HADRA Newsletter Autumn-Winter 2024

AUTUMN 2024

THE HADRA NEWS

Hartley & District Residents’ Association

www.hadra.org

Protecting and Advancing the Common Interests of the Area

OLD COULSDON VILLAGE FAIR

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Planning remains a big issue, but it is good to see some unreasonable applications refused.

One of the main challenges is planning enforcement. We have a couple of long-standing issues that the council has yet to resolve and which continue to cause frustration for residents. Enforcement should be pursued where there is non-compliance. This involves: • prosecution of the parties concerned in the local courts - depending upon the availability, nature and strength of evidence, or • issuing an injunction through the high court.

Every year, on the first Saturday of July, the Rotary Club of Coulsdon Manor holds the Old Coulsdon Village Fair in Grange Park. This is a much-loved community event where folk of all ages come together to enjoy an afternoon of arena displays, a classic car show, dog show, fairground rides, over 80 charity-led stalls and a selection of tempting food and drink!

HADRA had its usual plot and, after having a few problems with erecting the gazebo in a less than friendly wind, we managed to get set up. Despite the weather, it was still well attended. Our tombola stand had a good selection of prizes, all donated, and raised £66.00 for the Old Coulsdon Christmas Lights fund.

We had our usual set of historic photos of the HADRA area and a free picture quiz to identify 12 dog breeds with the £30 voucher prize won by an Old Coulsdon Resident.

One of the nice things about the fair is the opportunity to meet a lot of the residents.

Cont...

Planning for Purley Pool is still ongoing with the main outstanding point being the availability of sufficient parking.

As you may be aware, despite protests by Residents’ Associations, local residents and organisations, Bradmore Green library has now been permanently closed. A free weekly shuttle bus to Coulsdon library from Bradmore Green departs from Bradmore Way outside the library building at 10:30am on Mondays. The return journey departs from Coulsdon Library at 12pm.

As a Residents Association we are reliant on you, our residents, paying subscriptions and over the past few years the number of paying residents has dropped. Thank you to all those residents who pay their subscriptions annually.

If you are one of our residents, who does not pay and you receive our Newsletter, please consider paying the subscription. This is the only way we can continue to keep on top of local issues and produce our bi-annual Newsletter.

All our committee members are volunteers and it would be great to know that they have your support.

HADRA SUBSCRIPTIONS

Residents are reminded that the easiest way to pay the £5 subscription*

is to set up an annual standing order. Please note the bank details below: Account name: HADRA

Sort Code: 23 05 80 (Metro Bank)

*202

John Clarke Chairman

4 SU B DUE CRIPTIO NOW NS !*

Account number: 41022558

Please quote your postcode and flat/house number in the reference. You can of course use the same details to make a one-off payment. Alternatively, cash and cheques made payable to HADRA can be delivered to our Membership Secretary at HADRA Membership Secretary, 52 Hartley Hill, Purley, CR8 4EN; please remember to include your name and address.

If you have any queries about your subscription, please email action@hadra.org. We are also grateful for any additional donations and appreciate the support of all residents who make financial contributions to help fund our activities.

If residents need to contact the association, they can do so via email at action@hadra.org

COMMITTEE REPORTS

OLD COULSDON VILLAGE FAIR (cont.)

The arena displays always pull a large crowd with music and dance the main watch.

The dog show which is always well attended had a variety of lovely breeds on show. It was nice to see so many welltrained dogs.

The Sutton Model Engineering Club and Miniature Railway is a fantastic spectacle and a regular feature at the fair. Throughout the day there is always quite a queue for a ride.

Thank you to those of our committee who helped on the day.

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

The membership has now stabilised but, as mentioned in the Chair’s report, the number of households paying the subscription remains low and has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. The production, each year, of the two Newsletters would not be possible without the revenue that the membership fees generate. If you enjoy reading these then I would encourage you to pay the £5.00 HADRA subscription.

