s Best Dressed Window Winner is….. The Beckenham Bookshop

What creative and inspired windows we had this year. This year’s theme, West End Musicals, was taken up with great gusto. Spotted around the High Street were My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins and the Musical of Dad.  Thank you to all the shops and businesses that took part, we loved your windows. There were over 250 votes in store and a whopping 3400 individual votes online. The top five favourite windows as voted by the public were:

  1. The Beckenham Bookshop – Musical of Dad
  2. Steven Harris Opticians – Mary Poppins
  3. Manor House Estates – The Wizard of Oz
  4. The Kitchen Range – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
  5. Frock Follies – My Fair Lady

Well done Beckenham Bookshop, the trophy is on its way to you.

Winners Board

  • 2014 – The Beckenham Bookshop
  • 2013 – Thackray Williams (solicitors)
  • 2012 – The Beckenham Flower Studio

 

Worsley Bridge Primary School Summer Fair, Friday 4th July, 3.30pm to 5.30pm

It’s been a monumental year for Worsley Bridge as it welcomed its first reception classes to become Beckenham’s newest Primary school. To celebrate we invite the local community to our summer fair on Friday July 4th, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.

There will be plenty for young children including: a bouncy castle, toddler ride-on route, hook a duck, lucky dip, face-painting and pony rides. That’s not to mention beat-the-goalie, tin can alley, and soak a teacher for older children.

Adults can browse the gift-stalls from local crafters, including home made bags and fashion accessories.

There is also hot food and a refreshment stand for an easy Friday dinner, as well as a grand raffle with great prizes from local businesses.
What a great way to start the weekend!

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Bromley Safer Neighbourhood Board hosts first meeting in Beckenham – 7pm 9 July 2014

The new Bromley Safer Neighbourhood Board which replaces the Bromley Community Engagement Forum will be hosting a number of public meetings around the borough during the year to discuss community safety.  Our Association sits on the board and arranged for the first meeting to be held in Beckenham. All local people are encouraged to attend.

Venue: Citygate Church, 22 Rectory Road, Beckenham BR3 1AA

Date: Wednesday 9th July

Time: 6:30pm to peruse stands, 7:00pm Meeting starts

Review of Neurology Services – local feedback from patients and carers needed

Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)  is currently reviewing the Neurology Services across the borough and is seeking the view of patients and carers about the current service. Currently Neurology Services are delivered in a range of healthcare settings and while the individual services are good, the feedback suggests that they are fragmented and do not provide seamless care.  Those affected locally are encouraged to provide feedback as over the coming months the CCG and Kings College Hospital are looking at what additional services can be provided from the Beckenham Beacon.

To provide feedback please answer the following questions and return by email to either Astrid Holness (astrid.holness@nhs.net) or Bhumika Mittal (bhumika.mittal@nhs.net).

Neurology Services Feedback

  • What Neurological condition does your family have experience of?
  • How old is the patient?
  • What services do you access for family members?
  • What are your views of the services?
  • What things are working well?
  • What things can be improved?
  • As a carer do you feel supported? If so, by which agency; if not, tell us what you would like to see happening
  • What happens to your family member if you become unwell?

 

Beckenham’s Annual Best Dressed Window Competition starts today!

BDW14This year’s theme is West End Musicals to celebrate 50 years of the musical Mary Poppins, starring one time Beckenham resident Julie Andrews.

The window display competition will run for 10 days from Friday 06 June to Sunday 15 June. Check out the best dressed windows in and around the High Street, vote for your favourite in store or below.

Who will take the crown this year! Previous winners have been Beckenham Flower Studio in 2012, Thackray Williams solicitors in 2013.

Cupcake Decorating Competition!

The Kitchen Range is running a cupcake decorating competition alongside the 2014 Best Dressed Window Competition.

The theme is West End Musicals – the more elaborately decorated your cupcakes, the better.

Simply hand in to Kitchen Range at 162 High Street any time from 8th June. The shop will declare the winner on 14th June. Kitchen Range is offering a £25 voucher to the winning cakemaker, and all entries will be incorporated into their window display. Further details 020 8663 6323 or call into the store.

The Best Dressed Window Competition is organised by Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association all around the High Street, it starts tomorrow Friday 6 June and runs until Sunday 15th June. Vote inside the shop/business or online at coperscope.org.uk. There is no ‘judging’, the window attracting the highest combined instore and online votes wins the trophy.

 

Beckenham Junction/Kent House/Penge East to lose St Pancras and beyond rail service

Beckenham Junction/Kent House/Penge East is set to lose its train services to St Pancras and beyond. Existing Thameslink services will terminate at Blackfriars.

Last week the new franchise for Thameslink and Great Northern (TSGN) was announced with a network map depicting that services from Beckenham Junction to St Pancras and beyond will not run for the whole term of the franchise. See links below.

New Thameslink Franchise

Network map

We contacted the Department for Transport and Bromley Council for clarification. As part of the Thameslink and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise consultation in Summer 2012, South West London were successful in lobbying to ensure the Wimbledon Loop services were maintained through the central London core as part of the new Thameslink line during peak hours. This means that other peak services from the South, including those from Beckenham Junction will terminate at Blackfriars.  Could this service capacity not have been shared between Beckenham Junction and the Wimbledon Loop?

Further, when the new South Eastern Franchise is renewed in 2018, this service is to be moved from Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) to the new franchise and there is no guarantee that the reduced service from Beckenham Junction to Blackfriars will remain.

We have asked our Councillors to lobby for improved commuter rail services from Beckenham and to save our St Pancras and beyond services from Beckenham Junction. You can register your objection to the cessation of the St Pancras and beyond service below.

Save train services from Beckenham Junction to St Pancras and beyond

Beckenham Town Centre Team (TCT) AGM and Public Meeting

The Beckenham Town Centre Team will be holding its first AGM and Public Meeting on:

Date: 8pm to 9pm, Tuesday 10 June 2014

Venue: Harry Lyne Room (2nd floor), Beckenham Beacon, 379 Croydon Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3QL

All local people are welcome to attend to find out more about the work of the TCT and its represented community groups, and to discuss and the vitality and betterment of Beckenham Town Centre.

The TCT has representatives from the Beckenham Business Association, Beckenham Rotary Club, Beckenham Town Centre Manager, Bromley Cyclists, Bromley Road School, Bromley Mobility Forum, Churches Together, Central Beckenham Residents’ Association, Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association, Copers Cope Ward Police, Friends of Kelsey Park, The Beckenham Society, Waitrose Beckenham and the West Beckenham Residents’ Association.

The TCT will be electing the official posts of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. Please note that only existing TCT members are eligible to stand for election.

To ensure sufficient seating, we would be grateful if you can confirm your attendance by email to chairman@coperscope.org.uk