Focus 1999 Summer

The cover drawing is Copyright © The Estate of Cicely Mary Barker 1925, 1999 and has been reproduced with the kind permission of Frederick Warne, the publishers. It is a rather nice drawing which fits neatly with the Croydon Society’s current project of a garden and statue.

Chairman’s Notes

We have sent in a submission to the Council about the 20-20 Vision, there is a summary in this issue of Focus. The Arena inclusion seems new to many members but there is an international organisation which has successfully developed centre sites in major towns and they host all sorts of events ranging from snooker to horse jumping events. Being indoor sites they are highly adaptable and very versatile.

Some of the town centre development sites have already been started such as the Drummond site (Centrale).

Brannigans, a new large pub on the corner of Mint Walk advertises itself as having Drinking, Eating and Cavorting, which has raised a few eyebrows. Yet when I visit my local CETS (Croydon’s Continuing Education & Training Centre) one can see, in full view, in the hall as one passes, ladies and gentlemen indulging in keep fit classes, bending (where possible) and leaping - isn’t that cavorting? Its a great publicity stunt - just like advertising cream cakes as Naughty but nice. All in the mind.

This pub covers the site of three previous shops and went up in record time. It just shows what developers and builders can do if they put their minds to it. It has a little conical adornment on the top of the building at the corner of Mint walk and this ties in with all the other corners of buildings there. Millets has one first and the original building the Branningan’s replaces had one too.

The presentation of slides which Hugh Byford gave after the Annual General Meeting led to some querying of where the sites were. It is amazing how difficult it is to recall what was where when looking back on old pictures. The town has changed so much in our lifetimes. And during the next 20 years it will change yet again!

The outing to Barnes to the Wild Life wetlands site has had to be postponed until May 2000 as trips are being canceled so that the building may continue speedily. We may have more news in November.

If you have any Shirley Poppy seeds I would be pleased to receive them for planting this Autumn in our garden to commemorate the flowers painted by Cicely Mary Barker. Please no other types of Poppy. Shirley Poppies are a single, crinkly poppy of white tinged with pink. Please put them in an envelope and seal them up securely so that the seeds don’t trickle out.

If you are clearing out your home and are discarding photographs of olden days, please don’t forget to give them to the Local Studies Library on the third level of the Central Library in Katharine Street. Please make sure they have dates and where they were taken on them. If anyone has news of Woodside Court Farm which covered an area now commemorated by Teevan Road and Woodside Court Road please get in touch with me. I am updating the Woodside book and would like to include a chapter on this area. It ran beside the Blackhorse Public House back to the railway at Blackhorse Bridge.

Hope you have a lovely summer and come and see us on our stalls - full details on the back page of this issue.

May Johnson

Congratulations

We are pleased to congratulate Eddie Burrell, manager of Croslink (who print this focus) who received a ‘Hero of London’ award. Each New Year’s day London has a celebration parade through the streets and awards are made to the “unsung heroes of London”. Eddie qualified for this award for the enormous amount of work he has done in Croydon for disabled people and particularly at Croslink. Well done Eddie and well earned. It could’t happen to a nicer, deserving fellow.

Welcome

The Society is delighted to welcome Mr & Mrs Lamport and Paul Scott into membership of the Society.

Croydon Local Agenda 21 -

News update

Croydon Local Agenda 21 Partnership is launching five initiatives which are detailed below, hopefully we will include more news in future focus editions.

Our Future, our Transport - On the right track!

A "Sustainable Transport Strategy" is to be launched by the LA21 team alongside Tramlink in the Winter. The aim is to come up with realistic solutions to existing problems and to ensure that future transport developments increase accessibility, choice and enhance health and the environment. There will be widespread consultation on a draft of the Strategy during the Summer. Input from Society members is desired. Brian Irving is leading and can be contacted on 0208 760 5791 or by email Brian_Irving @ Croydon.gov.uk

Guide to Green Living in Croydon

The Green Guide has many tips and suggestions that will make it easier for everyone to live and work in a more sustainable way, from nappies to organic tea. It has been put together by Yvan Van Royen who has been on a work placement with the LA21 office. You can get your copy from Wendy Clemmey on 0208 686 4433 x 4935 email Wendy_Clemmey @ Croydon.gov.uk

Croydon Focus amongst many….

A new directory has been launched to answer the question, "How many community newsletters are written in Croydon each year?" And more specifically who edits them, distribution and the essential copy dates. This should help in keeping Croydon’s rich diversity of community groups and organisations talking, and in particular spread the sustainability message!

Croydon’s Green Commitment

Croydon’s new environment policy - last published in 1995 - is being updated and re-launched and includes practical steps by CETS (Continuing Education and Training Service) to reduce its environmental impact and spread good practice. Already the Council is recognised as being a leader in the Going Green Municipal stakes and so it is good that they are committing themselves to go even further. For more info on environmental management in the Council, Andrew Coleman is available on 0208 686 4433 x 3849.

Planet Pledge

Planet Pledge is everyone's chance to make a 'green' New Year's resolution for the new Millennium. Just sign up to one or more simple pledges, such as start composting, recycling or walking more, and your name will be displayed from January 1 2000 both in Croydon and at the Earth Centre in Doncaster. Forms available from many Croydon stores, libraries and the LA21 office.

Solar Panels & windmills

A planning application for a BP Petrol Station at Gravel Hill contains 20 solar panels on the canopy. The project is called the Sunflower project and there will be an exhibition showing how the panels and the sun’s heat are stored and re-used on the petrol station. Good use of the Sun.

I have asked for a booklet with further information.

