Category: News

Recent news that Heathfield House has been put up for sale have emerged on social media. We are happy to give the official version, as social media often give an inaccurate view.

Savills Estate Agents carried a listing for it which has been withdrawn at the Council’s request as it gave incorrect information and did not present the seller’s intentions correctly.

We have been in touch with the Council and have received an immediate update from Cllr Cummings.  Here is the true state of play:

The Council is “looking to lease the property to an organisation that will use it for a purpose that has some benefit to residents. This might be on a long lease (such as the 125 years suggestion) or could be a shorter 25-year type lease. This would depend on the business modelling and usage type. We won’t sell the freehold as we would lose control of what can happen onsite.’

‘Examples we would consider are things like: Children’s SEND provision, a weddings venue, boutique hotel. The key here is that people either feel good about what is being done there or they can be part of using it themselves (e.g. the wedding suggestion).’

We are NOT suggesting it could become a private residence. In any scenario access to the public must be maintained.”

The sale applies to Heathfield House and immediate surrounding garden only and the remainder of the Heathfield site including the Ecology Centre would be free for public access.

For the avoidance of confusion, the House and Grounds were purchased by the Council not ‘gifted’ by the Riesco family (the gifting applied only to the Riesco china collection).

Though fewer than previous years, there are some important matters in Shirley South worthy of update.

• 159 Shirley Church Road : 24/03761/PAD  The demolition of this building has been granted.  While local residents have expressed their disapproval on the grounds of the historical nature of the building, the site is not situated within a conservation area, nor does it comprise a listed building.  The building is in a poor state and is considered unviable to restore.  So, while it would be desirable to resurrect this building to its previous condition, it is with regret that the decision is that it is to be demolished.  What is important to SPRA is any proposed planning application which might be put forward to replace it.  It is most likely that it will be for residential units and this will be closely monitored.

• Sandrock : 24/04100/DISC  This long-standing planning application to develop the whole site of the public house into numerous units is still awaiting a decision. Previous applications have been refused.  Slight technical alterations have been submitted but the overall plan for 11 flats and 4 houses has stayed the same.  SPRA has continued to object and monitor this planning application.

• Alltype Builders Yard : 25/00212/FUL  This application refers to the large storage shelving that was erected on the Bridle Road site in 2022 without planning permission.  SPRA actively pursued an objection at the time after being alerted by a local resident.  This was challenging as there was no planning application to object to.  Numerous communications with the Council and our Councillors failed to resolve this issue until now (nearly three years on!), where an enforcement notice has been issued to submit a retrospective planning application.  SPRA has submitted an objection.

If you wish to discuss any planning issues with our planning team, please can you submit your question using the email address spra.comms@hotmail.com  This will allow the planning group to give an informed answer as to any issues raised.

TfL sent the following, which members may find useful …

I am writing to let you know that, as part of our programme to renew London Trams infrastructure, planned work to replace a section of track between Wellesley Road and East Croydon will be taking place from Saturday 15 February until Sunday 23 February.  Services will recommence on Monday 24 February. 

This planned maintenance is vital to ensure we can continue to offer a reliable service across the London Trams network. The closure will take place during half-term when customer numbers are lower.  As part of this closure, we will also take the opportunity to undertake some additional essential works with an aim to minimise the need for future closures.

The works will affect tram services in the town centre and east of East Croydon tram stop, with engineering teams working around the clock to minimise disruption as much as possible. 

During these works: 

Saturday 15 February 

• No trams will run between Reeves Corner and Sandilands, which includes Croydon town centre loop. Local bus services will serve all nearby tram stops along these routes enabling customers to continue their journeys  
• No service between Arena and Elmers End 
• For customers planning to use Elmers End tram stop, you can take the 289 bus service from Elmers End Interchange to either Addiscombe tram stop, or West Croydon. This bus runs every 12 to 15 minutes 
• Alternatively, the nearest alternative tram stop is Birkbeck, which is available via a short walk or local bus route 356 at bus stop B 
• Services will continue on the rest of the London Trams network as normal 

Sunday 16 February – Sunday 23 February 

• No trams will run between Reeves Corner and East Croydon, which includes Croydon town centre loop. Local bus services will serve all nearby tram stops along these routes enabling customers to continue their journeys  
• No service between Arena and Elmers End 
• For customers planning to use Elmers End tram stop, you can take the 289 bus service from Elmers End Interchange to either Addiscombe tram stop, or West Croydon. This bus runs every 12 to 15 minutes
• Alternatively, the nearest alternative tram stop is Birkbeck, which is available via a short walk or local bus route 356 at bus stop B 
• Services will continue on the rest of the London Trams network as normal 
• All roads around the works continue to be open to traffic as normal 

During the closure customers may find it easier to walk, cycle or use local bus services to complete their journeys. Local bus services, routes 64, 119, 130, 194, 198, 464 and 466, continue to be available but are expected to be busier than normal. We are encouraging customers to allow extra time to complete any journeys. 

