The Orpington 1st Magazine Autumn 2020

The

Orpington Magazine

Autumn edition 2020 IN THIS ISSUE • • • •

Enchanted Learning Trail Town centre welcomes new business Have your say on Orpington’s future Calendar competition launch

www.orpington1st.co.uk info@orpington1st.co.uk • 01689 829 527

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Walnuts Shopping Centre: community engagement update from Areli

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N January 2020 we began discussions with the local Orpington community on the possibilities for the future of the Walnuts Shopping Centre. We feel The Walnuts represents an exciting opportunity to provide an improved range of facilities and much needed new homes, bringing both high-quality design and more vitality to Orpington town centre.

Following the postponement of the Walnuts Community Planning Weekend in March we have now restarted the community engagement process. In June we issued an update newsletter and invited residents and businesses to tell us their problems, dreams and solutions for the shopping centre and the wider town centre. Our team also hosted two online stakeholder focus groups where we asked attendees to tell us their problems, dreams, and solutions for the town.

Following your engagement, we have assessed and summarised community and stakeholder responses into the following key themes.

Improved retail, food and beverage offer: Attract a range of independent and specialist shops, restaurants, cafés, bars and markets for a thriving day and evening economy.

Identity and design: Be architecturally inspiring and create a new heart for the town centre to form a unique, aspirational identity that entices locals and tourists to visit.

Getting about: Improve the pedestrian and cycling experience while balancing the need for vehicular access and car parking.

Public space and greenspace: Provide accessible, beautiful streets and public spaces that are well managed, vibrant, and welcoming.

Community facilities: Orpington town centre should be a cultural and leisure ‘experience’ destination and community hub for all ages.

Housing: New town centre mixed tenure homes should cater for different needs and incomes and

The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

help support the retail, leisure, and cultural offer.

Community and stakeholder engagement: A joined-up collaboration between developers, local authority, BID, and local stakeholders is key to ensuring the successful regeneration of the town centre, which brings benefits for the whole town.

We hope that later in the year we will be able to hold the re-programmed Walnuts Shopping Centre Community Planning event to create a ‘Vision’ for the shopping centre and its relationship with the wider town.

We will provide a further update on this event in the autumn.

Following the creation of the new ‘Vision’, our plan will be to continue liaising with Orpington stakeholders as we draw up the regeneration proposals, with the aim of submitting a planning application in 2021.

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Welcome...

by Orpington 1st BID Executive Director, Sharon Baldwin

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ELCOME back and thank you for your continued support in getting Orpington back to business.

From participating in the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, to joining in with this year’s Enchanted Learning Trail, we really value your custom.

And remember that if you have piled on the lockdown pounds then our fantastic gyms and leisure centre are also now open - so no excuses! Or, if a more gentle approach to wellbeing is more your style them indulge in some post lockdown beauty treatments - and perhaps it’s time to get a professional to take a look at that home haircut!

I hope that the hard work in keeping the town’s environment clean and green is making a difference to your enjoyment, and again, thank you for doing your bit to keeping it looking good. Many of us have taken the opportunity over the last few months to tidy cupboards

15,000 copies are printed of each edition of The Orpington 1st Magazine. 14,000 are delivered to homes across Orpington with a further 1,000 available to pick up at locations across the town centre.

The magazine is also available to read online, sent to a subscriber base of 6,000, and promoted to a combined social media following of over 10,000.

Orpington 1st Business Improvement District www.orpington1st.co.uk Orpington1st 01689 829 527 info@orpington1st.co.uk If you would like to advertise in the next edition please contact us.

Contents 3 6 9 11 13 15 16

Walnuts community update from Areli Enchanted Learning Trail GPO Delivers for Dining Out 2020 Photography Competition Environment update New Business in Town Gareth Bacon column

19 20 26 28 31 33 34 36 38

Valentina’s ‘Food Heaven’ Town centre development Better for Business Homefield Rise development A big bit of Greek Meze Community Police update Healthy and safe at Anytime Fitness Tesco Charity Program provides Unity A Need for Change

and get rid of unwanted items. Donations to charity shops keep them going but a gentle reminder that goods must not be left outside charity shops, where they merely attract vermin making them unfit for sale.