We offer a variety of ways to pay the subscription. Our preference is to receive payment by a faster payment or standing order to Account name: HADRA | Sort Code: 23 05 80 (Metro Bank) | Account number: 41022558 quoting your postcode and flat/house number in the reference otherwise we do not know who has paid. However, if you prefer cash, or cheques made payable to HADRA, you can send these to 52 Hartley Hill, Purley, CR8 4EN. In addition to the Newsletters, you can keep up to date with what is happening in the area by visiting our website, www.hadra.org or subscribing to the regular E-Blasts. If you would like to receive the E-Blast, please e-mail your name and address to chair@hadra.org and ask to be included in these updates.

As usual, I would like to take the opportunity to thank our community of road stewards without whom we could not deliver the bi-annual newsletters across our area.

Unfortunately, we currently have the following roads not covered by a road steward:Hillars Heath Road, Asmar Close,

Petersfield Crescent,

Coulsdon Road (1-58 and 60-122), Stoats Nest Village, Hartley Farm,

Burcott Road and, finally, Old Lodge Lane (1-53a).

There are usually only two deliveries per year and the time it takes depends on the number of houses to which you deliver. Please get in touch if you would like to volunteer as a road steward.

Jackie Fowler Membership Secretary 2 | HADRA NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2024

PLANNING REPORT

Planning Applications

The Planning Department refused the contentious planning application to build four semi-detached houses in the back garden of 11 Haydn Avenue; an appeal has been lodged and is being considered by the Planning Inspector.

Since Supplementary Planning Documents 2 (SPD2) was revoked on 25th July 2022 by the first elected Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, there have been no planning applications to demolish family houses and build flats in the HADRA area in the past year. Most planning applications are now for extending family houses and trimming trees subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).

Planning Enforcement

The planning enforcement team is still under resourced with planning enforcement cases not being progressed to the detriment of adjoining neighbours.

Purley Swimming Pool

Planning application No. 24/00775/FUL to demolish the existing swimming pool, car park and derelict supermarket and redevelop the site with a new 25 metre, six lane swimming pool, a training pool and 40 station gym was submitted on 4th March 2024.

The scheme has 220 flats for later life residential accommodation within three tower blocks, one of which is 12 storeys high. There are 50 car parking spaces (including 5 disabled spaces) for public use (maximum 3 hours parking) and 28 spaces for residents. The existing multistorey car park has 412 public parking spaces.

HADRA have joined with six other Resident Associations to continue to raise concerns over the considerable loss of town centre car parking and the height of the 12 storey residential block. Apparently further parking surveys have been produced to justify this excessive reduction in parking but nothing has been published for scrutiny.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

TREASURER’S REPORT

The HADRA committee is a small team which gives generously of their time to support our neighbourhood.

The financial position of HADRA remains stable and sound over the current year, with your continued support of membership subscriptions and donations for which we are always grateful.

Your annual membership of just £5 per annum goes towards the administration of this residents’ group. The costs incurred by HADRA include necessary insurance and affiliation to other supporting groups, such as the East Surrey Transport committee and the subscription for the local planning app to produce our planning table, both of which are necessary to allow the committee to share timely information. Other costs include the printing of the newsletter twice a year.

If you have yet to join HADRA, and live in the area, a standing order can be set up to the account.

Account name: HADRA

Sort Code 23 05 80 (Metro Bank) Account number: 41022558 Please include your postcode and your house number as reference.

Our bank account balance is £1,830.89

HADRA Treasurer

Inside Croydon recently published an article stating that, “the GLA has rejected the scheme because of the lack of any affordable housing in the proposals”. No further documents have been published on Croydon Council’s Planning Access Register since a landscape statement on 24th April 2024 and no decision or update has been made by the planning department.

Colin Etheridge HADRA Planning Representative

HADRA NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2024 | 3

YOUR LOCAL

‘GOOD’ COLLEGE See for yourself at our next Open Event

In early October 2024, 14 Ofsted inspectors conducted a comprehensive evaluation of Coulsdon Sixth Form College. It was praised by Ofsted for its dedication to creating a supportive learning environment and for maintaining high teaching and learning standards. The Group was rated ‘Good’ across all four provision types and all four key judgements, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes of students, personal development and effectiveness of leadership and management.

