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Focus Autumn 2001 - Menu - Index - Previous - Next
Chairman's Notes
It has been a very busy time since the last Focus was issued.
I have attended two meetings of the Culture Committee. It embraces
music, heritage, Art in all its forms, Libraries, Sport, Education
(lifelong learning), Intermediate Technology, and Skyline project,
coloured lighting on the walls of building in the centre of Croydon;
also lighting up buildings such as churches in local areas.
Representatives have included the Mozart Players, the Brit School,
Croydon College, Tourism, Skyline and several others. I attend
as a representative for the over 60's. There have been two meetings
and long discussions and we have one more before we make a final
report.
I also attended a meeting at Ashburton School and arrived
after an invigorating walking day in the Wandle Valley on a lovely
September day September 11th.
I was unaware that the astonishing act of devastation in New
York had taken place. Consequently there was not a very large
attendance but we did proceed with the business in hand. It is
that it is proposed to demolish Ashburton School and re-build
it as a college with good IT facilities and good athletic facilities
for training future olympic pupils. The library, which is at
the moment in Ashburton Park, should be removed and put on the
site of the new school with facilities for lifelong learning,
intermediate technology, etc.
The existing library could be used as a museum of the history
of Addiscombe/South Norwood environs and could be also used as
a place where weddings could take place and have a restaurant
facility, better toilets, and be used by the people who play
petanque and bowls and any other local schools possibly
a crèche for activity events. Another meeting has since
taken place so that more people could attend.
Regeneration meetings are taking, or have taken place in various
town centres. One held in Purley suggested taking some action
to rejuvenate the triangle in which Sainsbury's shop was originally
and encouraging the rest of the area to revive, now that Sainsburys
has left its second shop in that area. There is also a need to
look again at the road junctions here to keep it all flowing
on to Coulsdon. It was suggested that the Purley Library might
be demolished and rebuilt in Sainsbury's second empty shop near
the swimming pool, but as it is now grade ll listed that is not
likely.
Coulsdon has had a presentation from the Greater London Authority
regarding the relief road and I and several other members went
to look at this. It all depends what transport comes down from
Purley so it is important that Purley junction gets sorted out
soon.
I and other members of the executive and planning and transport
groups went at different times to the Selsdon Sainsbury presentation.
Selsdon already has a library, and a community groups centre,
plus a large community hall (holds 200) plus it is a dropping
off point for a girls school and also is a busy bus alighting
point. It also is a good parking area for Selsdon Centre users.
All of this is to go, to be replaced by Sainsbury's plus all
of the buildings and uses there now plus all the users and their
transport needs (more buses, certainly more car parking spaces).
Sainsbury's will be open at least until 11 AND WANTS TO DO OVERNIGHT
DELIVERIES. Will we be left with yet another empty Sainsbury's
if they choose to withdraw for some other venue after a few years
we wonder. The Hall was full with standing room only and
many people had their say.
Look out for your meeting for regenerating your area
and go to it and say something. That is what they are for.
Meanwhile we have had scares about Anthrax. And I think that
we have started a war though no one has said so yet so
all that we are concerned with will be of no account. When there's
a war money gets spent on blowing up buildings and people can't
rebuild in that climate. So I leave you hoping that we are not
at war and that all our hopes are not shattered again.
May Johnson
Chairman
Seen in Guardian Weekend.
Why was the scarecrow awarded the OBE?
For being outstanding in his field!
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