Category Archives: Mario Creatura

Speakman speaks truth to the council’s powers-that-be

Posted on November 2, 2017 by insidecroydon

WALTER CRONXITE, our political editor, on a rare outburst of straight talking among our Town Hall elected representatives “Thank goodness someone finally had the courage to say it,” one very senior Labour councillor confided after Monday night’s full council meeting … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 council elections, Alison Butler, Croydon Council, Donald Speakman, Jason Cummings, Jo Negrini, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Oliver Lewis, Patsy Cummings, Phil Thomas, Purley, South Croydon, South Norwood, Stuart Collins, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tories do their bit for housing crisis in their Purley back yard

Posted on October 18, 2017 by insidecroydon

BARRATT HOLMES, our housing correspondent, on an interesting applicant at tomorrow night’s planning meeting with their own proposal for overdevelopment in Purley Croydon Tories, so often the Nimbys’ friends when it comes to opposing over-development in the borough’s suburbs, will … Continue reading →

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon Town, Croydon South, Housing, Jason Perry, Mario Creatura, Parking, Paul Scott, Planning, Property, Purley, Sue Winborn | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Croydon’s leadership may be resigned to change at the top

Posted on September 19, 2017 by insidecroydon

WALTER CRONXITE, our political editor, on last night’s potentially defining meeting of the council The body language spoke volumes. There, sitting behind council leader Tony Newman, the Labour councillors’ heads were down, the arms folded. Facing unremitting questioning after Ofsted … Continue reading →

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Barbara Peacock, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Coulsdon councillor Bains gets bumped in Tory selections

Posted on September 7, 2017 by insidecroydon

WALTER CRONXITE, our political editor, reports that in the latest Croydon game of musical chairs, the music hasn’t stopped yet Jeet Bains, the subterraneanly low-profile Conservative councillor for Coulsdon West, looks to be the first casualty of the enforced re-selections … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiscombe West, Ashburton, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Council, Donald Speakman, Dudley Mead, Fairfield, Heathfield, Helen Pollard, James Thompson, Jeet Bains, Luke Clancy, Margaret Mead, Mario Creatura, Purley, Selsdon & Ballards, Sue Winborn, Tony Newman, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Croydon Tories’ leadership abandon hope with their B listers

Posted on August 7, 2017 by insidecroydon

Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, has obtained a copy of a Croydon Conservatives internal document which shows their north-south divide of the borough when it comes to picking candidates for next year’s council elections Whoever Croydon Conservatives select to contest … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 council elections, Addiscombe West, Ashburton, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Fairfield, Gavin Barwell, Jason Cummings, Mario Creatura, New Addington South, Sara Bashford, Tim Pollard, Vidhi Mohan, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Housing association applies to bulldoze Coulsdon cottages

Posted on August 3, 2017 by insidecroydon

Some of the last surviving buildings associated with Cane Hill Hospital, located in a conservation area in Coulsdon, are under threat of demolition – because a developer says that they “are not economically suited for the area”. In this instance, … Continue reading →

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Jeet Bains, Luke Clancy, Mario Creatura, Planning | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Barwell breaks election promise to publish MP’s expenses

Posted on May 6, 2017 by insidecroydon

After his car crash performance on Channel 4 News last night, when the frit career politician refused to debate with guests from other parties, our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, finds that the local MP has also been less-than-forthcoming about his … Continue reading →

Posted in 2017 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Gavin Barwell, Mario Creatura, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Tories agree: Labour’s Fairfield deal looking good for Croydon

Posted on April 28, 2017 by insidecroydon

WALTER CRONXITE on an outbreak of consensus and agreement for the future of the borough Tory councillors’ “opposition for opposition’s sake” approach to the £30million refurbishment of the Fairfield Halls crumbled amid commonsense, the best interests of the borough and … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Helen Pollard, Mario Creatura, Sara Bashford, Sean Fitzsimons, Theatre | Leave a comment