While the Croydon town centre loop is closed to trams for these planned works, additional essential maintenance work has been scheduled including: 

• Localised highway works at Tamworth Road and Church Street including surfacing repairs 
• Localised paving and drainage works in segregated sections at Church Street, Station Road and Wellesley Road 
• Platform works for Centrale, George Street and Church Street tram stops 
• General maintenance works throughout the town centre 
• Localised rail replacement work by Centrale tram stop 
• Rail repairs works near Tamworth Road 

The Hopper fare continues to be available for adult pay-as-you-go customers, giving unlimited journeys on buses and trams for £1.75 when made within one hour of touching in. This means customers should pay no more than normal to complete their journey during these works. 

Information regarding these temporary changes and travel advice will be displayed at local tram stops and customers are encouraged to plan ahead and consider alternative travel options using our real-time travel tools including Journey Planner and TfL Go.   

We would like to thank customers for their patience while this takes place and would ask anyone travelling to plan ahead, allowing plenty of time for any journey. 

Yours sincerely

Rob Varney

Local Communities & Partnerships

LB Bromley & LB Croydon

TfL Charities Lead

Geoff Flook, SPRA Chairman, reports …

Continued use of the library building

On 4 Feb 2025 SPRA President Trevor Ashby and I were invited to attend a consultation meeting with Council officials (with three Shirley Councillors in attendance), together with a number of members of the Friends of Shirley Library, aimed at establishing the future use of the Library building for community use. 

A meeting of some 20-30 people, was addressed by Simon Bashford Community and Voluntary Sector Manager and Cllr Andy Stranack.  There were a significant number of expressions of interest from organisations wishing to lease the building.  These had been examined and carefully assessed.  Play Place and Asian Resource Centre of Croydon were the two which had scored the highest and these were the Council’s preferred bids.  The summary of these bids- which were presented to the meeting- can be found at the end of this statement.

Participants at the meeting were able to give their feedback on the proposals and asked a number of questions.

A panel of Council officials hope to make a final decision about the ‘winning bid’ by the end of February.  The meeting stressed the importance of the Council having further contact with local community representatives for their input before that point.

Play Place : A Community Library and Learning Centre which will be a modern hub for learning, connection and empowerment.  They will blend traditional library services (books, study spaces, access to digital materials etc) with innovative programmes to broaden the library’s appeal and foster a sense of community ownership.  Possible uses envisaged include a creche/baby care space for parents with young children, a small refreshment area or café, bingo, bridge, crochet clubs, after-school clubs and accommodating the groups that used the building previously should they wish to return (which would involve small rent towards running costs).

Asian Resource Centre of Croydon : A community-led/volunteer supported hub open 7 days a week with core services to include education and learning, community outreach, cultural events and celebrations, creative activities, health and wellbeing and library outreach (maintaining some book collections, reading programmes, work with Council’s Outreach Librarian etc).  Asian Resource Centre of Croydon wishes to retain 30% of the building for its own offices. The remainder will provide spaces for local businesses, start-ups and non-profits, rentable rooms for workshops, events and co-working opportunities, technology access and training to bridge the digital divide.

SPRA recently became aware of reports that there are or were squatters in the Library building.  The Committee has been in contact with our Councillors and we are told that the Council are working closely with the police on resolving this matter.

Bus shelter replacements imminent.

Here some good news at last from the Council about the replacements for the bus shelters removed a couple of years ago.  Mayor Perry’s bulletin of 24 January provides details of the 99 shelters to be reinstated, with a link to a listing showing locations.  All the Spring Park locations where shelters were removed seem to be on the list.

Transport for London will own and manage the shelters.  The installation programme will run until the end of March. Click on the link below for the full list.

tfl-bus-shelters-list-v2-24-01-25.pdf<https://www.croydon.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-01/tfl-bus-shelters-list-v2-24-01-25.pdf>

The AGM has been fixed for Wednesday 28 May at 7.30. The venue will be West Wickham & Shirley Baptist Church (corner of Wickham Road and Monks Orchard Road).

Agenda and other details will follow

Members are invited to a patient event at Croydon’s Central Library at Noon (for two hours) on Wednesday 29 January.

Thi is a workshop aimed at enabling us to benefit from the NHS app, learn simple tips for staying healthy this winter from a local GP, and build good, sustainable habits beyond New Year Resolutions

We have been asked to pubicse the concert as below 

Saturday 15th February, 7.30pm, Trinity School Concert Hall, CR9 7AT.

Featuring Mahler Symphony No. 1, also Delius and R. Strauss

Tickets £18 (adults) and £5 (children under 16)

Free parking and interval refreshments included in ticket price.

Book online at: https://croydonsymphony.com/buytickets/

Buy Tickets Online

The Mayor of Croydon has advised as follows …

For the eagle-eyed residents who spotted Transport for London (TfL) contractors surveying bus stops in Croydon, I can confirm it’s positive news. I met with Transport for London (TfL) this week to confirm the rollout of new bus shelters across our borough. It has been a priority for me to restore these for residents and we’ll be sharing more information, including a list of the sites, in the coming weeks.