Addiscombe & Shirley Park Residents’ Association www.theaspra.org.uk 1989 - 2017 Autumn 2017 It’s ‘hello’ to our new notice board, but is it ‘goodbye’ to Barclays…? !1 An independent, non-politically aligned organisation run for and by the residents of Addiscombe !2 From the editor In this issue Our experiments with style continue, so we hope you like some of the changes in look and presentation 5 Letters we’ve made. The ‘local news’ sections appear to be quite popular, so we’ve 6 Addiscomment given them a title of their own and we Local talking points hope you like ‘Addiscomment’. Addiscombe Jumble Trail Elsewhere you’ll find pieces on 12 Another big success July’s Jumble Trail and the installation and ‘unveiling’ of the new 15 Addiscombe Rec Addiscombe Village notice board; we Goings-on in the gardening group hope it’s all interesting stuff. We are also trying out some new 16 Taking notice of Addiscombe ideas with our ‘What’s on’ pages, New notice board hits the road where you’ll find some of things being planned for the Christmas 22 Art at the heart of Croydon season, some of the leisure activities Warhol comes to Croydon in the neighbourhood and details of ASPRA meetings into next year. 24 What's on If any of you out there feeling like Goodies galore in Addiscombe getting involved with ASPRA more generally, but particularly with the 26 Something for everyone magazine, we’d love to hear from you. at St Millies Bob Sleeman, who’s been our Ashburton library Advertising Manager, as well as many 27 other things, would like to step back 30 And finally… from that role and we’re looking for someone to help us with that. If you’re keen to talk to our local businesses, keen on design and a bit IT savvy, you might be just what we’re looking for. Although it seems odd just at the moment, this is our last issue this year, so as we sign off now we’ll wish you an early Merry Christmas! Where’s this? Phil Poole !3 !4 KN STAINED GLASS Letters to the Editor Sir, Traditionally constructed I had intended to highlight how awful the stained glass windows litter in Bingham Recreation Ground has and leaded lights been over the summer. However, recently there has been some improvement as the Old or damaged bins appear to have been emptied and other windows re-leaded rubbish cleared more regularly. Bingham Rec is an incredibly valuable Broken panels repaired local resource and all of us who use it should cherish it. We’re immensely grateful For advice to the gardeners who have enhanced the or free estimate call: ambience and attractiveness of the park and to the vast majority of dog owners who Keith Neiles clear up after their pets (a great 32 Fernhurst Road improvement from 30 years ago when my Phone: 020 8656 6334 children played there). Mobile: 07834 973 859 The rest of us should take responsibility for our impact by using the litter bins or, when they’re full, taking our rubbish home - especially those of us using the play-park or the tennis courts. When the park was at DP ROOFING its messiest, the extent of rubbish was overwhelming and too much for any individual to tackle, but now we can take Specialist in flat roofing action by perhaps all aiming to deal with slating, tiling one misplaced bit of litter per visit. I also wonder if there should be provision All work guaranteed of more bins strategically placed, for example in the tennis courts where empty Free estimates bottles magically accumulate. I love to see my young grandchildren 30 years’ experience learn to master new skills on the excellent play equipment, but I am ashamed that they might also be learning that leaving Tel: 020 8656 8708 litter and playing amongst rubbish is acceptable or the norm. Dave Patey 45 Kingscote Road Yours sincerely Adrienne Cluer Addiscombe Bingham Road !5 Addiscomment become brazenly becoming two, and even inconsiderate. three, car households. Selfish stoppers Vans grab a space, The age of our housing If you look up and down even if half their length stock makes it ripe for some of our side streets crosses a dropped-kerb regeneration and on a Sunday afternoon exit and we can be forced development, so the you’d be forgiven for to interrupt an irate building work is going to thinking that parking plumber and persuade be on-going. And the problems around here him to move before we Addiscombe tram stop are exaggerated by some encourages the of us Moaning Minnies. commuter and the Then walk down the shopper. We suppose we same streets on a should be grateful to live Monday and see the in such a lively and rows of ‘parked for the upcoming area, but it day’ commuters, chancer doesn’t stop us moaning shoppers and about it. tradesmen’s vans. Skip wagons, concreters and Food for thought building suppliers inch can get our own car on Did you know we have a their way in to the road. A thoughtless local food bank? impossible spaces and commuter on the other Well it was a surprise might just leave enough side and you can be too to our contributor room for the skinniest of blocked in by two cars all Sarah Hills. However, passing traffic to squeeze day, and there’s an awful she tells us that it was through. ‘sod you’ in any response first set up in 1997 and This situation has if you care to complain. became a registered gotten steadily worse And it brings out the charity in 2002. over the last few years worst in some of us. Called the Shrublands and has prompted many We’ve heard of one local Food Bank, it doesn’t of us to give up our front putting his own two cars just deal with the gardens and have kerbs out onto the street, so residents of the estate dropped, just to more- that his friends could use but all of the or-less guarantee being his front garden. Then surrounding areas able to park in front of he was putting boards including our own. our own houses. The and bollards out to Its objective is to meet dropped kerbs, of protect his newly gained the needs of residents course, prohibit casual street spaces. with the provision of parking and make the Is there a common advice, information and situation worse for sense solution to all of other support at or near shoppers and visitors this? We fear not. With the trust’s premises. and the frustrated many of us having ‘kids’ The food bank would-be parkers start to that still live with us well operates out of the into their thirties, we’re Advice and Coffee shop !6 on 7 Broom Road If you would like to will have closed their Shirley. Activities take donate to the food bank outlet by the time this place most days and please make sure your magazine is going out, include learning about food has at least a three and Barclays have month life. announced their Fresh fruit and veg is intention to close the being donated by the Blackhorse Lane branch allotment holders on the in December. Woodside and Not only could this Addiscombe leisure mean two more closed gardens. premises with uncertain If you wish to contact futures, but it will add to the food bank call 020 the problems and computers, debt advice 3441 7887 or email frustrations of local and a craft club. info@shrublandstrust. traders and all of us who Unfortunately, however, org. They will happily have to bank cash or the food bank is take your donations on a cheques for societies and becoming the busiest Thursday morning small businesses. session of the week. between 9 and 12. Those banking cash Sadly the shelves are takings are being often empty of certain Blessed bankers directed to the Post items and, apart from And, while we’re on the Office services - and their Christmas and subject of banks - who what fun they can be in Easter donations, most seem to make more and the run-up to Christmas! people seem to forget the more money by But frustrations and food bank at other times providing less and less annoyance have led to a of the year. More service - we seem to be petition being set-up to families are being losing two out of the oppose the Barclays referred as time goes by three surviving in the plan. As we go to print, but not always those you high street. Santander up to nine businesses in would expect. People the high street are who are transitioning hosting the petition, from benefits to work which can also be found often have to wait for a on the ASPRA Facebook month to get paid. In page. those weeks it is hard to survive. These clients Imperfect progress are with the food bank Doesn’t it appear that on a temporary basis. the things we can come People who are in very to take for granted can low paid jobs sometimes be whipped away have to choose between without warning, while paying the rent and improvements or services or food. changes for the better !7 seem to take ages to Latest estimates put hub in the centre of come through. resolution and re- town. opening out to ‘sometime’ in 2019. Isn’t it funny how a whole island flattened by a hurricane gets a quicker recovery than a rusted bridge in Croydon.