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BULLETIN BOARD


COUNCIL TO STOP SENDING NEIGHBOURH NOTIFICATION LETTERS

 

As of the 1st April 2012 the Council will cease the current practice of sending out Neighbour Notification Letters of planning application which they receive to residents and interested parties within the area of a planning application. Direct notification via a letter will cease and this will include next door and close neighbours. The Council will only put up site notices close to the application site and place advertisement in the local paper (at this time the Croydon Guardian) for major planning applications and listed buildings or within conservation areas.  A major planning application is considered to be for developments of 10 or more dwellings.

 

The Council say that they will set up a website facility whereby anyone can register and then be able to create and save searches on properties and areas.  Residents will be able to set an area up as an alert when a new planning application for the set search area is received.  Additionally there will be a ‘tracking feature’, which can also be set up, which will automatically e-mail details to an email box when the application is going to committee or the decision has been issued. However, they only ‘hope’ to have these features on the planning website set up by the 1st April, the date that they cease to send out notification letters.

 

The Council claim to want to ensure that people have an appropriate opportunity to view planning application that are near to them and that the Council must carry out this function as efficiently as possible. By these changes, they will only be carrying out the minimum legal requirement to notify residents to the minimum notification standard. Residents already, since 2005, had the facility to search the planning website, if not yet set up ‘alerts’.  This move by the Council will disenfranchise those residents without computers particularly in an area such as Coulsdon with a greater number of elderly residents who cannot or do not want to become part of the electronic age.

 

Whilst we understand the Council’s current need for budget constraint, we believe that ceasing to send out Neighbour Notification Letters to be a retrograde step which will give residents a poorer standard of service. Site notices have already in the past been placed in an area near to a development and are a poor minimum standard which are usually small with small print, they can easily fall off from where they are placed or be deliberately removed thus leaving residents unaware of development which may affect their area and quality of life with no opportunity to object should they wish to do so and for which the Council can claim they have notified people.  ECRA objects to these changes.


QUEEN'S JUBILEE FUND RAISING

Jubille poster 3305 Race Night (2).jpg  

PARLIAMENTARY BOUNDRY CHANGES

 

The Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011 has been passed by the Government to reduce the number of parliamentary constituencies and MPs from 650 to 600.  The Boundary Commission is charged with re-drawing the boundaries.  In the case of Croydon there are too many constituents on Croydon North; Croydon Central and Croydon South (which includes Coulsdon).  The Boundary Commission has proposed four constituencies for Croydon, two wholly in Croydon – Croydon North and Croydon East – and two crossing the border into Sutton, which will affect Coulsdon.  ECRA have written to the Commission suggesting that we would prefer to remain in a constituency wholly in Croydon.  However, if this is not possible, we believe our new constituency should be called Coulsdon and Carshalton and not, as suggested, Purley & Carshalton of which Coulsdon would form part.  The name Coulsdon and Carshalton would reflect the two places mentioned in William the Conqueror’s 1086 Doomsday Book.

 

If you would like to know more about the Boundary Commission you can visit the following website. http://consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/ where you can make your comments or get details of where to write to:- Boundary Commission for England, 35 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BQ. Telephone: 020 7276 1102 Email address for general enquiries: information@bcommengland.x.gsi.gov.uk  Email address representations: reviews@bcommengland.x.gsi.gov.uk


SOUTH LONDON WASTE PLAN

 

The London Boroughs of Croydon, Kingston, Merton and Sutton have joined forces to work together to find solutions to disposing of waste within the Boroughs ECRA are in favour of recycling as much waste and materials as possible and to do this locally as long as it is on the lines of Purley Oak Re-Cycling Centre. However, we have major concerns with the proposal should there be any proposal to site a waste transfer station similar to the Factory Lane Croydon site or an incinerator or a site dealing with hazardous waste plant in Ulswater Crescent, Coulsdon which is in our area and another proposal for Beddington Lane which is in the London Borough of Sutton. We await developments but click here for further information http://southlondonwasteplan.limehouse.co.uk/portal


COULSDON TOWN CENTRE REGENERATION (Awaiting publication of Coulsdon Master Plan)

Town Centre - bus - road works - REDUCED_1.jpg

Update of Coulsdon Town Centre Regeneration – The works of the Coulsdon Town Centre Improvement Scheme began in March 2009  are  still not completely finished. and much of the pavement  and central strip in the middle of the road work  is already deteriorating .  The pavements are filthy but the Council say they have no funds to clean them.  ECRA are pursuing this  - watch this space!!

