SECTION 6. TRANSPORT ISSUES AND THE RAILWAY STATION

Introduction

6.1 In 2017 and 2018 Love Norbury and its Planning and Transport Committees discussed a range of public and private transport issues, including the Railway Station and its environment.

Bus Service Improvements

6.2. The former Love Norbury Transport Committee (LNTC) informed a bus services consultation that it wished to see the following improvements to bus services:

(a) increasing the frequency of the 109 bus given the large number of commuters who use it to get to and from the Railway Station, and the growth in the number of residents due to the increased approval of converted and new housing without car parking, and given the proposed large new housing development on the Norbury Trading Estate site.

(b) introducing a new single decker new bus route from Crystal Palace Parade to Purley Way via the streets down Norbury Hill to University Hospital, St James Road, Central Croydon, Old Town and .

(c) extending the G1 route to Pond, benefitting both local school children and Mayday hospital patients.

6.3 Suggestion (b) is based on the detailed proposal by Charles King, a member of the Council’s Public Transport Committee. An alternative suggestion put forward by Norbury Park Residents Association is for a bus service from Crystal Palace around Common and along London Rd.

Additional Bus Stops

6.4 It has been suggested by several residents that the gap between the bus stop just past Craignish Ave and Ederline Ave is quite far despite the fact that there are many blocks of flats along the stretch, and that an additional stop be added preferably opposite Norbury Library to facilitate its use. Similarly an additional bus stop by the Library has been suggested between Ederline Ave and Tylecroft Rd, particularly given the increase in multi-occupation of housing in the side roads.

London Rd Bus Lane and Crossing Timings

6.5 The times/days of the bus lane along Norbury’s stretch of London Rd is confusing. LNTC has proposed that a survey be carried out recording the times and the locations with photos, so that representations can be made to Tfl. This has yet to be actioned. Several residents have requested that action be taken to improve the time phase for pedestrians on the pedestrian crossing lights.

20mph Zone

6.6 In 2016 the Council began to introduce 20 mile and hour speed restrictions in residential roads across Croydon, including what is now the Norbury Park ward area, and then in what is now the Norbury & area. In some roads drivers ignore the speed limit which can cause a potential danger to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. Theoretically speed reading activities involving residents and the police can be organised. However residents have had difficulty in getting police involvement because the Metropolitan Police Force does not regard it as a priority matter. LNTC suggested that one of the member Associations test runs the activity.

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The Association’s Committee is concerned about the possible reaction to volunteers from motorists. The Metropolitan Police have been unable to provide locations and details of road accidents since 2016.

6.7 There are several places where the 20mph signs are obscured. e.g. by the leaves of trees. LNTC has proposed that a survey be carried out by member Associations, as well as taking photographs of where they think the entrance to roads should be painted with the 20mph sign in order to request the Council to take action. Discussion is also needed to develop proposals for traffic calming measures in some streets where the 20mph speed limit is regularly being ignored. After holding two public meetings Norbury Village Residents Association made a number of suggestions re-traffic management and calming during the consultation on Controlled Parking Zones held in 2016 by the Council. The Council officers rejected the ideas.

Road Safety street improvement plans

6.8 Norbury Park Residents Association has drawn up a street safety improvement plan, especially speed cushions, more traffic islands and pedestrian crossings. LNTC recommended that the other four Associations should consider similar plans for their areas. Additional ideas for consideration could include the painting of images on the road that look like arrow heads on speed humps, and the installation of new traffic islands. These plans should also consider the growing problem of car parking congestion and conflict to identify streets by carrying out surveys using a standard local authority model, and the problem of the parking of cars close to the join of roads, especially main roads, and the creation of blind corners.

Norbury Railway Station

6.9 Norbury Railway Station is a very busy station for people going and returning from work.(Table 18) In 2016-18 the services were unreliable with many trains being late or cancelled and with further disruption because of industrial relations disputes particularly over the issues of guards on trains. Consultation was undertaken by , the operators (Southern Railway & Thames Link) on changes to the services, including to East and West Croydon. The 2018 new timetable was a disaster operationally, and a new one had to be introduced. Delays and cancellations remain a problem.

6.10 The buildings around the Station are run down. It has access problems. Its ticket office counters are under threat of closure. The Residents Associations agree that there needs to be a range of improvements worked out in discussion with Network Rail, the railway companies, the local businesses and the associations.

