West Beckenham Residents’ Association (WBRA) is totally opposed to the sale of land in the centre of Elmers End Green. The toilets in the building were closed last year, and now the council has put them up for sale by informal tender. Not only for sale – but the land is offered FREEHOLD. This would allow a commercial enterprise to wholly own part of an historic village green. WBRA have found this triangle of land on maps going back to circa 1775 – 240 years!
This is the Green in 1928.
Photo courtesy of http://www.beckenhamhistory.co.uk/index.html
This toilet building is not on a High Street mixed with other buildings, but is in the centre of our village green.
Any purchaser would have to be given rights of access over the rest of the green. Elmers End Residents’ Association (now part of WBRA) funded, with LBB, the Elmers End village sign 1998, and also funded tree planting.
We know that future uses will be subject to planning permission, but it is totally unacceptable for this small piece land (only 32 sq m) to be wholly owned by anyone other than the council, whatever the use will be. In practical terms, improved pedestrian access to the green would surely have to be provided for any commercial uses. Why would the council pay for that, when they would not pay to keep the toilets open?
WBRA have asked all our local councillors from Clock House and Kelsey and Eden Park Wards to have this sale stopped and to have the council discuss with us the possible future uses for this building – is this too much to ask? Cllr Sarah Phillips has been very supportive and helpful in obtaining information about the proposed sale.
WBRA objected to the closure of the toilets which were well used as the Green is where several bus routes cross. We recognise that council budgets are currently under great pressure, but as we are apparently coming out of recession, it is possible that finances will allow the re-instatement of the toilets at some point in the future.