There has been no progress on the Aldi (Red Lion) site, although the site is being used as a temporary car park for the time being.   Despite Sainsbury's having planning permission to build at the old pinewood site, there has been no progress. There have been discussion with the Council for a new development but this does not include a supermarket.  A  new planning application. is awaited.

The draft Masterplan for Coulsdon has been approved by the Council and will go to public consultation once the Cane Hill Site has been sold by the Homes and Community Agency to a developer.  Negotiations are ongoing with the Council.  This now forms part of the Coulsdon Masterplan along with the Cane Hill Site.

Use type Coulsdon and Cane Hill area Cane Hill site
Residential 650 – 750 units 550 – 700 units
Retail 8,000 – 9,000 sq m  
Of which supermarket 6,000 – 7,000 sq m  
Industrial 2,000 – 2,500 sq m  
Office/innovation 5,000 – 6,000 sq m    4,000 – 5,000 sq m
Leisure/other

To see the full Draft Masterplan docuement click here

 
 


MARLPIT LANE PARK

 

There are planned improvements to the Memorial Ground.

  • Extedning the footpath to make a circular route around the grass
  • Installing some general fitness equipment in front of the pavilion
  • Renovating the toilets.
  • A company called Chave D'Ouro are taking over as proprietors of the cafe.  They are sharing the cost of renovating the building with the Councl, including the provision of a new roof and improvements to the forecourt so that people can sit outside on sunny days and will also be responsible for the maintenance of the toilets and selling tickets for the tennis courts and pitch and putt course.  Work should be finished by March 2012.


RED LION CAR PARK

 

Please be aware that  you must pay for parking at The Red Lion Car Park by MOBILE PHONE  by credit / debit card.  If you go over the one hour booked time you will be charged a fine likely to be in the region of £70.


WARNING - PAY & DISPLAY ENFORCEMENT

 

ENFORCEMENT IN BRIGHTON ROAD AND SIDE ROAD WITHIN COULSDON TOWN CENTRE

PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU OBTAIN A TICKET FROM THE MACHINES AS THE PARKING POLICE ARE ISSUING PENALTY NOTICES WHICH ATTRACT FINES IF YOU DO NOT DISPLAY A 'FREE TO PARK TICKET'.

BRIGHTON ROAD

One hour maximum stay free parking with ticket. No return within 2 hours to the same group of bays

SIDE ROADS

One hour maximum stay parking. First 30 minutes free parking with ticket. Payment for additional time.

RESIDENTIAL ROAD

One hour prohibition to park in various roads around Coulsdon.  Please make sure you either have displayed a Resident's Parking  Permit or park  on drives or away from the area during the prohibited hour.  Please let trademens who attend your home know that these prohibitions are in place so they are not issued with a penalty notice..


COULSDON TOWN CENTRE PARKING REVIEW

It appears that the report on The Review of Parking in the Coulsdon Town Centre which was to have gone to the Traffic Management Cabinet Committee Meeting of the 21st November was 'pulled' and taken as an urgent item to the 21st September where a decision was taken to continue the one hour free parking in the Brighton Road, The rest of the Town Centre's parking was not reviewed. To see a copy of the report click on this link. http://www.croydon.gov.uk/contents/documents/meetings/578451/2011/2011-09-21/tmcc20110921coulsdonimprovement.pdf

East Coulsdon Residetns' Association put forward the comments as set out below  We have sent in a supporting letter.  

The Rules at Present : You can park for one hour free in the Brighton Road and for 30 minutes in Chipstead Valley Road, Windermere Road stub, the bottom of  The Avenue, Station Approach and Malcolm Road at the bottom outside Waitrose only. You can no longer park free in Victoria Road these bays are now incorporated in the residents and other chargeable bays in the road. No other meters in Coulsdon  have a free period, but are changed from the start.

Change

Reason

Increase time on meter to 2 hours parking in all Town Centre meters with the first hour free

2 hours is better time for shoppers and for those with appointments. 

