Community Updates
Announcements, road works, meetings, and updates from the Kemnal Residents' Association.
Thames Water are carrying out works near Marlowe Close which will cause partial traffic obstruction on Kemnal Road. The works are expected to last approximately 3 days. Residents are advised to allow extra time for journeys and to use alternative routes where possible during peak hours.
The 2025 summer newsletter is now available. This year's edition covers the completed tree works programme, pothole repairs across the road, our financial position, and progress towards obtaining charitable status for the Association.
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The AGM will be held at 7pm at Willett House (Mission Care), Kemnal Road. All residents are welcome and encouraged to attend. We are actively recruiting two new committee members, ideally from the northern section of the road or the side roads. If you are interested in joining the committee, please contact the Secretary at secretary@kemnalresidents.org.
Our annual tree works programme is now complete. This year's works included lifting canopies to improve sightlines, removing dead and fallen trees, and clearing growth around lampposts and kerbsides. All works were funded by resident contributions through the annual subscription.
A total of 28 potholes covering 106 square metres have been repaired, with work progressing from the south end of the road northward. The repairs were funded entirely by resident contributions. We are grateful to all residents who pay their annual subscription, which makes this essential maintenance possible.
Tony Allen, a resident of Kemnal Road for 38 years and former Chairman of The Chislehurst Society, has generously donated 19 copies of the 5th edition of his book The Story of Kemnal Road. This remarkable work documents the road's history from the medieval Kemnal Manor to the present day. To request a copy, please email secretary@kemnalresidents.org.
The committee has proposed an increase in the annual subscription from £55 to £95 (equivalent to £1.83 per week). At the time of this proposal, only £2,531 remained in the Association's reserves, insufficient to cover a single significant road repair. The question of whether Bromley Council could adopt the road has been explored, but this option remains unlikely given the council's own financial pressures. Resident contributions remain our only means of maintaining the road to a safe and presentable standard.
In autumn 2022, a significant section of the road opposite Acorn Close collapsed due to failed rainwater drains beneath the surface. Thames Water were contacted but declined responsibility, asserting the drains were private. Dukes contractors completed the necessary repairs in April 2023 at a cost of £18,843, a major expense that highlighted the importance of maintaining adequate reserves.
A reminder that Kemnal Road lies within the Chislehurst Conservation Area. All trees are protected and residents must give 6 weeks' notice to Bromley Council before carrying out any tree work, including pruning. Specific woodlands on the road are also subject to Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). Fines for unauthorised tree work can be as high as £20,000. If in doubt, please contact the council's tree officer or the Association before undertaking any works.