The Crystal Palace Community Association
Campaigning since 1970 to maintain the character of Crystal Palace and to help make it a great place to live
In May 1973, two hundred angry locals marched on Crystal Palace Park with banners proclaiming “Save our Park.” Their anger was directed against Greater London Council’s attempts to enclose the dinosaurs and their lakeside habitat, and charge entry. So began the first of many battles to preserve one of the community’s most precious assets – its local park.
The CPCA and its Aims
Many of those marching belonged to the recently founded Crystal Palace Triangle Community Association (CPTCA). The aim of the Association’s founder, local artist Audrey Hammond, was to preserve the amenities of Crystal Palace – especially its Park and the distinctive triangle of nearby roads called by surrounding councils “the Upper Norwood District Centre” and by locals “the Triangle”.
Today, the CPCA continues to work with local authorities to protect local interests. And since Upper Norwood/Crystal Palace straddles five London boroughs, there are many authorities to deal with.
Successes and Setbacks
In 1988, the CPCA succeeded in getting the Triangle designated a conservation area. This helped to maintain its unique village atmosphere, 380 feet above the Thames with its outstanding views over the city and Kent.
However, the area’s much-loved character and ambience remains at risk from new development.
Through effective lobbying and working with the Upper Norwood Chamber of Commerce and the surrounding boroughs, the CPCA was instrumental in changing the confusing parking controls in the Triangle and introducing a cross-borough Police Safer Neighbourhood Team.
More recently, the CPCA supported the campaign to stop McDonalds converting the old Living Well Satisfies cafe in Westow Street into a fast food takeway and delivery hub..
Redevelopment of the Park
After the cinema/leisure complex had finally been seen off, many locals welcomed the so-called “Park redevelopment” plans proposed by Mayor Livingstone’s London Development Agency (LDA). They believed the LDA’s claims that they had in mind the best interests for the Park and the people.
Relief was short-lived. With no business plan in sight, the LDA declared that the staggering sum of £50 million was essential for Park improvements (4 to 5 times more than any other park). Worst of all, they announced the sale of precious parkland for over 200 private luxury apartments and villas, setting a precedent that threatens all public parks.
The CPCA had hoped that our world-famous Grade II * historic Victorian Park would at last be properly protected. After all, it has Metropolitan Open Land status, lies largely within a conservation area, and provides a green lung to this densely populated area of London.
Our 7,000-Signature Petition
The campaign against the original LDA plans culminated in an unsuccessful High Court challenge. The plans have been inherited by Bromley Council, which now has planning permission to implement its regeneration plan. Like the LDA plans, these involve the sale of parkland for housing.
National Sports Centre and the Olympics
The public welcomed plans by Mayor Livingstone to replace the run-down National Sports Centre with a £50 million sports facility, more suitably located close to Crystal Palace Station, allowing the centre of the Park to revert to parkland.
These plans were abandoned after London won the Olympics and Stratford became the focus for new development. More recently, the current Mayor of London carried out a consultation on the future of the National Sports Centre in 2019. The results are still awaited.
Make Your Voice Heard by Joining the CPCA
The CPCA is a registered charity with a strong and active membership, continuing to work on behalf of its members to save our Park and seek the best for our special patch of South East London. If you would like to join us or find out more about the CPCA, please see our Membership and Contact pages.
Member of the London Forum of Amenities and Civic Societies and The Open Spaces Society. Registered Charity No. 261790