History of the Station

6.11 Norbury Halt was constructed as a wooden station in 1878 with ramps to the platforms to enable enabling horses for the Norbury Race Track to be led up to and down from trains.

Accessibility

6.12 The steepness of the ranks makes it difficult for people in wheel chairs and with limited mobility to use the trains.

Platform Improvements

6.13. Between 2012 and 2016 the following improvements were made:

 lengthening platforms to enable trains with more carriages to be used

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 repairs and painting

 improvements to the waiting room of Platform 1

 improvements to the cafe/waiting room on Platform 2

Unlike other stations the period of the work lengthening the platforms was not used to install a lift system to improve access.

Businesses Around the Station

6.14 There are several businesses around the Station. Some are long standing while others have seen a higher turnover of business occupants, especially the premises currently housing a food and shisha smoking café and bar on the corner with Norbury Ave. The men’s barber’s on the corner of the alley opposite the dry cleaners has been closed for several months due to the barber retiring.

Road barriers

6.15 There is a road fence barrier under the bridge for pedestrian safety which continues up to Norbury Ave. There is a Red Lane parking area on the other side of the barrier in front of the shops without a gate making it difficult for potential customers to park.

Railway Car Lot

6.16 The site was originally land forming an embankment with trees, wild flowers and squirrels contributing to biodiversity along the railway corridor. After its sale it was damaged by the purchaser felling 7 mature Horse Chestnut trees. The land owner was fined and ordered to plant several trees as replacements but these would take time to reach maturity. Site ownership changed several times. There were several attempts to obtain planning permission to build a block flats. These were unsuccessful including at appeal inquiry. The site was then sold and used by a car dealer to keep his cars. He laid down hard standing without permission, felled several of the newly planted trees and used it for a car sales business. He did not have planning permission. This and the cutting down of trees led to residents’ objections and was one of the triggers for the formation of Norbury Avenue & Thornton Heath (now Norbury Park) Residents Association launched in early 2016.

6.17 The Council took enforcement action. The site owner appealed and lost. The land had been regarded for planning purposes as open space, and endorsed as such by the appeal Inspector. The Norbury Community Land Trust was created to try and buy the site for a community garden. The site owner would not negotiate. He then sold the site. Meanwhile the Council had refused to protect the open space designation in the emerging Local Plan 2018 despite a recommendation by the JPC at the Examination Hearings that it should do so. A developer submitted a block of flats and despite strong opposition from residents, the JPC, local Councillors and the MP, planning permission was granted because it was a brownfield site.

6.18 The entrance and exit of vehicles into the site of the block of flats across the pavement poses a risk to people going to and from the Station, especially at rush hours. The lack of adequate provision of car parking on the site will mean more competition for car parking spaces which is already a problem with vehicles dropping and collecting people at the Station and the parking needs of the licensed car business next to the Station.

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Planting Areas

6.19 There are two existing planting areas at the Station, the first opposite the pedestrian crossing to Roche Rd and the second on the wall running along the right hand side of the alley as it goes up to the Station. These are tended, planted and cleared of rubbish by local resident David Clark.

Bookcases

6.20. The Macmillan Cancer Research shop in London Rd has bookcases in the café/waiting room and the ticket office area for passengers to buy second hand books. These were negotiated by local resident and shop volunteer David Clark, who keeps the bookcases stocked as items are sold. Since they were installed £000s have been raised.

History of Norbury Posters

6.21 Another initiative by David Clark were posters about aspects of Norbury’s history, including King Stephen, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, the black composer (d. 1912), Kingsley Amis the author, and Sherlock Holmes. David also negotiated the community notice board along the left hand wall as people walk from the ticket barrier to Platform 2. David has also negotiated framed history pictures of Norbury in the Station ticket office. David’s initiatives had the support of Love Norbury, which considered him as its representative in discussions for improvements with the Station and Area Station Managers.

Platform Planters

6.22 The Norbury Avenue & Thornton Heath (now Norbury Park) Residents Association (NATHRA) which was formed in January 2016 entered a community agreement with Southern Rail to develop a number of ideas for cosmetic improvements to the Station. This led to the taking down of the history posters as a fire risk (the posters being in the safe keeping of a member of the NVRA Committee), and the erection of planters on Platforms 1 and 2 using railway sleepers.