The College is particularly proud of the inspectors’ recognition that students felt safe “as soon as they walk into college” and that the “college is a safe haven”.

They also highlighted that “Learners are motivated to learn and develop a range of professional behaviours and skills because of their positive learning experience”.

Teachers across the Group were acknowledged for how they plan and teach a challenging and ambitious curriculum for young and adult learners to continuously build on their knowledge and skills.

COULSDON SIXTH COLLEGE OPEN EVENT Tuesday 11th March 2025 | 5pm-7pm To register your place visit: coulsdon.ac.uk/events BTECs | A LEVELS | T LEVELS 4 | HADRA NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2024

FROM OUR REPRESENTATIVES UPDATE FROM OUR MP, CHRIS PHILP

I would like to begin by extending a huge thanks to the 19,757 local people who re-elected me as your MP back in July, and to the many people in the Hartley neighbourhood who supported my campaign. I am grateful you put your trust in me to continue working for our local area.

I would like to make clear that I will work for everyone in the neighbourhood regardless of how you voted – whether that is dealing with personal or local issues or listening to residents’ views on national issues. I have been elected to help and to represent everyone, and that is what I will continue to do.

In the meantime, my priority remains getting things done for our local area, working closely with HADRA and your local councillors. For example, over the summer, as a result of the work by Mayor Jason Perry, supported and encouraged by me as the local MP, we kept Stites Hill Road open during the closure of Coulsdon Road for essential drainage works, which were completed a work early.

Going forward, I will continue to work with the Department for Health and Social Care and Croydon Health Services NHS Trust to deliver Coulsdon’s promised new medical centre, and I am also working to ensure that Coulsdon gets a new banking hub, which is scheduled to open in March 2025.

UPDATE FROM MAYOR, JASON PERRY

Reproduced from “Your Croydon” published on 11th October edition”

My top priority is to fix our council finances so that we can provide Croydon residents with the good services and value for money they rightly deserve.

We’ve published Croydon’s budget proposals for 2025/26, which set out how the council is responding to unprecedented funding challenges and delivering major change to provide our residents with efficient and costeffective services.

In the past two years we have made more savings than any other council in London. However, Croydon has a £1.4bn historic debt burden, which is neither sustainable nor fair on our taxpayers. I have written to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, about the need for an urgent solution to address this debt.

We are determined to play our part in meeting these challenges in a way that puts residents first. Through 2025/26, we will continue our drive to fix the council’s finances, making the significant changes needed to provide efficient, value for money services for our residents. Find out more at https://news.croydon.gov.uk/ croydons-budget-proposals-2025-26/.

Croydon Harvest

I was delighted to attend our popular Croydon Harvest and to join residents enjoying the wide range of events on offer. The Harvest featured the Walnut Fair, showcasing folk dance and crafts

I will also be working with Executive Mayor Jason Perry on opening a brand new leisure centre in Purley, including a 6 lane 25m pool, and regeneration project. The construction cost of the new leisure centre and pool will be covered by the revenue from the flats and care home rooms for older people so will not cost taxpayers anything, and the ownership and management of the leisure centre and pool will transfer to the Council once it is built. I would like to see more parking, but the Mayor of London’s plan will not allow it. I am hopeful the planning application will be approved as soon as possible.

Finally, I will be continuing to keep a close eye on planning schemes coming through for the area and will keep fighting to protect the character of our neighbourhood from over-development.

As ever, please do be in touch at chris.philp.mp@parliament.uk if I may be of any assistance, and do continue to check my website chrisphilp.com, as well as my Instagram and Facebook pages for further local updates.

