Tuesday 19 Mar 2024

Londoners advised to check before they travel ahead of London Trams strike

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• Unite the Union members are due to strike from Sunday 24 March until Thursday 28 March impacting London Trams services
• Customers are urged to check before they travel as a reduced London Trams service will operate on most strike days
• Where possible, customers should consider walking and cycling for local journeys
• London Buses and London Overground are scheduled to operate as normal   
• Planned engineering work between 29 March and 24 April will mean no London Trams services will operate east of East Croydon

Due to a planned Unite the Union strike at London Trams later this week, Transport for London (TfL) is advising customers to plan ahead, consider alternative routes, check before they travel and allow extra time to complete their journeys. Customers are advised to visit tfl.gov.uk/strikes for the latest information.

From Sunday 24 March until Thursday 28 March, Unite the Union members, who maintain the trams and infrastructure, are planning to strike that will impact the London Trams network. If the action goes ahead, there will be a reduced service expected on the whole of the London Trams network for some of these days.

Where possible, customers should consider walking and cycling for local journeys. London Buses and London Overground are expected to operate as normal but could be busier than usual.

Navid Golshan, General Manager for London Trams, said: “We urge Unite the Union to continue to work with us to find a resolution and call this strike off.  Customers planning to use London Trams services are urged to check before they travel, allow extra time for their journeys, and check the TfL website or the TfL Go app for the latest travel information.”

TfL staff and Travel Ambassadors will be deployed on the busiest parts of the London Trams network to assist customers with their onward journeys.  These locations include Addington Village, Beckenham Junction, East Croydon, Elmers End, West Croydon and Wimbledon.

TfL is running a wide-ranging communications campaign to ensure customers are aware the strike action is taking place and to help minimise any inconvenience wherever possible.  This includes signposting customers to latest travel information via tfl.gov.uk/strikes or the TfL Go app.

Additionally, from the Friday 29 March to Wednesday 24 April there is a planned closure of the London Trams network for essential maintenance.  No trams will run from East Croydon to New Addington, Elmers End and Beckenham Junction but rail replacement bus services and enhanced local bus services will be available.

Contact Information

TfL Press Office
Transport for London
0343 222 4141
pressoffice@tfl.gov.uk

Notes to editors

Sunday 24 March 2024

• A normal service is expected to operate.
• All other services on the TfL network will operate a normal service

Monday 25 March, Tuesday 26 March and Wednesday 27 March

• No service expected before 07:00 or after 18:00 on the whole of the London Trams network.
• A reduced service will operate between Wimbledon and Reeves Corner and East Croydon and Beckenham Junction/New Addington
• No service will operate through the town centre or from East Croydon to Elmers End
• Next tram information displayed at tram stops will offer limited information
• Customers are advised to plan ahead, to consider alternative routes, to check before they travel, and to allow more time to complete their journey

Thursday 28 March

• Services are expected to start later than normal, with possible disruption throughout the day
• Next tram information displayed at tram stops will offer limited information
• Customers are advised to plan ahead, to consider alternative routes, to check before they travel, and to allow more time to complete their journey

Friday 29 March until Wednesday 24 April

• There is planned maintenance of the London Trams network meaning no trams will run from East Croydon to New Addington, Elmers End and Beckenham Junction.
• Rail replacement bus services and an increased frequency of local buses in these areas will be available. 
• Other public transport options remain available within Croydon and the wider surrounding area. This includes London Overground (at West Croydon) and National Rail (at East Croydon, Elmers End, Birkbeck and Beckenham Junction) 
• Customers are advised to plan ahead, to consider alternative routes, to check before they travel, and to allow more time to complete their journey

Unite the Union has announced the following strike action:

• Commencing at 20:00 hours on 24 March 2024 and continuing each day up to 28 March 2024 when the action will conclude at 06:00 hours;
• Commencing at 20:00 hours on 5 May 2024 and continuing each day up to 9 May 2024 when the action will conclude at 06:00 hours;
• Commencing at 20:00 hours on 11 July 2024 and continuing each day up to 15 July 2024 when the action will conclude at 06:00 hours

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The SPRA executive committee, after a vigorous and wide-ranging debate at its February meeting, decided:

• As an organisation, SPRA does not intend to express a view about the proposals, on the grounds that there is a variety of strong and valid arguments for and against closure.
• SPRA strongly encourages its members to participate fully in the consultation.
• SPRA will act as a facilitator for networking as required amongst those wishing to work together on this issue.

