Copyright © 2002 Carlton Residents' Association. Maps © Bartholomew. Some extracts from letters were originally published in the Surrey Mirror. CRA, its officers, members and others involved in the production of this website have tried to ensure complete accuracy of its contents and all articles and adverts are published in good faith. However, no responsibility will be accepted for any inaccuracies contained herein, or any consequential or economic loss whatsoever arising as a result of any error or omission.
1. CRA Recruitment
2. Chairman's Report on 2002
3. AGM Notice
4. St Bede's Update
5. Carlton Times and cra-residents.org.uk advertising
6. Survey Introduction, Meal-for-Two Draw Entry Form and CRA Survey
7. Extracts from Letters
8. Crime Report
9. Planning Update
10. Christmas at Holy Trinity Church
11. Down Memory Lane - Carlton Road c.1910
12. Linkfield Lane Crossing
13. Useful Numbers
We are seeking:
Can you help CRA on this!? - Contact Mike Willstrop on 07798 711129 or any Committee Member.
| CHAIRMAN'S REPORT:
Bill Atterbury |
A very warm Christmas welcome to you and I do hope you enjoy this "new look" edition of The Carlton Times - the voice of Carlton Residents' Association (CRA).
No doubt that you will agree that the continued hard work of all involved with CRA throughout 2002 has been worth it, and that those efforts will encourage more applications for membership. It is envisaged that this new newsletter will be published every four months or so to summarise what's happening. In addition CRA will distribute, wherever possible, letters to cover other matters including the AGM - due March 2003. At £3 per household per year I hope you agree that the CRA subscription is a "snip". I recognise by their very nature that Residents' Associations are either "feast or famine". Following a year of relative non-activity, 2002 has involved CRA with a number of high profile issues to deal with. The main concern has been the growing traffic congestion within our catchment area. Although some will accept this as a fact-of-life, others took action when St Bede's school filed a planning application to construct the new Arts block last summer. Nobody sought to block the application per se - we all want to see better educational facilities for children. Government has at last recognised that we must adopt more 'green' initiatives to reduce the use of private cars if we are to avoid choking our roads completely. The objections were filed to ensure that new guidelines for developing a School Travel Plan were applied in our locality. Whilst I am delighted that this was made a condition of the planning consent, I do regret that CRA had to take such a public stance to achieve it. We thought it prudent for St Bede's to take this on board sooner rather than later as the roads in the area can barely sustain existing levels of traffic. St Bede's was also given outline planning permission last year to construct a new Sports Pavilion, which I understand will need to be opened to outside commercially orientated sports clubs during evenings and at weekends in order to help fund it. Let's face it no one (whether a resident, parent, teacher or visitor) can look forward to getting caught up in the congestion in the area, nor the thought that children have such increased risks in crossing roads at peak times. I must single out praise for Paul Adams, who represented the school and Mike Willstrop, CRA's Treasurer, for conducting negotiations with mutual respect in the atmosphere created by all the publicity, and my sincere thanks on behalf of all residents is extended to them both. CRA has ensured that St Bede's has a voice in The Carlton Times and on page 10 we include an update of the changes they have made since the summer to help address our concerns. We hope that in forthcoming issues of this newsletter Paul Adams or Head Teacher, Christopher Curtis will address residents directly. I feel it necessary to comment on the adverse 'press' experienced by CRA in recent months and in this respect we have re-printed some extracts from letters published in the press as well as some received direct by CRA. Without, doubt the decision of Committee member Mary Hickman to stand as a candidate in the Borough elections - where she polled 18% of the vote - hit home in certain quarters. However, whilst I applaud the non-political stance of Mary's non-political stance, I must confirm that CRA has never donated any funds whatsoever to support any political candidature. Indeed, I must reiterate that your Association exists solely to represent the majority views of its members - regardless of individual bias. As such we are grateful for the support we have received from all of our Ward Councillors to date. In order to maintain our democratic integrity, your Committee has decided to appoint representatives for each 'block' of twenty or so households in the catchment area. With this structure in place, it is anticipated that your "Road Rep" will be able to provide the feedback necessary for us to assimilate and prioritise issues and act accordingly. This will also improve the distribution of CRA newsletters and other information and speed up the collection of subscriptions. We are still very much in the process of creating this new organisational structure, and I apologise in advance if you have not yet been approached to pay your 2002 subscription and are missing from the list of members printed in this issue. Finally, I urge everyone to take just a minute or two to complete our Survey on pages 19 to 21. If you return your response to Mike Willstrop by 28th February 2003 (together with your 2002 subscription if not already paid) you will entered into our draw to win a meal for two up to the value of £100 - definitely something not to be missed! A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all and … good luck in the draw! Best wishes, Bill Atterbury |
Notice of Annual General Meeting
Carlton Residents' Association, 75 Carlton Road, Redhill
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the members that the next Annual General Meeting of the Association will be held at Holy Trinity Church Hall on Tuesday 25th March 2003 at 7:30pm
In addition to transacting the formal business of Chairman and Treasurers' Reports and the election of Officers for the forthcoming year, we are hoping to make the evening both informative and enjoyable by featuring:
A full Agenda will be published next year - but please make a note in your diary now for 25th March 2003!