Chris Philp Member of Parliament for Croydon South

and a fantastic food market. Traders took part in the fair that dates back to the 14th Century. Events even included a giant fox puppet riding on a scooter, which featured in The Guardian. The historic Walnut Fair returned to Croydon in miniature form, taking over Pollock’s Toy Museum – myself and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Lynne Hale, enjoyed seeing the display and meeting museum volunteers. It was great to see the community come together and celebrate our borough in autumn. Thank you to all our partners, artists and creatives who made it happen.

Museum of Croydon – have your say

The Museum of Croydon is reviewing its service and is inviting residents and visitors to have their say. We want you to tell us what activities and events you would like to see there and what stories you would like the museum to tell about Croydon. Take part in the survey at https:// museumofcroydon.com/.

World Mental Health Day

Yesterday was World Mental Health Day, a reminder that we all need to take care of our wellbeing and look out for signs that people might need some support. Croydon offers free trauma informed training to help with this – find out more at https://www.j3msconsulting.co.uk/ trauma-informed-croydon-training/.

Uganda Independence Day

The flag of Uganda was raised outside the Town Hall on Wednesday, as we marked Uganda Independence Day and celebrated the contributions of our Ugandan community in Croydon. Thank you to everyone who took part.

Jason Perry Executive Mayor of Croydon

HADRA NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2024 | 5

LOCAL INFORMATION & NEWS HAVE YOUR SAY ON CROYDON COUNCIL BUDGET PROPOSALS

The council has launched its 25/26 budget survey to ask residents and businesses their views on its spending plans for next year.

Every year the council has to set a balanced budget that sets out where it plans to save money and where it will invest.

Croydon has a historic £1.6bn debt burden which will cost £69m in repayments next year. It is the third largest expenditure after adult and children’s services.

In the past three years, the focus on fixing the finances has saved £137m with additional savings planned this year and in 2025/26. But the funding challenges cannot be fixed through making savings alone, so the council plans to invest in changing the way our council works.

They will do this in a way that puts residents first by:

tools so the workforce can provide a better service •

Restoring a sense of pride in the borough by attracting more investment, regenerating the town centre and neighbourhoods.

•

Our budget proposals include a 4.99% council tax increase.

•

Find out more about the proposals and tell the council what you think in their short survey. There are different ways you can share your views.

•

Online - take the short survey at croydon.gov.uk/ budget2025-26

•

By post - download and print a copy of the survey from the survey page. Or, if you don’t have access to a printer, call 0208 726 6000, email communications@ croydon.gov.uk or pop into a library, to request a copy be sent to you.

•

Making it simpler and easier to access information and contact the council, including ‘self-service’ digital options where suitable.

Please return the completed survey to Croydon Council communications team, Floor 12, Bernard Weatherill House, 8 Mint Walk, Croydon, CR0 1EA.

•

Working even more closely with the voluntary sector, public sector, businesses and others – including changing the way some services are delivered to better match residents’ needs.

Please make sure all responses are received by 11.59pm, Monday 9 December.

•

Becoming the most cost-effective council in London by simplifying council teams and investing in digital

6 | HADRA NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2024

LOCAL INFORMATION & NEWS REEDHAM CHILDREN’S TRUST CHRISTMAS GIFT APPEAL 2024

Bringing a smile to children and young people in need of a little happiness this Christmas

Reedham Children’s Trust will be running its annual Christmas Toy and Food Voucher appeal to support those most vulnerable in our community. The children and young people the Trust works with often face multiple challenges, including but not limited to; financial poverty; struggles with mental health; bereavement; own or family learning difficulties; living in care; living in emergency accommodation or living in a difficult home circumstance.

Many families will have to choose between food and heating, some won’t have either. Sadly, this means there is often no money left for presents at all.

Please would you consider donating this Christmas, to make sure each child we can support has at least one Christmas present to open?

To help, please visit www.reedhamchildrenstrust.org.uk/ christmas2024.

CROYDON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

With the March 1920 closure of the temporary aerodrome at Hounslow Heath, Croydon became operational as London Terminal Aerodrome on 29th March 1920. It began life using the former 1915 World War One airfield, with commercial operations commencing when the RAF vacated the aerodrome. Britain’s first airport expansion Act of Parliament in 1925 led to the 1926 redevelopment of the airport with the completion of the new buildings in 1928.

