CPCA hypocrisy?

[DerBrenster]

Happy New Year to fellow Sydenham residents.

I was invited to the official opening of the Capel Manor Farm in CP Park a couple of weeks ago, presumably because I wrote in support of their (second) attempt at a planning application in 2007.

The first had encountered objection from "local residents" and had to be withdrawn. This resulted in a delay of the opening of the Farm for over a year.

Imagine my surprise then to see two prominent members of the Crystal Palace Community Association (who had comically added a handwritten "CPCA" on their name badges) attending the event - staying close to the Deputy Mayoress throughout of course!

Surprise because it was the very same CPCA who were the (only) original objectors! The ones who had blocked it in the first place were now attending the delayed opening! How brass necked are they??

Now when I was growing up, such behaviour would have been described as massively hypocritical. But these people seem to know no shame.

I was going to have a word with Mr. John Payne at the post opening buffet but time was pressing me and they were in the long queue for their sarnies so it might have caused a scene.

I've told them they don't represent me to their faces before when they've been scaremongering in the park anyway.

So this post satisfies my desire to expose them once again as small minded, self promoting, NIMBY's who represent nobody but themselves and who would seemingly like to immerse their little worlds - and mine - in aspic whilst they shout loudly from the rooftops about how terrible progress and change is.

The same type of person who in 1851 would almost certainly have objected violently to the development of "Penge Place" into that new fangled Crystal Palace monstrosity!!!!

They're entitled to their opinions just as I am - the difference is, I don't claim to speak for anyone other than myself.

And I wouldn't go to the opening of something I'd tried to stop and then munch the food afterwards either.

They promised a mass turnout at Bromley for the planning meeting and produced just a handful of the sad old usual suspects. Perhaps after that farce, their bubble has at last been popped.

[ALIB]

This is the most flattering review of the CPCA that i have read. Unfortunately, they won't go away and seem to revel in obstructing any community progress.

[SydenhamHillAndy]

Harsh but fair. Everyone knows CPCA stands for Crazy People Chomping Appetizers...

[scott.l.hamilton]

Nice to see them further attemtping to halt any progress by threatening court action in regard to the 180 proposed flats on the caravan site.

article on pg 9 of the newsshopper, "A campaign is threatening legal action if proposals for 180 flats in a historic park go ahead. .... Association chairman John Payne said: This is a totally ill-conceived and ill-thought out plan which is unsustainable. It will damage the environment irreparably. "

I support the plan and feel that building flats on a caravan park is a positive move and it helps generate money to benefit the rest of the park. Overall the plan will add approximately 20 acres of green space back to the park. (going from memory, so could be off but I believe the park is 170+ acres in total and currently 130+ are green. The plan will end with 160+ being green.)

People whinge about the "deterioration" of Sydenham and CP but then fight any possible change and rennovation.

[leenewham]

I agree Scott.

There are lots of objections to building on a park. Reading some comments to articles on press websites it appears that people think that they will be building on childrens playgrounds.

When the park was originally built there were lots of buildings in the park, most of which are now gone.

[SMOKEIT]

i fully agree with all of the above and i live in crystal palace park road
what gets me is they act like they the voice of the masses and after they lose they try kick up a stink with one of there press cronies

why doesnt someone start a petition titled: WE LIKE THE MASTERPLAN AND THINK THE CPCA ARE A BUNCH OF TW*TS

[nasaroc]

Scott is correct to point out that building on the caravan site will mean more parkland freed for public use not less.

And if you read the entire report you will see that the plan is to create even more public green space by removing existing buildings such as the "athlete's hostel" (the tower block right in the middle) to the outside of the park.

Currently there are 58.6 hectares of green space. The plan is to end up with 73.2 hectares.

In other words, we will gain 14.6 hectares of green space if these proposals go ahead. That's 36 acres of extra green space - the equivalent of 36 football pitches!

[boon]

And if you read the entire report you will see that the plan is to create even more public green space by removing existing buildings such as the "athlete's hostel" (the tower block right in the middle) to the outside of the park.

Wow, I'd like to see the mechanics behind that!

[nasaroc]

And people ask me why I don't post on this forum any more!

[boon]

If you're actually offended, please don't be - it was just a joke. It amuses me to think about them jacking up that tower block and wheeling it to the outside of the park.

The last thing I want is for you to feel that I was making fun of you personally. I'm sorry if that's how it came across.