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St Bede's School (Telephone 01737 212108) |
Paul Adams, Deputy Head of St Bedes and CRA's Mike Willstrop met several times this year to find the 'middle ground' in being good neighbours. Below is the CRA's summary of what has been discussed - and implemented:
- Buses. Paul Adams has helped ensure that buses are not parked up in Carlton Road, nor using a non-scheduled route. All residents should be aware of the bus routes to school:
- Contract coaches - which the school can control - numbers 514, 516, 518, 519, 523, 560, 570, 571 and 572 MUST travel DOWN Carlton Road from Gatton Park Road and exit DOWN Carlton Road to London Road.
Advise Paul directly on 01737 212108 (immediately please!) of any non-compliance.
- Public Service bus routes are:
31 (sometimes numbered as 32) from Earlswood travels DOWN Carlton Road from Gatton Park Road. Let PA know IMMEDIATELY if it travels otherwise.
315 travels UP and DOWN Carlton Road from London Road.
411 should travel from Gatton Park Road down to London Road.
420 travels UP and DOWN Carlton Road from and to London Road, but later at around 3:45pm.
460 travels UP and DOWN Carlton Road from and to London Road, but later at around 3:50pm.
540 travels DOWN Carlton Road from Gatton Park Road. Let PA know IMMEDIATELY if it travels otherwise.
650 and 651 travel UP and DOWN Carlton Road from and to London Road, but at around 3:20pm
Whilst St Bedes cannot control public service buses they will work with CRA to report complaints to Surrey County Council.
Please help Paul in this regard by reporting problems by telephoning when they happen - not days or weeks later when he has little or no chance to establish who the offenders are.
- 9th January 2003 - Return of Year 7 from a play arriving St Bedes between 10:30pm and 11pm - Parents will be asked to park in the school and be considerate.
- 28th January 2003 Year 10 Parents Evening 4:30pm to 7:30pm. Again, parents can park on site.
The survey is on a separate page. This loads in another window. Once this has loaded you can print it out (The images are oriented sideways for ease of printing). If you are a paid-up CRA Member fill it in and return to the address on the form by 28th February 2003 to enter our free draw! (To comply with current legislation only paid up 2002 Members can enter).
As a long standing parent and supporter of St Bede's school, it seems to me that whenever the school applies for planning permission, it is simply a matter of time before members of the Carlton [Road] Residents' Association are taking the tops of their pens and writing letters of objection to the Council… I fail to see how this proposed new block will effect anyone living in the road… I sincerely hope that the Carlton [Road] Residents' Association will not delay the construction of this much-needed new building in the same way that it held up the science block. After, all the school desperately need a new sports hall.
Frenches Road Resident
I must point out that in relation to our current planning application: serious consideration was given to the desirability of the project over a year ago when outline planning permission was granted. No objections were received… What does seem unreasonable to me is the stance the association has now taken at this extremely late stage and what appears to be a highly selective provision of information to local residents.
St Bede's Representative
CRA incorporates some 300 households within its catchment area where many of our members were in situ long before St Bedes school was formed in 1978. Pupil numbers have increased significantly each year since. … residents' objections are intended to raise awareness of a number of real issues that have not been addressed… With additional numbers of parents, pupils and school staff driving to school and either dropping off or indeed parking all day on the streets rather than in the school, there are frequent traffic jams and the safety of everyone (including pupils) is… compromised.
CRA Officer
The latest edition of the CRA newsletter has caused me great concern… There were some serious inaccuracies, e g "despite end of term, traffic and parking are worse than ever outside St Bedes", when term has not ended. Also the issue of Linkfield Lane/London Road being an accident black-spot and current Ward Councillors not speaking out, when the work for a safe crossing was already scheduled… Having read the Planning Application for St Bede's in detail, I consider it to be acceptable. There has been a lot of work done to minimise any environmental problems that could have arisen.
Carlton Green Resident
As a long-time resident (32 years) of Carlton Road, living opposite St Bedes, I was shocked to read Mr Smith's letter re the school planning application … not because of its cheap shots aimed at the residents but because of his somewhat uninformed conception as to what is happening in Carlton Road… I believe that some years ago there was talk of a bus service using the road,. Apparently this was refused due to unsuitability of the terrain. Yet today we have approximately 20 buses from across Surrey, plus many heavy delivery vehicles, using this same road on every school day.