So please Donate, Don’t Dump – your gifts are welcome when shops are open.

I am delighted that we can share so much good news about new businesses opening who join a community that celebrates some long standing and successful independents such as the Walnuts Cobblers who celebrate 25 years and Pats Textiles with a golden 50 years.

The town is attracting a lot of interest from new investors who see the opportunities that Orpington can offer new residents and new business. Please take your opportunity and join in the conversations about the changes taking place in your town. Working together we can shape our place to work for all that live, work or visit our town.

The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

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HROUGHOUT August, families have been invited to explore their imagination on the Orpington Enchanted Learning Trail. The team behind the successful Enchanted Children’s programme have teamed up with No Time to Waste Arts and community volunteers to design a multi arts installation, in place of the scheduled festival at Priory Gardens, which was not practical due to the challenges of Covid-19.

Sponsored by Orpington 1st, there are 14 artworks across the high street including everything from Lily Ponds to Peacocks, and rainbow steps to Zebras.

The trail invites children to look, learn and play through a social distancing friendly experience.

A trail map, available to download from either the Enchanted or Orpington 1st website, guides families around the town and sets activities or questions based on each piece of art.

A wide range of activities covers language, maths and science, as well as encouraging a better understanding of diversity and the environment, and can be explored as one trail or used to entertain even the most

Enchanted energetic children, with activities such as hopscotch and yoga.

Residents have also been delighted to see life and colour brought to some of the towns’ under-loved areas with grot-spots cleaned up in the process.

Orpington mum, Claire, said: “What a lovely idea! The kids absolutely loved it and it was so nice to see corners of the town brightened up.”

Enchanted Festival organiser, Embla Glisladottir,

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The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

PHOTO: STEVE SANGSTER

orpington1st.co.uk/events

Learning Trail said: “We’re thrilled with the feedback we’ve had on the Enchanted Learning Trail. A big thank you goes to the town’s businesses and all the volunteers. We’re already looking forward to what might take place next year.”

Pictured: top left, the rainbow steps leading to The Walnuts Leisure Centre; bottom left, artists working on the Market Square Lily Pond; bottom right, the Peacocks Peacock; above, children working on the mural.

The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

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BOOK NOW AT

ORPINGTON REOPENS 25 AUGUST 2020 8

The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

Orpington GPO Manager Nick Aitkenhead

Orpington GPO Delivers

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PENING its doors at a key site in the heart of the town centre, Orpington GPO has enjoyed a warm reception and glowing reviews.

Ex-army entrepreneurs Tom Walker and Sam Westlake have transformed the former post office premises into a light and spacious bar and restaurant boasting stylish décor with subtle nods to the building’s heritage.

The GPO kitchen is open for brunch and lunch Monday to Saturday 11:00-15:00, dinner 18:0021:00, and Sunday Roast 12:00-16:00, complemented by a bar serving a great range of beers, wines and cocktails all day.

Widely hailed as a fantastic addition to Orpington’s thriving food and drink scene, and bringing new customers to the town centre, the GPO team are certainly delivering on their aim to provide a unique and vibrant dining experience.

Co-owner Sam Westlake, said, “We’re thrilled with the response we’ve had so far. It’s been so good to see the place buzzing and we’ve had great feedback on every aspect of our offering. We look forward to welcoming many more customers from Orpington, and beyond.”

214 High Street, 01689 826525 orpingtongpo The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

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The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

Orpington Photography y Competition 2020

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T’S that time of year again when keen photographers of Orpington get the chance to show off their skills the sixth Orpington Photography Competition is now open for entries!

Send us your snaps for the chance to have your work featured in the Orpington 1st 2021 calendar and win £100 to spend in an Orpington town centre business of your choice.

The perfect sunset, a magic moment at an event, friends having fun, a local landmark, or the fox you befriended in lockdown – it’s up to you, but it must have been taken in a location with a BR5 or BR6 postcode.

To enter, visit www.orpington1st.co.uk (where you can also read the rules), download an entry form and return it along with your entry. The closing date is 2 October 2020.

