Shrewsbury Park Residents' Association

Spring 2011 Newsletter

March 2011

Dear fellow resident,

On behalf of the Association Committee I would like to welcome you to this Newsletter. 

Firstly, a big thank you to Association Committee members and Neighbourhood Watch coordinator for their contribution to helping make the Laing’s estate the place it is. 

The following items are covered in this Newsletter: 

- 75th Annual General Meeting and Estate Vision

- SPRA Website

- Former Fire Station Mast

- Neighbourhood Watch Update

- Shrewsbury House

 

75th Annual General Meeting and Estate Vision 

Committee members and residents of the Shrewsbury Park Estate gathered at Shrewsbury House on 10th June for the Association’s 75th AGM.  PCSO Kevin Denney from Shooters Hill Safer Neighbourhood Team along with Councillors Barry Taylor and Jagir Sekhon spoke.  A new committee member was elected: Susan King of Bushmoor Crescent.  John Hill of Kinlet Road resigned.  Thanks to John for his past contributions and to Susan for signing-up. 

Association committee member Chris Higgs spoke about the former fire station mast and Secretary Alex Hayesmore gave an update on the Association’s Website.  More on these later. 

In my Chair’s report I outlined the key issues for the Association and our Vision for the Estate.  The Vision sets out to build on and strengthen the original, unique identity of the Estate and to enhance property values.  Below, I outline the Vision areas and the progress made on each aspect:

 

Vision area

Progress

Oak posts at the Estate’s entrances

Agreement to proceed from Local Councillors.  Posts being sourced and costed.

Repair, or replacement with replicas, of the original street name plates

Liaison with Council regarding their proposals for ‘Royal Borough’ street signs, in 2012.

Succession street tree planting

Five trees purchased by the Association earlier in the year.  Seven trees planted in by the Council.

Re-instatement of the shrub bed to the wide pavement in Plum Lane

Initial consultation with 209-223 Plum Lane complete.

Re-instatement of period lamp columns

Replacement currently beyond the means of the Association.   Retention of columns but with ornate light fittings being investigated.

 

SPRA Website 

I am delighted to report that the Shrewsbury Park Residents’ Association website www.spera.org.uk went live in December.  My thanks to Alex Hayesmore, website designer and SPRA secretary.   Look out for an Estate house price guide shortly.  If you have any suggestions for the website please contact Alex at webmaster@spera.org.uk


Former Fire Station Mast 

Residents Association and SHAM members celebrated success at the Eltham & Kidbrooke Planning Committee on 16th February.  The Orange mobile planning application was the first item on the agenda.  Association members Chris Higgs, Sue King and I addressed the meeting as did ward councillor Danny Thorpe, each speaking against the application. 

After hearing the objections, the Planning Committee voted unanimously against the application. 

The Council issued a Decision Notice on 21st February giving Orange 6 months to contest prosecution.  To date, no appeal has been received by the Council. 

However, the fight is not over.  We need the support of residents to relocate the TETRA equipment to an alternative mast away from homes and pre-schools and out of the Conservation Area. 

Ahead of the meeting, the SPRA had written to the Council to outline the objections.  The SPRA has also proposed that a plan be agreed for the on-going management of the mast that will include its eventual decommissioning and removal, which is the long-term aim of the Association. 

SHAM has produced a DVD about the mast which is available for loan.  For more details please contact Chris Higgs on 020 7340 7179 or George Tutheridge on 020 8855 2755. 

Neighbourhood Watch Update 

We are fortunate that we have a very low crime rate compared to the rest of the Borough but we still have to remain vigilant and report any out-of-the-ordinary instances to the police.  In an emergency, always dial 999. 

There are 12 residents on the Laing Estate who act as street co-ordinators whose role is to act as local sources of information including from NW Coordinator, and SPRA member, Len Newland.  Many SPRA residents also receive regular NW email updates.  If you would like to receive these updates please email Len at lennienew@ntlworld.com. 

Len meets with the local Safer Neighbourhood Team every 8 weeks to raise crime and NW issues on our behalf; if you have any NW concerns, please get in touch with him by email. 

Shrewsbury House 

Shrewsbury House Community Association launched its website www.shrewsburyhouse.info in October.  SPRA has a presence on the website under ‘clubs and societies’. 

Shrewsbury House needs your support because Council funding will be reducing. 

For more information about the many facilities that the House has to offer, please call Shrewsbury House on 020 8854 3895. 

With kind regards,

Robert Million,

Chair, Shrewsbury Park Residents' Association