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

Brigade confirms Smith as the new London Fire Commissioner

Jonathan Smith has taken up the role of London Fire Commissioner, succeeding Andy Roe, who has retired after holding the post since 2019. Smith will lead one of the world’s busiest fire and rescue services. He began his career as … Continue reading

Posted in London Fire Brigade | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Cut the Chase coalition exposes increase in racing dog deaths

There were more greyhound fatalities at licensed dog tracks in 2024 than in any year since 2020, despite the number of approved race tracks having fallen to just 19. It is the second successive year that trackside fatalities at dog … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, RSPCA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Worst experience of my life’ says Palace fan wrongly detained

EXCLUSIVE: Eagles fans looking forward to celebrating the club’s FA Cup final win at Selhurst Park last month were refused entry to the ground despite a search which, according to the Met Police, found ‘no evidence’ A Crystal Palace fan … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Crystal Palace FC, Football, Inside Croydon, London-wide issues, Policing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Podcast: Our Croydon Insider panel looks at council’s crisis

What will the appointment by government of Commissioners to run Croydon Council mean to you as a resident? After five years of ever-increasing bail-outs for Croydon’s cash-stapped council, what alternative actions were there? And is Mayor Jason Perry right to … Continue reading

Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon Insider, Inside Croydon, Katherine Kerswell, Ken Towl, Libraries, Mayor Jason Perry, Under The Flyover | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Boy With Wings takes flight at Wimbledon’s Polka Theatre

NAOMI TOWNSEND and her sister EMILY TOWNSEND travelled to Wimbledon to see the premiere of the musical based on Lenny Henry’s book, The Boy With Wings I had never been to the Polka Theatre before, and as I walked into … Continue reading

Posted in Theatre | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Croydon cricketer who helped establish game in Melbourne

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT: In the baptismal records in Croydon Minster’s archives, DAVID MORGAN has discovered another cricketer who was influential in the early years of the international game – except that Sam Cosstick was playing for the Australians The entry in … Continue reading

Posted in Cricket, Croydon Minster, David Morgan, History, Jamie Smith, Sport, Surrey CCC | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Summer Jazz at Croydon Clocktower in July, every Thursday

Posted in Activities, Music | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Morris in the Village, Honeywood Museum, Carshalton, July 24

Posted in Activities, Community associations, Dance, History, Honeywood Museum | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Rare flowers seem common on our Midsummer’s dream walk

Our latest wildlife amble for Inside Croydon readers took place this week, with MOIRA O’DONNELL showing the way across a part of the North Downs with rare flora and fauna, and all just a tram ride away Photos by AUSTEN … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, Hutchinson's Bank, Inside Croydon, Moira O'Donnell, New Addington, Walks, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Croydon haunting was ghost-hunter Fodor’s biggest ever case

BERNARD WINCHESTER outlines a ghostly tale that includes Conan Doyle and Sigmund Freud, a talking mongoose from the Isle of Man, and the notorious Thornton Heath poltergeist Next Saturday, Croydon’s David Lean Cinema is screening a curious film, a little-known … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Cinema, David Lean Cinema Campaign, History, Thornton Heath | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Croydon FC Annual Fun Day, Croydon Arena, from 1pm, July 26

Posted in Croydon FC, Football | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Raggio di Sole, handmade pizzas made to order, South Croydon

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

Posted in Advertisement, Business | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Raffle prize donations request for Davidson Pre-school, SE25

Posted in Activities, Schools, South Norwood | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Fire Brigade issues urgent wild fires warning across London

The London Fire Brigade has issued an urgent warning to the public of a “severe risk of wildfires” ahead of this weekend’s heatwave. London and the south-east of England have endured drought-like conditions with unusually low rainfall since March, while … Continue reading

Posted in City Commons, Croydon parks, Environment, London Fire Brigade | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rail operators ‘pause’ the removal of East Croydon bike rack

Southern Rail is to “pause” on its removal of the bike rack on Billinton Hill. The news comes barely a week after Inside Croydon broke the story of the train operators’ plan, which they claimed was necessary because of the … Continue reading

Posted in Addiscombe West, Commuting, Croydon Cycling Campaign, Croydon East, Croydon West, Cycling, East Croydon, Natasha Irons, Sarah Jones MP, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Imperial Way shooting: murder victim was attending a funeral

Anthony Morrison, the man shot dead on Imperial Way last week, had been attending a wake following a funeral, it has emerged. The Metropolitan Police has repeated its appeal for witnesses following the shooting outside CostCo at around 5pm on … Continue reading

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

Poor Perry shuffles his papers but can’t find any answers

TOWN HALL SKETCH: At the first council cabinet meeting for three months, Croydon’s Tory Mayor stamped his feet and screamed in self-pity, and then admitted that he can’t fix the finances. By WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor Jason Perry stood up, … Continue reading

Posted in Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Leila Ben-Hassel, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

‘Solution to restoring sustainability lies outside our control’

Here is the full text of Mayor Jason Perry’s letter to Secretary of State Angela Rayner, in response to the announcement that the government is ‘minded’ to send in Commissioners to manage Croydon’s ‘runaway’ finances I am writing in response … Continue reading

Posted in Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Vote for these benefit cuts and you deserve to lose your seat

More than 22,000 people in Croydon claim PIP or the health element of Universal Credit. So why aren’t Croydon’s MPs opposing the government cuts? ANDREW FISHER, right, looks at the storm gathering at Westminster for the Prime Minister Politics is … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Fisher, Croydon East, Croydon West, Natasha Irons, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Croydon network to get 24 trams in deal worth at least £50m

EXCLUSIVE: After being stuck at a procurement red light for five years, Transport for London says it can now order a new fleet for the Tramlink system in south London. By JEREMY CLACKSON, transport correspondent Transport for London has confirmed … Continue reading

Posted in Business, TfL, Tramlink, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Minister rules out new mayors – but Croydon’s stuck with ours

Government proposals over the running of local councils will mean more ‘strong leaders’ across the country – like Tony Newman. Or Mike Fisher. WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, reports The Labour government wants to “standardise” local council governance so that most … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Croydon Council, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Mike Fisher, Reigate and Banstead Council, Sadiq Khan, Surrey, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

MPs join campaign to save East Croydon Station’s bike racks

Two Croydon MPs have added their support to a campaign to stop Southern Rail from removing bicycle racks from East Croydon Station. Inside Croydon broke the news last week that the rail operators had given commuter cyclists just 11 days’ … Continue reading

Posted in Addiscombe West, Commuting, Croydon Cycling Campaign, Croydon East, Croydon West, Cycling, East Croydon, Natasha Irons, Sarah Jones MP, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘The Stormzy Effect’: Local hero is awarded Cambridge degree

South Norwood’s local hero, world-famous rap star and football club-owner Stormzy, received an honorary degree from the University of Cambridge last night. The award has been made in recognition of his philanthropic work in assisting black youngsters to study at … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Harris Academy South Norwood, Music, South Norwood, Thornton Heath | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Edinburgh Fringe and Croydonites festival previews, July 2 & 5

Posted in Art, Comedy, Croydonites Festival, The Front Room, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Anti-crime CCTV cameras nicked from Brick by Brick block

EXCLUSIVE: The winding up of Brick by Brick won’t see an end to the misery being suffered by those who bought homes or live as leaseholders in properties built by the Croydon Council-owned housing company. By our housing correspondent, BARRATT … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Housing, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments