Residents, commuters and anyone driving through Purley faces months of delays, diversions and disruption.
This week, pavement resurfacing work is starting between Purley Knoll and Banstead Road. That’s likely to last until November.
From Monday, road resurfacing will start throughout the A23 Purley Way/Brighton Road junction. That is scheduled to last two to three weeks, with work carried out during the nights between 10.30pm and 5am.
From August 16, gas main replacement works will commence in Purley High Street and then move on to Brighton Road between the junction of Montpelier Road and Purley High Street.
In October, work could start on the £2 million Purley High Street improvements scheme (you remember – possibly the world’s most expensive wooden bollards?), installing a town square at its junction with Brighton Road.
The always watchful Purley Mail‘s readers’ comments demonstrate increasing frustration with the way Purley has lost its amenities, and the way the area is poorly represented at Croydon Council and by its MP, “Tricky” Dickie Ottaway.
One correspondent, “Paul”, writes:
“Over the last 25 or so years, Purley has lost its
- Hospital
- Ambulance station
- Full-time Police Station
- Cinema
- Local high street shops
- Bowling alley
- Council office centre
“Let’s face it, Purley, once know as a proud and thriving community with all the above amenities, has been allowed by our successive councils to slip into urban decay with a town centre identifiable as a boarded up, rubbish-strewn crossroads.
“We desperately need a local councillor with a strong vision to not just stop the rot but return the amenities and community we have lost.”
Another, “JohnJ”, writes: “We voted this year for the return of our local councillors and we returned our MP Richard Ottaway. Question: What exactly do they do for Purley?”
Good question…