It was a place of momentous historic events, record breaking flights, innovations and the creation of Britain’s international airline, Imperial Airways. Imperial Airways went on to become today’s British Airways. The first innovations in Air Traffic Control were developed here – the international distress call “Mayday” was created

by London Croydon Airport Radio Officer F.S. “Stanley” Mockford in 1923.

The 1920’s and 30’s saw a host of daring and recordbreaking flights from London Croydon Airport that made the aviators and aviatrixes global celebrities. Women such as Amy Johnson and Jean Batten became household names and competed alongside their male counterparts, such as Jim Mollision, Charles Kingsford - Smith and Sir Alan Cobham.

The magnificent terminal building (originally known as the Administration Building) was part of the 1926 airport

redevelopment. When opened in 1928, it became the world’s first purpose-built airport terminal and Croydon became the biggest and most advanced airport in the world. It set new standards for air travel and was designed around the two key airport processes - Departure and Arrival.

Designed, constructed and operated by the Air Ministry, the architects produced a wholly new type of airport building. There were no other airport terminals for the Air Ministry architects to study (none had been built at that time) but they produced a truly exceptional design.

For the first time they brought together all key airport functions and processes in one super-efficient building, sequencing each step of the airport process through a series of designated zones.

Located in Greater London, it developed over four decades and has been known under a variety of names - Royal Flying Corps Station Beddington, Waddon Aerodrome, RAF Station Beddington, Croydon Aerodrome, Air Port of London, London Terminal Aerodrome, RAF Croydon and finally Croydon Airport. With the dawn of air travel at the beginning of the 20th Century, London Croydon Airport was a hotbed for technical innovations and developments.

A journey by air today still uses the innovations created at Croydon.

Croydon Airport Visitor Centre is a volunteer led micromuseum which opened its doors in 2000. The Visitor Centre is located in Britain’s first integrated airport Terminal and Control Tower at Airport House, Purley Way, Croydon, CR0 0XZ. This is worth a visit, go to the website to find out visiting times. www.historiccroydonairport. org.uk/opening-hours

HADRA NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2024 | 7

LOCAL INFORMATION & NEWS COULSDON MANOR ROTARY CLUB Who are we? What do we do?

Coulsdon Manor Rotary Club (CMRC) is a group of locals who enjoy each other’s company, have fun, help deserving causes and get out and about.

We’ll have an evening at a local restaurant, a cuppa at Pistachio’s, arrange visits such as Hampton Court Palace, Biggin Hill, Gatwick Airport and enjoy our host’s - Coulsdon Manor Hotel - evening drink and meal at our regular meetings.

In helping our causes, coming up we have the Christmas Collection where we have our own team of collectors as well as teams from local charities and groups such as NSPCC, Cancer Help Centre, PTA’s, schools, the WI, local Air Cadets, Scouts and others. These are each attributed funds for their respective collection(s).

Perhaps we are best known for the Old Coulsdon Village Fair which our dedicated members organise and run.

Next summer, it will take place on 12 July at Grange Park.

8 | HADRA NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2024

There’ll be the usual attractions: stalls, rides, slides, arena displays, dog show, classic cars and more. It will raise up to £15,000 for local charities, residents associations, schools, clubs, scouts, air cadets and many more.

The Club supports local primary and secondary schools as well as the Centre for the Retired, the Toldene Old Peoples Home and the Old Coulsdon Christmas Lights switch-on.

We work with local charities, groups and two local food hubs. We have supported mainly local charities and appeals. Over the last 10 years we have donated to about 100 causes. Our donations amount annually to about £10,000 and cover food banks, children, youth, families and the aged in the interest of mental and physical health, homelessness, special needs and deserving causes.

Globally, Rotary invests in, for example, world health crises such as polio which it has virtually eradicated. CMRC supports charities to relieve famine, deprivation and natural disasters as well as Ukraine.