On a similar note we noticed on a canal small windmills being used to recharge batteries for use on the barges. Good use of the wind.

May Johnson

A New Structure For Local Government

The following article is a drastically shortened version of a discussion paper prepared by the Chairman of the Vauxhall Society (Chris Cossey), which the London Forum has circulated to all its member societies prepared by George Parish.

Introduction

A number of London boroughs are in the process of consulting their public on proposals to reorganise the decision-making structure of the council. The same process is taking place elsewhere in the country. In essence it is intended to abolish the current council and committee system and to replace it with a form of executive 'cabinet' governance, with a directly elected mayor in due course if that is supported in a referendum.

The consultation arrangements being made vary considerably. Some boroughs have advertised widely, allowed a generous period of time, organised public meetings and set out choices and the council's preferred choice in clear terms. Others have advertised perfunctorily, allowed little time for responses, made no provision for public meetings and explained the issue in jargon-rich and opaque fashion. The issue is in any case complex, and in the circumstances any proposed changes merit the fullest public debate at the local level. There is widespread concern that some councils are in too great a hurry.

Westminster led

What councils are now doing is being strongly encouraged by the Government. Several White Papers and consultation papers on this and related issues have been published over the past 15 months, the latest being the White Paper Local leadership, local choice (Cmnd 4298, £12.5O), which includes the text of a draft Local Government (Organisation and Standards) Bill. That Bill, if passed, could not be implemented for at least a couple of years. So the immediate question is how far councils can go, if they are so minded, to implement the programme in anticipation of the legislation.

The Local Government Association last year published a report Modernising political management arrangements, which described ways in which local authorities could change their decision-making structures within the existing legislative framework. Since then a growing number of councils have jumped on board and (in the words of an LGA official) are 'pushing at the limits of what is acceptable.' London boroughs with changes already in place include Barnet, Enfield, Hammersmith & Fulham, Havering and Lewisham. Meanwhile, Camden, Haringey, Hounslow, Lambeth (and now Croydon) are knocking at the door.

What the boroughs are proposing

The proposal on which councils are now inviting their public (electors, businesses and other 'stake holders') to express a preference is the choice between having:-

a) a directly elected mayor with a cabinet, or

b) a cabinet with a leader elected by the council, or

c) a directly elected mayor with a council manager.

These are also the alternatives offered in the Government draft Bill. The aim is said to be to create structures which are more open and accountable.

A consequence of any of these changes will be the abolition of the current system of committees. This will have major impacts on elected members, council staff, the public and other organisations that have regular contact with councils. With only a small minority of Councillors in the cabinet, the role of most councillors will be that of scrutiny. The theory is that this will allow them to develop a closer relationship with their local communities. The full council will become largely a debating chamber.

More open and accountable?

Underlying all these proposals for change is the questionable view that electoral apathy at the local level is a result of unclear or convoluted decision-making at the town hall and of councillors seriously out of touch with their communities. Even more questionable is whether the changes recommended would in reality and in the long run make local government 'more open and accountable.'

The concept of a cabinet drawn from the majority party (when there is one) or appointed by an executive mayor, scrutinised by committees and reporting to full council is effectively the Westminster Parliament model. Internationally that is hardly regarded as a perfect model, least of all when the controlling party has a large majority. With their emphasis on strong leaders and leadership these changes would tend to undermine the core principle (seen traditionally as the basic objective) of local representative democracy.

In the end, the test must be whether any decision-making structure with all its built-in safeguards makes it possible for the exercise of power granted by electoral mandate to become an abuse of power. Government guidelines rightly point out that too many council decisions are now made behind closed doors by whipped party groups. They suggest, but surely naively, that under their proposals that would not happen because all decisions by the executive would be made in public and publicly documented. Particularly ominous is the proposal in the draft Bill to abolish the legal requirement to have politically balanced councils and committees reflecting the number of seats held by each party.

The fundamental question is whether, after these changes, local councils between elections will be more or less responsive to, in touch with and accountable to local opinion. There is an important difference between an executive that can simply be held to account (the main emphasis of Government thinking) and an executive that listens attentively to public opinion and argument (a much more elusive ideal). It is easier to legislate for the former than for the latter. From the public point of view the issue is whether local community organisations and individual members of the public will be able to influence to any significant degree the decision-making of their restructured council.

Town planning and the environment

Under existing legislation there are a few committees that cannot be abolished, including the quasi-judicial town planning committee. There is no indication that this would change and last year's DETR Consultation Paper Modernising Planning states that 'in modernising the system the Government does not propose to alter the principles.'

however, there are clearly things to watch out for in the modernising process, and the language used - 'a continuous search for improvements in local efficiency,' delegation of 'simpler planning applications' to officers and 'using economic instruments (tax incentives, subsidies or trade-able permits) to achieve positive planning' - offers some clues. 'Restructuring for efficiency,' which normally means reduced staffing and greater strains on the planning process, is already familiar practice in the London boroughs In too many cases having too few conservation and enforcement officers has led to a serious erosion of planning control standards. Meanwhile departmental reorganisations have tended to weaken the professions, traditionally one of the greatest strengths of local government. There is now the added risk that the proposed new forms of local governance will further diminish the status of town planning within the overall scheme of things and encourage the adoption of false rather than real efficiencies.

What can amenity and civic societies do?

There is a 'modernising local government' bandwagon rolling and all local authorities will soon have to be on board. It is clear that 'no change' will not be an option and the Government has already specified quite narrowly which options will be on offer. The key questions to be asked in each locality are therefore 'Which options on offer would suit this area?' and if none, 'What other alternative which recognises equally the strengths of existing arrangements and the need for change should be proposed?' Bear in mind that the more radical the changes are now, the easier will be the leap to any final arrangements and the less scope there will be at later stages for public influence over the final outcome.

