West Wickham Residents' Association
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West Wickham Residents' Association |
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West Wickham News
Wickham Halls In the Autumn 2007 edition of the Newsletter mention was made of the fire in June which destroyed the roof and severely damaged other parts of the halls. In November 2007 demolition of the roof was commenced but had to be abandoned when asbestos was found in several parts of the premises. Since then building surveyors, contractors, electrical and mechanical specialists have made numerous visits to the site to prepare drawings, specifications and costs for submission to the insurers for approval. For the halls to have remained derelict for so long not unnaturally gave rise to concern and comments about delays. However, preparing the documents and obtaining the necessary approvals and agreements for restoration following a fire normally takes a considerable time and, sadly but not unexpectedly, our much loved Wickham Halls proved no exception. However, the good news is that, given fair wind and no unforeseen difficulties, the halls should be ready for use by the end of March 2009. The
trustees are very conscious of the upheaval and inconvenience the fire has
caused the regular hall hirers, who had to seek alternative accommodation for
their activities, and look forward to welcoming them back in early 2009. We have asked the Council to do more to replace street trees and intend to support the next phase of tree planting due later this year. If any resident would like to contribute to this process they should contact Bromley Street Trees on 8313- 4471. We would like to thank the Council for the hanging baskets in the town centre. At first they looked a little insignificant, but they are now providing a splendid display. Our thanks also go to those shops and residents that are providing their own floral displays in the tree pits or higher up - these play a very important part in making our town a pleasant place. Finally if you have been out and about you will have noticed the smart new style litter bins that have been installed - these are part of a scheme being rolled out by the Council to reduce litter on the streets including cigarette ends.
Thank
you, Alan Another important reason for West Wickham being a pleasant
place is Alan. Who is Alan and what as he to do He is also courteous, friendly and always ready with a greeting or a smile. Since his arrival in 2005 West Wickham has become a cleaner and better place and Alan has become an established and much valued feature of our town. It is good to know, therefore, that he considers the people of West Wickham a pretty friendly lot and enjoys keeping us clean. So, thank you Alan and long may the current happy state of affairs continue. Crime Prevention In recent months the Safer Neighbourhood team have continued to work on local policing priorities set for them by the Safer Neighbourhood Panel (SNP) which consists of local residents meeting approximately every 8 weeks in partnership with the police. West Wickham remains a relatively low crime area although there have been several arrests, including two for handling stolen property involving two youths on the High Street attempting to change stolen (and security marked!) bank notes. The team were alerted by traders via the town centre Shopsafe Radio - a direct link which connects shops with each other and the police. The team have also had a high presence in and around the High Street and residential areas. It has attended/policed various school fetes and local attractions and continued to forge relationships with the local schools, youth centres and businesses. The next few months will see Halloween and Bonfire night and the team are already making plans in order to minimise disruption to residents. We are
sorry to report that we have lost one member, PC Paul Trew, who has been
transferred to another post within the Borough. Paul has been in West Wickham
for several years and had extensive knowledge of all aspects of our town. Your
Association asked the Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Charles Griggs, to
reconsider the transfer partly on account of Paul's wide ranging local
knowledge. After some four weeks a reply was received informing us that the
transfer had been effected because Paul was an extra resource for the team and
could not remain in West Wickham any longer. Although we have much respect for
our current police team, we are very sorry to lose Paul's skills and local
knowledge acquired over many years - we thank him for his work with us and wish
him well for the future. Safer Neighbourhood Team - 020 8721 2608, email :westwickham.snt@met.police.uk Mark Lavin - Police Sergeant PS 18 PY 020 8721 2608, mobile: 07920 233854,email: mark.lavin1@met.police.uk Always report crime; in emergencies call 999 Don't be distracted - Don't be burgled The police are reminding residents to be on the lookout for distraction burglars posing as officials and tricking their way into people's homes. These bogus officials tend to dress smartly or wear what might look like an official uniform and claim to be, water board officials, meter readers, cable television engineers, police officers, council officials, people carrying out surveys and the like. They will often prey on their potential victim's fear - for example claiming that if they can't check the water supply the residents will be responsible for any damage. If posing as a meter reader, they might claim their right to enter; if they are bogus inspectors or workmen they will claim that some essential work needs doing. (recently, some households had their television cable cut outside the house, followed by calls by bogus engineers wearing Virgin Media uniform who stole set top