Carlton Road Resident
Councillor Mrs Spiers, is it now not everyone's right to write to a newspaper and express their feelings (Reader finds fault with everything, Mirror letters September 26th)? Mrs Hickman is right to critisize you and the council. We pay some very high rates in this borough, so I say use to (as you say) "make life better in Reigate and Redhill"… As regards to the Copyhold site, Mrs Spiers, if you have time, look through some records and you will find that Laporte was bound to return the site to its former state, which was open green space, when they finished excavating. What is the point of keeping abandoned industrial and warehouse buildings? So come on Mrs Spiers, give us something to appreciate, and stop whingeing when residents complain.
Frenches Road Resident
In granting planning approval for further development at St Bede's school, once again Reigate and Banstead Borough Council has demonstrated its complete disregard for the views of those it is supposed to represent. I have made numerous representations to this Council about the destruction of the residential environment in Carlton Road, all of which have been completely ignored… The road is a designated 30 mph area, and even at that speed grave danger threatens the residents, their children and pets in it. Does the council enforce that speed limit - no! Does the Council survey traffic speed in the road to see if it should be enforced - no! Does the Council intend to enforce the speed limit - its representative confirmed to me that it will not! Who does the council blame - the Police, passing all responsibility to them, but starved of sufficient resources by this self same Council they are unable to do so. … What do I have to do to get this Council to listen? Should a Councillor living in Carlton Road be affected it would no doubt be quickly resolved. Should, as is inevitable, a fatal accident occur in the road, no doubt it would even more quickly be addressed. As things stand, we can rest assured this Council will close its eyes and hope the problem goes away.
Carlton Road Resident
Thank you for your letter and all the work you are doing for CRA. We were interested to see the attachment concerning St Bede's website and [are] alarmed at the thought of affiliation with any outside body, eg the BB Assoc. Some residents will remember the problems that arose when a Squash Club was proposed some years ago. Living near a school, one must expect some inconvenience from the school itself, but not from others outside users of the school's facilities.
Carlton Road Resident
Thank you once again and congratulations on an excellent reply to Mr Curtis' letter.
Carlton Green Resident
… I am pleased to note that CRA are now adopting a less compliant attitude to St Bede's. There have been too many glib assurances given to CRA when concerns have been raised and little or no evidence that remedial action has been taken on issues capable of resolution …
Carlton Road Resident
SAFE AS HOUSES? Steve Aylin-White, the Surrey Police Crime Reduction Advisor for the area updates CRA on local crimes so far this year and provides some helpful reminders at Christmas time:
- 4 thefts
- 1 theft from a motor vehicle
- 3 burglaries (dwellings)
- 3 burglaries (non-dwellings)
- 3 criminal damage incidents
- 1 possession of an offensive weapon
Three further incidents were reported in the area this year (up to 21st November), making a total of 18 recorded crimes. Our thanks to Steve Aylin-White for making this information available to us. He provides some useful reminders to help combat crime at Christmas:
Steve Aylin-White, the Surrey Police Crime Reduction Advisor for the area provides some helpful reminders at Christmas time:
If you are going away :
Steve adds, as general suggestions:
Steve and Surrey Police wish you all a Safe and Happy Christmas and New Year!
St Bedes On September 11th planning permission was granted for the new arts block subject to various conditions including:
Holy Trinity Church Planning permission has been granted for a new vicarage and two detached houses on the site of the existing vicarage.
London Road Sheltered Housing Scheme No more has been heard recently - but expect a revised application to be lodged early in the New Year.
Any concerns? Drop CRA a line attention of Mary Hickman at 75 Carlton Road
5pm Family Carols by Candlelight
A family -friendly service of well-known carols and readings
7pm Carols by Candlelight
A traditional service of well-known carols and readings with the choir of Holy Trinity
Christmas Eve
4pm Children's' Carol Service
A short joyful service with small children particularly in mind
11.15pm Midnight Communion
The traditional midnight service
Christmas Day
10:30am Family Communion
A Christmas Day celebration for the whole family
I am grateful to the editor of the newsletter of the Carlton Residents' Association for the opportunity to send Christmas greetings from Holy Trinity Church, the parish church of the Carlton Road area, to local residents and their families.
The run-up to Christmas can be one of the most hectic and frenetic times of year, but the Christmas message is essentially one of 'peace' - peace between people and peace between God and mankind.
I hope that you might have the opportunity in the busy-ness of the season to pause and reflect on the true message of Christmas focussing as it does on the Prince of Peace.
You may well be linked in with another local church already, but if you are not, then please accept our warm invitation to one of our carol services here at Holy Trinity on the Sunday before Christmas at 5pm or 7pm. We would be delighted to see you.
