CURRENT ISSUES AROUND EAST COULSDON

Once again the Council are consulting on the futre of Homefield House having backed down from their proposals to close the home about 5 years ago in the face of residents and local Councillors fighting to keep it open.  They try again! 

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. 

There have been lots of complaints about lack of street and road repairs which have been in a poor state for a long time, even before the snow made them worse, with not even many temporary repairs being done. Dave Wickens  of LBC  did get temporary repairs done in a few days in Chaldon, Downs, Reddown and Fairdene Roads but  unfortunately these are almost back to where they were.  Terry said there is an 11,000 backlog of road repairs. Charlie has chased again 

Drain covers in Brighton Road – the temporary repairs not now working and problems have re-emerged. Charlie to get in touch with London Borough Croydon and press for these to be permanently repaired.

After much consultation and opposition LBC have decided to put a CPC in the roads. Alex, who lives in the area, said most residents are not too please as this is going to push the problem further up the road.

Wilhelmina and The Netherlands - The area referred to as The Dutch Village is to be officially made into an Local Area of Special Character which will help to fight of developers and can be used as a reason to turn down applications. First steps to be able to turn a LASC into a conservation area.

The City of London is  working with LB Croydon  and Tandridge to get temporary licences for Dog Walkers, but is all a bit vague. Often they are a Common Nuisance. One person can be seen walking as many as 15 dogs at once. Another has 9 Labradors, half grown and boisterous which are allowed to run all over the place. The problem is this is quite lucrative and often walkers become abusive if approached. The main worry is about children and  the dogs not being on leashes. If you experience these problems, contact  the Council to send out Dog Wardens on a regular basis.

One of our East Coulsdon Councillors has  reported residents have complained about rats in the area, particularly at Tesco’s in Purley. The Council’s have policy of no exterminating because of the danger to the public  of the poisons used and they are not allowed to put bait down  on public land. The question was asked, what of the danger of the rats to the public? A complaint that there is a greater danger of rats propagating. and our Councillors are pursing this 

Broken lamps are still causing  problems. 16 are not working in Brighton Road alone. East Coulsdon Councillora  have been pursuing for over a year with Charles supplying a list  of those not working. Charlie believes that LBCroydon  may never  have changed the contract with the Contractor. The lampposts originally belonged to TfL and before the road was handed back to Croydon. LBCroydon did accept LBCs  responsibly, but still we did not get any action. The Officer who agredd liability  has been replaced by another Officer. EDF have replaced some lampposts, but have left the old stump in place.  Charlie  and our Councillors are to e-mail again and chase up again.

The long awaited  white stop lines for traffic going towards Brighton Road at the Woodplace Lane Bridge to make  it clear there is priority for oncoming traffic are now in place and seem to be working.