Croydon Festival Of Walking

11 & 12 September 1999

Once again Colin Saunders is organising this event. It comprises 3 self-guided Challenge Walks each day of 9 1/2, 15 1/2, and 25 miles. Anybody can enter. There is an entry fee of £3 or £4 if entering after 31 August.

I will be entering a Croydon Society Team again, for the 9- mile walk on Saturday 11 September. Last year the team numbered 15 and I hope for an even bigger turnout this year. All members, their friends and families are welcome. Contact me for an entry form at the address on page 2 or e-mail at johnstern@freeuk.com There are also a series of Guided Strolls.

Please send a stamped address envelop to: Downlands Project (Festival), Highways House, 21 Chessington Road, West Ewell, Epsom, KT17 1TT.

John Stern

Meetings Review and Outlook

Our meetings in the first half of the year have continued to be lively and well attended culminating in May in a ‘tour de force’ by Andy Bebington, literally in several different hats, on what is probably the most pressing environmental issue of our day - street transport. Meetings are now suspended so that you may participate in and enjoy ours and others summer activities. They resume in September with a talk by the well known local historian, Dr Ronald Cox which should provide a good background to developments taking place in Central Croydon. Details for the October meeting have not yet been finalised but in November we welcome Landscape Architect, Steve Whiteside from the Council’s Urban Design Section. Steve, as many will remember, was an active and valued member of this Society until he took up his post with the council and necessarily had to withdraw. He is now very much involved with exciting developments taking place with Croydon’s founding but now submerged river - the Wandle! Could it again see the light of day in Croydon? This is a talk not to be missed!

There are other exciting talks projected but not yet finalised, but I should apologise to those one or two members who have intimated that they prefer Mondays to Tuesdays. A discussion with the United Reform Church lettings officer revealed that the latter day was much clearer when it came to booking a series of dates and next year’s meetings will continue to be held on Tuesdays - dates in the next issue of Focus.

Hugh Byford

All Croydon Society meetings and talks are held in the Small Hall of the East Croydon United Reformed Church, Addiscombe Grove, commencing at 7.45.pm

Copy date for next Focus:

22^nd September 1999

20-20 Vision and

The Croydon Society

The report commissioned by the London Borough of Croydon from consultants EDAW sets out a vision of the future of Croydon Town Centre. The Council see it as the next step in Croydon's evolution, setting out the aspirations for the Town Centre's development over the next twenty years.

The report seeks to continue Croydon's pre-eminence as a business, retailing and cultural centre in London and the South East. To this end it puts forward a range of land use principles and specific proposals based upon contemporary architectural designs, mixed uses, compatible functions, modern transport systems and high quality open spaces. Some elements of the new Croydon centre are already in or beyond the planning stages: Tramlink; the conversion of the former Grants store to a family leisure destination; the rehousing of the Warehouse Theatre; the development of the Croydon Gateway site in Dingwall Road, next to East Croydon station; the Centrale Project, a new shopping centre between North End and Tamworth Road and the refurbishment of the St George's Walk area.

The basic approach is zonal, dividing the central area into zones designated by functions such as retailing, offices, leisure, culture and education, although some zones are designated for mixed use. Major projects include a 1500 seat Arena on the Gateway Site, a tower block on the Suffolk House site, and open spaces adjacent to the Clocktower and St Michael’s church.

The proposals were on view at the Clocktower in January and Keith Briars of Croydon's Planning and Development Department gave an informative and interesting talk to the Society on 23rd March, which was followed by a lively discussion. Members of the Society and others were invited by our Chairman to send in their views on the Vision, and many interesting letters were received.

There was a general welcome for the Council's recognition that something must be done about the outmoded and deteriorating state of some parts of the Centre, and that change was necessary. Opposition to the main thrust of the proposals came from two main sources: those who did not share the Council's vision of Croydon as a regional, national or indeed international business and shopping centre, but wished to see it as the centre serving primarily the needs of residents of the Borough. Others considered that the proposed character and density of redevelopment would cause insuperable transport problems even with Tramlink, and that gridlock would be inevitable.

The strongest criticism of the Vision was on environmental grounds. Fears were expressed of high levels of atmospheric pollution, wind tunnel effects, noise and vibration, overheating space and congestion of pedestrian and vehicle ways. Despite lip service to some of these matters in the report there was no evidence that an expert appraisal of likely environmental effects had been made.

The composition of the Study team and the project sponsors came in for some criticism. It appears to have been heavily weighted by property developers and their advisers and by retail and other businesses. Environmentalists, urban designers, housing associations and representatives of those who actually live and work in the town were not included. One correspondent recalled the Croydon Design Initiative of 1993 led by the Architecture Foundation in which leading architects and designers made suggestions for alleviating the 1960s image of the Town centre: an architects' dream. By contrast, the present proposals were a developers' dream. Why should we not have an environmentalists' dream?

The proposals for the Gateway site, 8 acres, mostly derelict, adjacent to East Croydon Station and fronting Dingwall Road came in for much comment. A multi-purpose 15000 seat Arena, a swimming pool, leisure facilities, shops, offices, a hotel and car parking spaces are proposed. Comments received generally welcome the Arena, which should be a distinct improvement on the uninviting Wembley Arena and the inaccessibly converted London Arena in Docklands. Ice hockey, basketball and indoor athletics as well as musical events would be appropriate for the Arena, but some would like to know more about the type of events to be staged before reaching a conclusion. The most fundamental objection is on grounds of transport: despite the proximity of East Croydon Station, buses and Tramlink, it was felt that the private car use by patrons would produce gridlock. There is a strong feeling that the provision of public open space on this site is essential, and that the developers should be required to provided much more public open space, seating and shelter than they at present contemplate, in return for access to this valuable and potentially highly profitable site.

