The Purley Village Blog

Posted 2nd Sep 2008 by JEAN HAIN

PURLEY LITERARY SOCIETY COFFEE MORNING

PURLEY LITERARY SOCIETY is holding a Coffee Morning on Saturday, 13th September 10 a.m. - 12 noon at Purley United Reformed Church, Brighton Road (next to Purley Hospital).

Please drop in and see our programme of Lively Interesting Talks (many illustrated) for the new season. Meetings are held in the Church Hall on alternate Tuesdays at 8 p.m. (starting with light refreshments at 7.30 p.m.). The first meeting is on 7th October and the last of the season is on 17th March. There is sure to be something to interest you so do come and enjoy coffee and cookies in the Lounge on 13th September.
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Posted 1st Sep 2008 by Sean

I Pay Council Tax to be rudely woken up

I want to complain to the local authority about the complete lact of respect seen by the local dustbin men. At 6.30am every Monday on Lansdowne Road they drive down, pull up and shout at one another. Then when the cart cannot get round the corner, they camp on the horn until someone wakes up and moves out of their way. Cannot something be done to just simply ask them to offer a little bit more consideration that early in the morning..??
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Posted 1st Sep 2008 by Steven Downes

Warlingham turn on the heat against Sidcup

Warlingham's first XV showed they are in good shape to continue their climb up English rugby's ladder with an impressive 19-12 victory in sweltering conditions over Sidcup at Hamsey Green on Saturday.
With Sidcup in London Division 2, this was a huge confidence boost for Warlingham, who begin their London 3 campaign at home against Lewes on September 13.

Warlingham's new signings proved that they will add further strength to the newly promoted side, with Joe Chivers slotting in in the centre and Quinten Coetzer playing at flanker and scording the opening try.

New lock forward Darren Walker showed how he will cause havoc, his strong runs breaking through the opposition line.

With the Warlingham lineout safe in the hands of Ricardo Long, Walker and hard man Ky Oliviera, and captain Tom Street leading the way with thrusts through the Sidcup midfield, Warlingham looked in command.

Chivers' long ranging kicks kept Sidcup pinned in their half and his half break to prop Alex Nunn resulted in hooker Dan Street scoring a well-deserved try which James Agate converted.

Mike Cartledge then saved the Warlingham tryline with a crunching tackle on his opposite number. A quick break out from the Warlingham 22 gave outside half Alex Glover an opportunity to kick ahead.

On the hard ground the ball rolled long and a further kick-and-chase saw Glover pounce on the ball for the third try of the afternoon and the end of the first half.

The second half started fast and furious and Sidcup forced themselves into the game exerting persistent pressure on the home side. Flanker Paul Wilson again saved the Warlingham line with a solid tackle but quickly recycled ball allowed the Sidcup winger to dive in at the corner for a converted try.

Head coach Steve Wagstaff said, "We had a good first half but the heat showed we still have more work to be done on fitness levels.

"The new guys showed really well and give us much more strength in depth."

Tony Doe was also pleased with the win, saying, "The good news is that we didn't pick up any more injuries and the players got in some valuable match practice."

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Posted 1st Sep 2008 by Peter Upton

Local Rugby

Local rugby starts on Saturday 13th September when Warlingham Rugby Club, Limpsfield Road, Hamsey Green play their first London Division III league against Lewes from Sussex. Anybody wanting to watch some enthusiastic local rugby, played by committed local lads, are very welcome to come and watch - free entrance!!
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Posted 24th Aug 2008 by anthony mills

Friends of Foxley & Downlands Countryside Management Project

On Tuesday 26th August the Downlands Countryside Management Project team will be starting 2 weeks work in Sherwood Oaks Field, surfacing the path running down from the pond and the gate in Foxley Road to the steps above Burwood Avenue to make a new safe pathway 2 metres wide. Because it is quite a steep slope in places, this will involve the construction of ''grykes'' to carry away surface water run-off. The team will be using some heavy machinery to carry out this task. We will meet at 10 am at the Woodland Way entrance. There is an additional task to be carried out over the same period of moving the spoil heaps from the previous surfacing exercise along the top path along the field.
On our midweek workday on Wednesday 27th August the Friends will be completing the construction of extra steps above Burwood Avenue, meeting there at 11am and also working alongside DCMP on the new path.
As ever, any assistance would be most welcome, and this task could be a very useful learning experience both for us and anyone else interested in joining us. If so, please contact Carl Roche on 0208 660 7790, Chris Parker at chrispm_parker@hotmail.co.uk, tel:0208 668 3302 or Anthony Mills at anthony.j.mills@gmail.com, tel:07801 088501for further information, or go to www.friendsoffoxley.co.uk


