Have your say over Cane Hill, Coulsdon residents' association urges
RESIDENTS are being urged to have their say on plans to bring hundreds of homes to the Cane Hill site.
Fears public opinion could be overlooked have sparked the chairman of one of Coulsdon's residents' associations to speak out.
The plans for the 83-hectare former hospital site will be open for public consultation once the contract with preferred developer Barratt Homes is signed.
But Richard Thurbon, chairman of the Coulsdon West Residents' Association, said he is trying to put forward as much input as possible while negotiations are ongoing.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Wednesday, May 22 2013
Speaking at the residents' association's annual general meeting, he said: "What I would say to you is, if you have any view at all on the town centre and on Cane Hill, approach a member of the committee and you can be assured we will take that across to them.
"The next step will be the public consultation. What we want to do is to get it in before that stage, after which it will become a bit more difficult."
The residents' association is represented on the Cane Hill Stakeholders' Group that includes residents' associations, business owners, schools and doctors.
The group has been involved in discussions over the development on the derelict outskirt site, which is set to transform the town.
The developer will also work with the council on the masterplan for the town, whose provisions are expected to include a supermarket and more parking.
According to the plans drawn up by the council and the Homes and Communities Agency, the developer is expected to provide 650 homes, retail, business and leisure units.
Charles King, chairman of the East Coulsdon Residents' Association, said it had tried to impress on developers the importance of the quality of the buildings, space for a supermarket, preserving open spaces for walks and protecting views.
"Our only power is persuasion," he said.
But Coulsdon resident Peter Morgan urged the council to hold a public meeting to hear from more local residents. "They [the stakeholders' group] do not represent the entire community," he said.
A spokesman for the Greater London Authority, which has taken over responsibility for Cane Hill from the Homes and Communities Agency, said negotiations are nearing the final stages.
To contact the Coulsdon West Residents' Association, visit www.coulsdonwest.co.uk For the East Coulsdon Residents' Association, visit www.eastcoulsdon.co.uk
Comments
by The3rd
Friday, June 29 2012, 1:58PM
“Underclass = They do not work and do not want to work.”
by PeterNT
Friday, June 29 2012, 10:00AM
“tbabygib I would say underclass has replaced 'poor'.
We cannot call them working class as they do not work.
We cannot call them poor as they are wealthier even than many who DO work (thanks to handouts from the government, funded by tax payers).
So Underclass is a worthy name, don't you think?”
by RecFan
Thursday, June 28 2012, 8:51PM
“Nimby = not in my back yard”
by tbabygib
Thursday, June 28 2012, 8:33PM
“I have 2 Questions.
What is a NIMBY?
And Where has this saying "Underclass" come from?
We used to have Upperclass, Middleclass, Workingclass and poor.”
by RecFan
Thursday, June 28 2012, 7:05PM
“No debate this time. Only a link to a fascinating website where you can look inside derelict and barded up buildings around the country.
The link below is to the Cane Hill Forum. Please take a minute to look at the photos and videos. You do get a real insight to what a huge and eerie place this is. Hope the link works.
http://tinyurl.com/bqcc92m”
by The3rd
Thursday, June 28 2012, 5:04PM
“I have to admit that I would not like to live next door to a council estate. Rightly or wrongly I am not the only one.
RecFan - I'm not sure underclass is an insult. Working class refers to just that, people that work on low income. The social underclass are defined as people that live in council homes, do not work or pay taxes and receive benefits. To which we all know there are plenty of them!
I saw a programe last night that referred to the class lower than working class as "semi criminal class". I think that would be a lot more insulting!”
by RecFan
Thursday, June 28 2012, 4:30PM
“PeterNT and NHSExec
Thank you. Both good reasoned arguementS. I think its the "underclass" and "feral" references I don't like.
My own pessimistic view is that the whole world is going down the pan. However, my optimistic view is that if I did drop down in the street, a feral from the underclasses would make the 999 call to save me.
I realise my argument isn't the same as yours and that's your belief, so I have no right or inclination to counter it. Maybe you can consider that even in the underclasses there are people who are there through circumstances sometimes beyond their control who would aspire to better things given the opportunity. Let me say, that would include hard work and not relying on a handouts from you or me.”
by PeterNT
Thursday, June 28 2012, 4:24PM
“NHSExec reminds me of GuySM from this topic:
http://tinyurl.com/6w7hpye”
by PeterNT
Thursday, June 28 2012, 4:17PM
“RecFan, I'm not trolling, I'm totally serious.
Over my lifetime I will pay a huge amount of taxes which the underclasses will enjoy the benefit of, not me, as I have private health insurance plus if I have children they will go to private schools, I will not have them mixing with the feral kids and learning how to be total chavs.
Much like NHSExec, I live on the edge of the borough as I was brought up there but will be moving away soon, and even sooner if a housing estate is to be built at the Cane Hill site.
You seem an intelligent guy RecFan, you are clearly not part of the underclass - you must be able to see society falling to pieces around you?”
by NHSExec
Thursday, June 28 2012, 4:01PM
“@recfan
I don't live in "Croydon", nor ever would. I don't regard the far south of the borough "Croydon". Try telling me for instance that the environment of say the Webb Estate matches with New Addington or parts of Thornton Heath?
They are different worlds. The people in the areas live exist in different worlds.
Whether you or anyone else likes it or not, most of the inhabitants of the more leafy, semi-countryside area in the south of England do not want loads of social housing underclass type families dropped on top of them.
They go out to work, pay a lot of taxes, mind their own business and would prefer not to have the sorts of people you get in certain areas disrupting their private lives, nor bringing down the standards of the schools their children attend.
Again whether you like it or not, there are very distinct difference in attitudes, behaviours and social norms between the social groups and I see no reason why anyone would think it was mandatory for everyone to have to mix up together.
"White flight" was a real issue and is now a sort of middle class flight more than anything else. If you turn Cane Hill into some sort of de facto council estate then Coulsdon will go the same way as other similar towns and people will leave taking wages with them.
As for me and travel, i get on a train way out of London and travel straight through Croydon, not ever getting off there under any circumstances. Therefore about the only time I might see the people you talk about is through the window as I travel through.”