HADRA Christmas Bulletin 2020

WELCOME TO THE HADRA CHRISTMAS BULLETIN!

Newsletter of the Hartley and District Residents’ Association, Winter 2020 Protecting and Advancing the Common Interests of the Area

We are delighted to bring to you this special Christmas Bulletin, which we hope will bring you some Christmas cheer after what has been a difficult few months for us all.

As ever, the HADRA committee has been working hard to keep on top of planning applications and other issues that affect local residents, not least of which is anticipating potential changes from the recent news of the financial collapse of Croydon Council. You can find out more about all the above on the HADRA website at www.hadra.org. If you’re interested in local issues, please join our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/ groups/hadraresidents or sign up for our "eblast" newsletter, to be notified of local issues including police reports and planning. Residents are also welcome to email action@hadra.org to keep in touch.

We hope that you will find this newsletter inspiring. If you’d like to make a contribution to the next edition, please send it to editor@hadra.org.

MEET YOUR GOOD NEIGHBOURS

It has been wonderful to see the efforts that many local businesses have undertaken to ease the hardships of those around us who have been in need of a bit of extra support. We are sure there are many others, but here are a few that caught our attention:District Cars EVO & Coughlans Bakery - District Cars EVO have been collecting surplus products from Coughlans bakeries in Coulsdon and Purley and holding a food hub at their base beside Aldi in Coulsdon Town. Since Saturday 31st October, the food hub has been open every evening between 5pm and 7pm. Anyone in the community who is need of a helping hand is invited to take advantage of this wonderful initiative.

District Evo has promised discretion and sensitivity. They can be contacted on 020 8668 6686. www.districtcars.co.uk and www.coughlansbakery.co.uk.

Curry Leaf in Old Coulsdon did their part during Lockdown 1 by dropping off free hot meals and essential supplies to anyone over 70 who had been advised to stay at home. They set up a hub for donated essential supplies which they then distributed to those in need. In addition, they prepared meals for the homeless and dropped food to hospitals in and around London. Thank you, Curry Leaf! www.curryleaf-coulsdon.co.uk Bombaylicious - This Coulsdon takeaway backed Marcus Rashford’s campaign to feed disadvantaged children during the Autumn half-term break, by giving away free hot meals to school children, direct from the take-away restaurant at 145 Brighton Road, Coulsdon. Asad Khan, director of

Bombaylicious said, “Child food poverty is the greatest pandemic, no child shall be left starving”. Safe and socially-distanced pick ups were available Tuesday to Friday during halfterm. But that’s not the only charitable initiative that Bombaylicious have been involved in… read on… www.bombaylicious.co.uk

A number of local businesses including SI Aftercare, Stone Interiors, Offie Delivery, Sterling Commercial and Advanced Print partnered with Bombaylicious to donate meals to key workers and NHS heroes. On 1st November, this involved a delivery of meals to fire fighters stationed at Purley Fire Station, thanks to the generosity of sponsors, Lex Sterling Solicitors. www.lexsterling.co.uk The committee would be grateful if you could pay your annual subscription of £3 by one of the following methods: Bank Transfer - Name: Hartley and District Residents Association | Sort code: 60 06 14 | A/c no: 26581124. Please quote your postcode and flat/house number.

Cash or Cheques can be delivered to 52 Hartley Hill. Please quote your postcode and flat/ house number. Cheques payable to HADRA. Any difficulties please contact our Treasurer on treasurer@hadra.org for assistance.

CHRISTMAS WINDOW HUNT

In lieu of their annual Christmas celebrations, business owners in Old Coulsdon have arranged a Christmas Window Hunt! From 27th November, local residents can pick up an entry sheet for just 50p from any of the following shops: Pistachios, Danny’s Fish and Chips, Stella’s Emporium, Aycorn Shoppe, Tudor Bakery, and the Village Stores. Then find the painted windows, answer the questions on the sheet and you’re in with a chance to win. All proceeds go to the Christmas Lights community fund of Old Coulsdon.

A winner will be picked at random from all the correct entries received on 18th December. Find out more at www.facebook.com/CLOCfg.

SANTANDER IS COLLECTING FOR CRISIS AT CHRISTMAS

Santander in Coulsdon is collecting for Crisis at Christmas. If you have any coats, warm clothes, smart clothes or bedding to share, please deliver them to the collection box which is placed near the doorstep. Santander is also holding two other charity events, where you can buy Christmas wreaths and hand decorated vases. If you attend, please be mindful of social distancing. You will be required to wear a face covering. www.crisis.org.uk

CONSCIOUS LITTLE BOX

“Conscious Little Box” has been delivering boxes of clothes, toys, toiletries, gifts and books to those who need them in Coulsdon, Chipstead, Whyteleafe, Kenley, Purley, South Croydon, Caterham and Woldingham. The latest count included 26 families, 1 local hospital and 2 care facilities!

Special thanks go to all who have donated to the project, I Calabresi Deli Caffe, The Pembroke, Pistachios in the Park and particularly to Roma’s Hair Salon for the use of their facilities.

To request a box for yourself or make a referral for somebody else, please message the Facebook page stating age, gender and area. www.facebook.com/consciouslittlebox

LOCKDOWN WALKS

If you’re stuck for ways to make your daily exercise more interesting this Winter, don your walking boots and head outside with celebrity company! The Friends of Farthing Downs and Happy Valley have relaunched their nature trail in Coulsdon, with the help of an all-star cast of celebrities.

Joanna Lumley, Benjamin Zephaniah, Noddy Holder, Martin Jarvis, Miriam Margolyes, Gyles Brandreth, Tony Robinson and Richard O’Brien are among those who volunteered their time to narrate parts of the trail, which can be accessed via QR codes on 29 marker posts.

Croydon Council’s countryside warden, Dominic North contacted the celebrities and edited the material, dubbing in bird song and other background effects noises. “Originally, I was going to narrate the whole thing but when I put my voice on tape, I thought people would get bored!” North said. “I don’t know of another nature trail quite like this where so many famous people have been involved.”

The trail can be split into two parts: The Farthing Downs section (Posts 1 to 10), starts just outside the car park on Ditches Lane, is reasonably flat and takes roughly 90 minutes to walk. The Happy Valley section (Posts 11 to 29) is a short walk from the same car park, off Drive Road, and includes some steep hills and steps and takes roughly two hours to walk.

The route is shown by red discs mounted on wooden posts or you can follow the trail on your smartphone’s GPS, by using one of two free apps: Viewranger or TiCL. And if you can’t get out of the house this Winter, you can enjoy the narration at http:// goo.gl/GAeAZk.