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Posted 22nd Aug 2008 by Jacquie Bailey

bad smells at Reedham

The drains near Reedham station smell disgusting and ahve been this way since the new house have been built near there. It makes the journey into work even worse than usual. Can something be done???
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Posted 15th Aug 2008 by Lansdowne Road Parking Society

Is Lansdowne Road a over flow car park for Tesco..? (And Purley in general)

I have to say that over the past 3 or 4 months, the parking availability on Lansdowne Road (Tesco End) has become non existent.
I have written before regarding this subject but having endured several more months of coming home from work and not being able to park within a mile of my house.
What I would like to discuss however, and this links nicely to the regeneration of Purley, is the subject of parking restrictions in Purley causing local shop trade to decline.
We don’t have a local butcher, baker or for that fact even a candle stick maker. Yet the knock on effect that the local authority’s need for money has had, has now found its way to my street.
You can’t park outside the shop or the post office, but you can park outside my house and walk 3 minutes to your desired need. So if a consumer decides they do not wish to line the local authority’s budget, the consumer then, and quite rightly makes a stand and finds an alternative. Lansdowne Road…!
What I would like to suggest and maybe someone can detail some figures, is that the restrictions on Purley High Street be revised and also the length of time that Tesco lets you stay is also revised. Is the council keeping the red route and restrictions as it turns a steady profit for them..? Can’t they work alongside Tesco to possibly make a section of the car park available to consumers who choose to not shop at Tesco. A fee of £1 or £2 could be charged for a day or a receipt to show you shopped in Purley.
Coulsdon has made impressive moves and removed a number of the red routes; I pulled up and managed to get cash out with out being towed away a few weeks ago.
Anyway, I look forward to reading other residents and shoppers views on this. I know im slightly biased towards Lansdowne Road, but I do honestly believe I have a point here.

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Posted 8th Aug 2008 by Peter Morgan

Purley Hospital redevelopment - meeting Purley URC, 7pm Wed 24-9-08

It is good that the public will have a chance to ask questions about this development.
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Will this include how any scheme will chime in with the council council consultants and their "Vision for Purley" masterplan, with its "new town centre parking" on the site?
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What about the retail development? - which has stalled due to insufficient parking due to restrictive council standards.
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What about the flats, and their parking?
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Will the council now support more parking for the Health Centre, both for staff, for patients and for visitors, and can we be assured that parking will not be used as a cash cow, as the government now recommends?
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Is Richard Ottaway MP suggesting a polyclinic on the site, and what would that mean for local GP's?

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Posted 8th Aug 2008 by Brian Dalton

Traffic and Purley Town Centre

I've read the responses to my suggestion of regurgitating the Flyover Option. I have to say that they do raise another question "What do we want for Purley Town Centre?" For me the answer is that I want to be able to shop in, comparative, comfort, I want to be able to cross the road without too much delay so I can move from shop to shop conveniently. I want access to public transport, but not to the detriment of my shopping experience. I don't believe people come from far and wide to shop at Purley, other than at the Tesco, so I want easy access from the Tesco car park to the rest of the shops. For these reasons I think the Tesco store should be drawn into the Town Centre and not be divorced from it as at present.
The consultant proposal would not allow for convenient road crossing. The waiting times would be increased and the Town Centre severed from Tesco, and its huge car park, as a consequence.
Peter Morgan says that the flyover would "only" remove one eighth of the traffic. Well, I would be happy with that. Such a reduction would make the Town Centre network run a lot more smoothly. Peter also wants to accelerate more traffic into the mix by making Godstone Road two lanes in both directions. I agree that it needs to be two lanes leaving Purley Cross, but it should only be one lane entry to meter the traffic as it negotiates the Town Centre network.
All of us can contribute, walk or cycle to the Town Centre, but a flyover, if Peter is to be believed; removing one in eight vehicles is a worthwhile objective.