The amount of office space to be provided has resulted in much comment. Admitted that much of the present 1960s offices are obsolete and some empty, is there going to be a real demand for so much? Developers are optimists, seeking to maximise their profits but the actual occupiers will look very carefully at what is on offer before settling on Croydon. No-one can compel them to come: and while we have noted the indignation of the Leader of the Council at the decision by British Gas to pull out of Croydon, the Council can neither compel them to remain or require new occupiers to come. The same applies to shops. Croydon is not the only shopping centre in the South-east with ambitions. Bromley and Wimbledon - access to both of which is facilitated by Tramlink - have their new shopping malls, BlueWater and the Thames Gateway must also come into the reckoning. There is a strong feeling that only office and shopping space of higher quality will retain and attract occupiers to Croydon - and a major element is environmental quality.

A proposal which has secured the backing of the Council is Centrale: a shopping centre comprising a large new store for C.& A., three other large stores, 30 smaller units and kiosks, fronting North End and Tamworth Road, and served by an additional Tramlink stop. Most comments support this regeneration of a run-down area, subject to the overall requirement for shopping space being confirmed

The future of the Grants site seems largely determined in advance of the vision. Most favour the retention of the Victorian facade, while pointing out that it will be overshadowed by the tall development above it. The chasm-like ambience of Surrey Street will not be alleviated, and may be made worse. The proposed uses of the new development seem likely to increase the multi screen cinema and leisure facilities beyond the likely demand.

The small provision of residential accommodation within the area covered by the Vision is disappointing, especially in view of the need for many more dwellings on 'brown field' sites. The conversion of tower blocks of offices to flats is not yet a proven way of meeting this demand, as experience elsewhere in Croydon has shown. Inclusion of a housing association among the study team and project sponsors might have helped here, and their participation in the implementation stages is a must.

The relationship of the Vision to the UDP has come in for comment. The area covered by the Vision is only the Northern half of Central Croydon as defined in the UDP. Some of the proposals are at variance with the present UDP, and should come under scrutiny in the forthcoming UDP revision.

An important deficiency in the environmental quality of Croydon is the separation by main traffic arteries of the constituent parts. Measures to provide pedestrian links across Wellesley Road and Park Lane are essential, but do not appear to have been adequately addressed.

The preservation of heritage does not figure in the Vision. The area covered includes the Central Croydon Conservation Areas, and the Church Street and North End Local Areas of Special Character. The proposals would involve the creation of a new public space around the Pumping Station - this might involve the demolition of buildings which enjoy Conservation Area protection. The redevelopment of the High Street between Park Street and Katharine Street would involve a frontage which, although not of heritage importance, is of some architectural merit. Segas House is grade II listed and should be protected. The creation of a public space in front of the Clocktower is welcomed , and the bus stops relocated.

In a London-wide study, Croydon was identified as a suitable location for high buildings. Two are proposed: on the Post Office site at East Croydon, and where Suffolk House now stands. The former would have a very unsatisfactory relationship with NLA Tower, one of Croydon's better high buildings. The latter would be intrusive in relation to the Conservation Area, although not actually within it. High buildings, unless surrounded by adequate open space create density problems at ground level, and may be unwelcome through the creation of wind tunnels and chasm-like effects.

In this short summary it has not been possible to reflect all the valuable points made by those who wrote in. But it will have served its purpose if it increases awareness of what is afoot, and encourages the study of planning applications and the UDP revision as they come along. We hope that readers will make clear to their elected members their views on the future of our town.

Geoffrey Myers

16th May 1999

Planning Group Report

Firstly, there was no report in the last issue of “Focus” due to not enough significant applications to comment on, other than a few covered in the local press. This report therefore continues from the one in no. 71 and with that forms the annual report for 1998/99.

In South Croydon revised plans were submitted for an extension to the southern side of Emmanuel Church and this would be used for a meeting room, small hall, offices, etc. It is less ambitious than the previous proposal for both an extension to the church and rebuilding the church hall.

One of the largest applications has been for an extension to the Drummond Centre known as the "Centrale" scheme, which was subsequently approved by the Council. This new shopping centre would have a large glazed entrance to North End, on the site of the "C & A" store, and incorporate a department store at the northern end with a 3-storey car park on top, replacing the existing multi-storey car park. The bingo hall on Tamworth Road would also be demolished and replaced. Church Path would be diverted and Keeley Road closed, while a new Tramstop would be provided.

The other major application affecting Central Croydon has been a revised scheme for the East Croydon “Gateway” site. This would include a 10 000 seat arena at the northern end, a 21-storey hotel at the southern end, flats, 18-screen cinema, 40-unit 2-storey retail mall, restaurants, night-club, amusement arcade, swimming pool and health club, plus 1363 car parking spaces. This looks like an over development of the site and while we welcome plans for the arena, hotel and swimming pool, we are opposed to the amount of shopping space and the number of Parking spaces. The Warehouse Theatre should also be replaced, either on this site or elsewhere, and traffic impact studies are needed.