boxes and other items). The police advise that in order to ensure that these criminals don't get their way you should always take the following precautions: Before opening the door check who's calling and if you have any doubts, keep the door chain on. If you are not happy, turn them away. You have no obligations to speak with any cold callers. If you are suspicious of anyone, call 999 Check the caller's appearance; ask for, and carefully inspect, identification which should include a photo. Genuine utility workers usually wear a uniform and use a company signed vehicle and will have photo identification at the ready. Anyone claiming to be from the water board or other boards will almost certainly be a fake. These boards ceased to exist a long time ago but some would-be burglars still refer to them because some elderly residents might be familiar with the term. If you are still unsatisfied get a number that you could call to confirm that the caller is genuine. A legitimate caller or official will not mind waiting outside while you check. If you have registered for a verified password scheme with your utility company, do not let anyone in who cannot give the password. The elderly tend to be the most frequent targets. Keep an eye out for vulnerable and elderly neighbours and call the police if you see anything suspicious or had dubious callers at your door. Transport and Highways Phasing of Traffic Lights at The Swan Crossroads You may have noticed that since the new traffic lights were installed earlier this year, the signal timings have been amended. Transport for London tell us that, as part of the modernisation of the junction, the signals have been changed to line up with current Department for Transport and TfL standards and guidelines. This has meant that the time allowed for pedestrian crossings has slightly increased. TfL have monitored the traffic flow, and are happy with the results. However, should we feel that extra congestion is occurring they would be prepared to assess the situation again. Cycle Shelter outside West Wickham Library As the damage to this shelter has not been rectified, despite being reported in December 2007, we have written to our new representative on the GLA, James Cleverly, who has promised to look into the matter. This he has done and TfL now promises action once they find out who owns the shelter. Considering that it was installed by TfL, we are pretty certain that they are the proud owners of this ugly and largely useless piece of street furniture. We hope that, having been prodded by Mr. Cleverly, they will now get a move on and either repair and clean it or, even better, take it down altogether. While the cycle racks serve a purpose, the two sided shelter above them does nothing to keep the bikes dry when it's raining but it does attract dirt and vandals and is an ugly addition to our townscape. Both TfL and West Wickham would be better without it. The Alders/Wickham Road Junction Following our representations, the Council have put forward proposals for ‘At Any Time’ waiting restrictions at the entrance to this road to prevent cars from parking too close to the traffic islands. This we consider essential in order to make entry into the road easier and safer .They also propose daytime restrictions on the corners of Dixon Place. As usual, nearby residents are being consulted, and the scheme will be put in place when their views have been considered and a final decision made, hopefully by the end of the summer. Road Safety Matters Parents of young people who are about to take their driving test may be interested in a scheme called “Pass Plus”. It entails 5 or 6 hours approved training after a driver has passed the standard driving test, and includes more varied and difficult driving conditions. The cost is usually less than £200 and if a learner driver registers with TfL before taking the standard driving test they will reimburse £70 of the training fee. Many insurance companies offer reductions in premiums for drivers if the “Pass Plus” course has been completed. As many serious accidents involve drivers under the age of 27, this course is worth serious consideration. It covers all-weather conditions driving, motorway driving and night driving, and is offered by most driving schools. Social Activities Once again we are grateful to Chris Barnes and his family for providing us with a very enjoyable quiz, which was held back in May in The Emmanuel Church Hall and our thanks also to everyone who supported that evening. With the
Wickham Hall out of use the social activities sub committee has found it quite
challenging to find a hall that is available and is also suitable for our all
needs. So for that reason we have decided this year not to hold an event that
involves dancing and we have come up with the idea of a... Those of you who have enjoyed our Jazz Supper Evenings will know that we regard the “Supper” to be a very important part of the evening. You can be assured of a nice leisurely hot meal and we promise you will not go home hungry! However we do ask you to bring along your own drinks and glasses please. So, we would like you to join us – we are sure you will have a lot of fun, with a party of friends or come on your own – everyone is welcome. When? SATURDAY 6th DECEMBER Where ? ST. MARY’S CHURCH HALL, THE AVENUE Cost? £8.50 per ticket This ticket covers the cost of your meal, all the bingo games and prizes. In addition we will be running an intriguing “meat draw” something you will not want to miss! |
with our town?- I hear you cry. Well, look at the photograph and you'll almost
certainly realise who we are talking
about. Yes,
it is Alan Mitchell, our town centre sweeper.
He is out
there in most weathers keeping the town centre clean and is the
main reason
why the litterbugs don't get the upper hand.