Act quickly to protect your local green spaces
18/07/2019 17:59:00.......Posted by Tim Pollard

Croydon Council is currently doing the evidence-gathering for the next revision of its local plan and has called for people to highlight small green spaces which they particularly value. It is really important that local people tell the council how they use those spaces and why, when they currently have no particular local protection, they should get protection now.

In other parts of the borough the council's developer, Brick By Brick, has already indicated that it wants to build housing on lots of small green spaces. It is really important that we get protection for as many of our spaces as possible to ensure the same does not happen here.

To help residents know which spaces are meant and to focus thoughts on how those spaces are used, I have pulled together a form you can use as a template. This is mainly intended for those smaller spaces which are included in zones generally earmarked for housing, rather than our parks and public gardens, most of which are satisfactorily protected already.

The form on the link below is a PDF form, but if you want it as a Word document, you can download it here.

Here is the form

Barrowsfield planning application deadline tomorrow
18/07/2019 13:11:00.......Posted by Tim Pollard

If you haven’t already done so, please take a few minutes to lodge any concerns which you have about the amendments made to the Barrowsfield planning application.

Points which can be used to lodge further objections include the following:

1. The amendments, taken collectively, amount to a major material change and a new submission should have been required. 22 new documents have been uploaded, each requiring review and a period of 14 days to comment is not reasonable. 
2. Notwithstanding the above, the proposal provides poor quality accommodation and should be refused. It fails to meet policy on a large number of issues and, furthermore, the applicant has not addressed planning officer concerns with the pre-application responses. 
3. Height, massing and design are out of character and context.
4. Density is too high and contrary to guidance.
5. Over 50% are single aspect flats
6. Loss of two properties below 130 sqm
7. Inadequate cycle, mobility scooter and electric cycle storage
8. Loss of amenity to existing residents of Barrowsfield and inadequate perimeter treatment
9. Over development of the building footprint and car parking to cover 90% of the site
10. Inadequate landscaping
11. Proposed building line does not reflect the established building line
12. Unsafe rooftop children’s play area
13. Inadequate car parking which will negatively impact local businesses and residents
14. Poor quality design with no architectural merit; completely at odds with its proposed Sanderstead Village location immediately adjacent to the open green space of Sanderstead Recreation Ground

In summary, this application fails to meet the Croydon Local Plan 2018 policy standards and should be refused.

The full details can be seen via the following link:

https://publicaccess3.croydon.gov.uk/online-applications/simpleSearchResults.do?action=firstPage

Comments need to be submitted by 19th July and you can use the following link to let the Council know your views:

https://publicaccess3.croydon.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=PH065PJLFOH00

Amendments to Barrowsfield proposal received
03/07/2019 11:17:00.......Posted by Tim Pollard

Many residents have been horrified by the proposal to construct an almost Stalinist block on the edge of Sanderstead Rec. Cllr Lynne Hale has referred the application to committee and has been leading on it for the team. Now amendments have been received to the scheme, as outlined in the email the ward team received below.

18/05157/FUL 2-5 Barrowsfield, South Croydon, CR2 9BZ
Demolition of existing buildings and erection of 4/5 storey building comprising 33 self-contained flats (5 x one bed, 14 x two bed and 14 x three bed), vehicular access on Limpsfield Road, 26 car parking spaces (including two disabled car parking spaces), integral cycle store for 64 cycles, integral bin storage, hard and soft landscaping, boundary treatment and communal amenity space at roof level.
 
Amended plans have been received for this application. The main alterations to the scheme are as follows:
-          Alteration of top floor to a mansard  roof form
-          Balconies recessed into the building envelope
-          Alteration to appearance of entrances
-          Inclusion of roof top children’s play space
-          Removal of entrance into Sanderstead Recreation Ground
-          Additional lift within the second staircore
-          Additional entrance to the car park
-          Addendum to Transport Assessment
 
The plans can be viewed on the application file on the website.
I would appreciate any comments on the amended proposal by 19th July 2019.

You can view the revised plans following this link.

Third consecutive missed green waste collections
03/07/2019 09:10:00.......Posted by Tim Pollard

For the third collection running, the green waste has not been collected from Lime Meadow Avenue. The problem affects the whole road and it could well be other roads nearby as well. I have had a succession of angry residents either phone me or come and knock on the door about this.