Some of the entries that made it to the 2020 Calendar...

The Orpington 1st Mag Magazine azine • Autumn 2020

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Fly-tippers we’re watching you Don’t let YOUR rubbish be dumped or you could be prosecuted and fined up to £5000.

It’s your responsibility to always check and use registered waste carriers. If they can’t prove they’re legitimate, don’t use them.

www.bromley.gov.uk/envirocrime 12

The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

Clean, green and safe

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O celebrate the reopening of the high street and to commemorate important dates in the calendar that have had to go without the usual Orpington 1st public events, such as this year’s VE and VJ days, Orpington 1st installed a unique red, white and blue bunting tree coordinating with the colour theme of our flower towers.

businesses with queue management.

Paying close attention to the environment we have reduced the locations and frequency of fly-tipping but unfortunately, they still occur. The council will only remove rubbish from public land and Orpington 1st have arranged many removals, like the one pictured below carried out by GP Clearance. Please make sure you use a licenced carrier for any waste removal.

Face coverings are now required in all shops and on public transport so please be prepared when visiting the town that you will be asked to wear a face mask. These can be purchased in a number of outlets across the town and also from our recently installed PPE vending machine at the entrance to the Walnuts Shopping Centre car park. The machine also provides hand sanitisers and is accessible for purchases out of normal

trading hours.

Washing your hands is still the best way of staying safe and shops and restaurants across the town centre have installed hand sanitizers for you to use on entering their premises.

Free public sanitizer stations are also provided at the Walnuts Shopping Centre where you can find accessible toilets.

GPClearance

We have supplied and installed colourful pavement graphics across the town centre to assist Orpington’s

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Help LBB to develop new planning guidance for Orpington Town Centre Bromley Council is producing new planning guidance for Orpington Town Centre and have begun a 12 week public consultation process to shape this guidance.

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HE consultation is seeking views from a broad range of individuals and organisations, representative of the community, on how the Council should guide the development of the town centre in line with the policies set out in the Bromley Local Plan.

In recent years, the general role of town centres has been shifting

from largely retail-focused areas to more mixed-use retail, cultural and leisure areas, with a focus on creating functional and enjoyable civic spaces.

This includes the introduction of residential uses into town centres and prioritising pedestrian use through improved sustainable transport links and public realm improvements.

Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic is changing the way we live and work, potentially in the longer term. These changes threaten to have signiďŹ cant impacts on the vitality and viability of town centres, hence the Council wants to utilise its planning function to plan ahead and ensure that Orpington Town Centre can continue to thrive.

To have your say on the content of the planning guidance for Orpington Town Centre, visit orpingtontowncentre.commonplace.is. The consultation will run until 5 October 2020. The Council will consider the comments received and use these to inform preparation of a draft guidance document. Consultation on this document will likely be undertaken in early 2021.

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The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

New Business orpington1st.co.uk/shopping

POLISH ME NAIL BAR

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HE latest addition to Orpington’s beauty sector, Polish Me nail bar opened its doors at no. 50 The Walnuts in July, between Liberty’s Fashion and The Walnuts Cobblers.

Owner and mum of three Catherine, is passionate about bringing a high quality and friendly service to the community.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, Polish Me place a particular emphasis on health and hygiene, sterilising all tools, using masks and gloves, keeping the salon spotless and ensuring the salon is never crowded.

Check out Polish Me’s full range of services and prices on their Facebook page. polishme50

07947 479 737

ORIENTAL TURKISH SUPERMARKET

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PEN 8am–10pm every day, Oriental Turkish Supermarket arrived in Orpington at the beginning of August.

Co-founders Jay and Ozzie noticed a gap in the market for their offering which includes a Halal butchers, a range of traditional Turkish produce including breads such as Simit, Pide and Corn, as well as a variety of fruit and veg and household essentials. A delivery service is on the way, too.

Visit Oriental Turkish Supermarket at 334 High Street. oriental_turkish_supermarket The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

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Orpington bouncing back After months of lockdown, we must rally behind Orpington’s businesses to help our local economy bounce back and protect jobs. By shopping locally and staying alert, we can all help to support people’s livelihoods and prevent a second lockdown.

