Addington Road - Sapling Finally Planted
18/04/2018 18:02:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

After a number of requests the damaged sapling on the Addington Road has finally been planted.  Street trees add such value and its pretty blossoms will soon form new growth.

Large Street Tree in Lower Barn Road
16/04/2018 11:50:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

The council have promised that the large tree running alongside Riddlesdown Lawn Tennis Club is at last going to have a crown reduction.  The leaf fall is impacting one side of the tennis courts and needs a good prune.  The promise is to do the work within the next two months so fingers crossed!

Public Footpath 142 - Purley Oaks Road - Sanderstead Road
16/04/2018 11:28:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

Residents have raised concerns over the condition of the footpath between Purley Oaks Road and Sanderstead Road.  The rail has broken and is missing on one section of the steep incline, making it difficult for residents, in particular, the elderly, to use the pathway.  Moss and leaf mould has taken a grip of a large section of the pathway making it extremely slippery in wet and icy conditions.  It hasn't helped that the council haven't picked up the winter leaf fall which line the pathway on both sides.  I have taken these issues up with the council and hope that action will soon be taken to get the footway back into safe use.

Joy Gadsby 3 January 1928 - 14 March 2018
13/04/2018 12:17:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

I was extremely sad to learn that Joy Gadsby passed away on 14 March 2018.  I know that many residents attended her funeral at All Saints Church. She was a wealth of knowledge and had not only provided me with information for the Sanderstead News over the last fourteen years but had written articles for numerous editors before me. She was a keen and knowledgeable botanist who took a great interest in her local environment, particularly the ancient woodland adjoining Sanderstead.  In fact, her very last article published in the March edition of the Sanderstead News was about Kings Wood.

As well as being a faithful worshipper at All Saints she was a lover of Scandanavian life and culture and had many friends in both Denmark and Norway.

Joy never married, her young man being killed in World War II and lived in Sanderstead all her life.  They are now united.  We will all miss Joy and the huge contribution she made to the local community.  We are looking at celebrating her life in some way perhaps by planting a tree or a rose in Wettern Tree Gardens.  We work closely with the Sanderstead Residents Associaton and will discuss an appropriate way forward at the next meeting.

Sanderstead Ward Crime Prevention Day - 21st April
12/04/2018 12:48:00.......Posted by Lynne Hale

Our local Sanderstead Neighbourhood Police Team are holding a Crime Prevention Day on Saturday 21st April which residents may wish to pop along to. Local Police Officers will be on hand to discuss how best to protect your home and vehicle. The details are as follows:
Date: Saturday 21st April
Time: 10.45am – 1.45pm
Place: St Edmund’s Church Hall, Mitchley Avenue, Riddlesdown CR2 9HL
 

Caravan on Mitchley Avenue/Dunmail Drive field
12/04/2018 09:15:00.......Posted by Tim Pollard

Yesterday residents started to report that a caravan had been delivered to the field at the bottom of Dunmail Drive where it meets Michley Hill/Mitchley Avenue. This is the field which has been used for a while to graze horses. A few years ago the owner got permission (against the ward team and local residents' associations wishes) from the Labour-controlled planning committee to put down hard standing and access gating, which they said they needed to facilitate the care of the horses. The land is Green Belt, which severely limits what can go on it.

I have asked planning officers to visit and advise whether the caravan can lawfully remain there (and if not, to take enforcement action). It looks as though the caravan is there with the permission of the field's owner and it doesn't appear to be the start of an illegal encampment, but we will keep and eye on it and make sure there are no additions whilst officers review it.

Hamsey Green Pond - Refuse and Neglect
09/04/2018 17:50:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

I have been working closely with the Sanderstead Residents' Association and local organisations such as the Rotary Club to improve the biodiversity and general appearance of Hamsey Green Pond.  Cllr Pollard and I planted crocus bulbs and the three local councillors alongside the Sanderstead Residents' Association funded the new railings, gate and hardstanding as well as organising the new noticeboard and benches for people to sit and enjoy this quiet place of contemplation.  Sadly, the pond itself is in a terrible condition.  Refuse and litter are strewn all around the pond and an old for sale board is now the main feature of the area.  I have repeatedly asked that the parrot weed be cleared and the whole area be cleaned of refuse and debris but sadly this does not seem to be a priority for this administration.  Despite being recognised as an important conservation and biodivrsity area recently listed in the local plan it is severely neglected.  Many residents have complained saying they are unable to enjoy this spot and are deeply saddened by its condition.  All I can say is that I will continue to email the council and the cabinet member asking that this important place is not neglected and work take place so that the community can enjoy this rare and beautiful pond.  As an update to this post the council is trying to facilitate a way forward with the developer to see if they would be willing to work with the council.

All Saints’ Church Graveyard in Sanderstead
03/04/2018 21:25:00.......Posted by Tim Pollard

I've been visiting a number of the 31 green spaces which our Labour council managed to fail to get protected in the 'Local Plan' it recently adopted. These are a mix of playgrounds, small parklets, large recreation grounds and graveyards, all of which now have no local protection from development. 

One such is in Sanderstead, the graveyard of All Saints Church in Sanderstead. Like 30 other spaces in our borough, under Labour’s ‘Local Plan’ adopted in February, it does not have any local protection from development. As a graveyard, it seems unlikely to be a target for even the most rapacious property developer in the future, but sadly the same cannot be said for all the spaces Labour failed to get protected. This is a place of quiet contemplation and remembrance, rather than a thriving park like South Croydon Rec (also unprotected). It can be spooky at night, as I captured  as part of a project on night photography, which I love doing. Spaces like this will always be protected by any Conservative administration I lead, whatever the local plan might say.

If you want to see the pic a little larger, please click here.

King's Wood Paths & Signs
30/03/2018 19:41:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

The three Sanderstead councillors were pleased to contribute a significant sum of money to the Downland Project to improve some of the entrances to King's Wood.

Access is particularly difficult when the weather is wet and the new and improved surface in many of the entrance areas will give better access throughout the year.

Quotes have also been received for new welcome signs and these will be funded jointly by the Sanderstead Residents Association and the councillors.  Hopefully it won't belong before these are installed and the work is complete on the pathways.

Ken's Auto's Site - Development Well Underway
30/03/2018 13:23:00.......Posted by Yvette Hopley

The development on the site of Ken's Autos is progressing well.  As can be seen from the photograph the main structure is complete and the row of six bedroom terraced houses look very smart.  Cllr Lynne Hale and I met with the developers in the pre-application process and we are pleased to see that many of the comments we made in relation to the style and design have been incorporated in the build.  Of particular importance was consideration to the houses in Kingswood Lane and the row of small family homes has reduced that impact.  It will be interesting to see who takes on the commercial aspect of the build.  Whilst some residents had hoped for a Marks and Spencers I understand that other expressions of interest have been mooted.