COULSDON TOWN CENTRE

Background : Coulsdon is a very nice place to live, it has good transport road, rail, bus and direct links to Gatwick Airport, It has quality housing, schools and marvellous countryside. However, the town centre has been in steady decline and a state of flux since the closure of Cane Hill hospital 20 years ago and does not offer the local population what they need from a modern local town centre. The go ahead and construction of the Bypass along with the town centre makeover have improved the visual look and has also improved the town centre environment by making it more pedestrian friendly.

However, as confirmed by the Master Plan and its supporting reports the town centre and surrounding area lacks a number of things that make the town viable for the future. These include: the lack of housing mix which is biased towards larger property with large gardens, these are too large and expensive for young professional people, young families and for older people to maintain. A much better mix of smaller apartments and houses with small 2 bedroom houses with smaller gardens along with family 3 and 4 bedroom houses are needed.

The town centre lacks one of the big four or a larger specialist supermarket for the weekly family shop (although local residents do not support a huge supermarket). The town centre also lacks modern health centre facilities for the local medical practices with good parking and access by public transport.   There is a need to improve other local community and public services such as re-locating the Safer Neighbourhoods Police Teams into the town centre. The stakeholders would like to see a new public library combined with the CALAT adult learning centre and a possible innovation centre that also has meeting rooms.  We would also like to see improved leisure facilities including a skate park for younger people, a public garden and garden centre would be an asset. The town centre also needs to provide more employment to bring people into the town during the day.

We would like to see the development provide employment and training opportunities for local people. The developer should provide opportunities for local young people to obtain apprenticeships and training opportunities during and after construction. Local infrastructure such as health, education transport and utilities must be improved to cope with the new development.

In summary: the town centre needs to be made more attractive to bring people to it and for them to spend some time here. We see the Cane Hill development as assisting with this process and we wish to see a development that complements the town centre not competes with it, providing opportunities for local people.

“The Cane Hill site should be a catalyst for the regeneration of Coulsdon town centre and surrounding area”.

Six Key issues  for the Cane Hill site

1.       Protecting the views: Cane Hill is on a predominant site rising in height to the south of town and can be seen from everywhere in the surrounding area.  We would like to protect as much as the green outlook as possible from all the surrounding area. This includes views from Old Coulsdon, Farthing Downs, West Coulsdon, Woodcote and Hartley areas. From work already undertaken as part of the Master Plan a low level development from Lion Green to the existing admin buildings  along the centre spine of the site and contained were possible within the existing woodland belts would suit this.

2.       Transport Routes: This is a very important issue and we would like to see adequate parking on site for residents, visitors and businesses. 

(a)The site should not be a large cul-de-sac and should have more than one exit and there should be the ability to drive through the site which should be laid out so as not to encourage rat running.

(b)There should be a good bus service providing links to the town centres and stations and other bus services. Any bus services should run through the site providing a service to existing areas as well. An exit from the development on to the southern bypass roundabout could facilitate better connections to Coulsdon South Station

(c)There should be good, safe, quick pedestrian walking routes around the development and to and from the town centre and stations. The existing footpaths across the site from Brighton Road to Portnals Road must be maintained and improved.

3.      Quality Housing: The Master Plan indicates the there is a need for a range of housing from family sizes to small houses with gardens and apartments. These should be of quality design with adequate room sizes to cater for existing furniture. Building materials should reflect existing local designs (we do not want revolutionary designs which become slums in 10 years).  Houses and apartments must be able to cope with the Council’s recycling programme and have adequate storage for waste and recycling bins. A limit of 4 stories should be put on housing (in line with the previous maximum ward height).

4.       Green Belt Management: a) The Cane Hill site is situated within green belt and we believe this needs to be managed to provide new and improved opportunities for public recreation such as walking, cycling and horse riding, while protecting the existing fauna and flora.        (b) The existing farm should be maintained on the site even if relocated.

(c)New footpaths, bridle and cycle routes should be provided to complement the existing ones.

(d) As much of the existing tree-scape as possible should be kept.

(e) A green space should be maintained at the rear of the two schools, Smitham and St Aidan’s, to maintain their green outlook.