In Sanderstead, Waitrose submitted plans for a new store on the site of the existing “B & Q” D-I-Y store in Limpsfield Road. We criticised the layout, with 205 parking spaces in front, because of the effect on the adjoining residential area and street scene, and the plans were later changed so that the store would be at the front of the site.

Railtrack put forward revised plans for residential development on the former Addiscombe Branch Railway Line which we again found objectionable on similar grounds to those mentioned in "Focus" no. 70.

Two houses in the Webb Estate Conservation Area, no. 5 Woodcote Lane and "Netherstone" Promenade de Verdun, were subject of Proposals for demolition and replacement . Although the houses are not outstanding, the character of this area derives from it being largely developed in one period and we therefore objected. We also regretted the delay by the Council in producing a Proposals Statement for this Conservation Area.

Finally, in the Bradmore Green Conservation Area in Old Coulsdon there has been another application for the backland site adjoining the Rectory Garden. The latest is better than previous ones as it comprises a smaller scale development - 4 chalet bungalows - and it would mean the demolition of one of the 1930's bungalows fronting the green. While this loss is acceptable, there is still concern about access over part of the green and the footpath there.

John Cunningham

Integrating Transport

London Transport has started a Home Link service from some tube stations on the Wimbledon Branch and Morden Station where London Transport contact a minicab firm to provide door to Tube service within a 3 mile radius from the station for a flat fare of £2.50.

Passengers contact LT and get a personal Identification number plus the Cab company’s number which provides a useful link and a direct service between station and home.

Why does not Connex have a similar scheme from railway stations where there are no Taxi Rank or Minicab offices nearby.

Stephen Aselford.

80^th Birthday of Ruskin House

This year sees the 80th Anniversary Celebrations of the opening of the first Ruskin House in Croydon, the Labour and Trade Union Head Quarters. We hope to celebrate this in the Autumn. The current building is a Grade II listed Georgian House with a walled garden on the Corner of Park Lane and Coombe Road in Central Croydon.

Over the Summer, we intend to put together a book on the history of the Ruskin Houses that have been in Croydon. We are now asking all those with information for help.

In particular, we are after content - memories, photos, newspaper articles, old documents... We would especially like help in the following areas:

1. The history of each of the Ruskin Houses and their predecessors

- Coombe Road site
- Wellesley Road site
- Station Road site
2. The history of Coombe Hill House (the present Ruskin House)
3. The history of the Labour, Trade Union and Co-operative movement as it relates to Ruskin House. Also the related movements, eg temperance, vegetarianism, suffragettes, etc
4. The people involved - Officers, staff, 'regulars', characters in the movement
5. Key events - the General Strike, Wartime, Ban the Bomb, Miners' Strike, Elections
6. The Great and The Good visit Ruskin - photos or memories of Wilson, the Pankhursts, Scargill, Livingstone or any other notable visits.

Of course, we would also be grateful for help in putting this project together, or fund raising for the printing costs.

Please write or speak to me, Martin Tiedemann, Many thanks,

Martin Tiedemann
Management Committee Member, Ruskin House

t. 020 8405 6734 e. martin @ Tiedemann.net

Transport Group News

Integrated Transport

The Government has now published a consultation paper on buses, “From Workhorse to Thoroughbred” to fill in more detail than was possible in the main Integrated Transport policy consultation paper. It does not suggest any means of reducing the general level of bus fares which means that all the economic signals to motorists will continue to be to use the car unless travelling into a congested area where parking is not available or is very expensive. The result is likely to be that traffic congestion will get worse with employment and housing moving out of town centres and on to green field sites as far as town planning restrictions allow.

Current levels of traffic congestion in some British cities have resulted in door-to-door journey times for the journey to work by bus being only marginally faster than walking pace for many people. This is an incentive for employers to move out of congested areas such as Croydon. Proposals for major developments, such as those suggested by the council in “Vision 2020” will aggravate congestion because public transport “door-to-door journey times” and “prices” will not be sufficiently attractive to persuade enough people to travel by public transport.

We have to recognize that making our transport system work cannot be done without upsetting some people. It will require some people to change their lifestyles. It is not uncommon for fares on public transport to be higher than the full average cost of travel in a small car. This is bound to lead to endemic traffic congestion which cannot be ameliorated by parking charges because they encourage the motorist to travel further so he can avoid them. This traffic congestion cannot be ameliorated by building new roads even if they can be afforded because, while the car is expensive to own, it is cheap to use, so that traffic expands to fill available road space. Hence, to solve our problems of traffic congestion requires positive action to reduce car use. Spending money to make walking, cycling and public transport more attractive can divert travel from the car but may well only encourage people who would walk, cycle or use public transport to travel more. It is clear to most motorists that it is the sheer number of cars using or parked on the roads that is the main cause of congestion and the key to reducing congestion is to reduce the number of other people's cars. The Integrated Transport policy was sold as a way of dealing with our transport problems but with both central and local government avoiding the key issues, the economic vitality of our towns is slowly being destroyed by inadequate restraints on car use to the disadvantage of the whole population.

Transport Project Appraisal

Nothing has been included in the Integrated Transport Policy consultation about methods of appraising transport projects.

For bus companies and train operating companies, there is no problem. A project goes ahead if it is expected to make a profit and gets forgotten if it is expected to make a loss. In the public sector, most projects have been expected to make a loss and cost-benefit analysis has been used to justify going forward. It was used to justify the use of public money to help fund the construction of Tramlink and was used to justify the construction of most motorways.

In cost-benefit analysis, the gross costs of a project are set against the income and the benefits of the project. In transport projects, the benefits are generally time savings by travellers. These are turned into money using an average wage rate for vehicle drivers and a substantially lower rate for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users.