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OR the past two months, I have been visiting businesses across the Orpington constituency to check the health of our local economy and encourage people to return to the shops.

Gareth visiting businesses across his constituency 16

The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

I have visited shops in Orpington town centre with the Orpington 1st team, met restaurant and café owners in Petts Wood, and talked to pubs reopening in Biggin Hill. The story is the same everywhere – we survived lockdown with Government support, but we need customers to return if we are to bounce back.

The Government’s measures to support businesses have helped Orpington tremendously. The

furlough scheme protected more than 9,500 jobs and the selfemployed scheme supported 3,600 incomes across the constituency.

At the same time, the decision to scrap business rates this year and offer grants to small companies has kept many of Orpington’s businesses afloat. These unprecedented policies have put the country’s economy on ice. The challenge now is reviving small businesses and helping them to thrive again.

The first key to Orpington’s recovery is giving people the confidence to return to the shops, eat at their local restaurant and grab a coffee or pint with a friend.

The Covid-secure measures local businesses have implemented are critical to restoring confidence, but so are face masks and everyone doing their bit to stop the spread of coronavirus.

I also hope that when children and young people go back to full-time education in September, a degree of normality will return

Gareth with Anna Taylor of Chrysalis Recruitment 184,000 people nationally to stop the spread of the virus. Bromley Council now has the power to close specific premises, cancel events and shut outdoor spaces. If there is a spike, we can identify the hotspot and take local action to contain it. However, we must all continue to do our bit to

stop the spread of the virus.

We all have a part to play in Orpington’s recovery. Let’s shop locally to protect jobs and support businesses. Let’s stay alert and follow the rules to control the virus and save lives; and let’s enjoy the easing of lockdown responsibly.

A column by Gareth Bacon MP

Get in touch...

In light of Covid-19 and in the interest of my constituents’ safety, regular face-to-face surgeries will not take place until further notice.

Please do keep in touch in the following ways.

My team and I are here to help constituents and businesses in Orpington through this crisis. If you need help, please email gareth.bacon.mp@parliament.uk, or call 01689 603 652 if urgent.

PHOTO: ERIC RUSH

to people’s lives and, in turn, spur more people to emerge from lockdown with confidence.

Continued Government support is the second key to Orpington’s recovery and the measures unveiled by the Chancellor will protect jobs, support businesses, and encourage people to shop locally.

There is at least £9.5 million available to safeguard jobs in Orpington with companies set to receive £1,000 if they keep furloughed staff employed until January 2021.

The Eat Out to Help Out scheme which offers people a 50% discount to eat at restaurants, cafés, and pubs again throughout August will also provide a vital boost to our local economy.

The final key to Orpington’s economy recovering is keeping coronavirus under control. NHS Test and Trace has already isolated

For updates on local issues, follow Gareth on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube, and sign up to his monthly newsletter at www.garethbacon.com/sign-up

GarethBaconMP

garethbaconmp

The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

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The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

“Food Heaven” is just around the corner Valentina Delicatessen is now open!

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HE guys at A·Mano are thrilled to announce a collaboration with Valentina Delicatessen.

At A·Mano, they believe in the importance of sticking together through the storm and while their retail offering pre-Covid was exciting – now with Valentina it has just become even more so!

They have teamed up with their friends at Valentina Delicatessen, which started as a modest Italian

delicatessen in East Sheen, London, in 1991, and now is serving several more local communities such as Weybridge in Surrey and of course Orpington in Kent.

Valentina takes pride in delivering the same superb quality, knowledge and provenance in all stores and, whatever you are shopping for, Valentina’s selection reflect the best of the season on all its products.

Visiting Valentina @ A·Mano you will find an extensive range of fruit, vegetables, meat, cheeses, wines, and much more from the best Italian, British, Spanish, and French producers.

If you can’t wait to pop in to the food heaven that Valentina is, customers can also shop the entire Valentina range online on www.valentinadeli.co.uk.

They offer free delivery nationwide on all orders over £50.

Their doors are open every day from 10am to 9pm.

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Initial proposals have been unveiled for 208-212 High Street – the long vacated Poundworld site – which is set to undergo much-needed redevelopment.