£180m Fairfield operator contract is called-in for scrutiny

Posted on April 19, 2017 by insidecroydon

Fifteen Conservative councillors signed official forms to call-in the decision to award the operator contract for the Fairfield Halls, a move which some fear might delay the appointment process, and others have described as petty political point-scoring. The matter will … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrew Stranack, Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Chris Philp MP, Chris Wright, Donald Speakman, Dudley Mead, Fairfield, Fairfield Halls, Gavin Barwell, Helen Pollard, James Thompson, Jan Buttinger, Jason Cummings, Jeet Bains, Lynne Hale, Margaret Mead, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Sean Fitzsimons, Tim Pollard, Timothy Godfrey, Yvette Hopley | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Barwell adopts United Airlines approach to his housing ‘debate’

Posted on April 11, 2017 by insidecroydon

WALTER CRONXITE uncovers a Tory astroturfing exercise which has hand-picked the audience for a bogus housing ‘debate’ with the local MP Loyal Croydon Tory supporters of the government minister, Gavin Barwell, have adopted the ticketing practices of United Airlines ahead … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Central, Gavin Barwell, Housing, Mario Creatura | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Coulsdon’s Carservatives declare: ‘Carry on Speeding’

Posted on January 16, 2017 by insidecroydon

The Tories in Coulsdon have formed an unholy alliance with a car campaigner whose extreme conduct even saw him kicked out of UKIP. Our transport correspondent JEREMY CLACKSON reports The leadership of the Croydon Conservatives has been issuing post-truth emails … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 council elections, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon Town, Coulsdon West Residents' Association, Croydon Council, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, Environment, Mario Creatura, Policing, Purley, Sara Bashford, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Piles and stools: a typical night out with Croydon’s Tories

Posted on December 21, 2016 by insidecroydon

If there were any lingering doubts over the real reasons for the Croydon Tories’ continued hostility to having a gypsy and traveller camp at Purley Oaks – or, indeed, at any site proposed in the borough – then the presence … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 council elections, Chris Philp MP, Gareth Streeter, Gavin Barwell, Mario Creatura, Richard Chatterjee, Selsdon & Ballards, Steve O'Connell | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Barwell’s 2020 vision would see him run for Croydon Mayor

Posted on August 14, 2016 by insidecroydon

WALTER CRONXITE on the recent machinations and positionings by a career politician who is preparing for defeat at the next Westminster election Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell has admitted that he has ambitions to run to be Croydon’s first directly … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 council elections, Alison Butler, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell, Mario Creatura, Mark Watson, Paul Scott, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Down with this sort of thing: Tory petitioners get it wrong, again

Posted on July 7, 2016 by insidecroydon

After last month’s debacle, it should be clear to most reasonable people that “government by referendum” is full of unintended consequences. Closer to home, here in Croydon, it appears that opposition through petition is a bit crap, too. Mario Creatura, … Continue reading →

Posted in Coulsdon Town, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Dudley Mead, Environment, Fly tipping, Gavin Barwell, Mario Creatura, Quadron, Refuse collection, Stuart Collins, Tim Pollard, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Coulsdon residents call for urgent action on Cane Hill traffic

Posted on June 7, 2016 by insidecroydon

WALTER CRONXITE reports on a long-running planning saga which has seen Tory and Labour councillors indulging in political points-scoring rather than delivering solutions for local people and businesses The angry and frustrated residents of Coulsdon have called on borough councillors … Continue reading →

Posted in Boris Johnson, Cane Hill, Community associations, Commuting, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon Town, Coulsdon West Residents' Association, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, Housing, Jeet Bains, London-wide issues, Mario Creatura, Mayor of London, Old Coulsdon Residents' Association, Paul Scott, Planning, TfL, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Barwell’s forgotten campaign boost from Tory Road Trip

Posted on April 21, 2016 by insidecroydon

STEVEN DOWNES reports on how Gavin Barwell’s account of his election victory last year somehow managed to overlook the day when a Cabinet minister and more than 100 Tory activists visited the borough to help him Is this a picture … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015 General Election, Croydon Central, Gavin Barwell, Ian Parker, Mario Creatura | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

MP’s former employee blames Barwell for security breach

Posted on April 7, 2016 by insidecroydon

It’s beginning to appear that Gavin Barwell couldn’t be trusted to organise a piss up in a brewery, not even one brewing Dutch lager, after an ex-employee passed the buck to the Tory MP over a potential security breach at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Coulsdon Town, Croydon Central, Gavin Barwell, Mario Creatura | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Lager lobbyist Creatura given free pass by Tory MP Barwell