This means that pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users are treated as second class citizens in the appraisal of transport projects.

The time savings by travellers benefiting from a project are always included but the additional time taken by travellers who do not benefit is often ignored - for example, the journey time savings by motorists of turning a road from single carriageway to dual carriageway are always included but the additional time taken for pedestrians to wait for faster moving traffic before crossing the road is forgotten. Moreover, the disbenefit of additional atmospheric pollution through generated road travel is invariably ignored.

For the future, we need to invest in projects which reduce the need to travel so as to make travel more amenable to walking, cycling and public transport and we need to invest in projects which reduce atmospheric pollution. We need to consider the possibility of subsidising neighbourhood shops to reduce travel to out-of-town superstores. We need to consider relocating schools and hospitals back into town centres to make them more accessible to mainstream public transport. We need to use town planning controls to locate high density housing, major shopping centres and large employers so that they are accessible by public transport if we are to deal with endemic traffic congestion and, at the same time, understand and use the price mechanism to reinforce town planning controls as well as persuading people to walk, cycle and use public transport rather than the private car.

Chloride

Croydon Tourist Information Centre

Croydon on Line - www.Croydon.gov.uk

Some further points of interest for visitors looking for information about Croydon. When you come up with the site for Croydon on Line it will show a diagram of Croydon. Click on Leisure in Croydon which will give:

· What's on in Croydon

· Arts and Entertainment

· Hobbies and Crafts

· Sports in Croydon

· Tourist Information

Click on Tourist information which will give the page, Where to Stay in Croydon - Search for Hotels and Accommodation and Croydon's Heritage.

Where to stay in Croydon is a list of establishments in the Croydon area which are in the Where to Stay in Croydon 1998/99 booklet. They have asked to be featured on the web site. There are other establishments in the booklet itself which can be obtained from the Tourist Information Centre.

We have our own e mail address: tic@library.Croydon,gov.uk

There is a lot of information about restaurants, pubs and shops in Croydon which is not on the site but we can supply this information if you would like to come to the TIC in Croydon Clocktower or telephone us on 0208 253 1009

Croydon Tourist Information Centre

25^th Anniversary Dinner - 6 April 2000

A number of members have indicated that they would like a three course dinner (including coffee), a glass of sherry and a glass of wine, costing £11 plus for the evening meal, per person. The Menus arranged, the food prepared and served by the students at the training restaurant of Croydon College. Excellent value for money!

You will appreciate that as a party booking, it is usual for the menu to be a set one.

At the moment we need more participants in order to confirm the booking, so please do contact: Jean Richards at 12 Gregory Court, Dale Road, Purley, CR8 2EF.

Many thanks to Jean who has kindly taken on this task.

The World of Croydon

Strange Croydon http:// dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/drive/yac63/ Strange Croydon has some of the odder stories from Croydon's past, from Norwood's gypsies to murders in George Street

Council Heritage Department www.Croydon.gov.uk/heritage. A well-designed guide to each of the plaques given by the Council. This year's bunch (Fitzroy, etc.) yet to be updated.

Croydon in the Mountains

http ://montego-bay-jamaica.com/ajal/Croydon/index.html

News from a rather more exotic Croydon - a plantation in Jamaica.

South Norwood Division - Metropolitan Police http://www.met.police.uk/police/mps/4hq/4zn/znhist3. South Norwood Division has provided a good snapshot of local history.

The last is fascinating - seeing the old South Norwood Police Station now National Westminster Bank - the building itself has visually changed very little, if you know of more let us know - Ed.
Letter To The Editor

Be part of the Community!

In the spring edition of Croydon Focus Jean Richards draws attention to Croydon Reports. Unfortunately, some houses, including those of some Croydon Society members, have notices asking for no free newspapers, so they don't get Croydon Reports either, because the same people deliver them.

Nor would they have got “Your Community plan” in which the Council says it wants to make cycling easier and safer. And as they didn't get the 10th February Croydon Guardian, they wouldn't have seen the Council notice of the large number of new traffic restrictions, most of which include cycles, and wouldn't have been able to object to them and ask the Council how they make cycling easier, nor how putting down tramlines and not making any provision for cyclists to cross them at safe angles makes cycling safer,

C. Howes

Chipstead Valley Road

Coulsdon

Care for Croydon Working Group

The March meeting was mainly concerned with “re-balancing” refuse collection and street cleaning which by now should have improved. A number of cycle stands have been introduced in various shopping areas. Some cycle lanes are being obstructed by parked cars. This should be reported to Highways & Transportation officers, as this is a danger to cyclists.

Areas near the Stubbs Mead Depot will benefit from a new house to house recycling collection scheme which will be officially launched in September. Probably households in Addiscombe, Woodside, Ashburton wards and parts of Spring Park and Fairfield Wards will be included. More details of the scheme will be given prior to its commencement.

The Summer edition of “Croydon Reports” should be delivered to households during the week beginning 21^st June. If you do not receive a copy, please ring the editor of Croydon Reports on 0208 760 5644 and ask for one.

The London Boroughs have contacted Railtrack plc. regarding pigeon nuisance, requesting them to accept responsibility and provide protective measures to prevent pigeons nesting on the underside of railway bridges. Hopefully this long running saga will soon be brought to a successful conclusion.

Cane Hill - Medium Secure Unit

An outline planning application has now been lodged to build a new secure unit to house up to 120 psychiatric patients on the site of the former Portnall House, Coulsdon. However, the footage of the two storey complex, built round a pair of courtyards, is clearly considerably larger than the previous buildings (now destroyed). The plans include outdoor recreational facilities (the latter to have a secure fence), car parking and vehicular access from Portnalls Road.