Welcome regeneration of

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CKLAM Developments has been busy engaging with local residents and stakeholders on their exciting proposals to redevelop 208-212 High Street for the purpose of a new ground floor commercial space with residential properties above.

Having recently purchased the building, the owners intend to transform this site - once home to Bargain Buys and Poundworld Plus - into a high-quality, efficient and sustainable commercial and residential space that will provide a meaningful and attractive contribution to Orpington High Street.

Charlie Hustler from Acklam Developments said: “We are committed to Orpington High Street and excited by its potential. We are determined to bring forward proposals that are welcomed by our local residents, stakeholders 20

and the Council, looking to further boost the High Street and help secure its long-term visitor appeal and future prosperity. We realise that the existing building is of a size and layout that presents significant commercial and viability challenges, which is why it has struggled to attract a high-quality tenant and has remained vacant since 2018.

We are therefore very excited to be bringing forward proposals that will bring this important part of the High Street back to life with the hope of a first-class commercial tenant that local residents, businesses and visitors will enjoy.”

Acklam are looking to provide much-needed new homes on this central brownfield site, replacing a building that is coming to the end of its natural economic life.

As well as helping to achieve the London Borough of Bromley’s housing target, the new homes, which will be a mix of 1, 2 and 3 The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

bedroom apartments, will also help to increase footfall on the High Street. This will be very important for local businesses, particularly as the country emerges from the Covid-19 lockdown.

The proposals have been designed in a way that provides a set-back frontage and tiered upper floor with the intention of protecting and enhancing the architectural quality of the neighbouring Post Office. In addition to the new residential properties and commercial space proposed, the scheme will see the provision of on-site car parking spaces, including approximately 20% ‘active’ Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points, and secure cycle storage facilities for residents.

Understanding the importance of involving local residents and businesses in the process as their scheme develops, the project team is currently undertaking their public

orpington1st.co.uk/news

High Street site consultation on their emerging proposals prior to an expected application submission in September

2020. Acklam Developments is therefore excited to be bringing forward this redevelopment and

looks forward to working with the local community as the project progresses.

If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact the project team at orpingtonhighstreet@kandaconsulting.co.uk or on 020 3900 3676.

The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

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We’re now taking bookings for: Thursday 10th September at 7.00pm Thursday 8th October at 7.00pm To register your interest and to receive a webinar link, visit www.cwj.co.uk/site/seminars or email marketing@cwj.co.uk or call 01689 887827

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The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

orpington1st.co.uk/news

Demolition signals the start of new build

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HE first steps in the redevelopment of the town centre are taking place with the demolition of 173–175 High Street.

Although Edinburgh Woollen Mill remained profitable, their former premises had become unsuitable for modern trading, and is being replaced with a mixed-use scheme comprising residential and a new ground floor commercial unit.

The alleyway alongside the property is also owned by the developers and although it provided useful and easy access to the rear of the premises, it also attracted misuse. Under the new plans, taking the opportunity to design out crime in new builds, secure gated access will be provided for the new apartments, preventing ongoing fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour.

Existing

Proposed The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

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The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

Following the cancellation of this year’s ceremony in March, the winners of Orpington’s Finest Awards 2020 will be announced online on Thursday 1st October.

www.orpington1st.co.uk Sponsored by:

The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

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Better for Business

Super Intendent Andy Brittain, Gareth Bacon MP, BID Manager Chris Travers

BID TEAM IN TOWN CENTRE POLICING TALKS

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N July, the BID team met with Superintendent Andy Brittain and Orpington MP Gareth Bacon to discuss increased policing in the town centre.

Since the disbandment of our town centre team as a result of policing budget pressures and restructuring, Orpington 1st has continually lobbied for an improved police presence on our high street, and has stayed in regular communication with BCU Commander, David Stringer.

Immediately following his election as Orpington’s MP, Gareth Bacon met with the BID team and pledged his support for the BID’s request for a boosted police presence in Orpington.

Superintendent Andy Brittain has signalled his desire for neighbourhood focused policing with officers who engage with the business community.

