Open invitation: the feeble security on the gate to Purley Way Playing Fields makes it easy access for fly-tippers
There are multiple reasons why Croydon has become such a soft-touch for fly-tippers since Jason Perry became executive Mayor.
Because as well as not bothering to prosecute fly-tippers, part-time Perry’s council appears to be going out of its way to make the illegal activity as problem-free as possible.
Take the Purley Way Playing Fields, a frequent destination for some groups of travellers, who have a a long and tawdry record of leaving piles of rubbish in their wake once they have been served with eviction orders and moved on. The resulting clear-up is paid for out of residents’ Council Tax. Repeatedly.
Reports at the weekend suggest that there might be a return visit underway now.
Most residents might expect that the council would make the public playing fields as difficult to access as possible.
Chain gang: all that stands between fly-tippers and the Purley Way Playing Fields
But have you checked out the security on the gates off the A23?
Piss-poor Perry’s council has got just a single chain on the gate to the playing fields. A real snip for anyone with a set of bolt cutters. They might as well leave the gates open, to save on the expense of a replacement chain…
The gateway is meant to have two pull-up posts, with vandal-proof locks, two other vandal-proof locks on the main gate and a height restriction barrier. The height restriction barrier looks like it might fall over if someone gives it a gentle nudge. The pull-up posts are there. Just no one has bothered to pull them up.
There’s still no CCTV camera on the gate, to record the chains being cut – a routine preventative measure in today’s digital-first Croydon, surely?
Part-time Perry remains the managing director of a building supplies business. Surely he could sort out a discount deal on the equipment for the council?
And while no one is suggesting that the executive Mayor should be going round the borough’s parks and open spaces and personally locking up the gates each evening (although he probably could benefit from the exercise), the clue is in the word “executive”: he is responsible for ensuring that council officials and its contractors are doing the jobs that they are paid to do.
And there’s no sign that he is doing that.
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ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
The Purley Way playing fields are in Waddon ward and the new Croydon West constituency. Maybe the Conservative ward councillor and prospective Parliamentary candidate, Simon Fox, can have a word in the Mayor’s cloth ears to spend a few quid on prevention. Alternatively he can tweet that he’s had the expected fly-tips cleared up (at vast public expense), as he is wont to do
The travellers were there yesterday. Saw them as I drove past.
They’re there illegally instead of on a purpose built Council owned site next to Purley Oaks recycling centre, which the Tories stopped because they’re racist snobs https://insidecroydon.com/2016/10/14/tory-mp-calls-for-gypsy-site-to-be-built-in-labour-ward/
I walked past on Sunday afternoon, and I *think* the gate was even open.
And I have just walked by – they ARE back (Mon AM)
Nothing seems to have changed there since I moved from Croydon over 40 years ago.
Most rotten in country! Of course it is. And the reason is simple, laziest and most unprofessional staff in the country. The result? Most rotten with highest council tax in country.
Prevention is cheaper than cure unless of course you are the contractors employed to clean up the flytipping for a handsome reward . .
Serving the residents or are we serving the contractors…………..
Over to you for your opinions….