Posted on March 31, 2016 by insidecroydon

Gaffe-prone Gavin Barwell has been caught out in another abuse of parliamentary rules, this time by allowing his former parliamentary assistant Mario Creatura to continue to hold a security pass to access the House of Commons while working as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Coulsdon East, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Central, Gavin Barwell, Mario Creatura | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Just like cabinet, Croydon’s Tory MPs look split over Europe

Posted on February 21, 2016 by insidecroydon

The political posturing and positioning over the European referendum extends to Croydon’s two Conservative MPs, who appear to be split much like Prime Minister David Cameron’s cabinet. As one Westminster pundit has observed, the referendum on Britain’s membership of the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016 EU referendum, Ashburton, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Gareth Streeter, Gavin Barwell, Mario Creatura, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Matthew’s Yard shuts workspace after fire safety visit

Posted on February 18, 2016 by insidecroydon

Having been abandoned by their staff baristas, Matthew’s Yard is now threatening to call in the barristers. Sited off Surrey Street, Matthew’s Yard is the favoured haunt of leading Croydon Tories and gentrifiers, with its overpriced coffees and pretentious snacks. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boxpark, Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Jo Negrini, Mario Creatura, Planning, Surrey Street | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Luna mission that could light up Croydon’s night scene

Posted on February 3, 2016 by insidecroydon

While a Tory councillor was grandstanding this week with a meeting to discuss Croydon’s “night-time economy” – attended by few under the age of 25, hardly any members of minority ethnic communities, and by one proven racist, all of whom … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Coulsdon, Dance, Fairfield, Mario Creatura, Music, Pubs | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Tandridge has plans for thousands of homes on Green Belt

Posted on January 17, 2016 by insidecroydon

A neighbouring Tory-run local authority in Surrey is consulting on bulldozing a golf course and redeveloping next to a Battle of Britain conservation area in a drive to build thousands of homes on the Green Belt, reports WALTER CRONXITE Croydon’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Cane Hill, Caterham, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Environment, Gavin Barwell, Housing, Kenley, Kenley Airfield Friends Group, Mario Creatura, Old Coulsdon Residents' Association, Outside Croydon, Planning, Sam Gyimah MP, Sanderstead, Surrey, Tandridge District Council, Tim Pollard | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The year in review, as it really happened inside Croydon

Posted on December 31, 2015 by insidecroydon

2015 marked the fifth year of publication of Inside Croydon, and we’re proud to continue to offer truly independent coverage of what is really happening in the borough, the unvarnished truth, without influence or favours from the speculators or politicians, … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", Bernard Weatherill House, Boris Johnson, Boxpark, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Town, CPO, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Croydon South, Education, Emily Benn, Environment, Gavin Barwell, Housing, Inside Croydon, Jo Negrini, John Wentworth, Julie Belvir, Mario Creatura, Pat Ryan, Peter Underwood, Planning, Schools, Steve Reed MP, Stiles Harold Williams, Sutton Council, Tom Brake MP, Tony Newman, Waste incinerator, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Jobs for the old boys as Barwell post goes to Hammersmith

Posted on October 26, 2015 by insidecroydon

Croydon Central’s Conservative MP Gavin Barwell has appointed a former “hobby bobby”, John Hammersmith, as his new parliamentary assistant at the House of Commons. Hammersmith attended Whitgift School. Until very recently, Barwell sat on the board of governors of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Coulsdon, Coulsdon Town, Crime, Croydon Central, Gavin Barwell, Jason Cummings, Mario Creatura, Policing, Sara Bashford, Whitgift Foundation, Whitgift School | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Colour-coded divisions over Black History Month events

Posted on October 7, 2015 by insidecroydon

It surely cannot be deliberate, since Croydon Council’s press and publicity department is too ham-fisted to organise itself so well. But if anyone ever wanted a demonstration of how we live in a divided borough, then they need only refer … Continue reading →

Posted in Activities, Art, Badsha Quadir, Black History Month, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Dance, Education, Fairfield Halls, History, Kenley, London-wide issues, Mario Creatura, Music, Purley, Steve O'Connell, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment