1) The Cargo Revolution Borough Charter is an opportunity for Local Authorities to be part of the transition to a greener economy and help make sure businesses and residents have the best possible chance of making the switch to cargo bikes. Will Bromley Council sign up and if not, then why?
We will not be signing this charter. We do not want to encourage the use of these slow moving and wide cargo bikes on busy roads which will impede other road users.
Links Estate Jubilee Street Party, 2022. Image: Crowdfunder.
Following the success of street parties held across Bromley to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee in 2022 and the King’s Coronation in 2023, Bromley Council is waiving road closure fees for those applying to hold a street party in support of the Big Lunch on June 1 or 2, 2024.
What is the Big Lunch? From the website: The Big Lunch is the UK’s annual get-together for neighbours and communities, with millions of people coming together for a few hours of food, friendship, and fun. It connects people and encourages friendlier, safer communities where people start to share more – conversations, ideas, skills, resources and friendship.
How can I apply? Once you have formed a group of neighbours willing to organise and participate in the party, you can apply online here: Street parties and public events. Party organisers are responsible for informing neighbours and managing vehicle access points.
What are the deadlines? Applications must be submitted by March 4, 2024.
Bromley Council is currently consulting on a scheme to improve pedestrian safety and the reliability and punctuality of bus services on Anerley Hill/Anerley Road, between Crystal Palace Parade and Seymour Villas.
Proposed changes at intersection of Anerley Hill and Terrace Straight (entrance to Crystal Palace Park)
The proposed scheme includes:
Several lengths of bus lane to give priority to buses (within the current road space)
A new zebra crossing immediately to the north of the Thicket Road and Versailles Road junction
Continuous pavement crossings at side road junctions (also known as Copenhagen crossings)
The re-designs of the Terrace Straight and Anerley Park junctions to make it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross.
A new pedestrian crossing point immediately to the north of the Terrace Straight junction
Additional car parking near the junction of Hamlet Road to help support local businesses.
In November 2023 Bromley Council installed new barriers at the underpass next to New Beckenham Station, pictured below.
Shortly after these were installed, we contacted ward councillors and council officials to raise concerns about the design of these barriers. Specifically the gap of ~1.15m between each barrier creates a very tight path for anyone travelling on a mobility scooter or wheelchair, using a cargo bike or handcycle (when dismounted), or with a double buggy.
As far as we know, council officials are considering whether the barriers could be adjusted to improve accessibility. We will continue to pursue this issue as the underpass is a key link for walking, cycling and wheeling around Beckenham, and maintaining access for users is essential. Please contact us at bromleygroup@livingstreets.org.uk if you would like to get involved, or have concerns you would like to raise.
1) Items 14e and 14f [p261] of the agenda regarding South Eden Park Rd and roundabout safety scheme and Local Implementation Plan. While welcoming the proposals to mitigate accidents to road and pavement users at the roundabout, I’d like to know why there are no proposals to improve the safety of children and parents who cross South Eden Park road between Harvington Estate, and Unicorn School every day, without a safe crossing, or methods to slow traffic down. There are also concerns about the extremely narrow pavements along this road making pedestrians vulnerable to pollution and possible accidents. What is being done to make this a safe place for your residents to use?
Officers are looking at how crossing facilities might be improved near Creswell Drive.
Supplementary: What will it take for the Council to get on and make this area safe for our schoolchildren. I would really like to see some work done on this crossing, something to slow the traffic down as its extremely dangerous for parents and children who are trying to cross every day.
Questions from the Public for Oral Response: 1) What are the financial savings and reductions in carbon emissions for the proposed installations of the solar panels at the council owned Spa and Pavilion centres and will the Council use its influence to ensure that Mytime signs off this project?
There are no financial savings to the Council arising from the installation of solar panels at Beckenham Spa or the Pavilion Leisure Centre, as the Council are not responsible for utilities at these sites, which are leased to Mytime Active on a full repairing and insuring basis. Any question on potential savings or on the reduction in carbon emissions, which are not measured by the Council, should be directed to Mytime.
Officers met with Mytime and SELCE in August and have agreed that the Council will, as Landlord, provide its consent should Mytime wish to proceed with this project.
