CONTENTS

Beckenham Hospital now Beckenham Beacon
"A Picture of Health" for Bromley?
Kings Hall Road Country Club

Other Local Planning Issues -

Broadwater Cottage, Blakeney Road
Tesco, Elmers End and the Transport Interchange 109 Marlow Road
255 Elmers End Road
Lavender Cottage, Manor Way
Harvington Lodge
Barnmead Road

Policy about Membership
The Studio and the Spa
Urban Farming at it's best!

Crystal Palace Park

LDA Masterplan Planning Application
Capel Manor College
'Rebuild' the Crystal Palace?

Beckenham Place Park

Recent news
Proposals and Consultation
More Information

Memorial Tree

Beckenham Hospital - now Beckenham Beacon

The spanking new Beacon is open.

Early reports of
the patient experiences of
its various
out-patient type facilities are
mixed.

On the corridor walls are some interesting murals depicting the history of the Cottage Hospital.




At the moment there is a huge excavation to the front of the hospital for drainage works, so parking is particularly difficult.

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“A Picture of Health” for Bromley ?

Lack of data, eg a Transport Assessment and demographic evidence, makes it impossible to decide on the validity of any of the clinical benefits claimed for these proposals by the Primary Care Trusts.

What is clear is that the proposals are finance driven, because of the Private Finance Initiative debts of £180 million accrued by SE London hospitals.

Since Queen Mary’s Sidcup is the only non- PFI hospital, it has been selected for closure of A&E and Maternity Services and a major sell off of NHS estate.

BHT opposes the plans to close the 66 beds and 3 operating theatres of the elective/planned surgery unit at Orpington Hospital which was opened in 2003 at a cost of £9 million, and the closure of the Alan Cummings Day Surgery Unit at the PRUH, both of which offer excellent standards of care.

All 3 options for NHS reconfiguration in SE London involve a massive loss of acute hospital beds – 249, 172 and 475, and are predicated on shifting care, particularly for the elderly, which is currently provided in hospital, out ‘into the community’. This includes contracting out nursing care and ‘end of life’ care, which it is proposed to take place in people’s homes, delivered by private agencies, and in private nursing homes.

In Bromley, 9 Community Matrons and 13 ‘Case Managers’ will deliver the NHS element, and will ‘plan, manage and co-ordinate care’ each with a caseload of 50 patients. BHT is required to reduce its ‘length of stay’ by 34% and there are proposals that discharges should take place one day after hip replacement operations! There is no care planned overnight or indication of the number of places needed. In Bexley, this service is described as ‘virtual wards’!

It is never admitted that sick and terminally ill people will deliver the NHS savings by paying for their own care, now re-designated as ‘Social Care’.

The issues of the current lack of suitably paid, trained and qualified care staff and the poor quality of care delivered in many nursing homes and by domiciliary care agencies in Bromley do not rate a mention, nor is it clear how GPs will cope with their increased workload.

As our ‘Breaking the Silence Campaign’ revealed, there will be no transparency or accountability by the NHS or LBBromley for the standards of clinical care provided by non NHS staff, even where neglect or abuse puts patients at risk.

The Beckenham Beacon is presented as the ‘Polyclinic’ solution to the provision of NHS ‘Out of Hospital Care’ in Bromley, with plans for Phase 2 refined. (See pp.87-89 of Pre Consultation Business Case* for details).

Our group campaigned for many years to have NHS rehab. /Intermediate Care beds included in the scheme rather than in the private sector, and it would be worth local groups raising this issue again, with a clearly increased need presented by these proposals.

(*Docs. available from www.apictureofhealth.nhs.uk or tel. 0800 321 3579).

Susan Sulis.
Secretary, Community Care Protection Group.

PS Greenwich Pensioners’ Forum are seeking a Judicial Review on the consultation process of ‘A Picture of Health’

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Kings Hall Road Country Club

Since the last Review our hopes for a positive outcome for this burnt-out eyesore in the Kent House/Cator Park area have been comprehensively dashed.

This site has steadily deteriorated since its sale to Waterside Developments last year with the return of rubbish, graffiti on the (unauthorised) portacabins, and breaches in the boundary fence.

We understand that sale of part of the land to the Buddhist monks broke down at the last minute, when they were about to complete on the contract, when Waterside suddenly withdrew.

