It’s been a busy couple of months since the elections in May and as your councillors, we wanted to give you an update of what’s going on in Kenley and across the borough.
Healthy school streets
The council is planning to introduce a Healthy School Street scheme for Kenley Primary school, similar to the one already in operation for Harris Primary in Little Roke Road. We’ve delivered a letter to every resident in Mosslea Road and New Land Barn, who will be most affected, but wanted let other people who know about the scheme as well. Under the proposal, Mosslea Road and New Barn Lane will become a Pedestrian and Cycle Zone only (except for those eligible for permits) between the hours of 8- 9.30am and 2 - 4pm from Monday to Friday, during school term time only. Residents living within the zone will be eligible to apply for a free School Street Exemption permit, so they can have access at all times.
There are several similar schemes running across the borough. The aim of Healthy School Streets is to help pupils to have safer, healthier journeys to and from school, by closing the surrounding roads to cars and other motor traffic during school drop-off and pick-up times. This will not affect residents access – if you live in those roads, you will be able to apply for a permit.
The consultation runs until 30 July and the council is keen to receive feedback from residents. You can send an email mailto:[email protected], quoting scheme reference MOSSLEASS/2022.
Planning and development
Under the last administration at the council, numerous planning applications for Kenley were approved. As KENDRA reports, as a result of applications either granted or pending, there are 441 new dwellings in place of 51 previous houses in the ward. This equates to an additional 887 bedrooms.
A key part of Mayor Jason Perry’s manifesto was to stop inappropriate developments and drop the zones of focussed intensification like those we have in Kenley. On his first day in office, Mayor Perry announced he wanted to start the process of removing the planning design guide (SPD2) and at his first Cabinet Meeting he recommended the removal of the guidance. This will go to full council as a recommendation later this month.
The new planning committee is chaired by a Conservative councillor and at the first meeting of the committee last month, an application for 8 new houses in place of 2 bungalows on Firs Road was refused.
Both Cllr Ola Kolade and I have met with several residents’ groups to help with enforcement issues on existing developments and ensure conditions such as the construction logistics plans are formulated to have as little impact as possible on residents. We realise that its tough living next to or near a site (there are plenty in Kenley), and we’re happy to work with residents on these issues. As an aside, there are several residents groups in Kenley, such as KENDRA, WURA and Foxley RA – all of which support residents on such issues and organise events such as litter picks and renewal of the Wattendon pond. Getting involved is a great way to meet other people living in Kenley.
Purley pool
I’m so pleased to report that the Mayor is moving forward with plans to reopen Purley pool. An independent report into different options for opening the pool were approved at Cabinet last week. Several local schools use the pool for swimming lessons, it’s such an important community asset. Find out more here.
Regenerating Croydon town centre
Croydon town centre needs regenerating, this is clear. The Mayor has taken several steps in the right direction, including submitting a £20m levelling up bid and tackling anti-social behaviour.
Looking forward
Mayor Perry and the Conservative administration have an ambitious plan for Croydon, and both Ola and I are proud to be part of the team turning the borough round. But it is going to be tough. I think that everyone knows that the previous Labour administration bankrupted the borough, and we need to be realistic about soon this situation can be rectified.
In the interests of transparency and openness, the Mayor has instructed a deep dive into the council finances by ‘opening the books’. This exercise will closely review the council’s balance sheet, capital financing arrangements, reconciliations, and financial relationships with council-owned companies. Findings will be reported to Cabinet, Scrutiny and Overview Committee and the Audit and Governance Committee no later than January 2023. This will guide the 2023/24 budget setting process and ongoing path to longer-term financial stability.
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Your local Councillors
From 23rd July, Ola and I will be holding regular ‘drop-in’ surgeries at Kenley Memorial Hall so that you can come and talk to us and get some help and advice about any council related issues that you have. See details below.
We’re already helping residents with issues around bin collections, waste and fly tipping, council tax rebates, planning and development (as mentioned above) – in fact Ola has been supported residents with almost 30 planning applications over the past year, council and social housing, anti-social behaviour, road safety issues, parking restrictions, street champions (a scheme where the council support residents who want to litter pick in their area), dog waste to name just a few.
If you aren’t able to drop in for a chat, you can also contact us on the details below.