Norbury Fare Zoning

6.23 The Station’s heavy use is partly due to the fact that Zone 3 ends here. Travelling further south costs passengers more. Many people therefore come to the Station by bus or car and park in the local residential streets, in order to save paying the extra fares from further south. So far the railway companies have rejected the proposal supported by the Croydon MPs for Zone 3 to be extended to East and West Croydon. While this change would be beneficial in terms of reducing the heavy use made of the Station at morning and evening run hour, over time passenger numbers arriving on foot will increase as the population with the increase in new homes along London Rd and its side streets, and in the Hermitage Lane area.

Residents’ Views

6.24 The JPC held a public meeting on planning issues on 14 December 2016. Several remarks were made about the Station:

 ‘Road widened underneath railway bridge and a tunnel put through for pedestrians.’

 ‘Under Norbury Station Bridge is disgusting. Can Network Rail be persuaded to have a mural under the bridge like the one at .’ This needs to be improved e.g. with murals on the walls; ‘Large art works under bridge, on bridge.’ The road under the bridge should widened and a tunnel provided for pedestrians.’

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 The toilets should be re-opened at the train stations.

 Taxi companies use a lot of car parking spaces’ at the Station.

 ‘Illegal car park by Norbury Station. Residents and commuters have not been notified about planning application submitted retrospectively.’ ‘There should be action against the illegal car sales lot by Norbury Station.

6.25 The JPC was able to use these views to help shape its submission on the Council’s Local Plan consultation. 'There is growing use by Norbury Station by commuters creating stresses for residents with respect to car parking and increased number of passengers using the Railway Station and buses.’

Norbury Railway Station Minor Improvements

6.26 In 2018 LNTC had discussions with Stephen Norris, Govia’s Area Station Manager, for small improvements to the Station identified:

 The need for on board announcements about the platform gap

 the re-siting of planters away from the anti-suicide railings

 a collage history poster

 a new community board on Platform 2

 replacement of charity bookcase in Platform 2 café damaged by vandal action

 painting of the closed exit

6.27 No progress was made to implement these improvements. In response to an update in September 2018 Norris apologised but nothing has happened since. At the time of writing this discussion paper a reply to a further reminder is awaited.

Network Rail’s Lack of Plans for Improving Norbury Railway Station

6.28 In August 2018 Network Rail replied to a Freedom of Information request submitted by the author of this discussion paper requesting details of the plans does it had for:

1) reducing the gaps between the train doorways and the platforms particularly on sections of platforms 1 and 3.

2) providing a lift to help older people, people with physical disabilities, and parents with buggies, and people with heavy luggage get up and down from the platforms.

3) removing graffiti .

4) stopping water leaking down the railway bridge and improve its appearance, including discussing with Croydon Council improvements to the lighting.

5) repurchasing or CPOing the site next to the station on Norbury Avenue.

6) improving the building environment around the station.

7) re-letting the empty barber’s shop or demolish it to open up the space for people entering and coming down the station entrance alley.

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8) undertaking any feasibility and costings for improving the station and its environment

9) has works for Norbury Station included in its next request for capital funding approval from the Department of Transport

10) the timetable for preparing and submitting a bid for capital funding from the Department of Transport that improvements to Norbury Station could be included in?

6.29 Network Rail’s answer in relation to each point was:

1) ‘There are currently no plans in our next Control Period (CP6)1 to reduce the gap between the train and the platform at Norbury Station. We usually take the opportunity to look at this when the platform is due for renewal as this is the most cost effective way of carrying out this work.’

2) ‘Unfortunately there are no plans to improve mobility access to the platforms. Currently in place, there is step-free access via steep ramps to all platforms and step-free access to the ticket office.’

3) We do not hold information for this part of your request because Southern Railway is the Station Facility Owner and they are responsible for anything within the lease area, including graffiti.’

4) ‘Some works have been instructed such as repairing and partially renewing the guttering. There are no plans to improve its appearance as it is considered to be good. With regards to lighting, this is something London Borough of Croydon would be responsible for.’

5) ‘We have no plans to repurchase the site next to the station on Norbury Avenue.’

6) ‘We currently have no plans or funding to improve the building environment around the station.’

7) ‘We currently have no future plans for this building.’

8) ‘We have not undertaken any feasibility or costings for improving the station. Norbury station had significant works carried out in various areas in CP4 (2009-2014).

9) ‘there are no plans for this location within CP6 (2019-2024).’

10) ‘We have no plans to bid for funding for Norbury Station in the next control period.’