We are a friendly, welcoming Club and would be happy to talk to anyone who might wish to join us as a Member or Friend. You’d be most welcome.

George Paulson Immediate Past President, CMRC. 01737 550048

CHRISTMAS SUSTAINABILITY CHRISTMAS NEEDN’T COST THE EARTH

Tips for a cheaper and more sustainable festive season Fashion

- Wear your sustainability with pride! If someone judges you for wearing the same Christmas outfit as in previous years, that’s their issue, not yours.

- Shop your wardrobe first

- Swap with friends or check out Freecycle, Olio, etc

- Buy 2nd-hand (charity shops, Vinted, Depop, eBay, etc)

- Enjoy upcycling! Create your own unique Christmas jumper / T-shirt / apron. Take an old / plain / rarely worn garment and sew or glue on felt shapes, handmade motifs, tinsel… the possibilities are endless! If you’re not particularly creative, get inspiration online.

- Shop to a list and don’t be tempted by ‘bargains’ you don’t need or ‘just in case’ buys - Make the most of leftovers; search for recipes online

- Use common sense rather than worrying about ‘best before’ dates. Anything that could present a health risk should carry a ‘use by’ date.

- For more useful tips and some shocking statistics, visit www.businesswaste.co.uk/christmas-waste/how-toreduce-food-waste-at-christmas/

Lucia Briault

Former HADRA Chair Lucia Briault volunteers for registered charity Green Croydon Circular Economy. Lucia has been running Christmas ‘Crafternoons’ at the Textile Repair Café in the Whitgift Centre, encouraging people to save money and have fun making their own Christmas décor and fashion.

Décor

- Use what you have (manufacturers and retailers have a vested interest in trying to convince you that you need to switch colour schemes every!)

- Swap / buy second-hand / upcycle / make your own

- Research alternative Christmas trees, particularly if space is at a premium – twigs, pallet wood, baubles, corks…

- The real vs artificial Christmas tree debate rages on inconclusively. If you choose a real tree, consider rental schemes or buy a potted one. Look for Forestry Stewardship Council certification on real trees. Read more at www.soilassociation.org/take-action/organic-living/ christmas/eco-friendly-christmas-trees-real-vs-fake/ Gifts and Wrapping

- Give ‘memories’ – experience days, vouchers for restaurants / cinemas / theatre / holidays, magazine subscriptions, etc

- Choose consumable presents – luxury food and drink always go down a treat!

- A thoughtful homemade gift can reflect how much the recipient means to you - Re-gift or buy second-hand - Shop local

- Buy useful, ethical gifts e.g. reusable cups, bottles, tote bags – but be aware of ‘greenwashing’

- Buy or make reusable gift bags – think of the wrapping as part of the present - Explore furoshiki (Japanese wrapping cloths) Food

- In the UK, increased spending on festive food results in 270,000 tonnes of food waste at Christmas - Have a clear plan of what you need over the festive season

HADRA NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2024 | 9

USEFUL NUMBERS HADRA COMMITTEE MEMBERS

LIST OF WARD COUNCILLORS

Chairman – John Clarke Email: chair@hadra.org Phone: 020 8660 0845

Kenley

Old Coulsdon

Mobile: 07707 277218

020 8604 7035

Mobile: 07716 092482

Nikhil Sherine Thampi

Treasurer – Sharon Napper Email: treasurer@hadra.org Phone: 07506 608582 Secretary – Elaine Clark Email: secretary@hadra.org Phone: 020 8660 9927 Membership Secretary – Jackie Fowler Email: membership@hadra.org Phone: 020 8241 4267 Planning Representative – Colin Etheridge Email: planning@hadra.org Phone: 020 8668 3707 Transport & Environmental Representative – Vacant Health Representative & Minutes Secretary – Rita Lewis Phone: 020 8668 5520 Newsletter Editor – Vicky Burley Email: editor@hadra.org Phone: 020 8406 0843 Committee Members – Diane Hearne Phone: 07803 604487 – Josephine Hullay Phone: 020 8660 0845 The HADRA Committee would like to thank neighbours who give up their time in their work as road stewards.

