Growing old but working hard... the WestWickhamResidents’ Association


Did you know that the West Wickham Residents’ Association is one of the largest in the country with a membership covering some 85% of households in its area? Committee member Charles Sebestyen reports on the group’s recent work.


THE association is now old but still works hard to keep our town a pleasant place. Its principal activity is to make representations to, and bring pressure on, the various bodies responsible for providing services for the town, including Bromley Council, transport providers, utilities, our Safer Neighbourhoods team and many others. We try to keep a close eye on what needs to be done to


keep our town in good condition. We donate money for various local causes, support local traders, organise and promote local social events. Our quarterly newsletter, recently converted to an all-colour format, is delivered by some 115 volunteer road stewards covering over 5,000 households. They also collect the annual subscription of £2 and are an essential link between residents and the committee of the association: without their help, the association could not exist. There is always a need for new road stewards and if you


think you might be interested please contact us (details are on our recently revamped website


www.westwickhamresidents.com, which also lists local events). During the last 12 months, we made a donation to the Pop in


Parlour in Sussex Road which is now run by volunteers. We also purchased 10 street trees for the area through the council. We continue to monitor planning applications and make


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There is always a need for new stewards, so if you might be interested, get in touch!


020 8462 3516


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representations in the few cases where the proposals are undesirable. We are passionate about our shopping centre which is regarded as one of the most attractive of its kind in the area. Unlike many others, it offers a good variety of shops partly because we have worked hard to persuade the planning authorities not to allow the conversion of retail shops into food outlets unless there are special reasons to do so. Experience shows that too


many, or inappropriately located, food outlets and takeaways undermine the daytime vitality of the centre and we are determined to ensure that this does not happen in our town. We also support our Town Centre Association and any


initiative that helps our shops. We are very pleased that, following suggestions from retailers and the Residents’ Association, the council has now introduced a one hour parking limit in the parade along Glebe Way. This deters all day parking and frees up space for visitors to the shops. So far it seems to be working well: shopkeepers are delighted and we would like to say thank you to the council. The chances are that if you visit the drycleaners, the carpet or the art shop or any other business, you will find a parking space in the near vicinity. Thanks are also in order for the excellent street cleaning in


the town centre – this is due, in no small measure, to Alan Mitchell who is probably one of the best known and friendliest figures on the High Street. We are also pleased that, partly as a result of our efforts, Station Approach was recently resurfaced (although the long term problem of flooding by the station entrance still recurs from time to time). Similarly, the water is still flowing from the retaining wall in Glebe Way but Transport for London has assured us that it will be sorted out before autumn. We are still pressing for a direct bus link to the Princess


Royal Hospital at Farnborough but, unfortunately, with several different bodies- including Transport for London- involved, decision making tends to be on the slow side. But we won’t give up. We normally organise at least three events a year and


promote many others in our newsletter and website. Our next social event will be the Jazz Supper – the date and further details will be in our autumn newsletter, on the website and on posters around the town. Everyone is welcome so why not give it a try? The association is also hard at work, with many others - schools, churches, and local associations – preparing celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Many details remain to be settled, but the intention is to have a wide range of events, including an inter-denominational religious service, sporting competitions, a fair, a barbecue, a fête, a commercial funfair and two carnival processions over four days. Watch out for further details in the coming months.


Essentially West Wickham & Hayes • Summer 2011 • To advertise, call 01959 564766


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