(Network Rail Freedom of Information reply FOI2018/00929 10 August 2018)

6.30 LNTC considers that a request needs to be drafted to Network Rail, with copies to the MP and GLA member and Croydon Council, requesting that it make a bid for capital money to improve the Station. Initial ideas for inclusion are: cleaning the bridge; opening up the closed exit; providing lifts; redevelopment of the shops; demolish the closed hairdressers to create a wider entrance up to the Station perhaps with trees and planters, fix the leaking bridge and tackle the growth of plants. It appears that the need to improve lighting under the Bridge is Croydon Council’s responsibility. This is under consideration by the Norbury Regeneration Steering Group.

Railway Bridge Mural

6.31 Love Norbury set up a working group to explore whether it would be possible to have a mural painted on Bridge wall opposite the one than most people use to go to and from the

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Station. After months of frustrating negotiations Network Rail finally decided that it would not approve the mural proposal because it feared it would distract drivers who might crash into the side wall on the pedestrian walkways under the bridge. The logic of this is baffling given the raised pavements on both sides prevent the bridge walls being struck, and given the many advertising hoards along London Rd, like the one above the railway viaduct above the closed exit.

The Local Plan

6.32 The Council’s draft Local Plan stated that as a District Centre Norbury ‘will have improved links to the railway station’. (para 7.50) The draft Strategies para 6.37 stated: ‘Ensuring adequate coach and taxi interchange at East and West Croydon and other District Centre railways stations, such as Purley and Norbury, will be important in encouraging the reduction of private transportation.’

6.33 The JPC welcomed this statement given the competition for parking between residents and commuters in nearby residential streets. However there appeared to be no detailed proposals for how this was to be achieved. There will always be a need for car parking near Norbury Station and the Committee opposed any attempt to build on the Glanville Gardens car park. It suggested that the Council failed to understand the dynamic of why some people use their cars to use the Station. They live in those parts of the residential area which are not served by buses passing near the Station; they have physical walking difficulties getting to the Station especially when faced by the long walk up the steep ramps to the platform. There will continue to be a need for the car park with improved signage so drivers are aware of it.

6.34 Para. 11.143 of the approved Local Plan states: ‘Linkages with the District Centre and railway station will be improved where possible through an expanded Green Grid network, encouraging more sustainable travel. Cycling to Norbury railway station will be more attractive as cycle facilities are enhanced.’

6.35 Other infrastructure project programmes mentioned in the Plan across the Borough that include Norbury: specifies ‘Access and movement improvements in areas next to rail station’. The draft Detailed Policy DM39 stated: ’Within Norbury District Centre, to facilitate growth and to enhance the distinctive character, developments should: …. c. Seek opportunity to provide direct access from the south of London Road to Norbury railway station.’

6.36 At the Norbury Village Residents Association on 27 April Stuart King, the Cabinet member for Transport explained that the Council wanted the closed 3rd exit to be opened to ease congestion. It is prepared to contribute funding to the cost. The railway company GTR has refused to consider the matter because it says that it will cost to staff the ticket barriers. He pointed out that other stations in Croydon do not have all exits covered by staff. There CCTV and remote control linkage allows staff at one exit to operate the electronic barriers on the other side.

Cross Border Initiative

6.37 In her draft report South Streatham and Norbury Station environs Environmental Action Plan. A brighter place (December 2018) (see Section 10. Hermitage Lane Area), Barbara Wright identifies:

 the Station entrance at Norbury Avenue as Zone 4, as needing meeting Network Rail and 6 - 7

small businesses to agree tidying up, put up planters over entrance to station, and consider strategy in light of previous lack of progress at local level with Network Rail.

 Station entrance on London Rd, both sides of London Road, pavement forecourt to station and area to south of bridge with secondary access to station as Zone 5, needing painting of the metal railings along both sides of London Rd, removal of the graffiti from the Bridge, and improvement of lighting under Bridge (maintained by LB Croydon) to be improved, improvement of the paving, removal of weeds from the exit, painting the station in a brighter colour, and a high level meeting with Network Rail and TFL. In relation to the banners on the block of shops and flats opposite on the corner of Roche and London Rds by the railway line, tackling advert enforcement issues with owner ‘sensitively’.

Parking Issues

6.38 The Council has been consulting on its parking strategy and action plan. The Norbury Planning & Transport Group submitted the following comments:

‘Our priority concern is to ensure that residents are able to park without difficulty in the streets on which they live, which necessitates:

(a ) a more sensitive approach to parking provision when determining planning applications, as large house conversions, new developments with low level parking for residents, increases competition for parking on the residential streets.