The BID team were pleased to meet with both Gareth Bacon MP and Superintendent Andy Brittain in July to discuss the town centre’s policing requirements and the need to: • deter criminals • reassure residents and, fundamentally, • provide businesses with a safer and more profitable environment in which to trade As a result of persistent lobbying and in the context of an uplift in police recruitment across the Met, we look forward to seeing the reinstatement of nominated police officers for Orpington town centre in autumn.

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BUSINESS SUPPORT

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RPINGTON 1st’s business support partner, Lee Lam, has launched a new affordable service for Startups to improve the survival rate for small businesses in the area. The UK’s Startup Partner offers a lower cost lifeline for those struggling through the coronavirus pandemic and new businesses that have taken the plunge.

Lee boasts an impressive track record in the City and more than 20 years’ experience leading multi-million pound projects at blue-chip companies. Her skills across finance, people management, and operations strategy make her ideally placed to guide business owners through choppy waters. Her skills have already been in demand with levy payers as she starts to make an impact in the local economy.

Lee said: “I’ve set up the UK’s StartUp Partner to break down the financial barriers small businesses experience and give people top quality advice, at a realistic price. My mission is to give every small business the equal opportunity to thrive.

Orpington 1st is delighted to continue our partnership with Lee, enabling our levy payers to benefit from her extensive experience. Free personalised consultancy, advice and support is available for all BID members. Contact us to see how we Lee Lam can help.

The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

Contact the BID team 01689 829 527 BID Manager Chris Travers chris.travers@ orpington1st.co.uk

NEW COMMERCIAL USE CLASS

I PAVEMENT LICENCE PERIOD DOUBLED

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OLLOWING the BID’s talks with Bromley Council the licence period for the new pavement licence has been doubled, from 6 months to 12 months.

Restaurants applying successfully through the new fasttrack process for a pavement licence for the placement of tables and chairs outside their premises will now be covered for a full year.

On 25 June 2020 the government announced a temporary relaxation to planning and licensing laws, making it easier for cafés and restaurants to seat and serve customers outdoors, enabling businesses to maximise their capacity while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

The licence costs £100. To apply, go to www.bromley. gov.uk/info/, click on licences, then under ‘Highways and Pavements’ click ‘Pavement licence for table and chairs’.

N July, the government published legislation which will see a major overhaul to the wellestablished use class system in England in one of the biggest changes to the English planning system in decades. The new Class E will amalgamate some of the current use classes into a single new class, deregulating changes of use between them.

As of the 1st September, uses including: shops, financial and professional services, restaurants and cafés, indoor sport and recreation; medical or health services, offices, and light industrial, will be grouped together within the new Class E – Commercial, Business and Service. Planning permission will not be required for a change between these uses.

The ‘let the market decide’ approach allows for more flexibility which is hoped will help high streets maintain their vitality, encouraging investment and stimulating economic growth. These changes might be good news for landlords with vacant units and for operators normally discouraged from locating in primary retail areas. However, there may be unforeseen consequences and some may feel that decisions on use and mix are still more appropriately determined at a local level.

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High Hopes for

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NEW application has been received by Bromley Council to develop a residential scheme in Homefield Rise.

The site at 18-44 Homefield Rise is allocated for residential redevelopment in the now adopted Bromley Local Plan 2019 and is comprised of a

Phase 1

Phase 2 28

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rectangular street block between Gravel Pit Way to the west and Mortimer Road to the east.

This application proposal is for the first two phases of a threephase redevelopment and refers to existing housing at 18-28 & 38-44 Homefield Rise.

Many readers will know that there has been a history of redevelopment proposals for this site including an application submitted in 2016 for the demolition of the existing dwellings and the erection of a scheme comprising 105 residential apartments.

The scheme was subsequently amended to 103 units. The application was recommended for approval by the Chief Planner but, by a narrow majority, was refused by the Members of the Development Control Committee and a subsequent appeal was dismissed on the 7 March 2018.

This has resulted in several of the houses on the site becoming vacant in preparation for a proposed redevelopment and they have had to be boarded up for safety and security reasons. This has been extremely challenging for the management of the town centre as well as those tenants that remain in residence.

