Category Archives: Phil Thomas

X marks the spot: Croydon appoints firm in administration

Posted on March 24, 2013 by

News reaches Inside Croydon of what appears to be yet another epic fail by the leadership at Croydon Council. On February 11, at the Town Hall cabinet meeting, Mike Fisher, the council leader, and his “top team” decided to appoint … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Croydon Council, Dudley Mead, Environment, Jason Perry, Margaret Mead, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Phil Thomas, Sara Bashford, Simon Hoar, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard | 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

Senior councillor goes west as Tories consider their futures

Posted on December 6, 2012 by

Phil Thomas, one of the “big beasts” of local Croydon politics for the past decade and the architect of the Conservatives’ 2006 Town Hall election win, is moving from the borough and will not be seeking re-election in 2014. “He’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, David Osland, Dudley Mead, Graham Bass, Margaret Mead, Mike Fisher, Parking, Phil Thomas, Sara Bashford, Selsdon & Ballards, Simon Hoar, Transport, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Portas fund pays £10,000 for Waddon underpass mural

Posted on November 6, 2012 by

Phil Thomas, the Croydon cabinet member in charge of the borough’s highways system, has broken a promise to meet with residents in Waddon to discuss progress on the area’s pedestrian underpasses – which were often ill-lit, covered in animal excrement, … Continue reading →

Posted in Community associations, Croydon Council, Phil Thomas, Surrey Street, Transport, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Waddon residents land a coo with Thomas’s promises

Posted on August 17, 2012 by

Waddon has a big pigeon problem, apparently. But the area’s bird shit-lined, often flooded, dark and threateningly unpassable pedestrian underpasses, the scene of at least two mugging attacks in recent weeks, are to get a council-run makeover. “And that’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Community associations, Commuting, Crime, Croydon Council, Environment, Parking, Paul Scott, Phil Thomas, Simon Hoar, Tony Harris, Transport, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mayor bans cellulars and proper debate from council meeting

Posted on July 4, 2012 by

ANDREW PELLING reports that Town Hall meetings have become even less democratic and transparent after some arbitrary rulings this week Croydon’s new mayor Eddy Arram marked his first full council meeting on Monday by passing an arbitrary rule that works … Continue reading →

Posted in Ashburton, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Eddy Arram, Gavin Barwell MP, Jon Rouse, Phil Thomas, Tim Pollard | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What a waste: Croydon recycles arguments against incinerator

Posted on June 22, 2012 by

Croydon Council’s recycling efforts have won an award. As local Green issues expert BRENDAN WALSH reports, this is just further proof that there’s no need for an incinerator The press release from Croydon Council this week positively bursts with pride. … Continue reading →

Posted in Broad Green, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Environment, Gardening, Health, Phil Thomas, Transport, Waddon, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Fisher drops the ball as he juggles his Town Hall top team

Posted on May 29, 2012 by

CROYDON COMMENTARY: His frontbench reshuffle at the Town Hall, with one obvious sacking, no promotions for his younger councillors, and an appointment which will displease Crystal Palace supporters, provides insight into the thinking of Conservative group leader Mike Fisher with … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 Olympics, Andrew Pelling, Art, Boris Johnson, Business, Clare Hilley, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace FC, David Lean Cinema Campaign, Dudley Mead, Eddy Arram, Gavin Barwell MP, Housing, Libraries, Mike Fisher, New Addington, Phil Thomas, Sara Bashford, Sport, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard, Tony Pearson, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , ,

“Scandalous” waste of millions on roadwork chaos

Posted on May 1, 2012 by

At a time of austerity, when we are told that the people in charge of Croydon Council are seeking absolute value for our money, making every penny count, it is not unreasonable still to expect public works to be done … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiscombe, Art, Boris Johnson, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Environment, Mayor of London, Parking, Phil Thomas, Steve O'Connell, Tramlink | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Council increases charges for parking, burials and rat catching

Posted on February 28, 2012 by

Did someone mention a zero increase in Council Tax? And did anyone mention the widespread increases in charges for a variety of council services, from parking to vermin control, which virtually all Croydon residents need to use? While Croydon’s political … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Care Homes, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Mike Fisher, Parking, Phil Thomas, Planning, Policing, Thornton Heath, URV | Tagged , , , , , ,

Accountability? Councillor Thomas parks residents’ questions

Posted on February 12, 2012 by

Our loyal reader has forwarded to us some email correspondence which, again, demonstrates that our elected council officials believe themselves to be entirely unaccountable to the people of Croydon. Or, despite the generous allowances that they receive, just can’t be … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Centrale, Commuting, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, East Croydon, Environment, Fairfield Halls, Parking, Phil Thomas, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Council’s roads deal in doubt as pressure mounts on Mouchel

Posted on December 29, 2011 by

ANDREW PELLING has kept his eyes on the Bloomberg screens over the past week to see that another of Croydon’s commercial “partners” appears to be on the brink – with Council Tax-payers possibly having to pick up the multi-million pound … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Dudley Mead, Nathan Elvery, Phil Thomas | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Council Question Time: exercise in undisguised contempt

Posted on December 14, 2011 by

If there is any remaining doubt that the people running Croydon Councilhave little if any regard for their public accountability or for the principles of transparency, or that they believe that “consultation” is merely a process to which they only … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Environment, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Waste incinerator | 1 Comment

Noxious stench is polluting the atmosphere of dirty Croydon

Posted on November 15, 2011 by

3 May 2010: “We have made it absolutely clear that Croydon Conservatives do not support incineration at all and will absolutely not have an incinerator in our borough or support one close to our borders.” 14 November 2011: Nine of … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Environment, Gavin Barwell MP, Health, London-wide issues, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Planning, Sara Bashford, Simon Hoar, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard, Vidhi Mohan, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Secret meeting planned to decide on deadly £1bn incinerator

Posted on November 10, 2011 by

Next week, Croydon Council is to make a £1 billion decision, which could threaten the long-term health of generations of local people. All the decisive discussions will be conducted in secret behind closed doors. The ruling Conservative group’s “cabinet” will … Continue reading →

Posted in Clare Hilley, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Dudley Mead, Environment, Jason Perry, London-wide issues, Margaret Mead, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Planning, Sara Bashford, Simon Hoar, Steve O'Connell, Thornton Heath, Tim Pollard, Vidhi Mohan, Waddon, Waste incinerator, West Croydon | Tagged , , , , ,