Agenda and minutes

Venue: Beckenham Library, Beckenham, BR3 4PE

Contact: Graham Walton  020 8461 7743

Items
No. Item

10.

Welcome and Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Vanessa Allen, Russell Mellor and Sarah Philips. Apologies were also received from Mr Cliff Watkins. Cheryl Curr notified in advance that she would be arriving late owing to other commitments. It was also noted that this would be the last meeting that Ayesha Malik (LBB Regeneration and Transformation Service) would be attending as she was shortly to take up alternative employment.  The Chairman expressed his thanks to Ayesha for her valued contribution to the Working Group. 

11.

Minutes of meeting on 6th November 2014 and Matters Arising pdf icon PDF 191 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting were agreed with minor corrections.

12.

Proposed Beckenham Town Centre Conservation Area pdf icon PDF 67 KB

Minutes:

Mr Robert Buckley (LBB-Regeneration and Transformation) appeared before the Working Group to provide an update on the proposed Beckenham Town Centre Conservation Area Summary, and to answer any questions.

 

The Group heard that a consultation had been undertaken, regarding proposals for a conservation area in Beckenham. The response to this was generally positive; 77% of respondents stated that they either agreed or strongly agreed with the concept.

 

It was noted that no formal response had been received from the Beckenham Society, and that the Advisory Panel for Conservation Areas welcomed the proposals. English Heritage was also supportive of the Conservation Area proposals. Both English Heritage and The Advisory Panel were of the opinion that Manor Road should be excluded from the Town Centre Conservation Area scheme.

 

The Chairman queried what would happen next, and asked the Group for feedback on their views concerning Beckenham Junction Station being included in the Conservation Area proposals. The Working Group agreed that Beckenham Junction Station should be incorporated in the conservation area proposals.

 

The proposals would be brought to the Development Control Committee in 2015, where they would be updated with the details of the consultation. If the DC Committee approved the proposals, then the details would be passed to local residents, and LBB would have to deal with any subsequent objections.

 

The Group concluded discussion on this matter by agreeing to move forward with existing plans, thus avoiding any further delay. 

 

A report will go for decision to the Council’s Development Control Committee by the end of February 2015.   

13.

Update on High Street/Rectory Road Junction Realignment pdf icon PDF 90 KB

Minutes:

The update was provided by Chris Cole (LBB-Environment and Community Services). Previous delays had been caused by BT, but the good news was that BT had now confirmed a date of January 2015 to commence the work concerning the essential relocation of cables. It was anticipated that this work would take eight weeks, and that there would be no loss of broadband services to local residents.  After this, LBB’s Civil works could commence. 

 

It transpired that LBB had made progress on this issue after the matter was raised with TfL. It was not possible for any sanctions to be made against BT for delay, as the cables were their asset.  LBB had programmed in engineering works, based on the estimated completion time provided by BT. It was therefore anticipated that the project would be completed around April/May 2015. 

14.

Town Team Update

Minutes:

The Town Team Update was presented by the Team’s Chairman, Chloe Jane Ross.

 

The London Mayor’s High Street Fund had recently been created to release £9m towards the regeneration of town centres. Small businesses and community groups on London’s High Streets had been encouraged to apply for funding to help revitalise and potentially change the way High Streets appear, and were used.

 

The Regeneration Team were looking to use the new funding to support ideas that went beyond ‘business as usual’ activities. They were keen for small businesses to take a leading role in bidding for grants to boost their local town centres. Grants could be used to smarten up shop fronts, improve public spaces or to hold mini festivals but the aim would be for firms and community groups to be at the heart of that funding.

 

The Town Centre Team had applied for funding in respect of a project called  “do up our alley” for various minor works/improvements to the town centre. The application was currently being assessed, and the Group would be updated in due course.

15.

East Key Stage Report Presentation

(a) Recap on Scheme Objectives

(b) Latest Plan Overview

(c) Themed discussion including:

·  Junction treatments

·  Footway/Pavement treatments

·  Parking Spaces and Loading Bays

·  Lighting

·  Materials

·  Furniture

·  Alleyways

(d) Next stage of the Design Process

 

 

Minutes:

The East Key Stage Report Presentation was given by Mr Julian Lewis from East Architecture. 

 

A brief overview of the presentation was provided to set the direction for the meeting; this consisted of:

 

1.  Recap of the Scheme Objectives

 

2.  Latest Plan Overview

 

3.  Project Elements

 

·  Key spaces treatments

·  Footway/Pavement treatments

·  Parking Spaces and Loading Bays

·  Lighting

·  Materials

·  Furniture

·  Alleyways

 

4.  Next stage of the Design Process

 

Recap on Scheme Objectives:

 

The recap on the scheme objectives was sub divided into seven areas:

 

·  Removing or reducing the level of HGV usage in the High Street. The Group had agreed that the Albemarle Junction should be redesigned.

 

·  Improving the pedestrian experience of the High Street, with enhanced crossings and wider pavements. The Group commented that it should be borne in mind that room was still required for traffic. The plans would endeavour to create more space, improve the local economy, and the social aspect of the area.

 

·  The improvement of parking and loading provision for visitors and businesses

 

·  Improving the opportunities for regular street markets. The Group noted that Beckenham Green was commonly used for markets, and thought that more consideration should be given to see what could be provided in the High Street

 

·  Improving the quality of the public realm, incorporating coordinated and harmonious design, reduction of street clutter, and the increased use of soft landscaping.

 

·  Improving traffic flow at major interchanges, especially during rush hour

 

·  The Working Group were in agreement that enhancing the public realm and pedestrian accessibility at the War Memorial was important, and that this was a good objective.

 

Latest Plan Overview: 

 

The Working Group were informed that the Beckenham High Street Overview plans were supported by Urban Design London, and that the plans were currently at stage “C”. The next stage would be for the plans to be submitted to LBB Planning Department. East Architects were confident that a well-defined plan would be submitted.

 

Project Elements:

 

Key Space at Beckenham Junction Station and Albemarle Rd – High Street Traffic Lights

 

One of the project elements being considered was a new key space at Beckenham Junction Station which could incorporate a flower kiosk. Public Realm improvements at Beckenham Green would support events and social activity. Regarding the new key space between High Street and at Beckenham Green, the intention was to keep the trees, and to try and make the shops feel close to the Green; kerb alignments would change.

 

Canopy at Beckenham Green

 

The Working Group discussed the option for a canopy at Beckenham Green. It was suggested that a stage canopy be constructed using permanent columns, and demountable canopy material; the guys would be roped like a circus tent. It was suggested that when only the columns were visible, they would blend in with the trees. Some of the Group members expressed concern about possible traffic congestion in the vicinity of the Green, and debated if one or two road carriageways should be used. Chris Cole (LBB) stated that modelling would be undertaken to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

AOB--Previusky Notified.

Minutes:

No further business was discussed.

17.

Date of next meeting to be agreed

The Chairman invites all attendees to join him for a festive drink and nibbles at 9.30pm in the Library.

Minutes:

The date of the next meeting was to be confirmed.

 

The Meeting ended at 9.30pm and was followed by the Chairman’s Christmas Reception.