Author Archives: insidecroydon

About insidecroydon

News, views and analysis about the people of Croydon, their lives and political times in the diverse and most-populated borough in London. Based in Croydon and edited by Steven Downes. To contact us, please email inside.croydon@btinternet.com

Perry’s anti-democratic council has created constitution crisis

For the first time since it was created in 1965, Croydon Council has councillors from five political parties. WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, looks at whether they will make any difference – or even be allowed to try While other councils … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Adam Kellett, Claire Bonham, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Gill Hickson, Mark Adderley, New Addington South, Old Coulsdon, Paul Ainscough, Ria Patel, Scott Holman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reform councillor offers thanks to dodgy far-right fraudster

INSIDE SUTTON: Yesterday we reported how the borough’s two newest councillors are already making a grifters’ grab for tens of thousands of pounds in public money. Now CARL SHILTON investigates some of the dodgy-looking associations that Reform’s Alison Long and … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Long, Dave Tchil, Janey Gould, Nick Mattey, Outside Croydon, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Grave error in the failure to reconstruct great Grindal’s tomb

CROYDON CHRONICLES: The Minster’s archive is a rich source of documents, registers, publications and correspondence that have yielded vast quantities of detail and information about the history of Croydon for DAVID MORGAN. But here is a letter that the archivist … Continue reading

Posted in Church and religions, Croydon Minster, David Morgan, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Junction Road Street Party, South Croydon, Sat June 6

C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Posted in Advertisement, Advertisement features, Pubs, South Croydon | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Free SWLLC benefits and housing advice sessions, Selhurst

C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T NOTE the revised timings and venue details

Posted in Advertisement, Advertisement features, Age UK Croydon, Charity, Croydon CAB, South West London Law Centres | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beddington councillor receives phone threat from Reform

INSIDE SUTTON: Labour and independent councillors form political alliance to challenge Nigel Farage’s party as official council opposition EXCLUSIVE by CARL SHILTON  Nick Mattey, the maverick independent councillor for Beddington, says that he received a threatening call to his private … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Long, Barry Lewis, Dave Tchil, Helen Bailey, Janey Gould, Nick Mattey, Outside Croydon, Sutton Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Cole found guilty of murder at Imperial Way funeral shooting

Byron Cole has been found guilty of the 2025 murder of Anthony Morrison, who was attending a funeral wake on Imperial Way when he was fatally shot. Byron Cole, aged 40, of Gleneldon Road, Streatham, was found guilty by a … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Policing, Purley Way | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

£30m refurb is underway at century-old Selsdon Park Hotel

More than 150 jobs to be created amid the rolling North Downs, as new owners seek to create one of the country’s ‘leading resorts’ One hundred years since the Selsdon Park estate first opened its doors as a luxury hotel, … Continue reading

Posted in BH Group, Birch (Selsdon), Business, Selsdon Park Hotel, Selsdon Vale and Forestdale | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Erato Orchestra concert, St Mark’s Woodcote, Sat May 23

C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Posted in Advertisement, Advertisement features, Art, Erato Orchestra, Music, Purley | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Dr Charles Drew annual health fair, Whitgift Centre, Sat June 6

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Posted in Advertisement, Advertisement features, Charity, Health, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Part-time Perry’s Leipzig dilemma as Mayor faces fixture clash

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Life-long’ Palace fan is going to have to do some work to earn his £86,000 council salary, as opposition parties refuse to change date of Town Hall’s annual meeting on the night that the Eagles will be making history … Continue reading

Posted in Claire Bonham, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace FC, Football, Mayor Jason Perry, Ria Patel, Stuart King | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Perry’s goons abandon threats against George Street homeless

Council security contractors may have failed to follow the law over their ‘thuggery’ and ‘bullying’ of what they called an ‘encampment’ in the town centre. By STEVEN DOWNES and KEN TOWL Threats of enforcement action against what the council described … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Community associations, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Mayor Jason Perry, North End Quarter, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

King and Ben-Hassel win Labour’s Town Hall leadership votes

Political Editor WALTER CRONXITE on how the largest party group at the council is beginning to be reshuffled One Labour leader, at least, has seen off all challengers this week. In a secret meeting held last night at Croydon Town … Continue reading

