Monks Orchard Residents’ Association MORA COMMITTEE MEMBERS 2010-2011 www.monks-orchard-web.org.uk email: [email protected] Chairman Dave King 8 777 9055 Vice Chairman Vacancy - Croydon Secretary Mary Evans 8 777 4230 (Non Party) (Independent) Treasurer Terry Greenwood 8 405 8991 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Planning Ian Fraser 8 654 5787 NEWSLETTER - Autumn 2010 Membership Secretary Diane McInerney 8 654 6985 Editor/Website Derek Ritson 8 777 6669 Police Liaison Jean Cook 8 777 4927 Primary Care Mercia Nash 8 654 4041 The Shirley Poppy is back in Social Secretary Christine Ross-Smith 8 654 3175 St John’s Churchyard. Transport & Highways Vacancy - Neighourhood Partnership Joan Pring 8 656 2296 Trees & Open Spaces Rosemary Rabin - Committee Members and { Michael Nash 8 654 4041 Area Managers { Patricia Turner 8 777 9402 { Anne Horton 8 656 8009 Committee Member Sheila Wagland 8 776 1366 Committee Member Nicki Smith 8 654 2194 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — MONKS ORCHARD RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM Name: Signature: I N T H I S I S S U E: Address: Page 2 Chairman’s Comments Page 8 Local Wildlife Page 3 The Shirley Poppy back in Page 10 Permitted Development St John’s Page 14 Open Spaces in Monks Post Code: Page 4 St John’s Church Open Day Orchard Call for Area Managers & Page 18 Planning Matters Road Stewards Page 20 Events at Shirley Library ‘I wish to become a member of the Monks Orchard Residents’ Association’ New Shirley-based football Page 21 The Camel Express Please send this completed form to: DIANE MCINERNEY club Page 22 Christmas Shopping Trip 11 Gladeside, CR0 7RL. Page 5 Planning Report Page 23 MORA Poster Thank you for supporting MORA. Page 7 Update on Charity Skydive Page 24 MORA Committee Members Please pass on to a non-member. Printed by MARSTAN PRESS The Monks Orchard Residents' Association was founded in 1923, and represents approximately 2,500 residents. Bexleyheath Kent Tel: 020 8 301 5900 24 Chairman’s Comments We hope that members have enjoyed the fine weather during the summer and have topped up their quota of sunshine & vitamin D. The coalition government is making bold decisions regarding Government and Council spending but it doesn’t seem to be having much effect on the salary awards to Councillors and senior Council Managers. It has been reported that Councillors have awarded themselves a whopping 34% increase in pay but there have been other reports that some councillors have deferred their increase until next year. In a time of frugal restraint and people losing their jobs they obviously have not got the message!! We shall see! It is somewhat disconcerting that the coalition government and the council planning authority are in diametrically opposed policies. The government are proposing a “Big Society” calling for involvement of volunteers and Residents’ Associations to contribute more in the decision making process but the Council Planning Authority are proposing the exact opposite in their “Core Strategy”. In fact, the LPA are significantly reducing the influence that Residents’ Associations can have on Planning Applications and development proposals [see page 18]. We have obviously been too effective in getting applications refused. Not wishing to remain on planning issues, but we cannot ignore the diabolical results of changes to the Town & Country Planning “Permitted Development” Act, which allows developers to circumvent the Unitary Development Plan’s requirements [see page 10]. It seems that developers can apply for a Lawful Development Certificate for development proposals which completely ignore any UDP planning rules or even recommendations from the Planning Inspectorate. We have written to the Rt. Hon. Gregg Clark MP, Minister of State for Communities & Local Government, on 15th July on this issue but have not yet had an answer to our letter. We will report in due course. Dave King Chairman 2 23 The Shirley Poppy is back in St John’s Churchyard The Vicar of St John’s the Evangelist church in Shirley between 1880 and 1912 was The Rev’d William Wilks. During his time as CHRISTMAS Vicar he also became Secretary of the Royal Horticultural Society and tended a large garden at the Vicarage in Shirley SHOPPING TRIP Church Road.