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Here is the link to the Coulsdon Business Website which will give you information on what is currently going on in Coulsdon Town Centre and events which are taking place |
PARKING ISSUES
The Traffic Management Cabinet Committee met on 21st July and again on the 13th October. The 'statutory consultation' which the Council were obliged to carry out in this instance resulted in over 2000 thousand "material letters of objections" to the scheme, votes of 95% against at Neighbourhood Partnership Meetings: and the overwhelming protests at the Pulbic Meeting of the 18th September: letters of objection from all four local Residents' Association and personal pleas to the Committee. At the Public Meeting which was held on the 18th September it was made clear to the Chair of the TMCC, the one Coulsdon East Councillor who attended and the Officer who is responsible for promoting the scheme that Coulsdon residents do not want pay & display metering - all to no avail. The Committee resolved to ignore these by agreeing to instal pay & display meters in the town. The Brighton Road is, for the time being at least, to have one hour free parking. - but not the side roads. However they also resolved to introduce and alter pay & display meters allowing only half an hour free in other areas of the Town. 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 |
SMITHAM STATION
Not often you get chance to rename a station In response to the letter by Peter Morgan last week This has been discussed for sometime by the Council, the operator Southern Railway, Network rail and the Dept of Transport and they have consulted the local user group East Surrey Transport Committee. To expand on the history and the existing name of the station Smitham you have to look back at both local and railway history which Peter Morgan only touched on in his letter. In doing this you will discover it is not only uncommon to rename a station, but also a town after a station and there are many local examples of this. After the The second local line was the Tattenham Corner line which was completed as far as Kingswood in 1897 and Tadworth in 1900 and on to Tattenham Corner opening on Smitham was opened 1904 and was clearly named after the local village of Smitham Bottom which had its name changed by the Post Office in 1914 and I am sure if had not been for the First World War the station would have also changed its names to reflect the new name Other local changes have been Purley which was also part of the parish of Other local station renaming include Stoats Nest 1841 moving to This brings us to today. It is fair to say that most local people and railway people know Smitham is in It is the view of East Surrey Transport Committee that it is time to bring the station name into line with the name of the town. However, there are still some historic connections with the name Smitham such two local roads have this name the local junior school (although not on the same site) and the adults education centre use this name. So perhaps the best new name would be |
LOCAL CHARTER SURVEYOR'S VISION FOR COULSDON IN CONJUNCTION WITH HORDEN, CHERRY LEE ARCHITECTS
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Clyde had put the theory of covered walkway forward several times over the last few years and, in conjunction with architects Horden Cherry Lee, they presented to the London Borough of Croydon their concept of how 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 |
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IMPROVEMENT SCHEME
Details of the Scheme can be found via this link to London Borough of Croydon (LBC) where downloads of the plans can be obtained. 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. |
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CANE HILL
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Specialist demolition contractors still demolishing the Old Cane Hill Hospital buildings, which includes asbestos materials. They are re-cycling the bricks and roof tiles . A lot of demolition but still no firm idea or application although they have done much consultation with residents. They have assured Charlie that they do not intend to demolish the Water Tower unless it is found to be dangerous. They say they are keen to put an application in, but no decision as to which option. – Hopefully Homes and The Communities Agency (HCA) should be big enough to still build during recession. |
DE JA NEW
This gateway site into the town has been boarded up and building work from the original approval has ceased for some time. The site has been tided up a little but no other progress. Worry over the quality of the materials to be used. A new Planning Application was put into the Council to take in more buildings attached to the current site but was refused at the Development Control Committee of the 26th February, 2009. We await further developments but understand a new planning application has been submitted for a Café with 10 flats. The Planning application 09/01192/P put in for a building to encompass the Pet Shop which is one of the successful shops in the town has been refused by the Council |
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LION GREEN ROAD CAR PARK
There have been several Proposals and many rumours for Lion Green Road Car Park with possible Leisure Centre and supermarkets being muted. At this time the Council are still in negotiations and all we can do is watch this space. |
RED LION SITE
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The old Red Lion Public House was demolished in 2002 and has remained derelict and boarded up ever since. This is in the heart of the town and, at one time, it was proposed that this would be a Town Square proposed through 'The Mayors 100 Spaces' which is now defunct. These proposals have come to nothing although many would still like this to happen. Aldi, the present owners of the site, have put in several planning applications which have all been refused by LBC and generally opposed. The London Borough of Croydon are currently using the site as a construction site and to store materials for the regeneration which is currently taking place. Aldi put the site up for sale but it is not rumoured that they have decided to put in another planning application for the site. Watch this space |
SAINSBURYS / PINE WOOD SITE
Sainsbury have obtained planning permission to build a supermarket on this site but nothing is happening. Although Pinewood has gone, Jemca, a Toyota dealer has a short term lease. Sainsbury say has been put on indefinte hold. |
BY PASS BUS LANEThe Mayor Boris Johnson has agreed to review the bus lane on the By-Pass for its possible removal. He has written to TfL asking about it as buses do not use and the vast majority of traffic is cars. We await outcome |
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