Minutes 7th November 2006

Minutes of Meeting on 7 November 2006

CRYSTAL PALACE & NORWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
HELD AT 1ST FLOOR, LORENZO'S RESTAURANT, WESTOW HILL

1. Present

Honorary Chairman - Mervyn Hing - Silk Route Dry Cleaners
Honorary Secretary - Andrew Parfitt - resident
John Greatrex - Great Exhibitions Ltd.
Ray Hall - architect
Geoffrey Harding - Bennett Welch
Mary Kennedy - independent business
Karen Moran - Crystal Palace Foundation
Sue Nagle - Bambino
Lorenzo Nargi - Lorenzo's Restaurant
Chris Thomas - The Palace magazine

2. Apologies

none

3. Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the 3 October meeting were formally adopted.

4. Matters Arising

Christmas meal

It was agreed that the meeting of Tuesday 5 December would take the form of a meal and party upstairs at Lorenzo's.

UNIT meeting

Several of those present had attended a recent meeting of the Upper Norwood Improvement Team, at which much of the discussion had centred around Tramlink. Mervyn Hing noted that Cllr. Pat Ryan (Upper Norwood, Croydon) seemed defiant and unrepentant about the local business downturn as a consequence of the previous Labour controlled Croydon council. After a subsequent but brief discussion with Conservative Councillor George Filbey, Mervyn doubted if the new Conservative councillors have the necessary analytical skills, local knowledge and interest in rectifying the disastrous one-way traffic system.

Sue Nagle said that at a recent meeting with Ken Livingstone, she had put to him that the one-way system had destroyed the town. The original justification for the one-way system was based on the Multiplex but now that this had been scrapped there was no need for its retention. She said that the Mayor was clearly uncomfortable about the situation.

5. Next Year's Officers

It had been agreed at the October meeting that Geoffrey Gibbs would take over the role of Peter Runacres as Honorary Treasurer. Mervyn said that, if need be, he would continue as Honorary Chairman until the next AGM, but urged all members to consider this position - and that of Membership Secretary - and to put forward suggestions and nominations.

6. Tramlink

The proposals for bringing the Tramlink up to the Crystal Palace bus station were discussed. Sue said that 90% of Triangle Traders supported the plans.

Many considered that on-street running on Anerley Hill/Road would cause severe congestion problems. Therefore they felt that the most feasible approach was Option 2 - with the tram running through the edge of Crystal Palace Park. Karen Moran, however, expressed concern about this encroachment on parkland.

Those present supported Option 2 by a majority of six to one. Further details of the consultation, which closes on Monday 18 December, are at:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/trams/initiatives/tep/index.shtml

7. The Palace magazine

At the invitation of Mervyn, Chris Thomas said that, from late November, a new magazine, The Palace, would be delivered to 10,000 homes in the Crystal Palace and Sydenham area. It would also be available in places such as pubs. Chris, who has lived in the Westwood Hill area for the past six years, was keen to provide an integrated publication for the area in view of its split between five London Boroughs. The magazine would promote local interests, news stories and businesses, and would be funded by advertisements.

The Chamber welcomed the venture and wished it every success.

8. Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI)

Sue said that a speaker was due to talk about LEGI at a forthcoming Neighbourhood Partnership meeting at the Salvation Army Hall. She said that Sharon Baldwin (LB Croydon) hoped to bring someone along to discuss LEGI at the next meeting of the Chamber.

9. Any Other Business

Fireworks

Karen reminded everyone of the Fireworks Display on 29 November on the top terraces of the Park and said that it would be a spectacular occasion to commemorate the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Crystal Palace's destruction by fire.

Ice Rink

Karen said that this was due to open on 25 November. [Subsequently, the Crystal Palace Foundation website notes that this has been cancelled by the LDA - apparently because of lack of funds]: http://www.crystalpalacefoundation.org.uk/Events/




Crystal Palace project

Ray Hall said that he was planning to talk to the Park dialogue group about his proposals at a meeting on 24 November. Sue said that the traders were 100% behind the project and that she would encourage them to come along to give support

The meeting ended at 8.20 p.m.

Date of next meeting: Tuesday 5 December at 6.45 for 7 p.m., Lorenzo's Restaurant (Christmas party)

then Tuesday 6 February 2007.