Call for Coulsdon's Red Lion site to be turned into a park
By Lucy Buckland
Think summer concerts, relaxing by the river and a children's playground.
This is the dream of one campaign group which wants to see Coulsdon get its very own green space in the town centre.
A group set up by Coulsdon history buff Martin Miles is convinced a community park would be perfect for the former Red Lion site in Brighton Road and is calling on the council to stump up the money to buy the land.
Supermarket chain Aldi owns the land and first submitted a bid to develop the site in 2005, but this was rejected by Croydon Council and further plans have yet to come to fruition.
Mr Miles, 30, of The Avenue, has set up a Facebook group called the Coulsdon Red Lion site which details his plans.
They include raising the Bourne River – which runs under the site – to make a water feature, as well as a playground and bandstand.
He said: "This is desperately needed in Coulsdon and I think a lot of people will be behind us. The people of Coulsdon don't need another supermarket, because Tesco Express is coming.
"With this green space we could have open-air concerts, a place for children to play, a skate ramp."
However traders were not impressed with the plan and said it would do little to boost flagging trade in Coulsdon.
Sonia Poleon, shop owner and chair of Coulsdon Business Partnership, said: "It would be very picturesque. People who worked in offices could have somewhere to sit at lunch and watch the water flowing, and I am sure it would be very relaxing.
"But as a trader I would have to say no to this idea. A cinema is what we need, something to bring people into the town. I just don't see how a park would benefit my business."
The Advertiser previously reported how Croydon Council is creating a masterplan involving all the major planning sites in Coulsdon
It is believed closed-door discussions between council officers and Aldi could involve the council selling Lion Green car park in exchange for the Red Lion site.
But although Coulsdon West councillor Gavin Barwell liked the idea of a green space, he is concerned at its economic viability.
He said: "In principle it would be wonderful to see the site developed but the question is how are you going to achieve this? It is private land.
"Are campaigners recommending the council buy this land to make it a green space? This would mean they are asking council-tax payers to pay for land.
"I would be in favour of a mixed use development on the site."
9 Comments
by vorlander
Wednesday, August 17 2011, 12:37PM
“why not build a large free car park ? so people can stop easily, use the shops and go home. or a market in the summer, market stalls etc ? benches and trees planted on a area of paving ?”
by LEWIS White, 24 Southwood Ave Coulsdon
Saturday, February 27 2010, 8:39PM
“Coulsdon is getting better, and I am pleased to see new shops like Charlie Brown and Tesco putting in new shop fronts and well designed fascias with decent signage.
My wife says that the Red Lion site is big enough to have a row of modern alms houses at the back, with a park with duck pond in front. I think she is quite right. Banstead is really the quality of environment we should be emulating-- a high street with lots of shops and 2 supermarkets, and green spaces at the middle (like Banstead Church orchard) and at each end. These don't affect the shops in Banstead.. So perhaps this is what we need for Coulsdon. Good design, good landscape and enthusiastic retailers such as the butcher, green grocer, hardware and jewellers, and many charity shops as well, are what will bring oin the shoppers. Little precincts are generally shopping dead zones, and are removed ( remember sad Kings Shade Walk in Epsom?). Caterham is far from being a thriving shopping centre-- just look at huge lengths of the Valley and the Hill shopping areas, except for the Waitrose area by the station. Coulsdon can be so much better than that, with good design.Lewis White”
by jackie, old coulsdon
Friday, February 12 2010, 12:30PM
“Probably not a good idea about the river, as there is the underground pumping station underneath Jane's Information Group!
Good idea though to turn it into an area for all to use, although sadly as we know anything nice will soon be trashed. It's amazing the new automatic loo is still there in one piece.
How about a community centre?”
by John Terri, Cobham
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 2:03PM
“How about a Lap Dancing Club and a Weatherspoon Pub?”
by D, Coulsdon
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 11:10PM
“I don't understand why we would need another green area, seeing as that there is Malpit lane park and farthing downs just round the corner, which does give a vast amount of space for concerts etc. I agree with the people who say we should follow caterhams example and it would be great to have a superdrug, smith etc. I hardly go to coulsdon now, only to use the banks. Waitrose is to expensive, tescos may help but won't have a great variety. I have young children and it would be easier to go to your local shoe shop, clothes shop etc, than travelling to croydon. Too many cafes, charity shops etc. The greengrocers and butchers are great and belong in a local town. We need to have some say in what happens. Maybe a survey could be submitted to all local residents for suggestions, instead of people who don't live here.”
by RobinHood, Sherwood
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 6:38PM
“So much emphasis on Coulsdon all of the time.Traders are never impressed with proposals to improve the area.What are their proposals?
Mention new shops and they protest,competition,mention a pleasant green area for families,they complain it will not bring any trade.
They wanted a bypass,got it,now wish they did'nt have it.
Lets hear their ideas and how much money they would put into any scheme proposed.”
by RPB, Coulsdon
Monday, February 08 2010, 9:40PM
“David, I agree with your observation about the similarities with Caterham - a similar town yet one that seems to thrive.
I can't see that a green space would work at the moment - the town needs to draw people in to spend money. I think a green space would soon become neglected and a magnet for dossers. A cinema might go either way.
Is there a possibility of a small precinct on the Red Lion site with room for about 8 established retail chains? WHSmith, Holland & Barrett, Greggs, Clarks - maybe even a small Argos? Stores that would complement existing independent businesses and would mean that more people went to Coulsdon as a destination rather than just passing through. Wishful thinking I'm sure...
Of course it's chicken and egg, because people won't shop in Coulsdon until they have sufficiently good shopping options, and retailers won't come to Coulsdon until footfall increases.
But a park - nice idea though it is - wouldn't get my vote.”
by Mr.Angry, The Estate
Monday, February 08 2010, 12:09PM
“Completely pedestrianising Coulsdon TC would be fantastic and the park idea would be the topping on the cake .Now watch the residents thumb it down like they did Aldi bunch of Richard Wilson's.”
by David, Croydon
Monday, February 08 2010, 11:52AM
“What worries me is that a lot of money has already been spent on Coulsdon.
The traders wanted the bypass as Coulsdon was just a traffic jam, affecting their business. Now no-one drives through Coulsdon as a result of the by-pass, so they are complaining they get no business!
Would a cinema actually be a profitable venture? The one in Purley clearly wasn't given that it closed a few years ago.
I often look at Caterham and think it is somewhat similar to Coulsdon, except it seems to be thriving. Maybe they need to look at examples like Caterham to work out where they are going wrong? Maybe they also need to find ways to get local residents shopping in Coulsdon more? Would completely pedestrianising the main strip be an answer? It would certainly make it more shopper friendly.
Presumably the Cane Hill development will add plenty of potential business.”