The three Coulsdon Town councillors on Wednesday met virtually with the Council’s Head of Estates to raise ours and residents’ concerns about the sale of the CALAT site and Coulsdon Community Centre that had recently appeared in Council papers. The sale of the sites will not involve Brick x Brick, would be in the first tranche of asset sales and given priority.
Following lobbying by councillors and the Coulsdon Community Centre management a number of assurances have been secured that should allay fears. But we remain vigilant.
The future of the new health centre
Residents will recall that part of the development plan for the CALAT site included establishing a new health centre. Due to the lack of progress with Brick by Brick, local clinicians have been exploring a potential secondary site on Cane Hill. This proposal was strongly rejected by local councillors. The Centre should be located where promised on the CALAT site with the relocated Community Centre.
Ongoing and more intense discussion with the NHS is required. The NHS remain keen to bring a much-needed new Health Centre to Coulsdon alongside a new and better located Community Centre.
Protecting the Coulsdon Community Centre
The Council still intends to proceed with relocating the current Barrie Close Community Centre to the CALAT site. The planning permission granted for the two sites needs renewing as it expires on 1st April this year. Councillors pushed for early renewal and this was assured. Any potential tweaks to the application will be done in full consultation with the Centre management team and local councillors.
Concerns have been raised about the timeline for development. Councillors have been assured that the Centre will be moved into their new home on the CALAT site before any attempt to demolish and develop the Barrie Close site takes place. This will enable the 3,500 classes, meetings, events, parties and performances to transition as swiftly as possible into the new venue. Any attempt to stall the development until the lease on the Community Centre expires would be strongly resisted. This is thankfully not part of the Council’s plans.
We left the meeting assured that the new Health and relocated Community Centre remain a priority but a new momentum is required. We will continue to oversee the plans as they progress over the coming weeks and months.
Councillor Luke Clancy
Councillor Mario Creatura
Councillor Ian Parker