This is disappointing, since the plans and graphics which were circulated for the temple showed a very pleasant building and gardens which would have added to the amenities of the area.

Councillor Getgood has twice reported the site to Bromley Planning Department (20th February and 11th March) for action as an untidy site. On Monday 17 March, at full Council, he asked the council to consider the site for compulsory purchase.

West Beckenham Residents’ Association has consistently pressed for the property to be compulsorily purchased, and this is now being considered. We would like to see the land incorporated as an extension to Cator Park.

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Other Local Planning Issues

Broadwater Cottage, Blakeney Road

Demolition of existing house and garage and erection of four storey block comprising 6 two bedroom flats with 8 car parking spaces/cycle store.

Regrettably the appeal against refusal of permission was upheld in January 08 after a site visit.

The inspector’s reasons were that the proposal would not significantly detract from the character and appearance of the area or the living conditions of neighbours in terms of privacy and outlook.

The inspector also concluded that there was no hard evidence that there would be a significant effect on highway or pedestrian safety or the free flow of traffic.

The inspector did however impose several conditions on the consent, notably on obscure glazing or high level windows in the west facing bedrooms to safeguard the privacy of neighbours, and landscaping and hard surfacing to respect the character and appearance of the area.

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Tesco, Elmers End and the transport interchange

Transport for London (TfL) advise us that Tesco are required to provide a functional bus interchange as part of their redevelopment plans for the Elmers End store. Tesco are responsible for the construction and the road works, which they said would begin in mid-April 2008, but there is no sign of any activity so far.

At present, TfL is in negotiations with Tesco and the London Borough of Bromley to agree conditions for acceptance of the proposed interchange as ultimately TfL need to ensure that the interchange meets required specifications before it is built.

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109 Marlow Road

West Beckenham Residents' Association has objected to an application to extend 109 Marlow Road to provide five two-bedroom flats.

The current house is already divided into two flats, so this would be an additional three.

The proposed development would almost double the footprint of the existing building and provide only four parking spaces, with additional parking needs to be met by on street parking.
,br> Those who know Marlow Road know that it is already congested by on street parking and pavement “build outs” at corners.

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255 Elmers End Road

West Beckenham Residents' Association has objected to an application to extend and covert the dormer bungalow at the corner of 255 Elmers End Road and Ancaster Road into three flats.

Permission has been refused but there is an appeal in progress.

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Lavender Cottage, Manor Way

Three storey block comprising 14 two bedroom flats with basement, comprising 19 car parking spaces, bicycle parking and 3 open car parking spaces, with vehicular access from Greenways.

The second application for a three storey block of 14 two bedroom flats was refused at the development control meeting on 26 April 2007 on the grounds of the height of the building and access via Greenways.

The appeal was allowed on 4 April.

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Harvington Lodge

Sadly, Friends of Harvington appear to have lost the fight to retain the lodge for community use after the council decided to sell the land for housing development.

However, they are still fighting to retain Tree Preservation Orders on a cedar and an oak and have support from the Development Control Committee that more trees in the area are worthy of TPO protection.

The trees are the subject of a BBC Wales programme to be shown on Friday, 16th May at 7.30pm on BBC 2, entitled TPO - Saving a Tree. It is the second of a series, called 'The Trees that made Britain ,' and features the glorious Atlas cedar (Cedar atlantica), which grows beside the Lodge.

If you would like to get involved to help protect and enhance this lovely bit of woodland, their AGM is held at St John’s small hall on Wednesday 14 May 2008 at 7.15 for 7.30, or you can email them at Friendsofharv@aol.com

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Barnmead Road

Detached building comprising 4 two bedroom split level flats with accommodation in roofspace at land r/o 142-146 Beckenham Road.

West Beckenham Residents' Association objected on the grounds that the development would contravene the Conservation Area status of the road, and was building on green back-gardens.

The application was refused on 30 August. It has now gone to appeal.

Marie Pender

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USEFUL INFO
On the London Borough of Bromley website anyone can look at all the papers relevant to a planning application and submit comments. Go to www.bromley.gov.uk/environment/planning

Ed.

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Policy about membership

From time to time West Beckenham Residents' Association is asked for help in objecting to a planning application by non-members.