Homefield Rise

Gravel Pit Way

Phase 1

Homefield Rise

Phase 3

Play Space

Parking Court

Phase 2

Communal Space

Mortimer Road

The latest application proposes a revised and reduced scheme and can be viewed in full on the Bromley planning portal 20/02697/FULL1.

The developers are confident that their current proposal addresses and overcomes the

Inspector’s concerns regarding the impact of the development on the character and appearance of the area and on the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers.

A landscape masterplan has also been prepared The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

for the development which shows how the scheme is capable of being landscaped to ensure that the transition from the character of the urban town centre to the suburban area to the south is achieved.

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Mayor of Bromley Cllr. Hannah Gray cutting the ribbon

The Greek Meze

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N 4 July, The Mayor of Bromley Cllr. Hannah Gray visited Orpington High Street for the official opening of The Greek Meze.

Joined by her consort Cllr. Colin Hitchins, and Orpington ward councillors, the Mayor cut the blue

ribbon, declaring another postlockdown addition to Orpington town centre open for business.

Aiming to bring a slice of the Mediterranean to the high street, and priding itself on serving delicious, traditional Greek food using the finest ingredients served in a modern and vibrant setting, The Greek Meze is a great choice for those celebrating a special occasion or simply looking to enjoy a great meal.

The Mayor, pictured left with owner Leo, thanked The Greek

Meze for its fun and generous hospitality and wished them all the best for the future.

Visit The Greek Meze at 165–167 High Street, 01689 873444. thegreekmeze thegreekmeze thegreekmeze

Mayor of Bromley Cllr. Hannah Gray with owner Leo

The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

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The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

SUPPORTED BY

PC Joshua Goode and Sgt Richard Phillips

orpington1st.co.uk/community

Policing Matters: an update from Sgt Richard Phillips

H

ELLO again. I hope everyone is keeping well during this difficult time.

It’s been great to see so many people visiting the shops on the High Street again after three months away.

My teams and I have been and continue to be very busy within the Orpington Area. I have welcomed two new members of staff in PC Gary Wolfe who has transferred to us from Bexley after spending six years on the response team and PC Katie Harris who joins us straight out of her street duties course. Both are very keen to hit the ground running.

Some updates of work we are doing are as follows: At the end of July, we took part in a cross border operation with Kent Police, targeting criminality in Orpington and Swanley, the results of which were very positive. We carried out ten arrests, nine vehicle seizures, thirty stop and searches, and recovered two stolen vehicles.

Moving forward, we will be looking to patrol the High street area on each working shift to deter criminality in our shops and open spaces.

We have been made aware of groups of people that may be begging while falsely claiming homelessness.

We are looking to speak with this group to ascertain firstly if they are in genuine need of help, which we can assist with through referral to one of our partners, and secondly, if they are committing fraud aud by obtaining money by deception.

Begging is a crime under the vagrancy act as well.

If you do wish to assist the homeless, please donate in the charity boxes situated throughout Orpington that are specifically there to help The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

people in genuine need.

We hope to see you soon while we are patrolling. If you do see me or my team out and about please feel free to stop and chat with us about any issues you may be encountering or just to say “Hi”.

Take care and stay safe.

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Healthier

O

N July 3rd, ahead of government giving gyms across the country the go ahead to reopen, Anytime Fitness Orpington were delighted to welcome Gareth Bacon MP to their premises at 313 High Street and showcase the range of new procedures established to ensure members can continue to train in a safe environment.

Below: Manager Adam Browning talking Gareth Bacon MP through their new procedures.

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The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

With health and fitness in the spotlight and the prime minister emphasising its importance in combating coronavirus, the team, who were also joined by Anytime Fitness CEO, Neil Randall, relished the opportunity to demonstrate the comprehensive support structure and enhanced cleaning regime put in place, along with their preparedness to adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Regional Manager, Jay Gains, said: “At Anytime Fitness Orpington we’re dedicated to providing a fitness facility that is safe and secure, enabling members to maintain

People in Safer Spaces physical and mental wellbeing through these challenging times.

“We’re now able to manage the club’s capacity through a booking system, along with many other safety measures put in place, and it was a delight to hear Gareth say that this was the cleanest gym he had ever seen.”