Please see adjacent list for names and vacancies. If you are interested in filling one of the vacancies, do please get in touch with the Membership Secretary.

INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP FEE

As reported in previous editions, at the 2022 Annual General Meeting, it was agreed to increase the annual membership fee to £5.00 from 1 April 2023.

The committee would like to draw residents’ attention to the change and remind those paying by standing order that it is time to amend their payments as soon as possible.

The last time that the subscription was increased was in April 2006, and whilst reluctant to make this change, it was felt necessary to help meet the rising costs associated with running the residents’ association.

Ola Kolade Gayle Gander

Coulsdon Town Ian Parker

Mobile: 07783 152343 Mario Creatura Phone: 020 3624 3142 Luke Shortland

Mobile: 07716 092467

Margaret Bird

Mobile: 07710 184942 Mobile: 07716 092479 Purley & Woodcote Simon Brew Mobile: 07803 618096 Samir Dwesar

Mobile: 07716 092471 Holly Ramsey Mobile: tbc

Visit www.croydon.gov.uk for a full list of councillors.

Please refer to political parties’ websites for information on their prospective candidates for your ward.

ROAD STEWARDS

If you are interested in helping out the HADRA Committee by becoming a steward for your road, please get in touch with a member of the HADRA committee (contact details on page 10).

ASMAR CLOSE - Vacant

BENCOMBE ROAD - Susan Bentley BRIGHTON ROAD - Vacant BURCOTT ROAD - Vacant

BYRON AVENUE - John Peachey | Laura Briggs CEARN WAY - Frankie Deane

COULSDON COURT ROAD - Kim Clerkin COULSDON ROAD - Vacant

HARTLEY DOWN - Andrew Dunlop | Helen Ali HARTLEY FARM - Vacant

HARTLEY HILL - John Wills

HARTLEY OLD ROAD - Jenny Strong HARTLEY WAY - John Wills

HAYDN AVENUE - Susan Quaintance | Rebecca Simpson HIGHER DRIVE - Colin & Sue Wright HILLARS HEATH ROAD - Vacant

OLD LODGE LANE - Sharon Smith | Valerie Woodley PETERSFIELD CRESCENT - Vacant

YOGA & PILATES IN PURLEY & KENLEY Yoga, Pilates & CIRCL Mobility classes now at Kenley Memorial Hall on Saturdays Use the code NEW-CR8 for 25% off your first class when you book at BookWhen.com/Yogadu

www.Yogadu.co.uk

10 | HADRA NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2024

STOATS NEST ROAD - Linda Lawrence STOATS NEST VILLAGE - Vacant

ROAD STEWARD LIAISON OFFICER - Vacant

The Road Steward Liaison Officer position is to organise the distribution of our biannual newsletter to our Road Stewards. If you are interested please contact our Chairman.

POLICE & CRIME

Please find below some useful contacts: Emergency Tel: 999 Non Urgent Tel: 101 Old Coulsdon SNT

Email: OldCoulsdon.SNT@met.police.uk Kenley SNT

Email: Kenley.SNT@met.police.uk Coulsdon Town SNT

Email: CoulsdonTown.SNT@met.police.uk Purley & Woodcote SNT

Email: PurleyandWoodcote.SNT@met.police.uk London Borough of Croydon Tel: 020 8726 6000

Council Trading Standards / Citizens Advice Consumer Service Tel: 0808 223 1133

Email: trading.standards@croydon.gov.uk Council Antisocial Behaviour

Tel: 020 8726 6000 | Email: ASBTeam@croydon.gov.uk REPORTING CRIME

We see many reports of crime on social media such as Facebook and Nextdoor but the Police don’t monitor these sites so please make sure you also report crimes.

This can be done either online or by telephone call to 101.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can report anything at crimestoppers-uk.org. 101 is for a non-emergency situation; if a crime is taking place or somebody is in immediate danger, call 999.