Supplementary Question: The savings to the spa as I understand it are in the region of £456.00k The cost to the Council and the Spa would be nil as the cost will be borne by public share offers as has occurred elsewhere in Lewisham and Greenwich. If the spa is unable to sign off this agreement then they may come back to the Council to ask for more financial support. This is going to generate substantial carbon savings and should be in line with Council policy. Do you have any influence with My Time to enable the project to be signed off and to subsequently present a report to committee concerning the making of all of My Time and properties owned by the Council climate change friendly?
I believe that this matter sits with the Property Team. I would suggest contacting Councillor Bear to see if she could bring this matter to the Renewal & RecreationHousing PDS Committee.
To Bromley Council leader Cllr Colin Smith and Portfolio Holder for Transport Cllr Nicholas Bennett,
Today sees the launch of the 2023 Healthy Streets Scorecard, the fifth annual release by the London Healthy Streets Coalition – a group of health, environment and transport campaigners. The media release associated with the scorecard mentions Bromley as one of the boroughs where further action is needed (1). London Borough of Bromley:
Is one of three London boroughs with less than 10% of appropriate streets covered by a 20mph speed limit
Is bottom of the table for parking controls, controlling parking on fewer than 10% of streets
Is named in the media release as having little or no priority for buses, in contrast to many boroughs with 40 to 50% of routes prioritised for buses (with bus lanes or similar)
The Bromley results conclude with the statement that “without serious ambition from the council, Bromley will continue to languish at the bottom end of the Scorecard” (2).
The Healthy Streets Scorecard shows to what extent London Boroughs are putting in place six key measures which will dramatically improve air quality and road safety, boost active lifestyles and reduce carbon emissions (3). Bromley Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport, Councillor Nicholas Bennett, has recently stated publicly that “Bromley does not recognise the value of most measures included in the Healthy Streets Scorecard” (4).
We are publishing this open letter to encourage a large, broad and diverse range of Bromley stakeholders to come together to collectively ask Cllrs Smith and Bennett two questions:
If Bromley residents establish an independent road safety forum as a broad, diverse, inclusive body to replace the Council’s Road Safety Panel which Cllr Bennett disbanded (5), will you engage with this body?
Why does Bromley Council not see value in many of the measures included in the Healthy Streets Scorecard?
To Bromley Council leader Cllr Colin Smith and Portfolio Holder for Transport Cllr Nicholas Bennett,
Today sees the launch of the 2023 Healthy Streets Scorecard, the fifth annual release by the London Healthy Streets Coalition – a group of health, environment and transport campaigners. The media release associated with the scorecard mentions Bromley as one of the boroughs where further action is needed (1). London Borough of Bromley
is one of three London boroughs with less than 10% of appropriate streets covered by a 20mph speed limit
is bottom of the table for parking controls, controlling parking on fewer than 10% of streets
is named in the media release as having little or no priority for buses, in contrast to many boroughs with 40 to 50% of routes prioritised for buses (with bus lanes or similar)
The Bromley results conclude with the statement that “without serious ambition from the council, Bromley will continue to languish at the bottom end of the Scorecard” (2).
The Healthy Streets Scorecard shows to what extent London Boroughs are putting in place six key measures which will dramatically improve air quality and road safety, boost active lifestyles and reduce carbon emissions (3). Bromley Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport, Councillor Nicholas Bennett, has recently stated publicly that “Bromley does not recognise the value of most measures included in the Healthy Streets Scorecard” (4).
We are publishing this open letter to encourage a large, broad and diverse range of Bromley stakeholders to come together to collectively ask Cllrs Smith and Bennett two questions:
If Bromley residents establish an independent road safety forum as a broad, diverse, inclusive body to replace the Council’s Road Safety Panel which Cllr Bennett disbanded (5), will you engage with this body?
Why does Bromley Council not see value in many of the measures included in the Healthy Streets Scorecard?
We would be grateful if Cllrs Smith and Bennett could please indicate their response to these questions in a public statement, circulated on social media channels.
We are asking these questions because we would like to work collaboratively with Bromley Council to improve Bromley’s streets for all road users. We see something collaborative like this forum as a space where new solutions could be discussed and support for planned improvements could be strengthened.
