News & Events

News Updates And Events

NEWS:.

On Thursday, Michael Alinsola was found guilty of careless driving,whist employed as a TfL security guard.

The magistrates were clear that the evidence provided by the claimant Heather Watts was both credible and compelling. In her evidence, she described how Akinsola deliberately ran the TfL security car into her twice on Buckhurst Rd Westerham and then fled the scene, by driving away.

Whist not provided in evidence to the proceedings, Akinsola was later
apprehended approximately 7 miles away from the incident near junction
4 of the M25 after being followed by Biggin Hill resident Claire Dyer.

When considering the severity of the offence the Crown submitted that
the offence was a category 1 offence as there was evidence of Higher
Culpability and greater harm. The sentence was adjourned as Akinsola
didn’t turn up for the hearing and it was revealed he already had 6
points on his driving licence, and had he been present the bench would
have considered disqualifying him from driving.

“Ultimately TfL are responsible for these actions, as Akinsola was
working on their behalf.” said Cllr Simon Fawthrop, spokesman for
Heather Watts. “Now Sadiq Khan and TfL should compensate Heather for
the injuries she sustained causing her to be off work, as a self
employed driving instructor, for 6 weeks.”

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NEWS:The remarkable Crystal Palace Subway begins a new era following major restoration, in time for its 160th anniversary. A new roof and extensive repairs breathe new life into the Victorian subway, with significant funding and partnership working the key to its transformation. The magnificent space will open to the public for the first time since restoration as part of Open House Festival on Saturday 21 September, 10:00am to 14:00pm. This is the first major stage in transforming the Victorian Crystal Palace Subway into a unique new venue.

NEWS:

Bromley boosts venue list for Open House 2024

Open House Festival 2024 will see an expanded Bromley showcase, with a former rockstar changing room, a theatre converted from a stable, and a history tour of Petts Wood joining the venue list.

Pink Floyd, Bob Marley and Lou Reed were all former visitors of one new venue, the Dorset Road allotment clubhouse, which was previously used as a changing room for the Crystal Palace Park Bowl before being relocated and recently refurbished. Bromley Little Theatre is another repurposed venue, with the building having begun its life as a Victorian bakery and stables.

Returning favourites include the medieval Scadbury Moated Manor, the much-loved Crystal Palace dinosaurs and the impressively restored Bromley Old Town Hall, with residents, families and architecture lovers encouraged to enjoy these free attractions and more throughout the festival, which runs from 14 to 22 September.

EVENT:

NEWS:

Twelve fire engines and around 80 firefighters tackled a fire at a block of flats in Bromley .Two flats on the 10th and 11th floors were alight. There was heavy congestion on the Westmoreland Road area, while firefighters responded.

NEWS: The “Tooting 5” are now the “Tooting 4 after their appearence at Westminster magistrates court, where one of the cases against one of them was thrown out.They all pleaded Not Guity to the charges against them. The other 4 will have their cases heard on November 27th

NEWS: London Biggin Hill Airport becomes title sponsor of Bromley Football Club’s Women’s Team
London Biggin Hill Airport is delighted to kick off the 2024/25 football season as the title sponsor of Bromley Football Club’s Women’s Team.
The collaboration is the next step in the airport’s ongoing commitment to promote gender diversity and champion increasing female accessibility, to both football and aviation, within the London Borough of Bromley

NEWS: Bromley’s young stars WIN coveted London Youth Games trophy

The London Youth Games Foundation has announced that young people from the borough of Bromley have won the Jubilee Trophy at this year’s London Youth Games (LYG), affirming their fantastic performances across the season. The coveted Jubilee Trophy was awarded at the LYG Finals Festival, which took place at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. A celebration of sport, culture and community, the LYG Finals Festival is the culmination of a vibrant and competitive season comprising more than 50 qualifying events across over 30 sports. Thousands of young athletes from 32 London boroughs compete in the Finals Festival

The Mayor of Bromley, Cllr David Jefferys said: “Congratulations to the Bromley Youth Games team who won the coveted trophy as the overall winning borough, overcoming fierce competition from other teams at the games. With the Olympics now in full swing, it’s important to remember that sporting success starts at a local level and I look forward to seeing our players build on this achievement in Bromley. I am so proud of our players and thank all those who supported them to make this incredible achievement possible, including our partners at Mytime Active.