Consistency with all Town Centre parking meters in Brighton Road, Chipstead Valley Road, Windermere Road and other associated with the Town Centre. 2 hours with first hour free.

At present there at least four different variations and this is confusing.

An extra ticket machine in Chipstead Valley Road

At present there is only one machine and it is a long walk for those with disabilities

When one machine is not working the ability to use another machine for the ticket for those bays covered by similar machines (consistency will help this). 

At present the bays get suspended, very often the only fault is the machine has run out of tickets

The bay marking to be moved to the outside of the bay stones to allow easier parking of wider vehicles (as with loading bays).

 

Large cars & vans do not fit the bays, even with a small car it is not possible to see the bay marking from within the car. So you have to get out and check and very often move again.

To apply Monday to Saturday, but not on public holidays.

 

There are only a few shops and businesses open on public holidays and there does not need to be any enforcement.

Less draconian enforcement.

 

The existing enforcement officer do not use enough discretion and are too eager to issue tickets rather than speak to motorists

The Town Centre Parking Scheme. Across the summer with the help of Ccouncillor Ian Parker the Council agreed to our request to put a clear notice on meters saying you can park free, but must display a valid ticket.

The Starpark www.starpark.co.uk car park on the Red Lion site became free during September and usage went up dramatically. However, the main users would seem to have been a mixture of those commuting from the stations or those who would normally be using Lion Green Car Park. Just as mysteriously the £1.00 charge with excess charge of up to £70.00 for over staying was reinstated at the end of October causing usage to drop overnight to 3 or 4 cars per day. Starpark’s were given retrospective planning permission to continue to operate by Croydon Council.


CANE HILL

   

Cane Hill-Demolition machines_0.jpg

Cane Hill Options A - B - C - D.jpg

 

English Partnership (now The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA)) consulted with residents and presented 4 options for the proposed new footprint of the development at Cane Hill the results of which came down heavily in favour of any development being link with the Town Centre. Whilst the area is Green Belt Land, developers are able to build up to the size of the footprint of the original buildings but not necessarily on the original site.

The main Hospital complex, which closed in 1991, is in a dilapidated state of repair and like many buildings of  its age, asbestos is present. The buildings are derelict due to the asbestos, water penetration, vandalism and fire. The state of the buildings renders refurbishment largely impractical and demolition of the buildings started in July 2008 and was completed by the end of 2010. The chapel and administration blocks to be retained as they are locally listed buildings and it was likely that the water tower was to be retained as this is a local landmark and a number of people had expressed a desire for it to be kept. 

However, on the 13th November 2010 a fire took hold in the administration block and went on to destroy all but the front facade of the building. The fire also destroyed the iconic clock tower. At about midnight, firefighters saw the clocktower crash to the ground in the blaze. The fire had been started in the basement of the building, draughting its way up through the ground and first floors before finally torching the roof. Along with the clock tower, the fire destroyed many of the exterior masonry walls, rendering the building in a state of imminent collapse.

No planning application has been submitted. and  HCA are now to sell the site and are trying to find a purchaser to take over development  They are in still  in consultation with Croydon Council Planning Department, but there is no news of consultation with the public which is  / was expected in the summer of 2011. A Draft Masterplan has been published by the Council but consultation is on hold until the site is sold. Once consultation starts we will put the link to the site here. We await the next stage of consultation and for building to start.

The negotiations which have been taking place between Aldi and Croydon Council on a possible land swop seem to have come to nothing.

For further information visit http://canehill.org.uk/home/index.html


LIVING STREETS

 

Living Streets is the national charity working to create safe, attractive and enjoyable streets where people want to walk. We are working in Coulsdon to encourage more walking following public realm improvements on the High Street. One option is to hold a market, and they would like your views. www.surveymonkey.com/s/coulsdonresident

 

They would also like you to join other local residents that are pledging to walk more locally, be it for work or pleasure.

