St Edmund's Church - Riddlesdown
03/12/2019 09:48:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

STATEMENT TO LOCAL COUNCILLORS AND RIDDLESDOWN RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION ON THE FUTURE OF ST EDMUND’S CHURCH                                                                           

The Community of St Edmund’s has concluded, with much sadness, that continuing as an independent worshipping congregation within the parish of Sanderstead is no longer viable and that a new future must be found for the building. Regular Sunday worship will cease at Christmas.

But St Edmund’s is NOT CLOSING. Christian worship and other activities will continue, the former in a different form to be determined as soon as possible.

The buildings will continue to be available for community use, as now. Contacts and administrative arrangements will change but otherwise things will remain unchanged. Indeed, we are hoping for an enhanced community role, as well as the continuing religious one, for St Edmund’s following the refurbishment of the William Goddard Room, generously financed by our local councillors.

We are holding a celebration of the past – and future – life of St Edmund’s on Sunday 16th February, to which all in the community will be welcome. Details will follow but, if you would like to come, you may wish to make a note in your diary.

Richard Wragg

Chris Babbs

Churchwardens

Cherry Trees and Litter Pick - Cherry Tree Green
30/11/2019 11:55:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

It was great to see the newly planted cherry trees on Cherry Tree Green.  Local residents led by Marianne Daniels from the newly formed Friends of Green Spaces organised a litter pick and was joined by membrs of the Sanderstead Residents Association, Mandy Ashton from Priscillas, local scout leader Janice and local councillors to ensure the green and area looked ship-shape.  I can't wait to see them in the spring.

Fire - 3 West Hill - New Flats
27/11/2019 10:00:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

A fire broke out this morning at the site of 3 West Hill, the new development on the corner of Sanderstead Road.  The fire started in the basement of the building and a crew from four fire engines quickly extinguished the fire.  The cause of the fire is being investigated.  I am pleased that no one was hurt.

Cherry Trees for Cherry Tree Green
25/11/2019 15:41:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

Sanderstead is marking a week-long national celebration of trees by planting 20 new cherry trees. Ten new trees have been planted on Cherry Tree Green in Hamsey Green, as part of an initiative to plant 3,500 trees in the borough by 2023, and a further ten are set to be planted in coming weeks.

The site was suggested by local resident Marianne Daniels, who is part of the new Friends of Green Spaces Group.  She has been working with me and council officers on a number of initiatives in the locality.

They were planted just ahead of National Tree Week which sees a nationwide campaign to plant 1,000,000 trees.

Marianne said: “I am really delighted Croydon Council has supported my request to plant trees on Cherry Tree Green. The four different colours of cherry trees will be a welcome splash of colour.

“We will be holding a community litter pick on Saturday 30 November at 10.30am in order to tidy up the green followed by an informal photo at 11am. Litter picking equipment will be provided.

Do come and join the litter pick and see the newly planted trees on the green.  Whilst the rain may not be ideal weather for a litter pick the trees will certainly enjoy it!

Christmas Light Switch On - The Gruffy - Saturday, 30 November 2019 - 4.30 pm
22/11/2019 15:21:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

The Xmas Lights Switch On will take place on Saturday, 30 November 2019 at 4.30 pm on The Gruffy around the Xmas Tree.  The star and the tree will be the first to be lit with the rest of the lights in the high street following.  It is hoped that santa, even though extremely busy, will be able to do this alongside All Saints Church choir who will be singing carols around the tree.  It is the start of the festive season and we wish everyone a Merry Xmas.  The Sanderstead councillors have funded the lights and switch on from their community budget.

Hamsey Green Pond
19/11/2019 13:20:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

I was pleased to meet with The newly formed Friends of Sanderstead Recreation Ground and Green Spaces alongside The Conservation Volunteers to look further at how the pond can be improved.  There is still much work to do around the boundary which is full of ivy.  The pond itself is now quite over grown with plants and parrot weed.  The edges need to be reformed and planting needs to be reintroduced in some locations.  I am pleased that both the volunteers and TCV are taking action and look forward to seeing the fruits of their work.

Solar Powered Bollard - Court Hill/Brian Avenue
13/11/2019 19:35:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

Residents may be interested to know that the council is no longer repairing solar powered bollards.  I only found this out after reporting a broken solar powered bollard on Court Hill and Brian Avenue.

This is the response I have received:

Our investigations shows that the above Solar self-righting traffic bollard was installed over 5 years ago, however, since then the Department of Transport in 2016 has relaxed the lighting requirement for traffic bollards and some other signs.  The motivation for this was in a bid to reduce energy usage and light pollution at a national level. 

It is useful to note that all self-righting traffic bollards installed in the last 10 years are made up of retroreflective (reflect light back to the source and thereby increase visibility to approaching vehicles) materials.  For this reason there is no requirement for the highway authority to reinstate the solar illumination part of the traffic bollard.

To replace or repair the existing solar traffic bollard the Council has to pay nearly £600 per unit which is difficult to justify because of the current economic challenges.

I appreciate that this is not the answer your constituent may be looking for on this matter, however, we need to apply a stricter control over finances and prioritise the resources available to us in a way that achieves the most benefit for the borough.

Notwithstanding this I have instructed our cleansing team to thoroughly clean the traffic bollard to ensure its retroreflectivity is maximised.

All I can say is it is very disappointing.

SES Water - Poor Road Repairs - Mitchley Avenue
05/11/2019 07:20:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

Residents in Sanderstead are extremely fed up with the poor quality road repairs undertaken by utility companies.  So much so that one has written to the MD of SES Water to elevate their complaint in respect of repairs in Mitchley Avenue.  I too have taken up the issue with the director at the council and asked that they ensure that any company undertaking work.here is of good quality and that the roads and pathways are reinstated to a good quality.  A number of potholes here in the pictures are attributed to the utility companies.

Berlin Wall - Fronting Sanderstead Road - Corner of West Hill
31/10/2019 20:18:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

Many residents will have noticed a very large concrete wall appear on the corner of Sanderstead Road and West Hill where one of the new blocks of flats has been built.  It appears that there has been no approval given for this retaining wall which is close to the very narrow footpath.  Not only is the dreadful "Berlin" wall ugly but it prevents the planning condition applied to plant large trees along the boundary.  This is extremely distressing and not appreciated by residents who have already had to contend with a number of issues such as a blocked road, noisy work over the week-end and dirt and filth spilling onto the pavement.  I am assured by the head of planning that he is going to take action to rectify this matter.  The loss of the tree lined canopy, a natural characteristic of Sanderstead Road must be replaced.

Cherry Tree Green - Hamsey Green Pond
25/10/2019 16:03:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

I have been working with the newly formed Sanderstead Friend's group in respect of the tree planting for Cherry Tree Green.  A variety of white, pale and darker pink Cherry trees will be planted in the last week of November.  We held a recent meeting in Priscillas to see how we could take forward through the council some of the brilliant ideas put forward by residents at the recent community day.

Also a meeting is pencilled in to see how work at Hamsey Green pond can be further progressed with local residents and the Conservation Volunteers.

It is all very exciting and I am pleased that residents are so enthusiastic about our important green spaces.