The David Lean Celebrates 10 Years as a Community Cinema

The David Lean Cinema was opened by Croydon Council on 3 March 1995, along with other Croydon Clocktower arts venues. It was named in honour of the Croydon-born, Oscar-winning director of films such as The Bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia. Major arts budget cuts caused the council to close the cinema in April 2011, but dismayed film-lovers soon set up the Save the David Lean Cinema Campaign, to explore ways in which it might be reopened. Following nearly three years of hard work, the Campaign gained the council’s approval to run it as a community initiative. It reopened on 27 March 2014 with a screening of Basically, Johnny Moped, attended by punk luminaries that included Captain Sensible and Johnny Moped.

In 2015, the Campaign became a Community Interest Company. Since then, pandemic excepted, it has maintained a distinctive programme of arthouse and mainstream films, with the assistance of over 80 volunteers who act as projectionists, stewards and box office and Arts Bar staff. With over 20 screenings a month, it has given south London residents the opportunity to see outstanding independent and foreign language films at reasonable prices. During 2023-24 it screened all 10 films nominated for the Best Film BAFTA and all 16 films in the Best Director category.

With the 10th anniversary approaching, Heather Hardie (the cinema’s chair) said “we want it to be a celebration of all the David Lean’s dedicated volunteers, who have given their time and energy to make the cinema a success. It also concludes the steps we have taken to raise the cinema’s profile during Croydon’s year as London Borough of Culture.”

Three special anniversary events will showcase the work of Sir David Lean, starting on Saturday 23 March, when his final film A Passage to India (1984) will be shown. This gained Croydon-born Dame Peggy Ashcroft the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. There will be a Q&A featuring actor Art Malik and Assistant Director Patrick Cadell, chaired by BAFTA-winning actress (and Croydon resident) Joanna Scanlan, who has given the cinema fantastic support since becoming its patron last year.

There’s also a chance to see the perennial favourite Hobson’s Choice (1954), which will be presented on 35mm via a BFI print. The David Lean is London’s only cinema south of Brixton to retain 35mm projection. Finally, on the anniversary, there will be the UK’s first ever screening of Nostromo: David Lean’s Impossible Dream, kindly provided by Warner Bros. Discovery in Spain. This fascinating 2017 documentary reveals how close Lean came to bringing Joseph Conrad’s novel to the screen, before his death in April 1991. The film was made in collaboration with The David Lean Foundation, and two of the Foundation’s trustees will be amongst the guests attending.

Full details of all upcoming films can be found on the David Lean’s website: www.davidleancinema.org.uk.

The following message has been received by SPRA’s EC

I am writing to let you know about the upcoming closures on the tram network so that we can carry out essential maintenance work to the tracks. A number of improvements will take place at the same to keep the service closure as short as possible.

This closure will largely take place during the Easter school holidays when customer numbers are lower, with engineering teams working around the clock to minimise disruption as much as possible. 

From Friday 29 March until Wednesday 24 April there will be no service between:

• Wellesley Road and New Addington.

• Wellesley Road and Beckenham Junction/Elmers End

• New Addington and George Street

• Beckenham Junction/Elmers End and George Street

Trams will run between the following stops:

• Wimbledon and Wellesley Road

• George Street and Wimbledon

Replacement buses will run between East Croydon and New Addington and East Croydon to Beckenham Junction/Elmers End to ensure that customers can get where they need to go. There will also be uniformed trams staff at key tram stops to support customers with their travel plans.

We also need to implement some weekend closures between Sandilands and New Addington. 

There will be no service between these tram stops on the weekends of:

• Saturday 9 March and Sunday 10 March
• Saturday 16 March and Sunday 17 March
• Saturday 23 March and Sunday 24 March 2024

Some of the work will  be noisy.  We will do our best to keep this noise to a minimum and will inform nearby residents about noisy works in advance. Some local road and footpath closures will be in place and again, affected residents will be advised by letter in advance of these closures.

We will also be installing site compounds in these locations:

Lloyd Park Compound will be used as a material holding / removal point and a welfare location. Increased traffic and footfall will be noticed in this area. This compound will be become operation from 11th March 2024 to 3rd May 2024. 