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Posted 6th Aug 2008 by Peter Morgan

Why a flyover is wrong for Purley

There is much misunderstanding over the nature of traffic and traffic flows at Purley.
A flyover is a useful way to improve traffic flow where there is one main predominant flow.
At Purley, there is no predominant flow and no flyover which would really assist through traffic or improve the overall traffic layout.
One common misconception is that the predominant flow is between Purley way and Brighton Road south.
Even the council's consultants made this false claim, despite their own traffic disproving this.
The combined movement between Purley Way and Brighton Road south, am and pm totalled, is no more than one eighth of the total movement.
Purley Way in fact carries less traffic than either Foxley Lane or Godstone Road, a similar amount to Brighton Road north, and not much more than Pampisford Road.
This is illustrated by the diagrams which the consultants produced from actual traffic data.
A compilation with the PM traffic data on the LEFT and AM on the RIGHT may be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/56tkdh
I have produced a full analysis of Purley traffic and useful ways to improve it in my 20-7-08 posting below.
In summary, the best way forward is to improve the present layout with a number of changes, notably to widen the Godstone Road up to Downscourt Road to 2 lanes in each direction, using the northern railway arches.
Lastly, I doubt anyone will notice any change at Purley Cross after the A237 Woodcote Grove Road bridge work finishes in a few week's time.
Equally, any change in use of the A217 would have negligible impact on traffic in Purley.
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Posted 5th Aug 2008 by Anthony Mills

Friends of Foxley

On the Sunday 10th August monthly workday, the plan is for the Friends to meet at 11 am at the Northwood Avenue entrance to carry out strimming in the Glade to leave a sward more amenable for public use in the holidays, especially around the picnic table and benches, and by hard raking of the arisings to also scarify the soil surface to expose some of the existing seed bank and allow fresh seed from the spring and summer flowers to reach the soil for germination. If this job is completed then a patrol along the lower path cutting back any encroaching vegetation will be made and the final section of the scalloped edge to the path running down the boundary between the wood and Sherwood Oaks Field will also be strimmed and cut back. If this also is completed then vegetation next to the steps leading down to the Burwood Avenue entrance will also be cut back. Nothing like being ambitious! Any help or interest is always welcome. If you are thinking of joining us or would just like to comment, complain or compliment - please contact Carl Roche on 020 8660 7790, Freda Turtle on 0208 668 2008 or Anthony Mills at anthony.j.mills@gmail.com ; tel: 07801 088501 for further information or look at www.friendsoffoxley.co.uk


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Posted 29th Jul 2008 by Brian Dalton

Traffic at Purley Cross

I have had a chance to see the proposal which was consulted on at the Planning Weekend.

They look very nice in the artists impression, but, this seems to have been drawn on a very quiet day and has very small veheicles portrayed. The gyratory currently provides a lot of storage space for the traffic that traverses this limited space called Purley Cross. The main problem for Purley Cross is the through traffic. It just uses the local area in its journey from somewhere to somewhere else neither of which is local.

It seems to me that a by-pass is needed and, in a wider context, the M23 extension would have done just that and taken through traffic away. Now a by-pass is out of the question since the local area has high estate values.

To meter traffic in a closed area like Purley Cross gating is used and in this case the signals at Downs Court Road, Old Lodge Lane and Edgehill Road serve this purpose. The problem is that traffic held at these points tries to rat run and this is especially the case at Old Lodge Lane.

The proposal says that some redevelopment of the south side of Russel Hill Parade. If this is the case perhaps we should bite the bullet and create a two way single lane each way flyover at this point. The through traffic would go directly from Purley Way to Brighton Road or vice-versa. Other routes would then be less likely to be congested at Purley Cross so the businesses and pedestrian movements can be better catered for.