In order to protect the interests of paid up members and discourage free riders, it is our policy to ask them to join the Association before we write on their behalf.

We are sure that those of you who support the Association through your subscriptions will approve of this policy. If you are asked for help by non-members, please invite them to join by contacting the Treasurer Peter Hilliard (contact details at the back of the Review) or via the website.

Please, of course, encourage as many of your neighbours as possible to join and strengthen the voice of the Association with the local authorities through a strong membership base.

Marie Pender – Chair WBRA

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The Studio and The Spa

Builders’ hoardings are still in place around The Studio.

Mid-Kent Homes the builders tell ‘The Review’ that they are waiting for the Herbert Justice Academy to put together the necessary finance for the renovation works to start, which they hope will be within a few weeks.

Watch this space.

It has been too long since local residents have had access to the facilities of this fine listed building in Beckenham.

Meanwhile planned alterations have taken place within The Spa, to extend the gym, group exercise studios and children’s play area, but the sports hall has been reduced in size and the squash courts have gone.

Meanwhile Forest Hill Pools have been closed because of problems with the roof, so the Spa will probably be more heavily used.

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Urban Farming at it's best!

So said Joe Swift in the recent Gardeners' World TV programme about his new allotment. His approach to it was a little different from that of the traditional allotmenteer and some of his fellow plotholders had clearly been telling him so.

When I first started allotment gardening some years ago a friend and I took on half-shares in a plot on London clay. Immediately I was hooked and took an additional second plot on my own to devote to fruit. I was especially lucky and was given vast amounts of raspberry and thornless blackberry canes which gave me a good start and I inherited a couple of red gooseberry bushes with the plot.

I made a fruit cage, a cold frame and a compost heap. She grew coriander and celeriac to die for; her yellow tomatoes also grew well. I grew spinach beet, courgettes, marrows, pumpkins, potatoes, broccoli, runner and dwarf beans very successfully.

I bought a small freezer so as to waste nothing and we both tried pickling vegetables which produced some delicious stuff.

There were failures too that first year; my swedes were unswollen stems; my kohl rabi miniscule; my beetroots the size of hazelnuts.

Year on year since then I have expanded the range of things grown, learning all the while, and spurred on by the fact that everything that did grow was absolutely delicious. I even entered the annual show which was fun.

The allotment tradition of enthusiastically embracing recycling is today very up-to-date without meaning to be - not stopping at composting all organic kitchen waste but also embracing all manner of household materials at the end of their useful lives; doors, windows and the bucket with a hole!

For a plotholder, apart from the intrinsic pleasure in "tilling the soil", the experience does give a new perspective rather different from that coming from ordinary gardening and a complete shift for a town-dweller mindset. It is good to be reminded of our dependence on the bumble-bee, for example. It also takes you by surprise to realise that here we live in a country where not much food can be grown between November and May.

Joe Swift clearly invested a considerable amount of money in his new plot but thanks to the allotment tradition a few recycled resources and a lot of ingenuity can easily compete.

Someone recently said to me that people today may be very keen on healthy eating but have as yet failed to realise that the key to healthy eating is seasonal eating - it is after all what man has done since the beginning of time. How much better if you have grown it yourself half a mile down the road from your home.

Most allotment sites have an Open Day. You can go and walk around and buy produce, see demonstrations and find out a little of what goes on in a parallel world.

Rosanna Cavallo

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Crystal Palace Park

LDA Masterplan Planning Application

The London Development Agency has submitted it's Master Plan for the development of the park to Bromley Council for approval.

The German firm of Latz & Partners envisage a cost, excluding VAT and inflation, of £67.5m over a twenty year period or more in stages.

The application proposes: re-landscaping (including substantial tree felling and planting); two 23m (75 feet) high box-like greenhouses; sunken gardens on the Italian terrace; water features; a tree top walkway; removal of park railings; night lighting; sports centre alterations; moving the maintenance compound, One’O’Clock Club and St. John’s Ambulance buildings; removing the camping and caravanning club; providing a 500-place overflow car park, retail and food ‘kiosks’ within a new grid of trees on the hilltop; major earth-moving and tree loss on Anerley Hill on the line of the proposed Croydon Tramlink extension; a 5-storey museum; a 5-storey sports/student teaching/ office/ accommodation block for 300 Capel Manor College students; etc.