Bingham Road Compound will be used as a material holding / removal point and a welfare location. Increased traffic and footfall will be noticed in this area. This compound will be operational from 29th March 2024 to 24th April 2024. 

Sandilands Tram Stop will be used as a welfare and access point for the workforce, who will be undertaking the works. Increased traffic and footfall will be noticed in this area.  This compound will be operational from 29th March 2024 to 24th April 2024 

Customers are advised to plan ahead and to use real-time travel tools including Journey Planner and TfL Go.  

More information about London Trams can be found on the TfL website

We will continue to keep you informed as the work progresses.  If you have any questions, then please contact sarahvarnham@tfl.gov.uk

Thanks and kind regards

Sarah

Sarah Varnham (She / her)

Consultation Specialist | Local Communities & Partnerships

11^th floor blue zone, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NJ

Get involved. Have your say

We have been asked to bring the following to the attention of members …

Listening to residents to shape Croydon’s future library services

Croydon Council is proposing to consult residents on changes to its library service that will make it easier for more people across the borough to enjoy books and activities. Proposals include longer opening hours including weekends, improved facilities in fewer library buildings, and more staff to provide a new outreach service.

Since the last changes were introduced in April 2022, the council has been listening to residents and staff who have said that despite best efforts, the current service model isn’t working and that it doesn’t provide the opening hours needed or enough of the services that residents want.

The council has worked with Activist Group who have been looking at how the council can make better use of the existing resources to meet the needs of Croydon’s residents. This research has included looking at demand, local need, usage, demographics, the condition of library buildings and resident feedback. Their proposed recommendations are for a more sustainable library service. It proposes longer opening hours including weekends, with more events and services available to residents

To make these improvements, four library buildings; Bradmore Green, Broad Green, Sanderstead, and Shirley are proposed to be closed. This proposal is based on analysis of the buildings including visitor numbers, size and condition of the buildings, the size and needs of the communities they serve and running costs. No job losses are proposed, with the council intending to use the majority of the money saved from building costs to increase the number of library staff to provide the extended opening and outreach services.

Six libraries (Central, Ashburton, Thornton Heath, Norbury, Selsdon and Coulsdon) are proposed to be open five to six days a week, including Saturdays, and will deliver an extensive offer of books, wifi, PCs, study spaces and events. These libraries are well-used and have accessible buildings that meet local needs. Future investment in these sites is recommended to improve the facilities and extend the opening times and services available.

For New Addington, Purley and South Norwood Libraries — The council is proposing to introduce community hubs in these areas, where a library would be available alongside other services such as family and adult education services and community partnerships. Through the consultation, residents will be asked for their views and ideas for developing the offer for these libraries and help design how library services can be improved in these areas, to make them more accessible and better used by local people.

Other library services – such as the home library service and the extensive digital offer, including e-books and magazines, online learning and training resources – are set to continue and be improved as part of the future service.

A 10-week consultation is set to launch from Wednesday 7^th February to Wednesday 17^th April where residents are encouraged to have their say on the proposals and share their ideas for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the library service. Details will be available on the Library Website and you can email librariesconsultation@croydon.gov.uk with your views. The council is keen to hear the views of those affected by the proposed library closures, including any impacts and alternative options to closing buildings and improving the service for residents. The consultation will also ask for ideas for future library outreach services and community venues that could be used to reach more people. Feedback received will help the council develop further recommendations which will go back to cabinet in May 2024.

Please note the online survey is due to go live Thursday 8th February after the initial webinar introducing the proposals.  The survey will be live for 10 weeks from 8 February until 18 April.    I will send you a link to the online survey as soon as it is published.

For your reference, the Cabinet papers are here:  https://democracy.croydon.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=183&MId=3578.

Following the Webinar we are also setting up an initial round of public meetings and drop in sessions so that there can be a local conversation about the proposals, especially in areas with greatest impact.