The past two failures have resulted in many individual residents reporting the missed collection and a remedial collection taking place on the Weds or Thurs. However, in spite of the fact that Veolia have not collected the entire road, they only do the ones who have reported it, driving straight past the other bins left out in hope by their owners. 

This exposes a number of flaws in the system.

1. Surely if the team knock off early on a Tuesday and don’t do all the scheduled roads, they should add them on to the next day’s roster automatically, not wait for the frustrated residents to report it?

2. Even if the teams are not honest enough to admit they have not completed the schedule, surely the GPS trackers should demonstrate to management that the work has not been done? 

3. If a number of missed collection reports come in from one road, why does that not flag up the probability that the whole road has been missed?

4. If a road (or, more likely, a group of roads) is being systematically missed, why is the system not adjusting to either increase the resource or change the collection day?

Residents pay for this ’service’, it is not a freebie, so having to report missed collections every fortnight is doubly unacceptable.

I have asked officer to provide me with:

a. Assurance that the reasons for repeated non-collection have been identified and that it has been fixed.

b. Answers to the process questions above

c. A remedial collection today or tomorrow for the whole of Lime Meadow Ave, not just the households who have reported it

d. Assurance that there are no other roads in the area also missed.

Grass Cutting of Sanderstead Hill
27/06/2019 20:30:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

I have received a number of complaints about the quality of cutting of the grass on Sanderstead Hill.  This is a beauty spot and a focal point leading up to our lovely pond.  Naturally residents want the grass to look well kept particularly now we have the good weather.  Unfortunately, since the contractor has been dismissed and the work brought in house there have been a number of problems.  Firstly, the lack of equipment meant that the bank could not be cut.  Then some of the areas at either end of the hill were forgotten and lastly the steep bank which goes down Purley Downs Road has remained uncut for the entire season.  The long grass is now at least four foot long and looks a complete mess.  I am now informed that the council are unable to cut the grass due to health and safety.  Despite the contractor being able to undertake this work it seems that the council are not able to do it.  They don't have the machinery to go on the pavement or will not allow the operator to use a strimmer.  A solution must be found to improve this area and I met with officers who are looking at cutting the bottom of the hill to a certain level.  We will have to assess the situation and see how it looks after the initial cut.  Oh dear this is not good news at all!

Sanderstead Horticultural Society - Summer Show
27/06/2019 20:27:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

It was another beautiful sunny day for the Sanderstead Horticultural Summer Show.  Many residents had taken part in the competiton and exhibited flowers and produce.  The band played whilst we enjoyed a nice piece of cake and cup of tea.  Children enjoyed the clown and many bought plants for the garden.  It is a wonderful local event enjoyed by so many.  Pictured here with one of the prize winners

Fallen Tree Across Mitchley Hill and Limpsfield Road
27/06/2019 20:15:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

A tree fell across the Limpsfield Road and Mitchley Avenue blocking the road completely.  The council attended the site quickly and cut up the tree and removed it but a number of cars had to be diverted.  Not sure what happened but think the tree may have been diseased.

Potholes in Sanderstead
14/06/2019 18:29:00.......Posted by Tim Pollard

Following a spate of resident reports about potholes in north-eastern Sanderstead, I today did a drive through. The following is what I found:

• Ewhurst Ave bad throughout, please assess for resurfacing
• Wisborough near Ewhurst Ave junction
• Sandhurst Close and Sandhurst Road  junction pothole
• West Hill also bad throughout, please assess for resurfacing, especially the slope up from Croham Hyrst
• West Hill junction with The Ridge Way pothole
• West Hill junction with Sanderstead Hill several potholes related to new development
• Sanderstead Hill numerous potholes between West Hill and Mayfield Rd

I have requested that these be assessed for repair or resurfacing. 

Active Ageing Event - All Saints Church Hall
07/06/2019 13:39:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

Click here to download

Cherry Tree Knocked Down - Purley Oaks Road
07/06/2019 13:28:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

Unfortunately, a beautiful cherry tree was knocked down in my road yesterday by an ASDA delivery lorry.  This is the second tree to be lost in a short space of time.  The tree lined road of cherry trees is so beautiful in the spring and I was particularly fond of this tree as it stood outside my house.  The director at the council was most helpful and ensured someone came to quickly to cut up the tree and remove it from the road and pavement.  Some blue tits had been nesting in the tree and sadly they are now having to find a new home.  Hopefully it won't be long before it is replaced.