To offset the cost, the L.D.A. are determined that there will be up to 180 luxury flats on the edges of the park, of three, four and five stories in different locations.

The London Development Agency have been told time and time again that the local societies and associations (including this one) representing local opinion do not want parts of the park sold off to finance this scheme.

This is Bromley Council’s largest ever planning application received, running to 11,000 pages of text and drawings.

The plans are available on the LDA website www.crystalpalacepark.net, or www.bromley.gov.uk (search for ‘planning’, ‘public access to planning applications’ and enter the references: The main planning application reference number for the LDA Masterplan is DC/07/03897/OUT with DC/07/03906/ CAC , Conservation Area Consent for the Park, and DC/07/03907/ LBC , listed building consent for alterations to the National Sports Centre).

The deadline for comments has been extended to the end of May.

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Crystal Palace Park Dialogue Meetings

The next in the long-running ‘facilitated’ series of ‘dialogue’ meeting about the park will be held on Saturday 17th May, 9.30am start until about 2 or 3pm at the Salvation Army Hall, Westow St, SE19 (above the ‘Blockbuster’ store). Light lunch provided. Further information: the Environment Council tel: 020 7632 0117.

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Capel Manor College

The animal farm/zoo is now open. There have been complaints that the gate is shut. Capel Manor College, who have a five-year lease on the farm, says that this is to stop animals getting out. So if you want entrance, give the gate a good shove.

There have been objections to the accommodation block for farm students and sports participants to replace the lodge in the centre of the park.

This block will be near Crystal Palace railway station, on a slope, three stories the top end and five stories the bottom end.

Residents living adjacent to the site have objected to Bromley Council on loss of amenities, view, light and that it is a monstrosity warranting no place in this historic park. The Park Working Group has also voiced reservations.

Capel Manor says they will have 300 students on different agricultural and animal husbandry courses in the near future. To be successful they will need more land and educational buildings.

Their courses are an asset to youngsters trying to make their way in the world but the scale of development, on the back of their lease on the small Children’s Farm, is totally inappropriate for this park.

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‘Rebuild’ the Crystal Palace?

Meanwhile the Ray Hall Consortium has plans to build a near replica of the Crystal Palace as a commercial enterprise.

On the face of it, this seems a nice idea, but if you consider the details it is not such a good idea.

A leisure/entertainment/hotel centre disguised as Crystal Palace is not that much removed from the detested Multiplex scheme. Taking up a possible 20 acres of the top site, this without parking facilities would bring chaos to the surrounding area.

The L.D.A. is against this scheme because it would take the space for the proposed Transport for London tram terminus.

The Crystal Palace was a great building of its time, let’s remember it as such and keep the park as open as possible.

Alan Freeman

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Notes on the WBRA Annual Forum – November 2007

at Beckenham Library

This was well attended by residents, local councillors, and Safer Neighbourhood representatives.

Lots of interesting issues were discussed including the change in Parliamentary boundary, problems with parking and costs at The Spa, the continued bird mess under local railway/tram bridges, traffic calming and parking issues, the closure of police stations and location of the Safer Neighbourhood teams - County House office block (junction of Beckenham Road / Mackenzie Road) is being considered.

Everyone enjoyed a glass of wine and a chat after the meeting.

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Round and About - Miscellany

• Network Rail have submitted a planning application to demolish and rebuild the ex flower shop on the corner of Clock House station.



• The new flats being built on either side of Sidney Road, which were permitted on appeal, seem to be somewhat overwhelming - and this even before the roofs have been added.



• The East London line from New Cross has closed for upgrading. The ‘Overground’ trains will run to West Croydon or Crystal Palace , going through Penge West & Anerley.



• History of Penge. Local author Martin Spence has recently published a book “The Making of a London Suburb: Capital Comes to Penge”, (Merlin Press, 2007).
  
  This is a study of the transformation of the local landscape during the key period from the late 18th to the late 19th centuries, when Penge was transformed from a semi-rural hamlet into a thoroughly urban railway suburb.
  
  Martin Spence has given talks at Penge Library and the Crooked Billet, and received enthusiastic reviews.
  