Local residents and environmental organisations in Couldson etc., are extremely concerned about this building encroachment in the Green Belt area which would have considerable consequences for other protected sites if the present planning application is allowed. Further news is awaited.

Jean Richards

The Croydon Bookshop

- A PostScript

In response to my article in the last issue lamenting the dearth of second-hand bookshops in Croydon, Mr A.P. Unthank has written to say that 'The Croydon Bookshop' now in Carshalton was originally at the corner of Tamworth Road by Reeves Corner. It was renowned in the Croydon of the Sixties for the size and range of its stock, but was compulsorily purchased by Croydon Council for the 'improvement' of Pitlake long before the building of Roman Way. Its two owners, John Barton, a Midland Bank official, and his partner Ernie, moved the business to Carshalton, where the shop and its name still serve as their memorial.

Another shop from the Sixties which I do just recall was in South End. I used to browse there on Saturday mornings before adjourning to the camera and record shop across the road (also long gone), but could only afford to buy anything in their annual half-price sale.

Last but not least, I failed to mention in my article 'Miss Ellany' in Croham Road opposite South Croydon Station, to which Geoffrey Myers and Brian Lancaster have both drawn my attention. It is a very small shop, but with a large and interesting stock of books land other things), run by a family who have lived in Croydon for three generations.

George Parish

South Norwood Country Park

It is 10 years since the Country Park was opened in South Norwood and this was celebrated on May 16th 1999 on a beautifully sunny day, Little lambs and sheep from the Corporation of London's site cropped the long grass short. The cow parsley was in full flower and covered many of the meadows. Wild flowers were abundant and butterflies and birds were seen. An historic walk, a children’s mini beast hunt and badge making session were held. Many local residents had stalls as well as the RSPB. The lake created by Heather Tidball the first warden of the Park was alive with wild fowl. Many people came and had a really country type day out.

Cicely Mary Barker

There was a walk led by the Croydon Society looking at the two churches and two houses in which Cicely Mary Barker lived. At St Andrew’s we saw the paintings on the christening font and also the lists. We were just able to see the last flowerings of the spring bulbs planted in the Waldrons 5 years ago by us and then a quick look at No. 17 and then No. 23 with its green Croydon Heritage plaque to Cicely Mary Barker and then on to St George’s, Barrow Road to see the beautiful Rich man’s Supper showing local people, plus Cicely’s mother in the picture. We are grateful to the Rev Philip Hendry of St Andrew’s and also to Mrs Collier of St George’s for taking time to show us these exquisite paintings.

May Johnstone

A Sydney Traveller’s Lot Is Not (Always) A Happy One

So our Daughter was to be in Australia for nearly a year - well, you’ve got to take advantage of something like that, haven’t you? So we spent three weeks in March there - don’t ask us how we got on, or you’ll run the risk of facing the eighteen rolls of film we shot. Australia is AWESOME.

But the travelling there is so totally different from English travel - the distances are huge, the views tedious in the main, everything is measured in time not distance (“they live three hours down the road”). We did a fair bit of travel in Sydney and Croydon compares favourably in some ways but not in others.

Sydney has a vast harbour; so a comprehensive ferry service runs numerous routes linking north and south, upstream and down, running perhaps thirty miles from east to west. Not cheap (except that they don’t always remember to collect the fares) but a very pleasant way of travelling around. And very efficient.

There’s the bus services (which we failed to understand, largely because we failed to find anyone who could supply a bus map) and three rail services, being the Sydney local, the district and national services. All very well signed (could we do with something like that on the London Underground??) and (mostly) very easily comprehensible to a visitor. In part of the centre of Sydney there’s a monorail circuit, which runs along roads but doesn’t intrude much into the street scene below. There’s a street-running tram, too ...

But the roads! Oh, good grief! You complained about the state of the roads whilst Tramlink was going in - that seems to be normal for Sydney’s roads. There’s a huge opportunity for someone to make a killing with a contract for the repair of the road surfaces. Remember the days of the installation of Cable TV? Bliss by comparison!

And the driving? Londoners are, it is said, created in two types - the quick and the dead. This is a reflection on London drivers; Sydney’s down-town drivers aren’t quite as considerate, slow or gentle as that. It struck me that every set of red traffic lights was a drag-race waiting to start, that each driver had an urge to get to the next lights before everyone else. Beware the Jabberwock, my son, and the Sydney motorist ...

We saw very few cyclists; and this is hardly surprising, given the state of the roads, the extent of on-street parking (with a consequent narrowing of the road) and the style (?!?) of driving by motorists - you gained the impression that any cyclists you do see are the resident psychos. Now I understand why Australia led the world in legislating for compulsory wearing of cycle helmets (despite the fact that more serious head injuries are suffered by car occupants - so where’s the legislation for compulsory helmets for drivers and passengers?).

Pedestrians? Better news, I’m glad to report - virtually every set of traffic lights has a pedestrian phase in down-town Sydney, there are very few roundabouts (so no deviating from your normal - straight - line) and the rectilinear grid of roads in the City centre make navigation a lot easier than in parts of London. The bad news is that most of Sydney seems to be either a building site or a place where there’s major road construction - so the pavements aren’t always as nice as they might be; scaffolding poles are as much an obstacle as lamp-posts or telegraph poles. Some of the pavements lead you into a cul-de-sac where a flyover takes the traffic up and away but the pavement just stops - and there’s always the approach roads to the famous Bridge (supposedly known as “the coathanger” but we none of us heard anyone using that expression), all of which involve a huge climb up to Bridge level.