With all good wishes for Christmas and the New Year
Gary Jenkins
Visit us online at http://www.htredhill.com
Were you around in 1910? Possibly not! So here is what the London Road end of Carlton Road looked like then:
Photograph reproduced with the kind permission of Mrs Ingram
And the Vicarage, the first house to be built on Carlton Road - and probably to be demolished next year;
Photograph reproduced with the kind permission of Mrs Ingram
Do you have any old photographs you can share with us? Contact Jean Crutchington telephone 01737 768900.
With the exception of the Centenary House fiasco and the infamous proposed Copyhold incinerator, the A23 junction with Linkfield Lane has probably received more press coverage than most other local issues over the years. Residents have raised it regularly as a cause for concern. John Barton, our Ward Councillor in 2001, summed the position up clearly when he addressed the AGM.
Regrettably, despite assurances to the contrary by both Reigate & Banstead BC and Surrey CC, pedestrians attempting to negotiate Linkfield Lane and Frenches Road junction with London Road are still at considerable risk.
Indeed even after the considerable expenditure and disruption caused by the delayed pedestrian crossing on the A23 little or nothing has been done to reduce the more considerable danger of being knocked down in Linkfield Lane or Frenches Road.
The decision not to fully implement an 'all-red' phase at this junction was made in the interests of keeping the A23 'free-flowing'.
Considering the crossing was substantially funded by the East Surrey & Sutton Water Company, the question needs to be asked; are our Local Authorities serious or indeed concerned with safety?
USEFUL NUMBERS!
With the new style newsletter, CRA thought it a good way of keeping handy telephone numbers.. Obviously, the list can be as long as a piece of string, so we had to stop somewhere.
If you have a good idea to add to the list, or you notice a typo, please write a note to CRA's John Moore at 73 Carlton Road, so we can update the next newsletter.
All local (01737) numbers sown as 6 digits
(Tip: To find a number quickly, press cntrl+f and type the name of the organisation you want to contact in the box that pops up. The browser will then scroll to that word if it appears within this page.)
| Age Concern | 265665 |
| Animal Protection Trust | 765237 |
| Animal Welfare (24hours) | 0870 555 5999 |
| Benefits Agency | 775800 |
| Boarding Kennels (Greenacres) | 01293 783333 |
| Cat Hotel (The Hawthornes) | 01293 784009 |
| Childline | 0800 1111 |
| Colleges (East Surrey) | 772611 |
| Colleges (Reigate) | 221118 |
| Consumers' Association | 0800 252100 |
| Crime Stoppers | 0800 555 111 |
| Dial-a-Ride (East Surrey) | 01883 349001 |
| Doctors (Greystone Practice) | 761201 |
| Doctors (Holmhurst Medical Centre) | 761614 |
| Doctors (Moat House Surgery) | 642207 |
| Doctors (The Hawthornes) | 762902 |
| Donyngs Leisure Centre | 764732 |
| Drugs Helpline (National) | 0800 776600 |
| East Surrey Carers Assoc | 01883 547900 |
| Equip Shop (Reigate) | 242446 |
| Fire & Rescue (Surrey) | 242444 |
| Gatwick Airport | 0870 000 2468 |
| Heathrow Airport | 0870 000 0123 |
| Help Shop | 276045 |
| Help The Aged Senior Line | 0805 8006565 |
| Hospital (BUPA Redwood) | 277277 |
| Hospital (East Surrey) | 768511 |
| Library (Redhill) | 763332 |
| Library (Reigate) | 244272 |
| Neighbourhood Watch | 020 7772 3348 |
| NHS Direct | 0845 4647 |
| OFT Consumer Information | 08457 224499 |
| Police (Reigate) | 765040 |
| Rail Enquires | 08457 484950 |
| Recycling | 276262 |
| Reigate & Banstead Council | 276000 |
| RELATE | 245212 |
| Samaritans | 0845 7909090 |
| Schools (Merstham Primary) | 643978 |
| Schools (Reigate Grammar) | 222231 |
| Schools (St Bedes) | 212108 |
| Schools (St Josephs) | 765373 |
| Schools (St Matthews Primary) | 762080 |
| Schools (Warwick) | 764356 |
| Schools (Wray Common Primary) | 761254 |
| SEEBoard Emergency | 0800 783 8866 |
| Shop Mobility | 01293 784009 |
| Surrey County Council | 020 8451 8800 |
| Sutton & East Surrey Water | 772000 |
| Trading Standards | 01372 371700 |
| Transco Gas Emergency | 0800 111 999 |
| Travel Line | 0870 608 2608 |
| Vets (Gayton Group Emergencies) | 772457 |
| Vets (Priory Surgery Redhill) | 765353 |
| Vets (Priory Surgery Reigate) | 242190 |
| Victim Support | 766323 |
If you think a number that is not shown above should be published in the next newsletter send a note to John Moore at 73 Carlton Road.
(Page Updated 20/12/02)