(f) The existing Surrey Iron railway embankment, a scheduled ancient monument, should be made a feature that can be appreciated by the public

5.       The Remaining buildings:  We are very keen to keep the existing buildings and incorporate them into any new development. The Tower for over 150 years has been a dominant land mark that can be seen from all the surrounding area and this should remain. The Chapel is also very attractive and its features should be kept in any development. The admin building was very attractive prior to its collapse after the fire. If it is not possible to entirely reconstruct it then its general design and clock tower should be incorporated into any new building.  We would like the existing building incorporated into a commercial development which might include a hotel, restaurant or conference complex, small commercial workshops.

6.       Lion Green Car park: (a) We support this and the surrounding area being part of the planning process for the Cane Hill site.

(b) We support the development of a large Supermarket to make Coulsdon more viable for shoppers. However, the Stakeholder group has concerns whether Lion Green Car Park is a suitable site for a large supermarket. which if developed wrongly, rather than enhance the town it could have the opposite effect by drawing people away from the town centre by promoting home-supermarket-home only journeys.

(c) The Stakeholder support development of community facilities on this site

(d) We are also concerned over the increase in traffic and pollution this would have on Lion Green Road and the A237. 

(e) The car park is an important part of Coulsdon providing short and long term parking for the town centre and local stations and adequate car parking must be an important part of Coulsdon’s future.

(f) It is important that the local scout troops which meet in Richmond Hall continue to have adequate meeting facilities.

Charles King Stakeholder group                                           9^th October 2011

Bang & Olufsen in Chipstead Valley Road has closed due to the proprietors retiring.  The Fruit Bowl grocery stall has opened outside The Red Lion site and is open on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays - 07956 887381.  Art Rebellion are now serving teas and coffess in addition to the art on the walls - 020 8662 0007 - www.artrebellion.co.uk   Zodiac Gymnasium has opened and is a club which offers classes to boys and girls at Unti 5, adjacent to Coulsdon Town Centre Railways Station - 07808 522938 - www.zodiacgymnastics.org.uk

Volkswagen Dealership had plannng permission granted to build a showroom next to Coulsdon Audi on the Gateway Business Park.  Doble Motor Cycles have submitted a planning application for a workshop and offices behind their existing building in Brighton Road.  The Pinewood site is in the pre-planning stage for 60 flats on the approach to Coulsdon Town Station.  ECRA, along with other RA's are supporting these applications.  However, we have opposed the application for a 24 hour MOT Testing Station and Garage on Edward Road as this is a residential street which is also a cul-de-sac.

The Cane Hill  and Masterplan is progressing.  Five developers were shortlisted in October to develop the site. The Stakeholder Group of local Residents Associations. business groups and community groups were asked to submitt 6 key issues to put to the developers.  These were:-

• Protecting the views - from all parts of Coulsdon
• Transport Routes - including cars, public transport, pedestrian access, leisure including cycles and horse riding.
• Quality House - the need for a range of houses from 2 to 4 bedrooms with gardens.  Apartments limited to a height of four floors.
• Green Belt Management - to maintain as much of the green belt as possible and open it up for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
•  The Remaining Buildings - to keep the tower as a local landmark and reuse the chapel and, if possible, the burned down admin building
• Lion Green Car Park - we need to maintain good parking in Coulsdon and this site could include some new community and  / or leisure facilities - the Council are suggesting a supermarkets but this is not what we favour

·        Brighton Road by the old Red Lion site and

·        Brighton Road with the junction of Lion Green Road..

These cameras were connected to the Council’s monitoring system on the 21^st October as confirmed by Anthony Brooks, Director of Public Safety. 

After the incident outside of the flower shop at the northern end of the town, the Council have been asked to provide a third CCTV camera pointing south towards the town from Farthing Way. Unfortunately the Council currently do not have any budget to do so as the funding from TfL was only for two cameras.  Both Mr Brooks and Councillor Osland have said they will pursue the provision of a third camera when they can.

Had the CCTV camera been installed with the regeneration works there may have been footage which may have identified the culprits who smashed windows in the town on the night of the riots in August and discouraged the ‘yob’ element who sometimes gather in the town.

They may also have recorded the robberies which have been taking place at cash machines in the town due to ‘cloning’ which are happening more regularly.  These incidents are generally happening in the early morning or late evening when the banks are closed and, if reported to the bank, all the banks in the town then turn all of the cash machines off.  By the time people report it, the perpetrators and their equipment are long gone.  One of the reasons they target Coulsdon is that there were no CCTV cameras.