RULES FOR DOG OWNERS If you take your dog onto a public road, please ensure it is kept on a leash at all times.

Please clean up after your dog. If there isn’t a bin, take it home. If you don’t do this, you could be fined up to £1,000.

KEEP UP TO DATE

The HADRA website, at www.hadra.org has lots of information including Police, Planning, Local History, Health and Frequently Asked Questions.

Residents are also invited to join our Facebook group, WhatsApp group and sign up for our monthly eBlast. The eBlast contains details of local events and any urgent issues in the area. You’ll find links to each of these on the homepage of the website.

If you have any problems with the website, please email action@hadra.org for support.

From adhoc support to complete management and delivery of all your marketing and communication needs.Get in touch now to find out how we can help you meet your business goals. Special rates for HADRA members.

Tel: 0800 240 4526 | info@smarterreach.co.uk

DONATE YOUR OLD TECH

Clear Community Web can take your old tech, wiping all data for your peace of mind.

Donated items can occasionally be fixed or refurbished and redistributed to those in need, but if they can’t be reused then CCW work with various partners to ensure ethical recycling or disposal.

For more information and to arrange a drop-off (in Purley), email caspar@clearcommunityweb.co.uk.

HADRA NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2024 | 11

LOCAL HISTORY

CROYDON - 1800s

“. . . it is evident to me in retrospect ... that the personal feeling and native instinct of me had been fastened irrevocably long before to things modest, humble and pure in peace, under the low red roofs of Croydon, and by the cress set rivulets in which the sand danced, and minnows darted above the springs of Wandel.“ John Ruskin - 1885

As Lords of the Manor, the Archbishops of Canterbury had a great influence on the town. Their Manor House (the Old Palace) stood, as it does to this day, adjacent to the east end of the old parish church of St John the Baptist and the Archbishops used it for centuries as a country home convenient for London. Some of the great figures of English history have stayed there including Henry III, Edward I, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I. James I of Scotland was also held prisoner there before he became King.

The presence of the Palace was of great benefit to the townsfolk ensuring, as it did, periodic visits by the Archbishop, his entourage and those concerned with business at the local church court, all requiring accommodation and service.

Six Archbishops were buried in Croydon Parish Church, including John Whitgift, Edmund Grindal, Gilbert Sheldon, William Wake, John Potter and Thomas Herring.

There are also 3 schools in the area named after Archbishops (Whitgift, Tenison and Lanfranc) and Trinity school was also founded by John Whitgift.

Old Palace and Church (1808) Looking from near Church Street where the corner of Old Palace Road is now, this view shows the lodge of the Palace. Note the pond in the foreground and the tower of the Parish Church through the trees.

By the mid-seventeenth century, Croydon was one of the principal towns in Surrey. During the Civil War and Commonwealth, the County committee of Surrey normally met at Kingston, but Croydon was the most frequent alternative. It was the most important town in the Hundred (division of a county for administration purposes such as local government or taxation) of Wallington and indeed of East Surrey.

The Winter Quarter Sessions of the county were held in Croydon, and the Assizes alternated with Guildford, being last held in Croydon in 1887.

High Street (about 1830)

Croydon stands north of an important gap in the North Downs, near the junction of several dry valleys. The next gap to the east is that of the Darent and to the west, that of the Mole. The Roman Road from London to Portslade passed through Croydon, but, despite some Roman finds, there is no conclusive evidence of a settlement here. However, there was a Saxon settlement and extensive Saxon finds have occurred. At Domesday and subsequently, the Archbishops of Canterbury were Lords of the Manor. There was, in 1086, a church, a mill, and the population was about 365.

12 | HADRA NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2024

A stagecoach stands outside the Green Dragon which served as the Inland Revenue office. Just beyond is Surrey Street with High Street continuing to the right. The second town hall can be seen, and opposite is the inn sign of The Ship. Note the charming Georgian houses and shops, and the mule or pack horse in the foreground.

Information courtesy of ‘Croydon the story of a hundred years’