There’s a lot of pedestrians ways around, though, between the Opera House and Circular Quay, for example, or around Darling Harbour; and some extremely nice parks around the city through which you can take a short-cut.

Transport in Sydney? Not bad, all in all - say 8 out of 10 (unless you’re a cyclist in which case 2 out of ten, tops).

Andy Bebington

Walking The Way To Health National Conference

13 April 1999 Leicester University

Walking the Way to Health is a three- year project funded by the Countryside Agency and the British Heart Foundation. This was the Second National Conference, attended by 182 delegates.

There were two main speakers and three workshops plus a UKK 2km Walk Test in the lunch break.

Dr William Bird, a GP from Sonning Common Health Centre, was the first speaker. He is the originator of the “Health Walk” concept. He explained the importance of health walks as 80% of the population is classed as inactive and that walking is the best method to introduce physical activity to this group.

The second speaker was Dr Adrienne Hardman of Loughborough University. She is a world recognised Exercise Physiologist. In plain English she studies the effect of exercise on the human body. She showed numerous slides illustrating the results of various research projects. It was impossible to note the details, but we have been promised a written summary. If any health professionals would like a copy, please let me know.

To sum up her talk, she showed that inactive people as a group, got more benefit from walking than any other group. This applied even if they could only manage a gentle stroll, as long as it took place regularly. Also, from the health perspective, there is very little difference between a moderate and a fast walk. Obviously if you want to get fit, speed, is more effective.

The UKK 2km Walk Test took place in a snowstorm! I did not take part, but those who did, had their age, height, weight and heart rate fed into a computer, and received a printout recording their fitness level with advice on how to improve it.

I attended three workshops. First “Walking in Cardiac Rehabilitation” led by Trevor Simpson from Southwark Health Promotion Unit. His research program is part funded by the London Walking Forum EU Life Project.

Second “Motivating & Training Walk Leaders”. This was led by two people from the Woodley Health Walks in Wokingham. They lead 10 walks each week with a team of 41 volunteer leaders. This is now expanding into neighbouring parishes.

The third was “Walking on Prescription”. Leader Adrian Coggings a Physical Activity Specialist. We discussed a range of options from formalized prescription walking programs to less formal but equally worthwhile types of walks. We also examined ways making NHS Primary Care Groups, more aware of the benefits of regular walking. We hope that Health Walks will be included in Health Improvement Programs.

To sum up, there is enormous interest in developing health walks all over the country. The “Walking Your Way to Health” project is carrying out a lot of research and demonstration projects and hope to publish funding details shortly. In contrast to our Cardiac Walks – open to anybody - most Health Walks seem to be highly formalized with participants having to complete a medical questionnaire before being allowed to join.

Finally Croydon has three of the new Primary Care Groups and I plan to contact them to see if our Health Walks program can be expanded.

John Stern

The Editor of Croydon Focus

I hope you will find the articles in this edition of interest, they cover the major changes to our towns landscape to the major changes fast approaching our local political landscape, a lot is clearly going on - and as Hugh Byford commented in the last edition of Focus the need for positive input by the Croydon Society is more self evident than ever.

As a civic society we should be able to help shape these changes for the better. Hugh posed the question: would we have ended up with the sterile lanscape of office blocks from the last redevelopment if the Croyodn Society had existed in the 1960’s? I think not. From the article on Vision 20-20 it seems that many members take a negative attitude to the project, however it is clear thar whatever your own view on the new proposals, Croydon has already changed a great deal, it is already a more lively, enjoyable and dynamic centre than it was ten years ago and the inevitable changes to Croydon’s city scape will make it a far more visually pleasing place in the next ten years - even if that means that we shall have a continual builidng site on our hands! One thing is certain, cities are continually reinventing themselves and Croydon is clealry doing so yet again.

So this is my second edition of Focus as Editor, I hope that I am delivering what you the members need and require, if you have any comments and suggestions please get in touch.

As Editor, I welcome members to write articles and letters for publication in Focus; please send them to me (see Who’s Who).

The easiest way to get them to me is via e mail, on disk as a text format file or double spaced typed script. Those who still insist on the hand written word, please double space it. Please also type or write it on clean white paper as this makes scanning in to the computer possible. You can also fax it to me on my new Personal Fax mailbox. Now you can not only call me anywhere in the world you can now fax me too!

Your assistance & help makes my job a lot easier and more enjoyable!

Timothy Godfrey

What’s On

Saturday 14^th & Sunday 15^th August; Forestry Show, Selsdon Woods. Help Wanted on bookstall - a great day out.

Tuesday 20^th July; Walk around Croydon - Old & New. Led by May Johnson. Meet 19:00 at Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street.

Saturday 11^th and Sunday 12^th September; Walking Weekend. Start from Lloyd Park. Last year there was a Croydon Society team of 15 which won a prize for the most members taking part. Contact John Stern and get your name down for this year and help us reach a higher number!

Saturday/Sunday 11/12 September; - Open House Week-end in Croydon - see notices later

Saturday/Sunday 18/19 September; - London Open House - See Guardian Guide later

Tuesday 21^st September; Illustrated talk - Old Town - where Croydon Began - by Dr Ronald Cox.

Tuesday 19^th October; - to be arranged

Tuesday 16^th November; - Illustrated talk - Wandle Matters by Steve Whiteside of Croydon Council’s Urban Design Section

All Croydon Society meetings and talks are held in the Small Hall of the East Croydon United Reformed Church, Addiscombe Grove, commencing at 7.45.