Above, left to right – Orpington Franchisee Bimal Lakhani, Asst. Regional Manager Ellis Smith, Regional Manager Jay Gains, Orpington Manager Adam Browning, Orpington MP Gareth Bacon, Orpington 1st BID Manager Chris Travers, Anytime Fitness CEO Neil Randall.

anytimefitnessorpington anytime fitness orpington af_orpington

The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

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Members of the Tesco Orpington team preparing produce for donation

Church Unity provides nourishment Thanks to Tesco Orpington and other local retailers, Unity Church in Orpington has been able to offer fresh food free of charge to over 100 families in the local community.

T

HE “Community Fridge”, setup with the support of Churches Together Orpington, operates from the church on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, giving out fresh food to residents of the Ramsden Estate and beyond.

Volunteers getting donations to those in need 36

What started in January as a small drop-in for food and a chat has now grown into a thriving service, with the support of volunteers across Orpington’s churches.

With a vision to help support food waste reduction, alleviate food poverty and develop community spirit, The Orpington Community Fridge is one of thousands of community groups, food banks, and charities across the UK being supported by Tesco amid the Covid-19 crisis.

Neil Maltman from Unity Church, Orpington, said: “I have to say that we are so pleased with the great service we are receiving from Tesco The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

Orpington alongside other retailers.

“Many families are now feeling the pinch financially and this service helps reduce their weekly food bill. Families are so appreciative of the wonderful array of fresh fruit, veg and bakery goods we are able to offer.”

Each month, Tesco donates more than a million meals of

surplus food to 7,000 charities and community groups supported by FareShare, the country’s largest food redistribution charity.

In addition to its usual donations, Tesco is providing a further £15m of food to support FareShare and a number of foodbanks that are part of the Trussell Trust’s network.

Already, 121 tonnes of food has been delivered to FareShare Southern Central, supporting 241 charities with 286,911 meals-worth of food, and enough long-life food to provide almost 1,000 meals to local Trussell Trust food banks each week.

Rachel Ledwith, Development Manager at FareShare London, said the additional donations from Tesco are making a huge difference to charities and community groups.

Rachel said: “We are immensely thankful to Tesco for their continued support during the coronavirus pandemic. Many of the frontline

Unity Church Orpington charities we work with continue to provide essential support within their communities, and the additional donations from Tesco will help us to keep up a steady supply of food to them during this difficult time.”

The £15m of additional food donated by Tesco is part of a £30m package of support from the supermarket to aid charities and

voluntary groups in their response to the crisis. It also includes a £1m cash donation to the Trussell Trust and FareShare to support their running costs, a £2m donation to the British Red Cross and a £2m pot from its Bags of Help community donation scheme to support local charities and community groups supporting vulnerable people with £500 grants.

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The Mobiloo in Market Square in Spring 2019

Need to change

Shopping centres, supermarkets, sports and arts venues will be required to include at least one Changing Place, with facilities including hoists, changing benches and space for carers.

The number of Changing Places toilets in the UK has increased to over 1,400, compared with 140 in 2007, but a government spokesperson said more were needed to support the country’s quarter of a million severely disabled people.

Orpington 1st have long supported the campaign for health equality and have brought in mobile changing units for many of the town centre events.

Many disabled people have spoken about restricting their drinking to 38

avoid needing the toilet when they were out, risking dehydration and urinary tract infections.

Other issues include sitting in soiled clothing until they find a suitable toilet or return home, and carers having to change a disabled person on a dirty toilet floor.

Helen Whately, Minister for Care, said: “All public spaces should cater

for people with disabilities so they don’t have to suffer discomfort, embarrassment, or even injury without access to a Changing Place.”

The government’s announcement will be a major change for building rules in England which now require Changing Places, which are at about 12m2, to be designed for new public buildings.

PHOTO: MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY UK

I

N a move described as “nothing short of life changing” by campaigners, large accessible toilets for severely disabled people - known as Changing Places - will be made compulsory for new buildings in England from 2021.

An example of a Changing Places unit The Orpington 1st Magazine • Autumn 2020

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