West Beckenham Residents' Association
Councillors Forum

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The panel at the WBRA Councillors' Forum, from left to right, John Getgood (Lab - Penge & Cator, Peter Dean (Con - Kelsey & Eden Park), Inspector Tony Nickalls (Met Police), James Cleverly (Con - London Assembley member for Bexley & Bromley), Reg Adams (Lib Dem - Clockhouse), Jacqui Lait (MP for Beckenham).

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The Councillors' Forum evening on 30 October at Beckenham Reference Library saw a rise in numbers of members and residents attending and, as well as the audience having an opportunity to air their Beckenham concerns, the WBRA was also pleased to enrol several new members.

It rapidly became clear which topics were causing the most consternation - the Kings Hall Road traffic calming measures, the Studio, the Controlled Parking Zones and the Beacon.

Kings Hall Road

The general consensus seemed to be in favour of bringing back the speed cameras which were agreed to have worked well. The introduction of the traffic islands was felt to be unhelpful and actually presenting a challenge to some who viewed Kings Hall Road as a race track. The were incidences of people driving on the wrong side of the road to miss the traffic islands and avoid losing speed.

There were also complaints of car damage from the oversized bollards, damage to trees from swerving lorries, problems for pedestrians and a general dislike of the appearance of the traffic islands agreed to be eyesores.

People wondered why it appeared that although there was funding to introduce traffic calming schemes there was rarely any money to remove schemes that did not work.

Janet Ambrose (WBRA Committee member) cited the example of a similar scheme in Marlow Road which no one had wanted and Bromley Council had agreed did not work. A consultation document had been produced but there was no money to change the scheme.

An audience member thought it would be a good idea if people were to keep logs of incidents in the road. Cllr Getgood urged Kings Hall Road residents to get together and decide what they wanted to do and he would be happy to take their views to the Portfolio Holder.

WBRA To Facilitate Meetings

Cllr Adams said that we were looking at a flawed system. Bromley had to apply to Transport for London for funding and it was they who decided how the money was allocated but when schemes were reviewed TfL was not party to that aspect. This had happened in Marlow Road.

James Cleverley similarly advised communities to get together on this and, although he currently had no view on the issue, at the GLA he was looking to get feedback on this type of problem from the emergency services.

WBRA's chair, Marie Pender (pictured right with Sgt Glenn Layzell of Clockhouse Safer Neighbourhood Police Team and Janet Ambrose) agreed that the Residents' Association itself would facilitate the community meetings and the audience was asked to collect data about speeding and the times of day when it occurred.



Wine or orange juice? Eileen Penfold (WBRA committee member)
and team preparing refreshments for a thirsty Forum.

The Studio

The Studio, where Beckenham people enjoyed music, art exhibitions, arthouse films and a place to meet was closed some years ago by Bromley Council. At the time it was felt that £70,000 a year running costs were excessive.

Many of us now wish we had supported the Studio more often when it was open. Others fought hard to save it but to no avail.

Now yet another "rescue plan" has failed and the Studio is out to tender again.

The groundswell of opinion seems to be in favour of Bromley MyTime taking it over. Other candidates under consideration are the organisation running Croydon Clocktower and a similar body in Greenwich.

Cllr Adams referred to the Studio as having suffered from "the dead hand of bureaucracy"". Cllr Getgood said £70,000 amounted to 50p per head and said that the Studio should remain in public hands - residential use would not be acceptable. But he did recognise that there would have to be an outlay of around a quarter of a million pounds spent on refurbishment.

A "working party" had been formed to consider the Studio comprising, amongst other, all on the panel that evening.

Disrepair

Talk of refurbishment brought forth questions to Cllr Getgood from a member of the audience. He told those present that all the internal ceilings inside the Studio had now come down due to the roof being in a poor state of repair and added that it was crucial that a pump be installed in the basement which had flooded repeatedly.

Cllr Getgood agreed to take up these matters.

It appears that Ripley Arts Centre in Bickley is still receiving its subsidy from Bromley Council.

Geoff Slater, WBRA President opens the evening.

The Beacon

The two Doctors' surgeries going into the Beacon have withdrawn. It seems that the rent was too high.

Parking

Considerable strong feeling exists over the possible introduction of Controlled Parking Zones. WBRA has already made representation to the Council on this. At the Councillors' Forum a range of voices were head. Some audience members feared that although the scheme would bring in funds it may not help their particular parking problem. Others suggested that schemes based on individual Railway Stations, where it seems the nub of the problem lies, merely moves the daily parked cars from one area to another.

The subject came up of underused existing parking areas which could be brought into service - the parking area at the back of the Spa and the Capita Car Park were said to be often far from full.

There were calls for a borough-wide policy to combat a piecemeal approach.

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After the business part of the Forum was complete panel and audience had the chance to mingle over a glass of wine and nibbles. Residents tell us that they appreciate this chance to chat informally to Councillors, Police and others which often avoids local problems becoming major issues.

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Thank you and goodnight.

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