Council planners recommend rejecting sports centre plan

Published Thursday 8 October 2026

Why council planners oppose the Creswell Drive sports centre, plus your chance to comment on Winter Gardens’ alcohol and film licence.

Top Updates

Council planners recommend refusing Creswell Drive sports centre plan

Bromley Council’s planning officers recommend refusing the Creswell Drive sports centre. Councillors on Plans Sub-Committee No. 1 consider it tonight, Thursday 8 October, at 7pm. The planners cite harm to protected open land and trees; a 6 October report update adds concerns about missing evidence on traffic emissions.

The scheme beside South Eden Park Road includes tennis, padel, pickleball and fitness facilities. Two proposed NHS consultation rooms would be rent-free, but the scheme excludes NHS staffing and running costs. No firm commitment to use the rooms has been secured.

Reminder · Saturday 10 October

Odeon church conversion: Saturday drop-in before planning application

You can question plans to turn Beckenham’s Odeon into a church at a drop-in on Saturday 10 October, 10am–2pm, at Citygate Church, 22 Rectory Road. The proposal would restore a single auditorium and uncover original decoration.

Citygate’s project FAQ says a planning application will follow, with a separate council consultation. Citygate plans to install film-screening equipment but has not confirmed whether screenings would be open to the public. Access for local arts and performance groups is still being discussed. You can also submit views online.

Dates For Your Diary

Thursday 29 October · 10am-2pm

Meet SEND services at Bromley's free family day

The Bromley SEND Local Offer Live brings advice, local services and inclusive activity tasters to Bishop Justus School. The free event is for children and young people with SEND and their families.

Friday 30 October · 8pm

A Night to Remember Motown Show at St George’s

Bizzi Dixon and the Motown Divas perform songs by artists including Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder at St George’s Church on the High Street. Book the Motown show: online tickets are £35.50, or £30.50 for under-30s, plus £2 per transaction. Refreshments are cash only.

What's On

Friday 9 October

Garden with Bromley Well at Kelsey Park, 2–4pm · Free · registration required. Plant and tend vegetables and flowers at Kelsey Park Community Garden, Manor Way. This session is for adults registered with any Bromley Well service; no gardening experience is needed, and tools and gloves are provided. Register with Paul on 07985 431484 or email lthc@bromleywell.org.uk.

Try English, American and Scottish folk dancing, Doors 7.15pm · Azelia Hall. Caller Tina Wheeler leads this week’s Beckenham Folk Dance Club evening at 258 Croydon Road, with English, American and Scottish dances. All ages are welcome; contact the club if you would like to join.

Saturday 10 October

Saturday Soccer School at Harvington, 9.45–10.45am · £10 · ages 3–6. EWTB Coaching’s Saturday Soccer School offers football games and skills practice for children from preschool to Year 2, with all abilities welcome. The session is at Harvington Sports Ground, Eden Park Avenue, on the pitch behind the church. Book the 10 October session online.

Look for wildlife in Beckenham Place Park, 10am–noon · £10 · adults. A Field Studies Council tutor leads a two-hour nature and wildlife walk, looking closely at plants, trees and invertebrates and possibly pond-dipping along the way. The booking option is for adults; all experience levels are welcome and booking is required.

Hear piano duets at St Paul's, 7.30pm · Free. Marion and John Blakely give a piano-duet recital at St Paul's Church on Brackley Road, followed by light refreshments. Entry is free, with donations invited for the church's heating project.

Sunday 11 October

Start SELO's season with Tchaikovsky's Fourth, 4.30pm · St Michael and All Angels. South East London Orchestra welcomes new conductor Alex Robinson for Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, alongside Brahms's Tragic Overture and Grieg's In Autumn. The orchestra's page links to ticket booking.

Roadworks and Transport

Saturday 10-Sunday 11 October

Charing Cross and Waterloo East close all weekend

The central London closure affects every Southeastern route that normally uses Charing Cross. Hayes trains run to and from Victoria, while other routes are diverted or reduced; check the full line-by-line plan before setting off.

Community Notices

Winter Gardens seeks alcohol and film licence for Beckenham Place Park

Winter Gardens has applied to Lewisham Council for a premises licence to sell alcohol for drinking on site and show films at Beckenham Place Park. The licensing application notice published on 2 October proposes both activities from 11am–10pm during an annual November-to-January event. You have until Friday 16 October to comment.

The licence would cover Winter Gardens only. This winter’s dates are not given in the application notice or on the organiser’s website. To comment, email licensing@lewisham.gov.uk with your full name and postal address.

Bromley family-centres survey closes on 23 October

Reminder · closes Friday 23 October. You can still comment on Bromley’s six Children and Family Centres as the borough prepares its Family Hubs service. Nearby Community Vision in Penge is the planned first hub and test site, bringing together parenting, health and family support before a borough-wide rollout from April 2027. The survey asks about existing services and activities. For an emailed or posted survey, call 020 8461 7259.