This sort of solution is known as grade seperation and is out of favour at present. However, Purley Cross has limited options and an old fashion out of date solution might just be what we need. I suggest it would have to be open and airy beneath the structure, but, again, we know the pitfalls experienced in years gone by, so we should be able to design out all the faults of old.
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Posted 28th Jul 2008 by Lansdowne Road Resident

What Happened Saturday Night...?

Hello to you all,

I wanted to ask what did happen on the night: Saturday 26th July 2008..?

I came home late that evening so wasnt aware of the happenings that went on.

But on the Sunday afternoon I received a letter through my door asking me if I was disturbed by the noises that were being made at the French Apartments..? And to complete the slip to state if I was.

I cant say I was disturbed but can anyone explain what happened as it must have been bad to warrant a letter being sent to all residents and for the "Noise Patrol" to be called out.

Look forward to hearing what went on.
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Posted 28th Jul 2008 by Sleepy Blogger

Dustbin Men

Is it me or are the dustbin men tone deaf and ignorant...?

Why is it that they can drive down your street at 6am shouting their mouths off, blocking roads for 10-20 mins and just be plain inconsiderate.

A local resident called the noise patrol for a rowdy party last weekend. But come Monday morning when we all have work the dustbin men drive up your street, block the road, shout their "poor" banter and wake you up...And to boot, they blocked another resident from going to work and they decided to press their horn until the dustbin men moved. Needless to say the horn didnt help and the dustbin men took longer.

Does anyone know if the next time it happens if I can open my front door and pelt eggs at them...? But on a serious note, is there a way to have them behave in a more considerate manner..?
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Posted 25th Jul 2008 by anthony mills

Friends of Foxley

On our mid-week workday on 30th July we intend to continue grubbing the Rhododendron, though further along the path from the Woodland Way entrance [where we will meet at 11.00], working between the quarry and the gulley, and will include cutting vegetation round the planted junipers. We also intend to clear some household rubbish which has been dumped into the wood along the back gardens of Northwood Avenue - and we will be posting notices advising that this is a criminal offence. If evidence can be found identifying the origin or perpetrator then we will seek prosecution. On this occasion we are likely to be short-handed with only 2 or 3 Friends able to help - unless others care to join us... any energetic young people at a loose end now the school holidays have begun? Come and bash some rhodos! Or if you are of a more mature disposition, come and chat about what we're doing and give us some moral support. Any help or interest is always welcome. Please contact chrispm_parker@hotmail.co.uk or anthony.j.mills@gmail.com / phone 07801088501 or see www.friendsoffoxley.co.uk
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Posted 22nd Jul 2008 by Ruth

Banksy

Has anyone else noticed the Banksy picture of Salvador Dali with a spray can on My Old China? Is it new or have I been wandering around with my eyes closed?
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Posted 21st Jul 2008 by Peter Morgan, NP rep for Roads and Traffic

Changes to 412 bus stand + terminus in Brighton Road Purley

During a review of ways to make Purley town centre more successful, it has been suggested that a "Purley Square" be created in Brighton Road and High Street in Purley outside the URC church.

It is suggested that the bus stand is not an attractive feature, with large dirty smelly buses (not my words) not mixing well with a pedestrian plaza.
At present, 412 buses terminate at Purley Tesco, and then run out of service past bus stops in Banstead Road and Pampisford Road, before reaching the bus stand.
They then run out of service past the bus stop in Brighton Road north before their first service stop in Purley Road outside the Jolly Farmers.
Certain journeys run out of service to and from South Croydon garage (TC), and these run straight along Brighton Road north.
Why do garage journeys on route 412 not run in service back to South Croydon garage?
Why do normal journeys not serve the main stops they run past?
Why do the blind displays not show "PURLEY via SELSDON" etc, which would be much more helpful?
Garage journeys from Croydon could show "PURLEY & South Croydon Garage" - as was formerly common.
It is suggested that the bus stand could be moved to north of Christchurch Road.
Buses from Croydon could then serve the main stop in Brighton Road north, with final set down at the stand.
Buses towards Croydon would run round the Royal Oak roundabout, and could serve three extra stops in Brighton Road before Purley Road.
The extra mileage and time would be small, and the service improvements real.
These changes would also enable the removal of the bus stand opposite the Hospital, and allow a redesign incorporating more pedestrian open apace and car parking, two key calls from the local community.
A few buses on route 60 are turned short at Purley.
These journeys could use the stand in Whytecliffe Road South near the station.
A possible new layout for the Purley Square has been circulated.
It may be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/6zqug2
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Posted 20th Jul 2008 by Peter Morgan

