Poverest adult education centre: have your say by Sunday

Published Thursday 15 October 2026

Comment on the proposed Poverest adult education centre closure by 18 October, plus Post Office alternatives and local events.

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Poverest adult education centre: have your say by Sunday

You have until Sunday 18 October to comment on the proposed closure of Poverest adult education centre. No final closure decision has been made. Bromley Council wants to move adult-education classes elsewhere and use the site for 42 affordable homes.

The council also considered keeping classes alongside housing: refurbishing the centre could allow 15–18 homes, or a smaller replacement about 25. It considers both options too expensive.

High Street Post Office closes on 24 October

Orpington’s Post Office inside TG Jones at 189–193 High Street will close on Saturday 24 October.

The two alternatives named by the Post Office, Ramsden and Tile Farm, offer neither vehicle tax nor Passport Check & Send, and both have a step at the entrance. Ramsden is at 35 Eldred Drive; Tile Farm is at 2 Tile Farm Road.

Dates For Your Diary

Wednesday 28 October, 7:30pm–10pm

Flat Earth Conspiracy talk in Petts Wood

Greg Smye-Rumsby will give a talk on Flat Earth Conspiracy at Orpington Astronomical Society’s October meeting in St Francis of Assisi Church Hall, Greencourt Road. People interested in joining may attend a couple of meetings as guests. See the astronomy meeting details.

Thursday 29 October, 10am–2pm · free

Bromley SEND Local Offer Live

Children and young people aged up to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities, their parents, carers and siblings can meet support services and try arts, drama, music, indoor sport and arcade activities at Bishop Justus School, Magpie Hall Lane, Bromley (BR2 8HZ). Register interest in free taster sessions.

What's On

Saturday 17 October

Coffee recital at All Saints Orpington, 11am coffee · noon recital · free. Organist Francesca Massey will play Bach, Florence Price, Francis Pott and Iain Farrington's animal-filled Animal Parade at All Saints Church on Bark Hart Road. The accessible venue will open for tea, coffee and biscuits at 11am; there will be a retiring collection. See the church’s recital notice.

UTSAB Durga Puja at Sanderson Hall, noon–3pm and 6pm–9:30pm · free ticket. The three-day Hindu festival will honour the goddess Durga at Sanderson Hall, Mickleham Road, from Saturday 17 to Monday 19 October. Saturday will include worship, food and a cultural programme from 7pm to 8:30pm. On-site parking is reserved for disabled visitors, volunteers and deliveries. See UTSAB’s Durga Puja details.

Black-cat stories at Orpington Library, 2:30pm–3:30pm · free, booking required. Children aged three to seven can join author Allison Parkinson for black-cat stories and colouring at Orpington Library, accompanied by a parent or carer. She will read from Cattitude and There's a Panther in our Garden and explain what inspired the books. Each ticket covers one adult and one child. Book the library session.

Aantarik Durga Puja in Chelsfield, 4pm–8:30pm · free. Aantarik’s three-day celebration of the Hindu festival will honour the goddess Durga at Chelsfield Village Hall (BR6 7RL). It will continue on Sunday 18 October, 11am–8:30pm, and Monday 19 October, 11am–4pm. Everyone is welcome; advance registration is preferred and closes at midnight before your visit. See the programme and registration link.

Monday 19 October

Fungi walk through Petts Wood, 11am–12:30pm · free. Local naturalist John Pelter will lead a 90-minute woodland walk looking for fungi. Meet at the woods entrance through Hazelmere Road underpass, BR5 1NZ. Booking is not needed and supervised children are welcome; uneven, muddy paths are unlikely to suit wheelchairs or mobility scooters. Check the fungi-walk details.

Tuesday 20 October

Grand Ole Orpy singaround, 7pm–9:45pm · £3. Jam along, perform solo or try something new at Orpington Liberal Club’s acoustic session on Station Road. The club bar will open at 6:15pm and takes card payments only. See the singaround details.

Roadworks and Transport

Weekend buses on the Grove Park route: On Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October, replacement buses will run between Lewisham and Orpington; Saturday’s Cannon Street–Orpington trains will not run. Charing Cross–Sevenoaks trains will still serve Petts Wood, diverting non-stop between there and Lewisham. Chislehurst, Elmstead Woods, Grove Park and Hither Green will have replacement buses only. Check the weekend rail changes.