The police say that even with CCTV cameras installed they may not have recorded the incidents as they are not specifically aimed at the banks. They liaise with the banks each time there is an incident and have advised that the banks should install their own CCTV.

The police advise that members of the public should always shield their pin number and that, prior to putting their card into the cash machine they should feel the card entry slot as a loop should be evident and come away. There is often a button sized mini camera also installed by the criminals aimed at the key pad to record your pin number. By shielding your number, and even moving your fingers around so that the pattern of your movements on the number pad cannot detected, this will stop criminals getting access to your accounts. Please be vigilant and aware of those around you when withdrawing cash from cash machines. 

If you are robbed please phone 999.  Coulsdon Safer Neighbourhood policing mobile number is 0208 721 2465 and e-mail address CoulsdonWest.snt@met.police.uk.

Councillors are immune from parking charges as they can use their Members' permits to park wherever they like for free. Perhaps this should be one of the cuts which will save money for the Council in their drive to make savings and make Councillors realise how residents suffer from their decision if they have to pay for parking and find spaces and not be able to park whereever they like without penalty which applies to the rest of us!!

Commenced from Monday 15^th March for the Pay & Display Meters. 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

ROAD ROADS

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

With parking meters installed, in the future the Council only have to make administrative decisions to alter charges - as they do in Chipstead Valley Road

We would like to find out if residents think that such a scheme would be a good idea or not and if we should push LBC to think again. Please let us know your view by emailing info@eastcoulsdon.co.uk .

Here are  representations of how Clyde sees Coulsdon.  Canopies in the form of window blinds were used within Coulsdon in years gone by so would only be an updating of original concepts.

The LBCs release on this says........The first phase of improvements to Coulsdon town centre was the A23 relief road, Farthing Way, which has removed a substantial level of traffic from Brighton Road as it passes through the town centre. This has provided a catalyst for change in Coulsdon, providing the opportunity to reclaim the central area for the benefit of an enhanced pedestrian environment. TfL and London Borough of Croydon in partnership  began the second phase of improvement to the town centre in March 2009. The development is in the context with the wider area of the town centre and focuses on the length of Brighton Road between Windermere Road and Lion Green Road and complements measures previously implemented by Croydon Council in Chipstead Valley Road and sought to make Coulsdon more accessible, more permeable, more legible and more vibrant. To revitalise the character and pattern of activity in the town centre: restore the town centre as a busy high street; make the town a more attractive destination; encourage development and street frontage opportunities; support a vibrant array of local shops and community uses; establish a high-quality street, public spaces and amenity environment and stimulate pedestrian movement within a pleasant and safe streetscape setting. The overall concept of the second phase scheme is to create distinctive streets and spaces that relate to their local character, scale and function. The key elements of the concept are the definitions of: the gateways - important arrival and entry points into the town centre; the boulevard - the section of Brighton Road that runs from Lion Green Road to Chipstead Valley Road and forms a link with the surrounding green areas; the street - the section of Brighton Road that runs from Chipstead Valley Road to Windermere Road and is currently the most concentrated shopping area; the centre - the junction of Chipstead Valley Road and Brighton Road including the large section of pavement in front of the Red Lion site.

Whilst we appreciate that the aim is to improve the look of the town by widening pavements and reducing the width of the road, buses will be stopping in the flow of traffic and the parking bays appear to be very narrow The works themselves have caused chaos which has resulted in less footfall in the town as people cannot find parking spaces and the effect of the temporary traffic lights with one-way traffic. The works are due to be completed in the Autumn.  The proposed implementatin of Pay & Display Meters consultation period is now closed.  All the local Residents' Assocaitions and Neighbourhood Partnership are opposing their installation. The decision by the Council for or against pay & display metering will be taken on 13th October at the Town Hall at the Traffic Management Cabinet Committee.

Threr are now discussions to develop this site for new development on this site.  We will keep you up to date once a planning application has been submitted.

After the unveiling ceremony we went into the Old Comrades Club for speeches and refreshments

It is hoped that there will be more art put into the town and would appreciate any suggestions you may have.  Please  call 01737 554443