Who are the PRUG - Purley Road Users Group

The Purley Mail has yet another posting by someone claiming to be part of the Purley Road Users Group.
Who are the PRUG, who do they represent, what is their mission? - I have asked before, but no answer comes forward.
Their point of view may be perfectly legitimate, but they certainly do not appear to be representative of people in Purley generally, as I can say from regular meetings and discussions with individuals an groups, including the Purley Neighbourhood Partnership.
There are two elected community representatives for road and traffic matters locally.
Phil Reed who covers Purley, and myself covering Coulsdon, which includes the area west of the Brighton Road and south of Banstead Road from the centre line of those roads.
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Posted 20th Jul 2008 by Peter Morgan, NP rep for Roads & Traffic

PURLEY - The Way Forward - Analysis of Purley Traffic Options

I was asked to produce an analysis of various options for changing the main traffic layout and circulation around Purley Cross.
I have a document which gives options for change in three areas, and a list of other ways that the existing layout might work better.
This includes a preliminary table of advantages and disadvantages of each choice - something the Consultants failed to address.
This document is available at http://tinyurl.com/639sy3
Taken from my file, the main choices are:
Choice 1 - The Northern one-way system along Banstead Road, Foxley Lane, Russell Hill Road
Option 1 – Widen Russell Hill Road for two-way traffic Reduces traffic in Banstead Road – means major changes to junctions at either end
Advantages Reduces traffic in Banstead Road
Direct route Purley Way to Foxley Lane
Disadvantages
1 – Cost – Requires property demolition
2 – Brings much more through traffic into the town centre + longer journeys
3 - Creates new congestion at J2 + J3
4 - Creates pedestrian route problems
5 - Creates problems with buses
Option 2 – Widen Banstead Road for two-way traffic Reduces traffic in Russell Hill Road – means major changes to junctions at either end
Advantages Reduces traffic in Russell Hill Road
Direct route Purley Way to Foxley Lane
Disadvantages
1 – Cost – Requires property demolition
2 – Requires new large junction by the library + longer journeys
3 – Creates new congestion at J2 + J3
4 - Creates pedestrian route problems
5 - Creates problems with buses
Option 3 – Retain existing one-way layout
Advantages Avoids much worse traffic congestion
Avoids cost and disruption of change
Choice 2 - The Central section along Purley Road, with the main existing gyratory
Option 1 – Replace gyratory with two-way traffic in Purley Road – means major changes to junctions at either end
Advantages Removes vehicles from some land near existing footways allowing other use
Disadvantages
1 - Cost + loss of pedestrian underpass
2 - Makes junctions complicated at both ends, with needed movements banned
3 - Creates new congestion at J1 + J2
4 - Creates pedestrian route problems
5 - Creates problems with buses
Option 2 – Retain existing one-way layout
Advantages Avoids much worse traffic congestion
Avoids cost and disruption of change
Choice 3 - The Southern section, Godstone Road from railway to Downscourt Road
Option 1 – Widen Godstone Road to two lanes in each direction
Advantages Relieves severe traffic congestion in Purley Road and Godstone Road both ways, and south on Purley Way
Disadvantages
1 – Cost - Requires some land acquisition + loss of limited green area
2 – Wider road for pedestrians to cross
Option 2 – Retain existing one-way layout
Advantages Avoids cost and disruption of change
Disadvantages Retains long queues of slow traffic on Godstone Road and through Purley
As may be inferred, I do not support replacing the gyratory or the one-way working, but I do support widening Godstone Road, and other measures to improve the traffic flow.
I would be pleased to receive any comments on this work.
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Posted 20th Jul 2008 by John

The law of unforseen consequences

The installation of a speed camera on the Purley Way north looked like a good decision at first even though the location was odd.
What has happened is the traffic now approaching Russell Green Close and the traffic lights is now a lot faster than before.
The traffic is slowing down at the bottom of the hill to pass the camera, then speeding up considerably as it approaches the junctions.
What was a difficult situation has now become a dangerous one with loss of life expected soon.