(2) a more prohibitive approach to turning front gardens into parking places because this reduces parking spaces on the street, and can lead to conflict if a drive parks over someone’s drive way; poor sight lines can also cause a danger of crashes as drivers reverse out.

(3) enforcement against car dealers along London Rd opposite Pollards Hill from parking vehicles in the street – which are difficult to identify because they do not have a for sale sign; one way is to regularly check car sales on the internet to identify those cars for sale which are parking in the streets.

(4) the re-zoning of railway fares to extend Zone 3 to East and West Croydon to reduce the number of commuters who drive into Norbury and park in those streets that do not have controlled parking zone provision

(5) until (4) is implemented Controlled Parking Zones off London Rd in Norbury should be free to residents, which will make it easier to extend CPZs as there are residents who understandably resent having to pay to park; and consideration of restricted parking times to deter commuters while allowing residents free parking.

(6) in order to help sustain the economic viability of the shops through Norbury District Centre extended parking times are needed along London Rd to enable potential shoppers to park.

(7 ) parking restriction signs can be confusing, e.g. in Fairview Rd which leads to drivers misunderstanding and being issued fixed term penalties.

(8) enforcement needs to be undertaken against parking on street corners especially those with yellow lines; and many of those lines need fresh painting to make them more obvious.

While the encouragement of a greater use of cycles and walking is to be welcomed, given Croydon’s low base and the dangers to cyclists from vehicles, and the bad riding behaviour of many cyclists risking accidents with drivers and pedestrians, the growth is likely to be slow,

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without the creation of safe cycle routes through the back streets. Lesson need to be learnt about the fiasco of the cycle way in the Norbury Avenue/Kensington Ave area.

There is a problem of cyclists riding along the pavements especially on both sides of London Rd, which is understandable as it is safer for them to do so, but they are a danger to pedestrians.

The Council should consider lobbying the Government to bring in a cycle licence and compulsory training scheme.

If more cycling is to be encouraged then thought needs to be given to:

(1) the provision of equipment to which cyclists can safely lock their bikes when they are shopping and eating along London Rd

(2) to avoiding conflict between pedestrians and cyclists in Norbury and Norbury Hall Parks.’

The following additional concerns have been raised with the Group which seem to worth considering and therefore submitted to the Council:

(1) The introduction of cycle lanes - there are a number of busy roads where cycle lanes would be inappropriate because the roads are too narrow. There is evidence that where there are new cycle lanes, with reduced capacity for vehicles, there are an increasing number of traffic jams, which lead to an increase in air pollution.

(2) While not all disabilities are visible there appears to have been an increase in the use of Disabled Blue Badges in Norbury where the lone driver leaves the car and then sprints round the corner to the shop. Are any checks done by the compliance officers who regularly check vehicles in the CPZ areas?’

Conversion of front gardens into driveways

6.39 A resident has expressed complete disagreement with the suggestion to be more prohibitive on the creation of driveways. ‘A lot of the roads are quite narrow and with an abundance of people parking on the street, you lose many passing areas. This leads to a lot of anger and confrontations as people get stuck. Driveways actually add passing areas and can therefore improve traffic flow. It is also better for residents, and they should be the priority here.’

6.40 While he was ‘in two minds about the parking fees ’and had no personal objection he did ‘wonder what impact it may have on businesses and people visiting. We want to make Norbury more attractive to visitors so businesses want to be here, but at the same time, the current level of parking isn't sustainable!

6.40 In discussion the author of this paper has suggested to the resident that there ‘is no right or wrong answer on driveways, but sets of contradictions which are not resolveable. (1) on the one hand they deprive others from parking when the owner is out with their vehicle, while on the other those who park across driveways prevent returning owners from access to driveway. (2) loss of garden and therefore green look to streets, compounded by failure of many owners to ensure that they have porous parking surfaces replacing their gardens, leading to surface water drainage onto pavements and into gulleys.’ He asked how the resident would ensure that parking can be sustainable?

6.41 The resident responded with the following suggestions:

 all driveways to include some green

 the benefits of passing points far outweighs any disadvantage.

 the porous surfaces should be covered by the planning officials when they come to drop the kerb

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 a parking permit scheme which would also allow residents to have a guest pass which can be used for their visitors

 improve the crossings across the high road and make the area more pedestrian friendly so that people don't feel the need to take their cars into Norbury

6.42 These are clearly ideas that warrant wider debate.

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