Penge and Cator Councillors

PARKS

We can now look forward to the first stage of a general improvement to Crystal Palace Park.  Some details still need to be sorted out but the decline of this great local green space has hopefully been stopped.    House building is always contentious but no part of the park currently used  by local residents is being lost.   And in  return local people will benefit from a vastly improved park with more useable green space and protection for the heritage of this historic site.   

Our other parks are also being helped.   We have active Friends organisations for Cator and Alexandra parks and one developing for Penge Rec.  This year we have enjoyed summer music, Christmas carols and bulb planting (opposite).  The Pool River walkway has also been cleaned up.  We have to continue to make our parks more welcoming for all the community.  And, if you want more money to be spent on Penge parks, vote here:

http://www.london.gov.uk/parksvote/region/southeast/

HOUSING

We're still not building enough affordable housing in Bromley and too many Penge people are living in overcrowded or poor conditions.  We support more housing for our residents but we cannot expect it all to be built in the already crowded areas of the borough like Penge.  The development in Green Lane looks good and will provide much needed housing but as warned it is too large for the area.  We will continue to push to make all parts of the borough share the responsibility for  providing  decent housing for all.   

STREET CLEANING AND REFUSE COLLECTION

The council has admitted that street cleaning is not always adequate in areas like ours.  We have had to ask for special treatment for a number of roads including Royston Road, Stodart Road, Kingswood Rd, Venner Rd, Kent House Lane. Clean street can make a real difference to our quality of life. We're grateful to the council officers who go to great lengths to clear up the mess and will continue to press for more resources to be made available for street cleaning. 

HIGH STREET

There have been some positive signs in the High Street.  It was sad to see established shops go but we now have a new restaurant, café, greengrocer, Wilkinsons and Lidl.  There are still hopes of reviving a market in Maple Rd but a new café and a bike shop have given the road more life.   

We have won a grant to improve the High Street.  In the New Year the council will start replacing some of the paving, removing unnecessary railings and bollards and old phone boxes.   We are working hard to make the High Street a more pleasant place to shop. 

CRIME

Most crime is falling in Bromley.   However, we still have a lot to do to maintain the community's full confidence in local policing.  We have more police and support officers based in their new police shop in Maple Rd.  Your local councillors are members of the Penge Safer Neighbourhood Panel to make sure your concerns are acted on. 

ROAD SAFETY

We are often asked to help residents who want to safer roads.  Bromley Tories do not permit road humps or speed cameras.  As a result, we have ineffective and unpopular schemes like those in Maple Road, Hawthorn Grove and Kings Hall Road.  Sometimes the proposals are just daft and we have lobbied against unwanted build outs in the streets off Croydon Road.  We will continue to press the council to listen to residents' views when they want to introduce safety measures. 

A planning application has been submitted for the top floors of Yeoman  House in Croydon Road to be converted into an 89 bedroom hotel.   

 This would be a boost for the local economy thiough I udnerstand that the planners may have concerns over lack of access to public transport in that location. 

Over Chsirmas we heard that the planning inspector has refused permission for the most recent plans for 20 Southey St - the old Cakebread's site.  (Demolition of existing light industrial buildings and erection of 2/3 storey block with 6 flats.)

The reasons were that the proposed building would be unduly prominent from Southey St and would result in loss of privacy for Raleigh Rd gardens because of proximity.  The inspector rejected our complaints regarding overlooking and sunlight.   Parking was not considered an issue in this application.

This is good news and we are pleased to have resisted this development.  Usually we would warn that the developers will be back with a proposal that attempts to overcome the reasons for refusal.   However, in present circumstances, that may not be so easy.   As usual, we shall try to keep you informed of any developments.   

Vote for extra funds for Penge parks at http://www.london.gov.uk/parksvote/region/southeast/