Visit http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/ for more information or contact Julia Crear 020 7377 4901 / email julia.crear@livingstreets.org.uk


CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED CLOSURE OF BRADMORE GREEN LIBRARY

 

Consultation Of Bradmore Library – Discussion continue to July 2011

The Council are re-structuring and proposing closing services, including Bradmore Green Library.  Each of the six libraries mentioned in the papers for possible closure is under review for various reasons. A public meeting about the future of Bradmore Green Library attended by Sara Bashford, the Cabinet Member for Culture and Sport and Aileen Cahill, Head of Libraries and the three East Coulsdon Councillors concerning the possibly threat was held.    Residents feel so strongly about this issue that they turned out in force with over 250 people crammed into the Congregational Church on January 11th / Although the consutation is official over we urge people to continue to write to the Council before it is too late.  It appers that the Council is in discussion with Wandsworth Council for a joint service - whether this is to be a public service or voluntary or other is not yet clear.  


GIVE YOUR VIEWS ON LIBRARIES

 

A referendum giving residents the change to comments on Council plans to look at different ways of running the Borough’s Libraries is launched by the Council, which agreed at Cabinet to start a market testing exercise to gage interest from outside organisations to take on the Library Service.  If you do or do not agree with this proposals or wish the Council to keep the Library Service directly under the Council, please contact the Council in one of the ways set out below.  

 

People are asked to visit a specially set up website www.croydonlibraries.org.uk and vote on whether they approve of or oppose the market testing exercise. As this does not allow for those who do not wish to go to a computer to do this, please write with your views to Councillor Sara Bashford and  / or John Rouse Chief Executive at London Borough of Croydon, Taberner House, Park Lane, Croydon, CR9 1JT


WHY BRADMORE GREEN LIBRARY

 

WHY BRADMORE GREEN SHOULD STAY OPEN

 

  • Used extensively by schools, families, older people.  Would damage village community, unlike other libraries on the list
  • In bad weather village completely cut off for four days at the worst with no public transport at all and dangerous to use roads down from the village. 
  • Cheapest to run per capita of all libraries under threat, second cheapest in LBC other than Central Library
  • Transport – isolated community, some people in south of Old Coulsdon would need to get two or three different buses to get to Coulsdon library.  Council policy want people to use cars less, most people in village can walk/wheel to Bradmore Green.  With cut in mobility component in DLA, even less chance for disabled people to go to library outside the area.
  • Disabled people/people with buggies/children – parking difficult in Coulsdon, can park outside Bradmore Green, either in the car park or on the street
  • It is problematic for wheelchair users to get to Coulsdon library by public transport. If rely on public transport, ramps on buses unreliable (saw wheelchair refused entry on bus on Monday as ramp not working).  Have LBC carried out a disabled assessment on impact of closing library on people with disabilities?
  • Coulsdon library could not cope with extra demand of use by three schools and two colleges in Old Coulsdon
  • Why do libraries come under heading of Leisure?  As used a good deal by schools, why not allocate some funding from Education budget?
  • There is a legal obligation to provide the services to 70,000+ users.  Almost as many people use Coulsdon library as use Coulsdon library with many more people in Coulsdon.
  • Why not use it for more services, e.g. person from Connexions, especially as service to be extended to all ages soon
  • Someone suggested sponsorship/advertising – why not consider this?
  • The £3million spent on Coulsdon would have kept the library open for 30 years.
  • Bad design of road surface in Coulsdon is now costing LBC huge amounts on maintenance.  About to start doing same to Purley – spending £2.25 million, which will have same problem.  Shouldn’t LBC prioritise people over fancy roads?


CONSULTATION ON NEIGHBOURHOOD PARTNERSHIP

 

 

NEIGHBOURHOOD PARTNERSHIP THREAT

 

The ECRA Committee believe that withdrawing Neighbourhood Partnerships is wrong. It reduces the opportunity for local people to question and hold to account local politicians and Council Officers. We also believe that it is in contradiction to the recently launched Local Government Bill launched by  the Minister Eric Pickles which intends to introduce more Localism.

 

A local resident has put a petition on the Croydon Council Website. ECRA would encourage all residents to log in and sign this petition (as a resident)  against the withdrawal of Neighbourhood Partnerships using the link below. Council Question Time has replaced the Neighbourhood Partnership at this time.


ECRA RULES

 

THE EAST COULSDON RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION : RULES 1

1. The Association shall be called „THE EAST COULSDON RESIDENTS‟ ASSOCIATION‟

2. AIMS :

(a) To advance and protect the interests of the Residents and enhance the amenities of the district.

(b) To ascertain the opinions of the Residents and to lay such opinions before the appropriate Authority when desirable.

