On 14th December 2010, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles MP gave his Formal Decision to grant planning permission to the LDA Masterplan application for Crystal Palace Park. Following the Local Public Inquiry into the LDA Masterplan application held in Crystal Palace between 7 July 2009 and 9 September 2009, the Inspector Alan Novitzky recommended that planning permission, conservation area consent and listed building consent all be granted subject to conditions. In a letter of 21 July 2010, The Secretary of State (S of S) indicated that he was, in principle, minded to agree with the Inspector and to grant planning permission, subject to the…

Crystal Palace Park Local Public Inquiry, 7th July – 8th September 2009. Following a 6 week local public inquiry last year, and despite concerted opposition, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (the S of S) has endorsed the Inspector’s report and is ‘minded’ to grant permission to the planning application for the LDA Masterplan. The S of S accepts that ‘very special circumstances’ exist to warrant the sale of public parkland for development of 180 luxury apartments in intrusive blocks of up to 5 storeys. However he has recognised the shortcomings of the S106 legal agreements and has insisted that they be ‘reformulated’ to ensure “that capital…

LDA to cease to exist Together with the long awaited publication of the Report to the Secretary of State by the Inspector Alan Novitzky on the LDA Masterplan Application for Crystal Palace Park, London Mayor Boris Johnson has announced that under his Proposals for Devolution, the LDA will cease to exist. In another PR gaffe, the Mayor describes the demise of the LDA as being ‘folded in’ which inevitably will be likened to the term for collapsed organisations as being ‘folded up’. Whilst the CPCA welcomes Boris Johnson’s proposals for the removal of bureaucracy and overlapping functions across public bodies, this is precisely what the CPCA called for throughout the…

The Upper Norwood Library, which opened on July 4th 1900, celebrated its 110-year anniversary on 4th and 5th of July 2010, with hundreds taking part in the celebrations. The July 4th American Independence theme was reflected in the boots and stetsons sported by visitors enjoying Hillbilly musicians, a whip-cracker, jugglers, a stilt-walker, an escapologist, can-can dancers, a Punch and Judy show, and a flea-circus, all equally popular with parents and children. CPCA Chairman John Payne, who, with a CPCA team was at the weekend event said, “It doesn’t seem possible that this wonderful library could be under threat of closure. People were appalled when told that Croydon Council want to…

The Upper Norwood Joint Library (UNJL) serves a well-defined and diverse local community; a catchment area that encompasses elements of no fewer than 5 local authorities. It is a unique ‘bespoke’ service, managed by its own Joint Committee, which is comprised of four councillors from each of the two boroughs (Croydon and Lambeth) that financially support the library, together with two community representatives. However, uncertainties of funding and governance have persistently plagued the library over many years. The UNJL is effectively a library authority in its own right, setting and implementing its own locally orientated policies, priorities and procedures as an autonomous and cost effective body. It has operated on…