  The book is in stock at Kirkdale Bookshop, Sydenham.

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Beckenham Place Park

Concerns remain about Lewisham Council’s proposals for this historic 214-acre Park, 18th-Century Grade-II*-listed Mansion and 18-hole public pay-and-play golf course.

Recent news

A ‘consultation’ company is being selected and public consultation will take place this summer.

News is that the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Parks Programme for next financial year (April ’09) is just £20m for the whole of Britain.

It is stretched as National Lottery funds are directed to the ever-increasing cost of staging the Olympic Games.

Lewisham Council has obtained £10k from English Heritage for an expert Conservation Management Plan to be commissioned for the Mansion.

Proposals and Consultation

The Council has already decided, without consultation, to ‘market’ the Mansion and immediately adjoining park land.

The brief to Land Use Consultants (LUC) was limited to the park, excluding the Mansion from playing any role in the public enjoyment of the park or in a holistic Lottery bid.

We, along with the Friends of Beckenham Place Park regard this as a great mistake. Also, golfers were unhappy that all four LUC options downgraded the course from 18 to 9 holes. After complaints from golfers, a ‘status quo’ 18-hole retention ’option’ will be included in the consultation.

The ‘angle’ is to improve the setting of the Mansion by removing some adjoining golf course and relocating car parking. Mansion users would be moved to a revamped stable block.

This is not a sympathetic revamp but a ‘contemporary’ bus-shelter-style new wing and demolition of historic fabric.

The park keepers’ accommodation, yard and existing public parking would be moved to previously unspoilt parkland.

Heritage is not just about appearance. The Mansion and Park are a historic unity, and are currently both publicly-owned and publicly-accessible – although more public access to the building would be welcome.

One of English Heritage’s aims is greater public access to our heritage from all parts of the community. A private use for the Mansion would make money for the Council at the expense of wider public access and enjoyment of this unique ‘jewel’.

Beckenham Place Park was recently voted as being one of the ten best things in Lewisham Borough.

On the occasions when the main rooms are open, a look around delights all and enhances a visit to the park.

We have asked, as yet to no avail, that LUC’s investigation be extended to encompass the Mansion. This is so that a wider choice is offered to the public with the same expert weight as the other proposals in the questionnaire.

We have also suggested, so far to no avail, a two-stage process without preconceptions, as has been done elsewhere (e.g. by Croydon at South Norwood Lake and Park).

First conduct a qualitative survey – ask the public what they value about the park and what suggestions they have for improvement.

Then do a quantitative survey based on all these suggestions – ask which have the most support.

Then implement the most popular!

The current consultation seems to be framed as the Council leading the public – not the other way round.

It is by each borough doing its bit towards the common good, that the benefits for Londoners are shared, widened and enhanced for all.

More information

The reports by Land Use Consultants are on the Council’s web site at www.lewisham.gov.uk (search for Beckenham Place Park ) in PDF format.

There is also a link from the Friends’ site: www.BeckenhamPlaceParkFriends.org.uk They may be contacted by email: BPP .Friends@NTLworld.com or at the Friends’ Visitor Centre in the Mansion on Sundays 1.30pm-3.30pm

Representations may be made to Cllr. Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, Civic Suite, Rushey Green , SE6 4RU or by email at steve.bullock@lewisham.gov.uk

Nick Goy

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P.S. I recently visited the recently restored Danson House in Bexley, another beautiful mansion in a council owned park, very comparable to Beckenham Place, but it had been in a much worse physical state, part of the house had completely collapsed.

What Bexley Heritage Trust have achieved, with the help of English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund is wonderful.

The house is open to the public, it is a beautiful setting for weddings, and there is a flourishing tea-room.

Please do the same, Lewisham.

Ed.

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MINUTES OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

held at Beckenham Public Library
8 p.m. on 24th May 2007

1. Present: Geoff Slater (President); Marie Pender (Chair), Janet Ambrose, Eileen Penfold, Alan Freeman, Judith Niechcial, Virginia Gregovich, Rosanna Cavallo (Committee Members).

Cllr. Reg Adams, Cllr. John Getgood, Cllr. Rebekah Gilbert, Cllr. Sarah Phillips.