List of public meetings scheduled in February: (to include)

Saturday 10th     2pm-4pm                           Central Library drop in (Cllr Stranack will be attending 2-3pm)
Thursday 15th   7pm-8.30pm                      Shirley Library public meeting, St George the Martyr, Church Hall, Elstan Way, Shirley, Croydon CR0 7PR
Friday 16th           10am-12pm                       Shirley Library drop in
Saturday 17th    2pm-4pm                            Broad Green library drop in
Monday 19th      7pm- 8.30pm                    Bradmore Green Library public meeting, Congregational Church, Coulsdon Road, Old Coulsdon CR5 1EH
Tuesday 20th      2pm – 4pm                         Bradmore Green Library drop in
Tuesday 20th     6.30pm – 8.30pm            Sanderstead Library public meeting – Sanderstead United Reformed Church, 3 Sanderstead Hill, Sanderstead CR2 0HB
Wednesday 21st 10am – 12 noon              Sanderstead Library drop in
Friday  23rd        10am – 12noon                New Addington Library drop in

Recent talks between our local politicians, local headteachers and the Borough’s police have yielded good results in reducing the amount of crime affecting young people travelling through central Croydon on their way to and from school.  Theft of mobile phones has been a particular problem.  Police have recently intensified their activity against this crime type, tracking down and targeting perpetrators. This resulted in 11 arrests being made and a substantial decline in offending afterwards. Police Officers analysed crime patterns which enabled them to target hot-spots where the perpetrators were likely to be.  They concentrated on several known suspects and cleared the area of further robberies through persistent high-vis patrolling.

In addition, Schools officers attended school assemblies to provide crime prevention advice, while uniformed officers spoke to students on how to keep themselves and their possessions safe.

We have lifted this article about a new “tool” available to our Police, from an MP’s website. SPRA is a non-(party) political body and has no association with the MP in question

I am delighted to report that multiple arrests were made in Croydon town centre [in late January] following the experimental deployment of Live Facial Recognition (LFR).  This is something I am pushing for nationally in my role as Policing Minister, and I am glad that the Met accepted my suggestion to further trial LFR in Croydon

LFR starts with a “watchlist” of images of people who are wanted for serious offences or who are wanted by the Court for failing to attend a criminal hearing.  A camera is then set up by Police in a location with high footfall, and advanced facial recognition software is used to see if anyone walking past matches one of the images on the watchlist.  Is there is a match, the officers running the system are alerted and they intervene to see if the person is indeed the one wanted.  The matching software is now incredibly accurate and advanced.

This has been deployed in Croydon town centre several times recently, on London Road and North End, and on the junction with Church Street. Arrests for the following offences were made in a matter of just a few hours:

• Possession of firearm
• GBH
• Failure to appear in court for theft
• Failure to appear in court for GBH
• Failure to appear in court for assault on an emergency worker
• Possession of a weapon with point or blade, drugs and burglary
• Breach of non-molestation order
• Failure to appear in court for ABH on police and drugs offences
• Failure to appear in court for ABH
• Fraud by misrepresentation
• Failure to appear in court for theft
• Failure to appear in court for GBH
• Failure to appear in court for assault on an emergency worker
• Possession of a weapon with point or blade, drugs and burglary
• Breach of non-molestation order
• Failure to appear in court for ABH on police and drugs offences
• Failure to appear in court for ABH
• Fraud by misrepresentation
• Failure to appear in court for theft
• Failure to appear in court for assault on an emergency worker
• Failure to appear in court for drunk and disorderly behaviour
• Breach of tag conditions by a convicted drug supplier

This deployment took 14 potentially dangerous people off the streets (SPRA note – as there are more than 14 offences listed, it is clear that at least one of the 14 persons had committed more than one of these offences).  The identity of the people stopped was verified separately from the facial recognition system, and no false alerts were generated.
 
There are safeguards around privacy and accuracy.  Any passer-by who is scanned and who is not on the watchlist is immediately and automatically deleted. The system is governed by detailed rules set out by the College of Policing, and there is case law setting out the legal requirements of the system.  This includes accuracy and no bias. The system has been tested by the National Physical Laboratory and at the setting used meets the legal requirements (it delivers no bias and a 1/6000 accuracy rate). There are also signs displayed that LFR is being used.
 
I am delighted that these potentially dangerous people have been taken off the street.  There are further LFR deployments planned in Croydon in the near future and I am pushing for this technology to be rolled out nationally, within the rules and guidelines to safeguard privacy. This technology has the potential to ensure that huge numbers of wanted criminals are caught.

https://croydon.gov.uk/hw-consultation

Croydon’s Draft Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2024-2029) consultation | Get Involved Croydon

https://croydon.gov.uk/hw-consultation

Croydon’s Draft Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy (2024-2029) consultation | Get Involved Croydon