Author: admin

Council granting outline planning permission for high-rise block of flats in Orchard Avenue is politically motivated

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Address: 
40 Orchard Avenue, Croydon, CR0 7NA

Proposal:
Demolition of an existing dwelling; erection of a three storey building with basement containing 8 two bedroom flats; formation of associated access and parking

Dear Save Shirley residents

Tell us the intensification of Shirley isn’t politically motivated.

On Thursday night six councillors voted to allow a detached residential home be demolished and in it’s place a high-rise block of flats.

However, we believe the Planning Committee did not judge the application on current planning policies, but on a prejudiced and vindictive rebellion against the Shirley Residents and a further assault on the character of the area.

We believed this is a direct response to the ‘Save Shirley’ campaign and our objection to the proposed Croydon Plan CLP2.

This application was not determined upon the current Planning Policies. It’s out of character with the area and shows a total disregard for the character of the area and surrounding properties in Shirley.

Worryingly, this will now set a precedent for the destruction of Shirley.

All six councillors are Labour. Their details are below. we urge you to email them to demonstrate how disappointed we are that the people in charge of Croydon’s planning applications make their decisions based on political point scoring.

Dear, Cllr [Insert name]

Ref: 15/05247/P

We object to the Planning Committee voting in favour of granting outline planning permission for 40 Orchard Avenue in Shirley.

We believe the Planning Committee did not judge the application on current planning policies, but on a prejudiced and vindictive rebellion against the Shirley Residents and the character of the area.

This application was not determined upon the current planning policies. It’s out of character with the area and shows a total disregard for the surrounding properties in Shirley.

We ask you to reconsider the application based on current planning policies adopted by the Planning Inspectorate.

Kind regards,

The members of the Planning Committee who voted in favour of the outline planning application were:

Cllr Paul Scott (Chairman) (Woodside)
paul.scott@croydon.gov.uk

Cllr Maddie Henson (Ashburton)
maddie.henson@croydon.gov.uk or tweet @MinsuR

Cllr Bernadette Khan (West Thornton)
bernadette.khan@croydon.gov.uk

Cllr Sherwan Chowdhury (Norbury Ward)
sherwan.chowdhury@croydon.gov.uk or tweet @SherwanCroydon

Cllr Jamie Audsley (Bensham Manor)
jamie.audsley@croydon.gov.uk or tweet @JamieAudsley

Cllr Humayun Kabir (Bensham Manor)
humayun.kabir@croydon.gov.uk

Save Shirley is a non-political campaign created by residents and MORA (Monks Orchard Residents’ Association). It’s backed by seven Shirley residents’ associations to oppose this current administrations politically motivated plan to wreck our residential neighbourhood.

Our fight goes on.

We would like to thank MORA member Lianne for speaking against the proposal at the planning meeting. Also to the Shirley residents that filled out the Public Gallery. You made sure our united voice of objection was heard. Thank you for your continued support.

Save Shirley
www.saveshirley.co
Follow us on twitter https://twitter.com/ShirleySave

SaveShirley – Three-storey block of flats coming our ‘Orchard’ way

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It seems Croydon Council is intent on wrecking Shirley and can’t wait to get started on their plans to intensify our area.

Plans have been received to demolish the existing detached house at 40 Orchard Avenue, and in its place build a three-storey block of 8 two-bedroom flats, with the formation of associated access and parking.

What’s worse is it looks like the Council has already made up its mind as the recommendation for this application is to Grant Permission.

The case goes to council next Thursday 17 March. If you live in Orchard Avenue you need to complain. If you live in Shirley and think you’re safe from the onslaught of the developers – Think again.

This application has been reported to the planning committee because MORA (Monks Orchard Residents’ Association) made representations in accordance with the Committee Consideration Criteria and requested committee consideration and objections above the threshold in the Committee Consideration Criteria have been received.

You can view the report and recommendation on the Council’s website by visiting www.croydon.gov.uk/planningcommittee or download the PDF.

We need to stop these developments. If you can make the meeting we need to show our continued support to Save Shirley.

The meeting starts at 6:30pm in The Council Chamber, The Town Hall, Katharine Street, Croydon CR0 1NX

www.saveshirley.co.uk or follow us on twitter https://twitter.com/ShirleySave

Alert from Spring Park Neighbourhood Watch

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A local resident recently received a ‘phone call from someone with a foreign accent claiming to be from the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). They asked the resident to confirm their name and then said they could block all nuisance calls but that the resident’s Visa card had expired.

The TPS is a free service and clearly the call was leading up to obtaining the resident’s card details. The resident however curtailed the call and reported it to the relevant authorities.

This would appear to be another ‘take’ on telephone scams. Don’t be fooled

Save Shirley

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We’ve been asked by local residents how they can get a copy of the Save Shirley posters we created for the council meeting and library photo shoot to display in their windows.

We’d love to be able to print and deliver a poster to everyone who lives in Shirley, but that just isn’t possible. So, we have attached some posters here for you to download, print and display with pride.

SaveShirley_A4_Banner_Portrait.pdf
SaveShirley_A4_Banner_Landscape.pdf

For all the latest news make sure you check out the website or for information about the campaign delivered direct to your inbox, send us your details at hello@mo-ra.co

Thank you for your continued support.

#SaveShirley
Follow us on twitter

Shirley residents out in force

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Croydon Town Hall was overwhelmed on Monday night with more than 450 Shirley residents to hear the Save Shirley petition of more than 3,600 signatures presented to the council and the debate that followed.

Our intention was to be heard, and we certainly did that. Cllr Tony (concrete) Newman, Leader of the council told the Croydon Advertiser: “I believe residents have legitimate concerns.”

So, thank you to all of you who queued down Katherine Street. The meeting was delayed by 20 minutes as council officials struggled to set up screens and speakers so everyone who had arrived for the meeting could watch the webcast and lively public debate.

And it went downhill from there, with the meeting being suspended by 15 minutes as Croydon CEO, Nathan Elvery and the Mayor left the meeting amidst utter chaos. There blatant bias culminated in the refusal to allow a vote. It’s obvious that there is no such thing as democracy in Croydon Council.

Save Shirley and MORA have called for a public meeting with Cllr Newman on the proposals, but he said he will not agree to this until the outcome of the public consultation on the proposals has been published.

We are not prepared to wait that long. So we’re starting to build momentum and have a few more things up our sleeves, but we still have a long way to go.

So we’d appreciate if you’d email him at tony.newman@croydon.gov.uk urging him to accept our invitation and keep the pressure on.

There will be more articles in the press. Croydon Advertiser has already published a couple of articles online already about the event:

http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/Mayor-suspends-council-meeting-amid-row-vote/story-28601448-detail/story.html

http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/Save-Shirley-campaigners-overwhelm-town-hall/story-28606260-detail/story.html

Then on Tuesday morning Save Shirley was invited for a TV interview on the London Live Breakfast Show, our local MP, Gavin Barwell, attended this.

It’s about 4mins in length, but the interview has also been posted online. http://www.londonlive.co.uk/news/2016-01-26/croydon-council-meeting-met-with-angry-crowds-over-development-plans

If you want to watch the meeting webcast, it’s available on catch-up now: http://www.croydon.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/207280

If you would like to read the speech Dave Greenwood presented you can download a PDF copy here.

www.saveshirley.co and follow us on twitter at https://twitter.com/ShirleySave

#SaveShirley

 

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