(c) To promote such cultural and social activities as may from time to time be deemed desirable.

(d) To co-operate with other Organisations in any of these aims.

3. The Association shall be non-party and non-sectarian.

4. All adult Residents in the East Coulsdon Area (as defined by the map on the web site) shall be eligible for membership.

5. The Executive Committee has the right to refuse or revoke membership of persons who act contrary to the aims of the Association.

6. The minimum annual subscription shall be such as is recommended by the Executive Committee from time to time and approved by the Annual General Meeting, which shall cover all adult members of the same family unit resident at the same address. Subscriptions are due on 1st April in each year and payment thereof shall constitute membership "except those excluded under rule 5".

7. The Officers of the Association shall be a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, and such Assistant Honorary Secretaries and/or Treasurers as may be considered necessary, all of whom shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting.

8. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers, together with up to fifteen other members as the Annual General Meeting shall determine; five to form a quorum. The Executive Committee shall hold meetings as required, and shall have power to co-opt members either to fill vacancies on the Committee or in a consultative capacity.

9. In the event of a vacancy arising, the Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt members until the following Annual General Meeting.

10. The Treasurer will be responsible for the Accounts and cheque books. All cheques will require two signatures from authorised officers.

11. Any nominations for Officers, other members of the Executive Committee and Honorary Auditor made before the Annual General Meeting must be in the hands of the Honorary Secretary in writing seven clear days prior to the date of that meeting.

12. The Annual General Meeting shall be held in May or June. Further Special General Meetings shall be held whenever the Executive Committee so decide.

13. An Extra Ordinary General Meeting may be called at any time on application in writing, stating the object for which such General Meeting is desired and signed by no fewer than twenty members. No business other than that stated on the Agenda shall be dealt with at the Meeting.

14. The Audited Accounts for the previous year ended 31st March shall be presented to the Annual General Meeting and an Honorary Auditor shall be elected at that meeting to act for the current year.

15. Notice of each Annual General meeting with the Agenda and Audited Accounts shall be available to Stewards and be published on the web site at least fourteen days prior to the date of the meeting. At least seven clear days‟ notice shall be given of other General Meetings.

16. The Association shall not be dissolved except by the vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting at a General Meeting, on the Agenda of which shall appear the question of dissolution.

17. On dissolution any surplus funds shall be paid to local charities to be decided by the outgoing Executive Committee.

18. No alteration to these Rules shall be made except by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting at a General Meeting, on the Agenda of which shall appear the proposed alterations. No Rule shall be amended within twelve months of a previous decision on a proposal to amend such Rule, except upon the recommendations of the Executive Committee and all notices of suggested alterations shall be sent to the Honorary Secretary in writing at least twenty eight days prior to the AGM.

19. The Executive Committee shall have the power to discuss and act upon any matter consistent with Rules 2 and 3.

20. The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint sub-committees as may be deemed advisable for special purposes, and if considered necessary may co-opt on such sub-committees any member or members of the Association. The Chairman and Secretary of the Association shall be ex-officio members of all sub-committees.

21. Only the Executive Committee or persons authorised by the Executive Committee have the authority to speak for or act on behalf of the Association.

22. Any person purporting to represent the Association without the Authority of the Executive Committee will have their membership revoked.

23. Decisions at General or Committee Meetings, except where otherwise provided for in these Rules, shall be taken by a simple majority vote of members present and voting. Voting shall be by show of hands unless a ballot is demanded by at least a third of the members present.

Adopted AGM June 2010


LOCAL CELEBRATIONS FOR THE QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE

 

A Festival Committee together with Tollers Design Centre has been in discussion and making plans for a local celebration for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012 for which there will be an additional Bank Holiday on the 4th and 5th of June (moving the  traditional Whitsun Bank holiday to the first Monday in June).  The Committee is bringing together local organisations who would like to make a contribution by staging an event, promoting their organisations and generally supporting the venture.  The Festival Committee is also putting toether a programme of visual art exhibitions, craft demonstrations, music, drama, literary events at venues in the localty.  Further information will be published in the coming mnths.  In the meantime, if you have any questions or would like to discuss the proposals please  contact Tollers Design Centre. Telephone number 01737 557673 - e-mail artsfest.tdc@btconnect.com