The following open letter is the lead article in Bromley Council’s ‘Our Bromley e-newsletter’ which also includes links to Christmas arrangements regarding Council Services.
A message from the Leader of the Council
Dear Resident,
On reflection, thinking back over the past year, it’s been quite a remarkable one for Bromley.
Our libraries continue to go from strength to strength with Orpington and Mottingham becoming the latest branches to welcome crowds of residents, enthusiastic to see their newly completed upgrades. They join the ranks of Beckenham, Burnt Ash, Chislehurst and West Wickham which opened earlier on this year.
We believe that libraries are the centre of our communities, playing an important part in bringing people together not just for borrowing books and reading, but also to join up with other like-minded residents to pursue all manner of learning and creative activities. There’s something in a Bromley library for everyone, so please take a look to see what’s on offer yourself.
Community activities are a valuable tool in our ongoing fight against loneliness too. This year our globally recognised and award-winning tackling loneliness programme teamed up with our libraries and other local groups to deliver Christmas Cards created by local school children, bringing festive cheer to many residents.
Just small things in themselves which can make a world of difference for people who find themselves alone, particularly at this time of year. So please, if you get a chance yourselves, do spend just a few minutes making someone else’s Christmas.
With the Walnuts Leisure Centre in Orpington almost complete, work now continues apace on the reconstruction of West Wickham Leisure Centre following the necessary demolition works there. It is expected to reopen by early 2028 at the latest.
In Crystal Palace Park, the restoration of the much-loved iconic dinosaur models will breathe new life into the historic park, and in Beckenham, with the lake now returned to its former glory and multiple technical difficulties finally resolved, there is great news for Kelsey Park as work gets underway on the new bridge there too.
Perhaps the best news of all though, in my opinion, has been the rescue package the Council managed to piece together between the Trafalgar Group and Galliard Homes to save the Churchill Theatre. I must confess to having more than one sleepless night worrying about having to bring bad news to your doors on that at one stage and what a joy it was to get that one across the line!
Despite the profound financial threats the Council is going to have to manage moving forward (and more on that below - please take time to read it as it is seriously important!) we will continue to do everything we can to keep Bromley the special place it is for those of us who choose to call it home.
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Kind regards,
Councillor Colin P. Smith, Leader of Bromley Council
Our Bromley Newsletter Winter 2025 (bromley.gov.uk)
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For media enquiries, please contact Susie Clark, Communications Executive, on 0208 461 7911 or email susie.clark@bromley.gov.uk