Upcoming road closures in the area…

WURA have been informed that there will be road closures/restrictions blocking parking bays outside 9 and 28 Whytecliffe Road as follows:

1. Date: 27th October, Purley High Street and Whytecliffe Road South Purley

2. Period: approx 3 days closures/restrictions. Follow diversion signs.

3. Reason: Crane operations

More directly affecting us: closure of Hayes Lane between Cadogen Place and Golf Road

1. Date: 11th December 

2. Period: approx 3 days

3. Reason: Telecomms

Diversions via Buxton Lane, Godstone Road, Hayes Lane, Whyteleafe Road, Whyteleafe Hill, and Salmons Lane and will be sign posted.

CHAIRMAN’S AUTUMN MESSAGE

I have lived in Welcomes Road for over 30 years and was drawn here by its serenity and sylvan appearance with its detached houses of varying sized plots, all still en situ today although as with everywhere a few things have changed. Sometime after moving in, I was asked to join the road committee whose remit is the upkeep of the road surfaces in Welcomes and Uplands (these are unadopted roads subject to the Highways act thus useable by all) collecting a levy from each residency according to the applied Council Tax rate plus dealing with associated matters.

WURA is not a Residents’ association as we are under the umbrella of KENDRA a very capable organisation the ‘mouthpiece’ for all in the Kenley area. Geoff James at KENDRA keeps a watchful eye on Planning matters and is always available for advice. His work has increased in recent years with multiple applications to demolish family homes and build two storey ‘flats’ of maximum 9 units of varying sizes all currently concentrated in the lower end of Welcomes, all are within walking distance of Kenley railway station and bus routes. Hopefully when all developments are completed the new properties (most look like large family houses) will blend in with the local landscape although lack of parking bays may be an issue.

To those of you seeking to buy a property in our area you will appreciate the ease of access to wooded open spaces especially for families with children and dogs and the many amenities (M25/Gatwick/mainline trains etc.) all within easy reach. Hopefully I have painted an appealing picture of our unique area and if you do decide to buy into our area I look forward to welcoming you.

CB 10th October 2019

Simone Drive road closure – 9th October

Croydon Council will be carrying out long-awaited resurfacing work on Simone Drive on Wednesday 9th October. The road will be closed for the duration with extremely limited access.

The fact that this work is finally happening is partly due to the persistence of the WURA secretary in raising awareness of the poor state of the road surface with the council over the last few months.

The 1862 plan in the modern era

Our previous history post showed the individual lots from the Wellcomes and Garston Farm, sold at auction in 1862.

The same plots are shown below, superimposed on a modern map to show their location.

Lot 1, the original farm house with surrounding yard and buildings, can still be seen in Hayes Lane, between the junction with Welcomes Road and before Frosbisher Close. The Kitchen Meadow, lot 2, extended back towards Welcomes Road from there, covering the land now occupied by Kearton Close.

Lot 4, Wyse Wood, would have been near where ZigZag road is now, with the Shaw and Pit of Lot 6 being near Uplands Road.

Lot 8, the two cottages and gardens, can still be seen on Hayes Lane at the junction with Welcomes Road.

Lots 11 to 13 are located between Hayes Lane and Old Lodge Lane.

Lots 9 and 10 are now covered by Kenley Aerodrome, together with the plots further south and east, lots 18 to 21.

The name of Garston Farm, of course, has remained with Garston Lane and Garston Gardens, just off the Godstone Road.

Gabriel Lovelock, who farmed 300 acres from 1841, is commemorated in the name of Lovelock Close, off Hayes Lane near the top of Welcomes Road before the Welcomes Farm properties.

The name of Welcomes Road itself is derived from the word ‘combe’, originally meaning a hollow but then used to mean a deep wooded valley.

The WURA website is indebted to local history expert John Carr for making his map and auction schedule available.