The following open letter is the lead article in Bromley Council’s ‘Our Bromley e-newsletter’ which also includes links to Easter arrangements regarding council services.
A message from the Leader of the Council.
Dear Resident,
Spring has sprung and is always a great time to look ahead, and there is certainly plenty to look forward to in Bromley!
The regeneration of our libraries has been a standout achievement in an era where other councils are cutting back, with eight newly refurbished across the borough and with our smart new Central Library due to open later in the year in its brand-new Bromley high street location. Each library has a wide range of events for the local community to get involved in, so do please take a look to see what is on offer.
Our leisure centres are rapidly getting back into great shape too thanks to multi-million pound refurbishments. The Walnuts will be reopening its doors shortly after Easter, boasting a fantastic competition-length pool, improved gym and new exercise studios as well as a sauna and steam room, a new children’s pool and welcoming café. In West Wickham, work continues apace too and will provide many improvements including a much larger gym and a competition-length pool as well.
Never to forget Bromley’s very own, nationally renowned, amazing Churchill Theatre, safely secured in the heart of Bromley’s town centre for future generations to enjoy.
A ‘topping out’ ceremony has just taken place in Bromley North, marking a significant point in the construction of a 75-unit affordable housing development on a car park next to Bromley North Train Station. Just one of the latest developments in the Bromley Homes for Bromley People programme to provide quality new affordable housing on suitable brownfield sites, saving on expensive nightly-paid temporary accommodation.
Tackling loneliness has been high on our agenda for several years with substantial progress made, so much so that Bromley has moved to first place amongst all London Boroughs for residents stating that they have as much social contact as they would like. To this end, we were delighted our Officer Loneliness Champion was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours for services to tackling loneliness.
Our Outstanding Children’s Services have proudly announced the opening of a new home for children in the borough to help keep young people in care closer to their support networks.
In Environment, we continue to lead London in recycling and Waldo Road is being modernised to ensure it is fit for purpose into the future. Waldo Road is on schedule to reopen by early autumn at the latest.
Last but by no means least, we continue our fight against the scourge of fly-tipping and prosecute perpetrators where we can amass sufficient evidence. At Walden Farm, the council gained a closure order to stop a range of illegal activities taking place on Green Belt land following the discovery of evidence indicating the land was being used as an illegal waste disposal site.
All in all, not too bad, I hope that you agree, given the grievously unfair funding settlement being imposed upon our council by Central Government.
A very Happy Easter to one and all.
Councillor Colin P. Smith, Leader of Bromley Council.
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Our Bromley e-Newsletter Spring 2026
Ends
For media enquiries, please contact Susie Clark, Communications Executive, on 0208 461 7911 or email susie.clark@bromley.gov.uk