We are a group of like-minded people who care about our village and do our best to preserve its unique character. The daffodils, crocus and some of the trees you see in Old Coulsdon have been planted by volunteers from the Association.

Conservation of the environment

OCRA monitors the green belt in our area - the open spaces and Bradmore Green Conservation Area - and protests against infringements.

OCRA keeps a watching brief over trees and tree management in the Old Coulsdon area and has planted many bulbs and trees to enhance the area.

OCRA supports the Friends of Bradmore Green Pond, a group whose remit is to ensure that our pond is maintained and enhanced by organising volunteer working days.

OCRA supports the Friends of Farthing Downs, a group dedicated to the preservation of this important open space.

Local issues

One of your Coulsdon East Ward Councillors attends OCRA committee meetings. They raise matters of local concern with the Council.

OCRA vets Planning Applications and comments where necessary to help ensure that developments and extensions are in keeping with the character of Old Coulsdon.

OCRA is represented on the East Surrey Transport Committee and puts its members' points of view about any items related to local public transport - trains and buses.

OCRA is represented on other bodies such as the Coulsdon Forum and London Green Belt Council, all of which deal with matters of a wider issue.

OCRA works closely with the Police & Safer Neighbourhoods Team.

Social amenities

OCRA was the prime mover in the establishment in 1984 of the Old Coulsdon Centre for the Retired in Grange Park. OCRA was also involved in successfully campaigning for the retention of Bradmore Green Library.

Additionally, OCRA gives you the chance meet your neighbours at functions including residents' meetings, a Theatre club and a Walking group that created its own 47 mile footpath to Brighton - the Socratic Trail.

OCRA takes part in the annual Village Fair organised by the Rotary Club of Coulsdon Manor.

Members receive three free Newsletters annually, listing upcoming local events and news together with reports from OCRA and its sub-committees. These are delivered to members by a local network of Road Stewards who collect the subscriptions.

We publish a Newsletter three times a year that is delivered to all members. For the princely sum of £2.00 you can join the association by contacting your local Road Steward and receive your copy, packed with local information and forthcoming events. It is delivered to your door by our volunteer Road Stewards, without whom we would be lost! If you would like to become a volunteer, please contact us at the address below. We would greatly appreciate your help.

There are also social events organised, a Theatre Club with a small membership fee and a Swimming Club.

If you feel that you can help us in any way by joining the committee, even if it is only have a say in what we do, please contact our Chairman or any member of the committee that you meet in the local area. We desperately need new members on the panel.

Drawings: Mike Blake

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OLD COULSDON RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION

RULES
(Click here to download a PDF version)

1. The Association shall be called the Old Coulsdon Residents' Association (abbreviated OCRA).

2. The Old Coulsdon Residents' Association area is bounded in general by Stoneyfield Road/Hillside Road, Caterham Drive and Old Fox Close and all adult residents shall be eligible for membership. Others may be considered for membership at the discretion of the Executive Committee (see Rule 9).

3. The objects of the Association shall be:

(a) To preserve and, where possible, to enhance the special character of Old Coulsdon.

(b) To represent and uphold the interests of the residents in all matters appertaining to the area.

(c) To communicate matters of local interest to members by means of regular Newsletters, by maintaining the OCRA website and by holding General Meetings of members as and when required.

(d) To promote and foster cultural and social activities, and to co-operate with Clubs, Societies and other organisations established for purposes consistent with the objects of the Association.

4. The Association shall be non-sectarian and shall not affiliate to any political party or participate in party politics.

5. The general management of the Association shall be vested in an Executive Committee.

a) This Committee shall consist of the following Officers: Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and up to ten other members, all of whom shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting (subject to Rule 22).

b) Meetings of the Committee shall be held approximately monthly at which the Chairman shall preside, or in his absence, the Vice-Chairman. Seven shall form a Quorum at Committee Meetings. In the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman the Quorum shall elect a Chairman for the duration of the Meeting.

6. Annual General Meetings shall be held normally in April. Other General Meetings shall be convened as occasion requires. All members shall receive at least fourteen days notice, in writing, of General Meetings.

7. At the Annual General Meeting a member who does not hold office shall be elected to examine the Accounts during the ensuing year.

8. All positions shall be honorary.

9. The Annual Subscription for each household, which is due before 31st December, shall be decided at the AGM and will take effect from the following 1st January. Members living outside the Association's area may be required to pay an additional sum.

10. The Executive Committee may invite any of the Coulsdon East Ward Councillors to attend the Committee Meetings where it is considered it would be to the advantage of the area and the Association to do so. Any Councillor who accepts the invitation will not be entitled to vote.

11. Each member of the Executive Committee may vote only once on each division.

12. The Chairman shall have a casting vote in any matters where equal voting occurs.

13. The Executive Committee may co-opt additional members where this is considered appropriate. Such members will not be entitled to vote.

14. The Committee shall have the power to appoint a sub committee for any special purpose. The Chairman will be an ex-officio member of any such sub committee.

15. The administration of membership shall be through a system of Road Stewards controlled by the Membership Secretary who shall encourage Stewards to achieve the highest possible membership.

16. Each Road Steward will be required to collect the Annual Subscriptions and deliver any Association items to the area allocated to him/her.

17. Each Road Steward shall pay all subscriptions collected to the Treasurer, or another person nominated by the Committee.

18. A record shall be maintained of the membership.

19. The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of all income and expenditure, report to each Committee Meeting the current financial situation and produce an examined report of the Association's financial position as at the previous 31st December at the Annual General Meeting. All items of expenditure require approval by the Committee prior to payment.

20. All monies received shall be deposited in Bank or Building Society Accounts.

21. At the first Committee Meeting after the Annual General Meeting:

a) Three members of the Committee shall be nominated to sign cheques or authorise payment from the Association's Account, any two of whom should be required to sign.

b) Duties, other than those of the officers, such as Membership Secretary, Newsletter Editor, Press and Publicity Officer will be shared among Committee Members.

22. Should a member of the Committee elected to an office in para. 5 resign, the Committee shall have the power to appoint another member of the Committee to fill the vacancy until the next Annual General Meeting.

23. A special General Meeting shall be convened upon written request being received by the Committee to do so from fifty or more members. The reason for the request must be stated.

24. No alterations or additions to be made to these Rules except at an Annual General Meeting, or a General Meeting convened for that purpose. The nature of the proposed alterations and/or additions shall appear on the Notice of the Meeting. The Rules should be reviewed at least once every five years.

25. Only the Executive Committee or persons authorised by the Executive Committee have the authority to speak for or act on behalf of the Association.

26. The Executive Committee has the right to refuse or revoke membership of persons who act contrary to the aims and rules of the Association.

27. Nominations for Officers, other members of the Executive Committee and Examiner must be in the hands of the Chairman or Secretary in writing seven clear days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting. Each nomination must be supported by a proposer with the nominee's written consent.

28. The Association shall not be dissolved except by the vote of two thirds of the members present and voting at a General Meeting, on the agenda of which shall appear the question of dissolution. On dissolution any surplus funds shall be paid to local charities to be decided by the outgoing Executive Committee.