Category Archives: Andrew Pelling

Even in Croydon, the Tories are split over Europe

Posted on May 20, 2013 by

The splits in the Conservative party over Europe, so widely reported nationally, are even apparent between two of Croydon’s MPs, reports ANDREW PELLING With UKIP polling as high as 20 per cent in opinion polls this week, Croydon’s Conservative MPs … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015 General Election, Andrew Pelling, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Gavin Barwell MP, Peter Staveley, Richard Ottaway MP, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Ashes to ashes: Only Boris can stop Viridor incinerator now

Posted on May 16, 2013 by

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Did Sutton’s LibDems last night grant planning permission to Viridor for its £1bn incinerator project at Beddington Lane just so that someone else could make the tough decision to block it? Contributing editor ANDREW PELLING says that nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Boris Johnson, Business, Croydon Greens, Environment, Health, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Outside Croydon, Paul Burstow MP, Planning, Simon Hoar, St Helier Hospital, Sutton Council, Tom Brake MP, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

UKIP results are “poison” to Conservatives in Croydon

Posted on May 3, 2013 by

CROYDON COMMENTARY: If UKIP can gain Godstone in neighbouring Surrey, then what damage might they do to the Tories in Coulsdon or Purley, especially when 2014′s Town Hall elections are held along with European ballots? ANDREW PELLING has been crunching … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiscombe, Andrew Pelling, Boris Johnson, Coulsdon East, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell MP, New Addington, Outside Croydon, Purley, Sanderstead, Selsdon & Ballards, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Maggie and me: Why I could never be “one of us”

Posted on April 16, 2013 by

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Ahead of her funeral, ANDREW PELLING assesses Margaret Thatcher’s legacy for Croydon The Croydon Guardian reports that Dudley Mead, the deputy leader of the local Conservatives, can’t recall Margaret Thatcher ever visiting Croydon. Maybe it’s a sign that … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Business, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Education, History, London-wide issues, Purley Way | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Campaigners protest Bedroom Tax as “vilification of the poor”

Posted on March 16, 2013 by

More than 60 protesters braved pouring rain to protest against the Bedroom Tax outside Croydon Town Hall today. The protest was one of more than 50 demonstrations held concurrently across the country to oppose the measure that will mean that … Continue reading →

Posted in Activities, Andrew Pelling, Health, Housing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Croydon Central will have all-woman list for Labour

Posted on March 13, 2013 by

The Labour party candidate for the Croydon Central parliamentary seat will be a woman, according to a report on the Labour List website today. The seat, which was held by Labour until 2005, is represented by Gavin Barwell of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Croydon Central, Gavin Barwell MP, Gerry Ryan, Louisa Woodley, Nina Champion, Val Shawcross | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Library deal collapse leaves “£1m black hole” in council budget

Posted on February 27, 2013 by

The last-minute cancellation by John Laing Integrated Services of the deal to privatise Croydon’s libraries has created a £1 million “black hole” in the Conservative-run council’s budget for the coming year, according to a senior opposition councillor. Timothy Godfrey, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Art, John Laing Integrated Services, Libraries, Timothy Godfrey | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Tax hikes, more borrowing and party splits: Tory Croydon 2013

Posted on February 22, 2013 by

CROYDON COMMENTARY: There are signs of panic among Croydon’s ruling Conservatives, as the announcement of a hike in Council Tax has prompted in-fighting among party colleagues. Ahead of next week’s Town Hall budget meetings, ANDREW PELLING, below left, looks at … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Council Tax, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell MP, John Laing Integrated Services, Kenley, Libraries, Mike Fisher, Schools, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Shot-gun marriage provides £1bn Croydon facelift

Posted on January 17, 2013 by

ANDREW PELLING was a guest at the wedding feast this morning to announce the £1 billion Hammerfield union. He’s not sure it will last The risk of having a London Mayor who thinks he is a top-class joker is that … Continue reading →

Posted in Allders, Andrew Pelling, Boris Johnson, Business, Centrale, Housing, Mayor of London, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Gateway’s uninspired opening with a couple of blocks of flats

Posted on January 14, 2013 by

According to ANDREW PELLING, the first phase of development proposed for the long-vacant Ruskin Square site, in a town crying out for family housing, consists of a couple of ugly blocks of flats that even the architects admit are not … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiscombe, Andrew Pelling, East Croydon, Environment, Fairfield, Housing, IYLO, Jon Rouse, Menta Tower, Planning, Property, Ruskin Square, Transport, URV | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Pick of posts of 2012: Allders, comics and sinking ships

Posted on January 1, 2013 by

Yesterday, we listed our 20 most-read posts of 2012. We also asked some of our readers and contributors for a more subjective selection and to choose their favourite articles from the past 12 months. Here’s some of their answers: If … Continue reading →

Posted in Activities, Allders, Andrew Pelling, Art, CODA, Comedy, Croydon Council, Housing, John Laing Integrated Services, Libraries, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Planning, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Westfield lobbyist Scully selected by Sutton Conservatives

Posted on December 22, 2012 by

Sutton and Cheam Conservatives have chosen a prospective parliamentary candidate with a strong Croydon connection – and it’s not Steve “Three Jobs” O’Connell. Paul Scully is to be the Conservative candidate to challenge Liberal Democrat MP, Paul Burstow, at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Outside Croydon, Paul Burstow MP, Steve O'Connell, Sutton Council, Whitgift Centre | 1 Comment

Croydon, Christmas 2012: Scrooge is in charge of the Town Hall

Posted on December 19, 2012 by

CROYDON COMMENTARY: ANDREW PELLING is appalled at the hypocrisy of the borough’s leading politicians as they sip their glasses of mulled wine after voting through benefit cuts Christmas should be a time for compassion and care for family, friends and … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Charity, Church and religions, Community associations, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell MP, Housing, Jon Rouse, London-wide issues, Mike Fisher, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pelling predicts: Croydon by-election will set a record of sorts

Posted on November 29, 2012 by

ANDREW PELLING, a former Croydon MP, councillor and London Assembly member, has been following the by-election campaign and here analyses the high points and low marks of the past six weeks in a giant constituency which today will set a … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 by-election, Andrew Pelling, Andrew Stranack, Croydon Greens, Croydon North, Gavin Barwell MP, Lee Jasper, Malcolm Wicks MP, Marisha Ray, Shasha Khan, Steve Reed MP, Winston McKenzie | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

By-election candidate relying on Twitter to reach voters

Posted on November 16, 2012 by

In an exclusive interview for Croydon Radio to be broadcast on Sunday, one of the candidates for the Croydon North by-election admits that his campaign is relying on social media – Twitter and Facebook primarily – to get his message … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 by-election, Andrew Pelling, Croydon North, Croydon Radio, Lee Jasper | Tagged , , , , , , ,