Frequently Asked Questions

Who will manage, organize and market different events in the space available.

The space is open for any community organizations that wish to use it and also to just simply look better than that current space does. Obviously we don’t know what the outcomes will be in terms of anti-social behaviour etc but we have won funding to improve the High Street and we have to show we are trying to do this,  whilst also responding to what the local community said they wanted (all a bit tricky within budget!) and we can only try and see what happens. This area has been earmarked as currently being a bit of a disaster zone, plus it is a decent size space in which improvements can be made and the space used.

Yes we hope to use it for some community events but also it should be a nice space just to sit and eat a sandwich or drink a coffee that you’ve purchased from a local shop/café.

With regards to events-we only have one official event organised for Sat 24th June to celebrate the improvements and art work that is to be installed. The BID or the Panel don’t have the capacity to arrange all events, we do need other community members to come forward and hopefully this will encourage them to do so.

Going forward with this area improved it may be an opportunity for the BID to try and pursue another market or for other events organisers to come forward.

Currently there is no budget left to pay anyone for anything going forward, we just hope to make the area look better and hope this can bring some positive changes.

For events requiring equipment, do we have budget, where will it be stored?

Not relevant as it stands but for small community events the BID store a lot of equipment in their premises and for on site furniture storage boxes with locks will have keys left with the BID or Panel members most probably.

Do we already have a list of events, repeat successful events (e.g. monthly) would be ideal?

More info on this to follow but the area was designed in order to be used as just a nice part of town but also that it is possible to have OTHER USES, should we so wish-like markets etc.

We plan to have a Purley High Street Fete on Saturday 24th June and there is a small budget for this, then are hoping that local community groups such as the Scouts etc may want to use the space for a few hours on Saturdays or Sundays to hold/host any proposed community events.

Can we have a toilet in this space?

Unfortunately our budget does not stretch to permanent toilets, we are finalising plans for our High street event in June and at the moment I’m not sure if temporary toilets will be included or deemed necessary for a 4 hour event

How do we cover the refreshments issue without taking away local business.

Our event on the 24th June is to draw people into the High street and celebrate improvements. All the research we did showed people wanted more variety of shops and restaurants and a market. It is impossible for us to deliver on all these things with a £149K budget but we can host a one off event where we hope to gather the community together and show them what a great community spirit Purley has, whilst giving our community a bit of what they asked for, which was-the improved looking High st, market stalls, a few different food options.

We want to have a few food stalls that are a one off and different to what is already on offer in the High street and are hoping to have a few stalls that are local people who make goods, offering one of a kind items/home made goods etc. With a larger number of people hopefully visiting on the day it will draw people to the High street and we don’t think ‘take away’ from local businesses but hopefully encourage people to pop along and those that don’t eat/buy at the event will hopefully visit other local shops/restaurants etc and be reminded of what is available. Our event on 24th June is just a ‘one off’ event so won’t be impacting negatively on local shops and restaurants.   

Popular sports activities like football and golf are more suited to the Rotary Field

The need for sports came up high on feedback but unfortunately with proximity to roads/shops etc it is unlikely any High Street space would lend itself to be used for sports but what’s not to say we couldn’t have mini golf or something similar at one point perhaps in the future but it is not something included in the funding right now.

Noise/light will potentially be an issue with local residents so close

Any events would be advertised to local residents and be daytime only and not really on a scale that what impact them significantly.

Public needing access to lifts will be a challenge when events are being held

The designs have incorporated the lift access and any events planned would need to be mindful of leaving this area clear.

Permanent seating available 24x7 will attract anti social behaviour

Yes this is a worry and a concern we have voiced in the design stages, we have also fedback re the Uber drivers as we don’t want the are being a place that they just take over. However we don’t know unless we try and the seating aspect of the design is actually furniture in storage that has been used by the council and that they are keen for us to try out and use in Purley. If it doesn’t work, permanent seating will be removed and we will just be left with the area looking aesthetically better and a space for events, if we wish to use it for that. As a panel we feel we have to keep trying and bring positivity, it is a hard battle with antisocial behaviour but ‘the broken window effect’ also means when places look worse they attract more negativity then when places look better…. but honestly we don’t know until we try!

Who will maintain the greenery and planters?

This will be budgeted for and included in the BIDs contract for watering plants in town, that is already current for the High street foliage.

This events area is dependent on the weather, what can we do to mitigate risk, can we have an undercover space?

We looked at staging, awnings etc but for the amount of use the budget just did not stretch unfortunately. We have thoroughly explored gaining access to the empty Sainsburys site but this has not proved possible as explained in our timeline/latest news updates. Therefore we are weather dependant on any events like any outdoor events such as markets etc always are.

Who will conduct site visits and maintain this space and the furniture?

There is budget set aside for maintenance of the area and furniture for a certain time scale.