If you lead a community organisation, business, school, church or faith-based group and would like to add your organisation’s name to the letter, please email us at bromleygroup AT livingstreets.org.uk
If you would like to add your name to the letter as an individual, please click the link below to sign the letter via openletter.earth. We are using an external platform for individual signatures to ensure that GDPR privacy regulations are adhered to:
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Please consider sharing this letter on social media to spread the word to other residents, businesses and community organisations.
1) Can you provide the number of Potholes in the Borough with repairs outstanding by age profile. Over 10 days, 35 days, 50 days, 100 days and 150 days old?
‘Potholes’ are not recorded as such but the figures for minor carriageway repairs are. Over 10 days – 148 10 to 35 days – 215 36 to 50 days – 174 51 to 100 days – 374 101 to 150 days – 97 Over 150 days – 13 For fuller detail please see my update.
Supplementary Question: How many O’Rourke crews are there?
It varies between one and three. I have asked if this number could be increased to 5.
1) Agenda Item 13b – BECKENHAM: SOUTHEND ROAD, PARK ROAD, FOXGROVE ROAD SAFETY SCHEME (Report No: ES20241) The UK design manual for roundabouts states a 4-arm mini-roundabout should not be used where the peak traffic flows at the junction exceed 500 vehicles an hour. The Southend/Foxgrove/Park Road junction has more than three times this flow. How can the Council bring forward a scheme that breaches this guidance?
1) I am a resident of Tylney Road, and for years, cars have been driving too fast down the road. There have been several times where I’ve nearly been hit by speeding cars due to lack of visibility. Will the Council commit to reducing speed on Tylney Road, and how?
The Council has installed traffic calming measures on Tylney Road, including a raised table and school-time 20mph flashing signs. Parked cars in Tylney Road also help reduce the speed of traffic. Speeding motorists are a police responsibility.
Supplementary: What action has the Council taken to protect school children in the vicinity if Tylney Road. If no action has been taken, what action will be taken in the future?
I can only repeat what I have just said. We have put in a raised table, we have also put in 20mph flashing signs. I drive down Tylney Road all the time. The fact that there are parked cars on both sides and by the junction of the mini roundabout does actually mean that traffic slows down. If there are problems on occasion with speeding traffic, I suggest that you talk to your Ward Councillors who will be members of your local Safer Neighbourhood Team Committee and they will raise the matter directly with the police.
2) There are two blocked drains or gullies in the High Street outside number 172, the site of the old Harvest Moon Pub. These are continually blocked and cause severe flooding in the road and pavement after it rains. How often are these gullies and drains cleared and when was such cleaning last carried out?
All 35,000 roadside gullies in the borough are scheduled for cleaning at least every other year. Some gullies including the ones on the High Street need traffic management to carry out safely the work. The two gullies are on our work programme planned for overnight on 23rd January 2023, when the problem will be investigated.
Supplementary: The two drains opposite 172 High Street are often blocked. How often are drains cleared? When were they last cleared? I would like to thank Cllr Kim Botting for escalating the matter.
The drains have been cleared out. If there continues to be an issue with flooding then please report it again. This can be reported to your Ward Councillor or to myself.
3) Following the snow in mid-December, I found it difficult as a pedestrian to walk to school due to ice on the pavements, and slipped over once due to it. This was also dangerous for elderly people, who find it difficult to keep their balance. Why didn’t the Council grit pavements?
The Council are unable to treat all footways following snowfall. Priority treatments are based on the following criteria – Transport interchanges e.g. railway stations, bus terminals and routes to them; – Town centres – Outside schools and safer routes to schools (walking bus routes) We have a ‘Snow Friends’ programme, where residents are able to assist in snow clearing and spreading salt on local footways
Supplementary: I have been told that there are not enough volunteers for ‘snow friends’ and some of those who are volunteers did not receive their supplies on time. Why was this? When we have very cold weather, will the Council not commit to gritting pavements and shop fronts to ensure safety?
We can’t afford to grit every road in the borough. The priorities have been set over many years and they are the right ones.
In our recent sustainability report we cited that ‘climate change is influenced by human activity’. This statement refers to the fact that a large amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are caused by human activity, thus human activity is a significant factor influencing climate change. The overwhelming scientific consensus, including the study cited by the IPCC, points to there being a high probability that human activity is the dominant driver of climate change.