NEWS: Local charity wins esteemed King’s Award for Voluntary Service

Bromley Brighter Beginnings has been awarded the esteemed King’s Award, equivalent to an MBE, for their exceptional work supporting families within the borough.

The volunteers from Bromley Brighter Beginnings were recognised at a special local reception, hosted by Bromley Children and Families Forum, to receive the award, which was presented by the Mayor of Bromley who offered thanks to those involved on behalf of Bromley.

EVENT: Bethlem Gallery launches retrospective exhibition exploring the human condition, institutionalisation and body image

Bethlem Gallery, set in the grounds of the world’s oldest psychiatric institution, presents Our Eyes Will Dance, a retrospective of the work of artist Courtney (1964 – 2024) exploring the human condition, institutionalisation and body image.

Courtney’s art practice expresses the importance – and joy – of making work, and of making work with other people. Across drawings made painstakingly with pen on paper, with film, performance and also sculpture, Courtney’s wide-ranging practice poses questions about how we live and how we live together.

Partial bodies, features of bodies and bodies bound up explore a sense of being tethered and fragmented. They also explore a sense of fluid identities – not conforming to one gender or ethnic identity. Partially covered faces or eyes convey a sense of not being able to face a visual reality, preferring instead, at least initially, to use other senses.

NEWS: An unconditional offer for the freehold of the Civic Centre campus at Stockwell Close has been accepted

An unconditional offer for the freehold of the Civic Centre campus at Stockwell Close has been accepted, with the financial certainty and security this brings.The sale of the Civic Centre follows the earlier successful purchase of a new Civic Centre building at Churchill Court, with the agreement set to deliver long-term savings and improvements in service for council taxpayers. The details of the sale are not being disclosed at this time but will be made public when contracts have been exchanged with the chosen purchaser.Councillor Colin Smith, Leader of Bromley Council said, “Sad as we all are to be leaving our current home, I am also delighted to confirm the completion of this agreement. This will not only enable the council to deliver better services but will also lead to greater efficiencies and revenue savings, which will serve to support vital services to the borough’s most vulnerable residents over the difficult years which lie ahead.”

Councillor Smith continued, “We remain absolutely steadfast in our determination to drive out value for money in everything we do at a time of national crisis across local Government, which is precisely what this agreement will bring. I am also very pleased to reconfirm that the greenspace surrounding the Civic Centre will remain in perpetuity as parkland and is not included in the sale, as we have always promised. As soon as we are contractually able to say more, we will of course do so.”

The decision to dispose of the Civic Centre campus follows Executive agreement in November 2022, with the decision to purchase the new Civic Centre being made in December 2022. Marketing agents were subsequently instructed by the council in May 2023 to seek offers for the freehold interest of the site on an unconditional basis. Initial ‘expressions of interest’ were submitted in November 2023, with subsequent rounds of bidding conducted in April, May and June 2024.

The Bishop’s Palace forms part of the Civic Centre site and is Grade II listed, which means strict planning restrictions and regulations are in place to preserve its historical significance.

Prior to the exchange of contracts with the prospective purchaser, details of the sale need to remain confidential, with details being shared thereafter with the agreement of the purchaser.

NEWS Plans to relocate Bromley Central Library

Following the public announcement in October 2023, the proposals to relocate the Bromley Central Library to a more prominent location on the High Street have progressed and the appointed design team are seeking views from the public in order to inform the designs for the new library. The project team have prepared a survey in order to get a better understanding of how people currently use the library, or why they don’t use the library. The survey provides the opportunity to share your opinion on various aspects of the library. The survey responses will then be utilised to progress the next stages of the design for the relocation of the Central Library into the former Topshop unit on the High Street.

We are keen to get responses from library users and non-users in order to progress the designs for this exciting project.

NEWS: Your Mayor of Bromley 2024-25 Cllr. David Jefferys

While I hope many of you will be enjoying a series of offerings already about my time as Mayor, such as following on my social media channels, which I thank you all for, I will be using this newsletter more as a blog, to draw out some themes throughout my Mayoral year

The Mayors chosen charities

Welcare in Bromley

Alzheimer’s Research UK

Bromley Youth Music Trust

Find out more