The camera should be removed to just before the junction of Russell Green Close.

An endangered RGC resident
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Posted 20th Jul 2008 by Lorraine Gillott

Gardening Help Needed

I have a small garden and need some help with planning and installing new patio. I also need some help with general tidying up. If anyone can recommend a name please let me know. Thanks
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Posted 19th Jul 2008 by mary fitzgerald

Short Tem Action Plan - Improvements

I would like to add to the list of improvements the removal/relocation of the recycling bins facing the parade of shops which include Blockbuster. Additionally the installation of more seating areas around the town. These should be similar in type to those in the pedestrian area in Croydon which are made of stone rather than wood (as these should last longer and be easier to maintain).
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Posted 15th Jul 2008 by Peter Morgan

Purley to become No-Go Area as council consultants run amok with absurd traffic scheme

I spent six hours last Friday and another five hours on Saturday at the Purley Workshops, billed as an opportunity to share in improving Purley town centre and its traffic issues.

It was noticeable how carefully the sessions were managed and opinions massaged to ensure that unwanted ideas were filtered out and only views which suited the consultant's predetermined plan were promoted.

On Tuesday, there was a long public presentation by the consultants of their "masterplan", and "Vision for Purley"

There seems to be some merit in their designs ideas for the town centre, but they are best summed up as impractical, idealistic pipe-dreams.

Their traffic layout for Purley is unworkable, ridiculous and absurd.

They propose to destroy the gyratory which works well, and divert much more traffic right through the town centre.
They would snarl the traffic up for most of the day, with far worse traffic jams than now.
New traffic signals around the town would be needed to create new jams in residential areas to hold traffic back from the centre.
Access to much of the town centre would be difficult or impossible, while many more journeys would mean long inconvenient circuitous journeys through and around the centre.

The community has made clear one clear need is for more parking, more convenient and cheaper.
The consultants deliver a clear kick in the teeth by proposing a 25% cut in parking, with that remaining moved away from the centre to distant points on the edge.

We have already seen council strategic planning mess up badly with swimming pool projects going wrong in Waddon and Coulsdon.

The council are preparing to impose their half-baked and unwanted traffic scheme on Coulsdon, which Waitrose have said "does not address our concerns over parking and traffic", so their expansion is not happening.

Daft fanciful proposals for central Croydon wander on amidst senior councillors' starry-eyed enthusiasm.

Now it seems the council's consultants are going to wreck Purley.

Why is the current council administration so infected with incompetence, and so incapable of really listening to the public?

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Posted 8th Jul 2008 by anthony mills

Friends of Foxley

On our Sunday 13th July workday we will be joined by the Holiday Fellowship Ramblers who have for years regularly assisted us in maintaining the footpaths and other conservation tasks. On this occasion it is intended that the rhododendrons on either side of the path from Woodland Way [where we will meet at 11am] towards the quarry are to be cut back again to the previous points of pruning from which they have been spreading. These are tenacious plants which will be grubbed up again with mattocks on the southern side of the path [after which they still seem able to come back, hence the continuing task], which takes some considerable effort and energy. As always, any volunteers will be welcome, whether to assist physically or in any other way, even if just moral support. For further information please see:- www.friendsoffoxley.co.uk
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Posted 25th Jun 2008 by Eamon Price

Dangerous speeds on Haydn Avenue Rat Run

In the last month, on two separate occasions I have just managed to avoid being hit by cars driving well over the speed limit on Haydn Avenue, whilst with my two and three year old. I have also witnessed other close calls with others. The road became a favourite rat run since the introduction of speed bumps on Old Lodge Lane and it is now a very dangerous road for pedestrians, as well as cars simply trying to pull out due to the racing vehicles.
I understand that someone from the council spent time monitoring speeds on the road, but I have heard nothing about what they learnt or what they intend to do.
I hope that a serious injury or fatality is not the the trigger that the council is waiting for for taking action. Does anyone know what is /has been happening ? Have others experienced the same issues ?
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