Minutes of Residents Meeting Held in the St James Church Hall, Little Roke Avenue on Thursday, 12th June 2015
Available as a download pdf June 2015 Minutes
This meeting was held after the usual June KENDRA Committee Meeting Present: Chair – Chris Stanley (Vice Chairman), Geoff James, John Davenport, Anthony Lewis, Marilyn Poulton, Phil Royse, Mike van der Vord. Andrew Wood & Chris Parker (FoF) Councillors: Jan Buttinger, Steve O’Connell, Steve Hollands. PC Joe D’Silva and PCSO Francesca. 37 residents were in attendance. Apologies: Richard Cowper, Liz Elliott.
1. Introduction CS, Kendra Vice-Chairman, welcomed everybody. The chair informed the meeting that it is recorded for the purposes of doing the minutes, and talked through the agenda which had previously been published on leaflets distributed in the local area. The chair introduced the Councillors and Committee and explained that the meeting was part of a series of outreach meetings which have proved very successful. Kendra does not have much representation in this area and the chair invited the audience to become members of Kendra.
2. KENDRA Perspective. Most of the residents in attendance were not KENDRA members. Therefore CS explained what KENDRA is, and what it does: 2,000 households as members; road stewards; quarterly newsletter; access to Councillors; help with planning objections. CS informed the meeting that the Section 19 report on the floods is on the council website. The link is as follows: https://www.croydon.gov.uk/environment/flood-water-0
3. Friends of Foxley. Andrew Wood, Chairman of Friends of Foxley (FoF), gave an overview of the work they carry out in Foxley woods. FoF work in conjunction with Croydon Council and their brief is to maintain woods for the benefit of residents. They organise “bat walks” in the Spring. They have two work days a month. They have recently planted junipers, and Hazel oak trees. They raise funds through selling firewood at £4.50 a bag, and receive grants from public and private organisations, and have raised over £50,000 or equivalent.
Q. Can a dog waste bin be put on the path that leads from Northwood Avenue to the woods?
A. SH: This has been noted and can be taken forward with Council officers. CS thanked AW and the FoF volunteers for the work they do in maintaining the woods.
3. Councillors perspectives SO’C: Thanked Kendra for organising this meeting and the work they do in the community such as the Wattenden Pond and the Smart Water project.
4. Residents Questions
Q. Can we have yellow lines around the corner of Sunnydene, Hillside and Elm Road and by Stevens Place? People Park across the corners creating dangerous obstructions, which occurs mainly in the evenings and overnight.
A. SH: We can take that up for you by asking council engineers to look at it, even though it crosses into Purley ward.
Q. Parking is difficult in Lower Road and surrounding roads, particularly at nights and sometimes caused by commercial vehicles. Can anything be done to improve this?
A: SH: The council can put in parking schemes if the majority of residents want it. We can ask officers to look into potential solutions. But you have to be careful what you ask for.
Q. Why does the council approve applications for flats which create more parking problems?
A: SO’C: Councillors and Kendra have raised objections, but the council have still approved the applications. Plans are sometimes approved without the recommended number of parking spaces.
Q. There are problems turning into Sylverdale Road from Godstone Road because there is the potential of colliding with vehicles on Lower Road.
A: SO’C: Please contact me afterwards so we can look into this.
Q. What can be done about the delay in the roadwork’s on Dale Road, which has closed the road.
A. SH: More underground pipes have been discovered which may cause a delay of about a week.
Q. Traffic that is redirected by the closure of Dale Road then enters Sunnydene Road which is a dead-end and requires a three-point turn. There is no signage warning of the dead-end.
A.SH: We will investigate.
Q. There is a suspicion of marijuana use in the alleyway near a resident’s house what can be done, and who owns the alleyway?
A. CS: Please talk to the neighbourhood Police Officers who are at the meeting so they can investigate.
Q. Who is responsible for the drains, because the drains in Sunnydene Road are blocked?
A. SO’C: The Council; please provide details so he can follow up. CS: Issues such as this can be reported directly to the Council who are generally quite responsive. This can also be done on the “My Croydon” app on a smartphone.
Q. Who is responsible for overhanging trees on the Godstone Road?
A.SO’C: The landowner is responsible, but the council or TfL can take action.
Q. Flats on the Godstone Road are being built but the only access is from Lower Road. The builders are causing obstructions. How did this planning get through?
A: GJ: There was a petition started against this and submitted but the plans were still approved. SOC: please provide details and he will pass on to the enforcement officers.
Q. We were not informed about the planning application on Lower Road. The land was supposed to be protected. The drains are blocked, possibly caused by builder’s debris. Why isn’t this considered when applications are approved. Council officers have been approached but have not taken action. There have been verbal threats from the builders as well.
A. SO’C: We are continually involved in planning objections, together with Kendra. Unfortunately, many applications go to appeal and are approved. Please email details and he will approach enforcement officers.
JB: the 1st situation is in objecting to planning permission, and when permission is granted it is normally with conditions regarding how the works are undertaken. Is it important to inform the council about problems with the builders.
CS: Reminded the meeting that rules changed regarding how planning applications are advertised, and that Kendra has developed a link on the email circular listing all existing and new planning applications in the ward; which is available to Kendra members.
GJ: Although objecting to applications may not stop the development they can help define the conditions regarding how the development is undertaken.
SO’C: involve the Councillors when Council officers are not taking action in these situations.
Q. Why don’t the Police stop and check unlicensed scrap collectors, who are stealing from gardens?
A. PCJdS: Please provide registration numbers and if possible video evidence so that the police can enforce.
6. Closing remarks. The Chair thanked residents, Committee, Police Officers, and Councillors for attending. CS explained that Kendra works through a network of volunteer Road Stewards who act as the eyes and ears of the Association, and deliver newsletters. He asked that residents volunteer to be Road Stewards so that Kendra can be more active and effective in this area.
Meeting closed at 9:30pm.