* In this garden he discovered an unusual strain of the wild poppies of the neighbouring fields. He propagated this Dickensian Christmas shopping experience over several years as a new strain and called it “The Shirley Poppy.” It varies in colour from bright scarlet to pure white with in Rochester Castle Gardens, all shades of pink often edged but unlike the Flanders Field German-style Christmas chalets selling poppy it has a white base instead of the usual black. festive goods and hand crafted gifts, The poppy became a symbol of Shirley in Croydon and a local and then finish your Christmas shopping at hostelry bore the name. It appears on the welcome sign outside Shirley library. However the flower disappeared from the area Bluewater Shopping Centre! and had not been seen for several years. St John’s Church has a traditional churchyard covering about three acres with many historical graves and monuments dating back to the 1830’s and it was decided a couple of years ago to create a conservation meadow area following discussion with the Diocesan Advisory Committee, who have been encouraging parishes to become more environmentally aware, and The Nature Conservation and Countryside Manager of Croydon Council. Last year several wild flower species flourished and it was decided that this year it would be appropriate to attempt to Tuesday 7 December 2010 reintroduce the Shirley Poppy around the grave of Rev’d William £14.50 per person Wilks. To the delight of the churchyard maintenance team the meadow has become a blaze of colour with even more wild Coach leaves from Wickham Road. flowers and pride of place is taken by a colony of “The Shirley If you would like to join us Poppy.” Contact: Christine Ross-Smith *The Rev’d William Wilks also founded The Chelsea Flower Tel: 020 8654 3175 Show and the gardens at Wisley. Sarah Bitmead, St John’s Environmental team (Churchyard maintenance) Bernard Maguire, St John’s church Communications Officer Tel: See more about St John’s Church at www.stjohnsshirley.org.uk 22 3 St John’s Shirley Church & Churchyard Open Day Saturday 18th September 1.30pm to 6.00pm Guided tours of historic Church & Churchyard (Including Rev’d Wilks grave, John Ruskin’s Parents, Lloyd (Lloyd park) family monument etc. Discovery trail in church for children and “Safari Hunt” in church for Noah’s animals for the pre-school Children. Traditional Tea & Home-made cakes available! St John’s Church - Shirley Church Road http://www.stjohnsshirley.org.uk/ Area Managers and Road Stewards We still require additional Road Stewards for the distribution of newsletters each quarter and the collection of membership subscriptions once a year. Any member willing to assist in this important activity please contact: Diane McInerney on . New Shirley-based football club for boys under 14 A new, family-run football club, Shirwood Eagles FC, has been formed to serve 13, and 14-year-old boys from Shirley and the surrounding areas. The club is primarily for boys who will be in school Year 8 or 9 this September, who really love playing football, would like coaching and an opportunity to have supervised training. Coaching and training is from 10am to noon on Saturdays in Spring Park, Shirley. Shirley Eagles will compete in the Tandridge League in the 2010-11 season, playing matches on Sundays. Contact the coaches (Corrado on or Colin on ) or email [email protected] 4 21 Events at Shirley Library Planning Report — (from 23 April 2010) There will be a talk by Catherine Evans of Victim Support on Thursday 23rd of New Applications: September at 2.30pm. She will offer free and confidential practical support and 59 Greenview Avenue Ref: 10/02218/P information for victims of crime. Officers from Shirley's Safer Neighbourhood Full Planning Permission Team will also be present to answer questions. Spaces are limited so please Demolition of existing building: erection of book your place with a member of library staff. two/three story building with On Tuesday 21st September we will be holding a Coffee Morning and Sale of accommodation in roofspace comprising a Craftwork in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. There will be a variety of hand 30 bedroom care home for the elderly with crafted cards, knitted and embroidered items for sale. Anyone who knits, sews associated communal landscaping; or makes any type of craft and wishes to donate items they have made for the alterations to vehicular access and provision sale can bring them in to Shirley Library anytime up to and including the day of the sale. of associated parking area. MORA objection letter sent 1/08/2010. Target date for decision 08/10/2010. If you enjoy reading, why not join our fun new Chatterbooks Group? This group The appeal Ref A/10/2125625/NWF against refusal 40 bed care home is still is for those aged 8-11 and is free to join. We will be meeting weekly, on current (see page 6). Thursdays, between 4.00pm-5.00pm, from September. 31 Woodland Way Ref: 10/02329/P Full Planning Permission We run the following free drop-in events for young children during school term times: Demolition of the existing building; erection of three bedroom detached chalet bungalow; formation of vehicular access and provision of associated parking. Bookstart Rhymetime: 89B Gladeside Ref: 10/02160/P Full Planning Permission Fridays 10 - 10.30am (babies and toddlers) Wiggle and Jiggle: Fridays 11 - 11.30am (18 months onwards) Erection of 3 bedroom detached house and provision of associated parking.