P.C. Nick Tuff, P.C. Andy Payne, Inspector Tony Nickalls and 25 attendees signed in.

2. Apologies from: Stuart Froment, Jacqui Lait M.P., Vanessa Allen, Ian Dunn, and Peter Hilliard (Treasurer).

3. Marie Pender opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. The minutes of the 2006 AGM were approved (Proposed: Marion Bradbury; seconded: Judith Niechcial).

4. Chair’s Report: In the past year there were fewer planning applications and appeals than the previous year. The two main issues at present are the redevelopment applications for Broadwater Cottage and Lavender Cottage in Manor Way.

Although the latter is not in the Association’s area, we have taken an interest due to the proliferation of flat developments in Beckenham as a whole.

The Beckenham Town Centre proposals include improvement to pathways, planting and a new entertainment area, all of which should reduce vandalism.

A new White Paper on fundamental changes to the planning system will be reviewed by the Association. Changes will provide for major infrastructure initiatives to be decided by a new Planning Commission and not by the Local Authority although these are unlikely to affect us since the last major initiative was the Channel Rail Link.

Proposed changes in respect of planning applications, aimed at unclogging the Planning system, will affect domestic applications which tend to increase as renovating becomes cheaper than moving.

Possible charges for appeals might help to reduce the number of appeals.

Marie thanked the Committee, saying she had limited time to devote to the Association but the Committee share the work and all play a part.

5. Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Peter Hilliard was not present but the accounts were circulated and approved. (Proposed: Gillian D’Cunha; seconded: June Haley).

6. Election of Officers: Judith Niechcial nominated Nick Goy to serve on the Committee but Nick was unwilling to stand at this time. He stated he would prefer to attend meetings and help with such things as the Beckenham Place Park situation and other issues. Marie then proposed the election of officers and all were re-elected by a show of hands.

7. Any Other Business:

• Beckenham Place Park: Nick Goy advised that Lewisham Council wish to sell off or long lease the mansion and car park. Some work has been done to the mansion but a lack of facilities limits its use for functions. Friends of the Park are involved, but many initiatives in the past have not progressed and the future is somewhat uncertain.



• Rosanna Cavallo spoke of her work on the Association web site as an interesting learning curve and would give out the address to anyone interested. Ian Muir’s site will be linked in and at present she is trying to obtain a shorter web address. The focus is on issues for residents and people new to the
• To a question about the Cypher Club on Kings Hall Road , Cllr. Getgood replied there are meetings underway with two groups who claim to have an agreement with the owner. No planning application has yet been made although it is thought there are two viable options. The footprint of the pavilion and the open aspect are both protected. |It is hoped that the owner, Gordon Kelly, will take a more realistic view on uses for the site. Asked if it could be housing, Cllr. Getgood advised that housing is not acceptable and the Municipal Open Land status will be maintained.



• Janet Ambrose asked about The Studio. Cllr. Getgood replied that the Herbert Justice Academy has an agreement with Council but that a schedule of work is now required. Nothing further on any community uses; due to loss of time it is feared local groups have gone elsewhere. Cllr. Gilbert advised that the Herbert Justice Academy will participate in the Bromley Arts Festival in July. Judith Niechcial asked if English Heritage had any interest in the Studio, but apparently not.



• 1-3 Kings Hall Road: Cllr. Getgood said that an application to replace houses with flats had been turned down.



• Traffic calming: Gillian D’Cunha asked about Stone Park Avenue and Cllr. Gilbert said it was under consultation. She would find out and respond to Gillian. Cllr. Getgood commented that last year’s work on Kent House Road had not made much difference to speeds in the area. Where traffic calming is required, the Council engages consultants to initiate proposals which are then shared with residents and final proposals contain residents’ input.



• John Wright asked about the empty shops near the Beckenham Cinema. Cllr. Gilbert replied that the Town Centre Manager was looking at the situation. There were no plans for a McDonalds.



• Another resident asked about the lane near Sainsbury’s which is in a mess, and was told responsibility is shared between Sainsbury’s and the Council. The police officers in attendance asked to be notified about youths sitting in bus shelters. Marie enquired about dispersal orders as one in Churchfields Road had been effective in quietening things down. The police officers said they would look into this. Cllr. Phillips added that the Friends of Croydon Road Recreation Ground were working with Sainsbury’s and the Council in respect of security in the Rec/Park.