Posted in Amy Foster, Catherine Wilson, Janet Campbell, Manju Shahul Hameed, Rowenna Davis, Selhurst, Stuart King | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Croydon’s charity lawyers invite you to join fund-raiser walk

The London Legal Walk takes place on June 9, raising tens of thousands of pounds to assist with legal bills for those that need qualified advice, and the team from the South West London Legal Centre are asking the Croydon … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Charity, South West London Law Centres, Walks | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beddington Park river restoration talk, The Grange, May 19

C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Posted in Advertisement, Advertisement features, Croydon parks, Environment, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Council heavies move in on vulnerable people on George Street

Under-trained security officials, paid for with public money, are doing the bidding of Mayor’s favoured business group in ‘authoritarian thuggery and bullying’. By STEVEN DOWNES Croydon Council has been accused of being tactless, uncaring and of persecuting homeless people, after … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Centrale, Community associations, Croydon BID, North End Quarter, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Just the job! Council hands £200,000 finance chief role to Hall

Town Hall reporter KEN LEE on the rushed recruitment of a Commissioner-approved appointee to a permanent role in Fisher’s Folly, helped with £30,000 in ‘danger money’ Croydon’s cash-strapped council under Tory Mayor Jason Perry is still able to find enough … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Elaine Jackson, Jane West, Jenny Rowlands | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Stormzy film company to make movie of Ian Wright’s life story

‘There are hard-hitting moments but in the end I want it to give people hope and joy’ says Palace hero as the story of his growing up in south London is to be made into a biopic Two of Croydon’s … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Cinema, Crystal Palace FC, Football | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Perry’s cut-price carers support provider is failing to deliver

This is what “success” looks like under Jason Perry, Croydon’s failed Mayor. It is now little more than a year since the Tory Mayor decided to end years of successful collaboration and hard work by dedicated local charities and volunteers … Continue reading

Posted in Adult Social Care, Business, Carers First, Charity, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Wake up’ call from Croydon MP as she backs PM ‘Uncle Keir’

As health secretary Wes Streeting considers resigning from government, possibly triggering a leadership challenge, Steve Reed, Sarah Jones and Natasha Irons are backing Starmer “Uncle” Keir Starmer is clinging on to the job of Prime Minister, probably grateful for the … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, Croydon East, Croydon West, Natasha Irons, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Latest fridge fly-tip breaks barriers in Norwood Junction Station

Even by Croydon’s standards as the “fly-tip capital of London”, this latest example excels all previous dumps. A discarded fridge had been left in the foot tunnel beneath the platforms of Norwood Junction railway station, just by the stairs up … Continue reading

Posted in Fly tipping, Norwood Junction, South Norwood, Veolia | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Jimmy Regal and The Royals, The Oval Tavern, Sun May 17

C O M M U N I T Y A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Posted in Addiscombe West, Advertisement, Advertisement features, Art, Business, Music, The Oval Tavern | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Riddlesdown up for a cup double – and all in ‘bizarre’ 14 hours

Riddlesdown Collegiate’s under-15s might be the best football team of their age in the country – but English schools football bosses have presented them with the daunting task of playing two end-of-season finals within 14 hours later this month. The … Continue reading

Posted in Crystal Palace FC, Football, Riddlesdown, Schools | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Election podcast: How did 33% tax hike Perry manage to win?

It could yet go down as the biggest mugging ever seen in Croydon – the day that nearly 36,000 people were conned into voting for Conservative Mayor Jason Perry. So just how did Perry, the incompetent Mayor who hiked your … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Croydon Insider, Inside Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Rowenna Davis, Under The Flyover | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Artist Emin makes big announcement for Priority Seating Week

Transport staff will be at Norwood Junction Station on Thursday, handing out free “Please Offer Me a Seat”, “Baby on Board” and “Babies on Board” badges, as part of activities around TfL’s Priority Seating Week. It’s the eighth year that … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Commuting, Health, Norwood Junction, South Norwood, TfL, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment