Regular readers of our blog will be aware that over a number of years Coulsdon Town councillors and residents from across the area have been fighting hard to ensure there was adequate parking provision for the community in any proposed development of the Lion Green Road car park.
It was tough, but due to relentless lobbying from us, residents and residents' groups, the developer consented to providing 116 parking spaces for public use.
These spaces are vital to supply local businesses with the parking capacity to ensure good provision for shoppers to visit our district centre. Finally emerging after months of being locked down due to Covid, our shops need all the help they can get.
That's why it was so surprising to have recently been notified of a 'non-material amendment' to the application being proposed by the developer that would reduce the total number of parking spaces from 116 to just 94.
The developer is the disgraced, utterly discredited Brick by Brick - which you'll know is the construction company owned wholly by Croydon's failing Labour Council.
To go from 116 to 94 spaces is a huge reduction and completely unacceptable. It is opposed by local Residents' Associations like ECRA as well as all Coulsdon Conservative councillors. As my colleague Cllr Clancy has said:
To propose reducing the number of public parking spaces from 116 to 94 is not acceptable without a full reconsideration of the permission granted.
This car park is essential to continued thriving town centre uses, and in its previous capacity accommodated over 200 spaces. Residents will be very disappointed by this latest outcome which is the latest iteration in ever reduced car parking access for the town. The town centre is a place a great many residents rely on for essential uses and many can only access by car due to personal circumstances and topography, for example.
We have objected in the strongest possible terms, and sought assurances from Croydon Planning Officers that this will be fiercely opposed.
Rest assured we will fight this tooth and nail - and keep you updated as we progress our campaign against this sneaky, last minute attempt to get one over on our community.
We need as many local people as possible to register an official objection. To view the application please visit the Council's Planning Portal. To object yourself, email [email protected].
