Crystal Palace Local

PHOTOS of the historic subway under Crystal Palace Parade reveal repair and maintenance work planned for last year has still not been done.

Now the Norwood Society is calling on Bromley council to take immediate action before another winter sets in.

Norwood Society vice president Peter Austin, who took the accompanying photos during an official site visit made to the subway as part of the inquiry into Crystal Palace Park, said: "In view of the subway's deteriorating condition with graffiti on the internal walls and dilapidated ceilings this should now be given the highest priority - otherwise an important part of our heritage in a grade 2* listed national park could be lost."

Mr Austin, who went on the site visit as part of his involvement in the Crystal Palace Park dialogue process which preceded the inquiry, said the proposed work to the entrance, access and supporting walls was supposed to have taken place with English Heritage funding last year.

"But it now seems to have been delayed - possibly by the public inquiry."

Norwood Society chairman Eric Kings is now pressing Bromley council to ensure maintenance and repair work is carried out.

Historical Note: The Subway was the traditional home of a 'Subway Superday' until the 1990s. Designed by Edward Barry, designer of the adjacent Crystal Palace High Level station - now demolished - it opened in 1865 and led from the station underneath the Parade and into the Park.

The opening of the subway was much favoured by the ladies who before it was open would have to cross the Parade on a rainy day with their long dresses dragging in the mud.

During the Second World War the Subway was used as an air raid shelter and later to store some of the Palace statues.

Other planning matters which the Society are currently involved in include:

OLD LIBRARY, WEST NORWOOD

Groups and organisations are being refused permission to use the old library in West Norwood - even when there is space available for them.

The grade 11 listed building was renovated with the assistance of a grant from the SRB - Single Regeneration Budget.

The Society's understanding is that it was a condition of this grant that the restored building be managed by a committee consisting of representatives of the local community and of the local council - Lambeth - and that it should be available for use by the community generally.

Lambeth council have declined to set up any such committee and are restricting the use of the building to youth groups. Other groups and organisations are refused permission to use it even when space for meetings is available.

The building is also now in need of further urgent repairs which are not being done.

The Society have written to Lambeth's director of education asking for his comments.

The Society is calling on Croydon council to take enforcement action after an 'industrial-style' metal fence was erected without planning permission along the frontage of the former All Saints vicarage at 215 Church Road, Upper Norwood. The former vicarage has been extended and converted into privcate flats.

The Society is also asking that a metal fence proposed for Dorrington Court on South Norwood Hill should be reduced in height or resited further away from the frontage to make it less conspicuous.

Elsewhere the Society has objected to the proposed demolition of 69 - 69 a Westow Street and to the proposed change of use of the former bingo hall and one-time cinema at 25 Church Road, Upper Norwood to a church on the grounds that there is no on-site parking and the surrounding area is already heavily parked on Sunday mornings with cars belonging to the members of other congregations as well as those of local residents.