The community in the north west of the Bromley borough has complained for years about a lack of investment and the decline of services in its corner. And as JOLENE HILL reports, residents and ward councillors are even more angry because the borough's top councillor has refused to discuss the issue in public.

THE issues for those in Penge and Beckenham include access to services for the elderly and disabled, the lack of hospital beds and investment in their high streets.

At a Bromley Council meeting on January 23, Kelsey and Eden Park councillor Rod Reed proposed a debate on the issue.

It was seconded by Penge and Cator councillor Peter Fookes.

The motion "deplored the reduction and relocation of key services from the north of the borough of Bromley and calls on this authority to take urgent steps to restore community facilities and infrastructure".

Sonia Whitaker, a retired teacher attending the meeting who has lived in Beckenham for 40 years, says she was shocked when Clockhouse councillor Reg Adams tried to speak on behalf of the north west councillors.

She said: "He was repeatedly interrupted and only allowed to continue by the mayor's gracious permission.

"The council leader rubbished the motion and did not allow further discussion.

"I was in the public gallery and wondered whatever happened to free speech?"

Mrs Whitaker says she agreed with much of what was said by the Beckenham and Penge councillors, especially over the closure of the Rachel Notley Day Care Centre for the elderly in Beckenham Road, Beckenham, which is now used as a centre for people with dementia.

And the grandmother-of-two added Woodbrook School, Hayne Road, Beckenham, for children with special needs, is also facing a transfer of services to Orpington.

Last year Bromley Primary Care Trust decided not to site short-term recovery beds at Beckenham Hospital.

These will be based at Bickley and possibly Orpington and councillors are concerned about the distance residents will have to travel for them.

Councillor Reed told News Shopper: "The council is supposed to be encouraging local services for local people.

"To expect people to travel across London's largest borough to access services is not acceptable in the 21st Century."

Penge and Cator councillor John Getgood added: "People in Penge and Crystal Palace know they are a forgotten community.

"We need a complete change of attitude in Bromley.

"We have areas of high need but those needs are not being met."

Council leader Councillor Stephen Carr said: "We just had a half-an-hour debate on the issue in the evening.

"The north west of the borough gets a large amount of investment for the young to old."

WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS LOST

  • Woodbrook School for children with special needs services expected to move to Orpington.
  • Intermediate care beds for those recovering from illness are presently based in Bickley.
  • A respite care centre in Anerley, for families of children with a range of disabilities, to be relocated along with others in Orpington and Bromley to a purpose-built facility in Orpington.
  • Penge town centre manager taken away three years ago, leaving the High Street in decline.
  • Community centre at 101a Parish Lane, Penge, home to Somali Youth Organisation, Platform Penge for young mums and Pineapple Club for the elderly under threat of closure.
  • Closure of Rachel Notley Centre Beckenham elderly have to go to Penge or West Wickham.