• Another member asked about barriers set up in Village Way for long periods without evidence of work activity. Marie replied that she thought the work was on gas lines but noted to the Councillors that barriers are often seen without evidence of work.



• Rosanna Cavallo asked what could be done about dog fouling even in parks which is a problem due to the presence of children. Janet Ambrose said there should be notices advising of the £1,000 fine and also showing a picture of a hand in a glove to demonstrate the pick up and disposal method. Alan Freeman commented that it is clear from local press that this is a problem throughout the Borough.



• At New Beckenham station, cars park on the slope where wheelchairs and pushchairs should be able to pass. Cllr. Getgood said he would look into a yellow line to restrict parking in this area.



• Another member advised that she had suggested to Cllr. Jenkins that each application include density numbers, to which he had agreed.



• Another member spoke about a recent meeting of the Civic Society at which the issue of nursing and residential home closures was addressed and circulated a leaflet about the plan. Bromley’s placement provision seems low for the size of the Borough and Janet Ambrose mentioned similar problems are occurring in Streatham.



• Free bus rides for children are making travel harder for older people and it was asked if the Association could raise the concern with Transport for London . June Haley thought children should only be able to travel free during school hours and another lady said that some parents found the new freedom for their children quite worrying.



• The matter of yellow lines being painted around parked cars in Thayers Farm Road was raised and Cllr. Getgood offered to look into it. Ongoing concerns about unsuccessful but disruptive traffic calming methods and tree roots raising pavements were also brought up by members.



• Janet Ambrose advised that a drainage pipe empties into the pond at the County Park , adding to the flood risk at Clockhouse and Cllr. Phillips offered to forward the concern to the relevant parties.



• An enquiry about Tesco’s expansion at Elmers End received the explanation that the flood control water tank may need to be moved, which could account for the delay.



• Nick Goy said he had the Association’s receipt book on hand should anyone wish to make their subscription.



• There was an opportunity through the Safer Neighbourhoods group to tour Penge Police Station, a historical building, before it is closed.
  
  Police Station closures will enable smaller local bases to be opened with front counters staffed by volunteers, making Community Police Officers more accessible while a centralised communication site, scheduled to open in June, will improve telephone response.
  
  The Police representatives at the meeting confirmed that local teams would service each ward, by foot and bicycle.

8. Alan Freeman asked everyone to ensure they had signed in and then Marie thanked everyone for coming and reminded the meeting of the Councillor’s Forum organised by the Association each October.

9. Date for the next AGM . A date in May 2008 will be arranged.

The meeting was followed by light refreshments kindly provided by Eileen Penfold and Gillian D’Cunha.

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Memorial Tree

In a peaceful spot near the tea kiosk in Croydon Road Recreation Ground stands a little cedar sapling carefully surrounded by fencing. Nearby is a bench with a plaque that is an important part of WBRA’s history.

The tree is a replacement
for the original that grew on the site of the
‘decant village’ for Beckenham Hospital.

The tree and plaque are in memory of
Pam Jones,
who was a long-standing committee member and Secretary in the 1990’s and a close friend of past Chairman Peter North.

She hosted our committee meetings in Cedars Road. She was a very organised person, having formerly been a company secretary.

She died of cancer after a long time in pain (which she never mentioned to us). WBRA donated a small amount to the memorial (a Cedar tree as a reference to Cedars Rd.) supplemented by Peter personally. Advice was not to put a plaque on tree itself as it attracts vandalism.

Pam wrote a memorable article in The Review about Councillors allocating themselves front-row seats at a Crystal Palace Park open air concert.

Pam had arrived early and sat at the front. An attendant asked her to move as the seats were ‘reserved for the councillors’. There was no indication of this; the only sign read 'Do not feed the ducks'.

She refused to move. In the end they put another row of deck chairs in front of her.

Councillors all-bar-one boycotted our next Forum - however it was by accounts a perfectly good Forum with just Cllr. Nick Field (Lab, Clock House) on the panel. Nick later became our Chairman for two years.



Pam was cremated in Beckenham Crematorium with a page of kind words from Peter North on the diary for the day she died. (Pages are turned over each day).

Nick Goy

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