| Bickley | |
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Bickley
Bickley shown within Greater London |
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| Population | 13,904 (ward, 2001 Census)[1] |
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| OS grid reference | TQ423688 |
| London borough | Bromley |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | London |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BROMLEY |
| Postcode district | BR1,BR2 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | Bromley & Chislehurst |
| London Assembly | Bexley and Bromley |
| List of places: UK • England • London | |
Bickley is a mixed residential area and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bromley, England. It is a suburban development situated 10.4 miles (16.7 km) south east of Charing Cross. With detached homes touching Chislehurst, terraces off Page Heath & Homesdale Road and the newer social housing in the Aquila development, the area is home to both ends of the social scale. It is part of the Bromley and Chislehurst Parliament constituency.
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Bickley lies between Bromley Town to the west, Chislehurst to the north-east and Petts Wood to the south-east, and Sundridge Park to the north. Bickley railway station has regular trains to London Victoria and Kentish Town station via London Blackfriars. However the only local shops are at the junction of The Fairway and Southborough Lane, and at Widmore Green. A medium sized Tesco has recently opened. Many residents also use the nearby Chislehurst railway station which was originally named Chislehurst and Bickley Park, Petts Wood railway station, and Elmstead Woods railway station, as these have services directly into London Bridge station and London Charing Cross.
In 2009 Network Rail and Bromley Council placed width restrictions outside Bickley station because of concerns about the weight limits on the bridge, causing anger among residents, because they were too narrow. Many vehicles were damaged and the road had to be closed for a time to resolve the issue.[2] The resultant speed restrictions have led to a significantly safer environment for the station passengers.
Bickley has large and expensive houses on roads such as Oldfield Road, Southborough Road, Page Heath Lane and Blackbrook Lane. Bickley Park is the area between Chislehurst Road and Bickley Park Road extending to the railway at Chislehurst station. This area was the estate of Bickley Hall. Residential development started in the 1860s and was completed in the 1960s.
Every year, the local Conservative Party organises a Diwali dinner and dance for Hindu and Indian people in Bickley; this has been popular, and most Indian families in the area attend. The event is restricted to adults, which is controversial as Hindus consider that Diwali should be spent with their families.
An area of greenbelt land on Blackbrook Lane, next to Bromley High School had been put aside for the building of 120 family homes. This caused anger amongst the residents of the road who had not been given any information about the planned development. The plan was put on hold and the fight is still continuing by the residents against the estate. However Bromley High School and Bickley Manor hotel have both agreed that the estate may be needed to meet housing demands.
Not long before a similar situation occurred which ended with the result of the new private estate, named Aquilla Homes, causing worry among the residents that their fight may not be successful. [3]
With entrances in Thornet Wood Road and Blackbrook lane, there are 62 acres (25 hectares) of wildflower meadows, hedgerows and semi-natural ancient woodland. There is a cycle route through this park to Petts Wood. The London LOOP footpath also goes through Jubliee Park and it is linked to National Trust countryside at Petts Wood and beyond that to Scadbury Park Nature Reserve.[4]
A large play area on Southlands Road with children's playground.
A small local park with a children's playground which has entrances in Pembroke Road, Lewes Road and Tylney Road.
Bickley has traditionally been Conservative Party stronghold and is currently represented on Bromley council by three Conservative Councillors[5]:
Schools in Bickley
See timetables in the External links below
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