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Category Archives: Libraries
South Norwood’s ‘brutalist’ library in Top 10 attractions
Yet more sphincter-clenching embarrassment for the Blairites who control Croydon’s Labour Party, as the public library which their local council wants to flog off, for possible demolition and redevelopment, is to feature in September’s Open House London celebration of all … Continue reading
Croydon Labour to return to the Three-Day Week for libraries
Oliver “Shit Show” Lewis, the councillor with responsibility for the borough’s culture, has had a second set of money-saving proposals for Croydon libraries mostly rejected, and so will preside over the council’s statutory service now being provided on just three … Continue reading
Four more public libraries set to reopen after covid lockdown
At least a month later than most local authorities managed, Croydon is to begin “a phased reopening for all library buildings”, after the easing of covid-19 precautions. Four of the borough’s 13 public libraries – at Broad Green, Sanderstead, Shirley … Continue reading
Posted in Activities, Broad Green, Croydon Council, Education, Libraries, Sanderstead, Shirley, Upper Norwood Library Trust
Tagged Bradmore Green, Bradmore Green Library, Broad Green, Coulsdon, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Libraries, London Borough of Croydon, Sanderstead, Sanderstead Library, Shirley, Shirley Library
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Children’s summer challenge is to search for their wild heroes
Croydon libraries’ 2021 summer reading challenge has a “Wild World Heroes” theme, focusing on making a difference to the environment. The challenge asks children aged between four and 11 to visit their local library (in the few hours when it … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Libraries
Tagged Croydon Public Libraries, Summer Reading Challenge
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Lewis launches reading challenge – when 11 libraries are shut
CROYDON IN CRISIS: As the council’s second consultation in a year to shut down a statutory service comes to an end, eight of the borough’s libraries remain closed for the majority of the week. By STEVEN DOWNES With all the … Continue reading
The show must go on: theatre groups prepare for reopening
SANJANA IDNANI reports on how local theatrical venues and amdram groups have been dealing with the covid lockdown as they prepare to put on their summer shows Theatre companies and performers across the borough have faced their fair share of … Continue reading
Council forced to back down over plan to close five libraries
Having created a threat to close five of the borough’s public libraries, the witless Labour administration is now trying to claim the credit for ‘saving’ them. By STEVEN DOWNES For the second time in just two years, hapless Ollie Lewis, … Continue reading
Posted in Broad Green, Croydon Council, Libraries, Old Coulsdon, Oliver Lewis, Sanderstead, Shirley, South Norwood
Tagged Bradmore Green Library, Broad Green, Broad Green Library, Coulsdon, Croydon Public Libraries, Old Coulsdon, Oliver Lewis, Sanderstead, Sanderstead Library, Shirley, Shirley Library, South Norwood, South Norwood Library
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Under-threat libraries missing from council’s re-opening plans
Croydon Council this morning released details of its phased re-opening of some of the borough’s public libraries – but with no immediate plans for three of the buildings which it has listed for permanent closure in its recent consultation. Broad … Continue reading
Posted in Ashburton, Broad Green, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Libraries, New Addington, Norbury, Old Coulsdon, Purley, Sanderstead, Selsdon and Addington Village, Shirley, South Norwood, Thornton Heath
Tagged Bradmore Green Library, Broad Green, coronavirus, Coulsdon, Covid-19, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Public Libraries, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, New Addington, Purley, Sanderstead Library, Selsdon Library, Shirley Library, South Norwood, Thornton Heath
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Council is sitting on £22.5m in unspent infrastructure levies
While Croydon proposes closing public libraries, is withdrawing vital support from community centres and is making local sports clubs homeless, the bankrupt council is sitting on £22.5million of unused development levies. Community Infrastructure Levy, or CILs, and Section 106 contributions … Continue reading
Council’s libraries consultation accused of being unlawful
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council’s penny-wise and pound-foolish proposals for library closures could end up costing it more money after a badly-organised consultation, according to a national campaign group. By STEVEN DOWNES The council’s latest consultation, over the proposed closure … Continue reading
Libraries are our long-term investment. Don’t squander it
CROYDON IN CRISIS: On World Book Day, RICHARD PACITTI outlines why closing any of the borough’s libraries is a very bad idea Think of an ideal public service. It would be one that was accessible to all members of the … Continue reading
Lip-service webinars fail to consider libraries’ community future
CROYDON COMMENTARY: As the council pays lip-service to a legally required consultation process, there’s a sense of inevitability about proposed closures for up to five of the borough’s public libraries. After sitting in on one of the council’s virtual Q&A … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Broad Green, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Education, Libraries, Old Coulsdon, Oliver Lewis, Sarah Hayward, Section 114 notice
Tagged Bradmore Green Library, Coulsdon, Croydon, Croydon Council, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Old Coulsdon, Shirley Library, South Norwood, South Norwood Library
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‘Joseph Heller could use Croydon as a sequel to Catch 22’
CROYDON COMMENTARY: The row between the Labour council and Tory government over the possible costs of staging a mayoral referendum has got loyal reader IAN KIERANS crunching some numbers Is it really £1million additional costs to stage a referendum over … Continue reading
South Norwood library needs £900,000 more to be fit to open
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Mounting repair bills has seen the bankrupt council earmark five public libraries for possible closure. But they are not saying how much they might make if they sell the properties. Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, reports More … Continue reading
Posted in Broad Green, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Libraries, Old Coulsdon, Patsy Cummings, Sanderstead, Sarah Jones MP, Shirley, South Norwood
Tagged Bradmore Green, Bradmore Green Library, Brick by Brick, Broad Green, Broad Green Library, Croydon, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Croydon South, Labour, Old Coulsdon, Oliver Lewis, Patsy Cummings, Sanderstead, Sanderstead Library, Sarah Jones MP, Shirley, Shirley Library, South Norwood, South Norwood Library
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Council survey on cuts tries to pass the buck to residents
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The people running the borough, whether executive staff on sky-high salaries or elected councillors, have a well-earned reputation for failing to listen to the people they are supposed to serve. So why should residents expect any difference … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Brick by Brick, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Katherine Kerswell, Libraries, Report in the Public Interest, Section 114 notice, SEND
Tagged Brick by Brick, Croydon, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI, S114, Section 114
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Strange Cummings and goings as protests begin over library
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The battle has begun to save the borough’s libraries, under threat because of the council’s financial collapse. GENE BRODIE reports from yesterday’s well-attended protest in South Norwood More than 100 residents, including many parents with youngsters in … Continue reading
Posted in Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jane Avis, Libraries, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Section 114 notice, South Norwood, Tony Newman, Woodside
Tagged Brick by Brick, Clive Fraser, Croydon, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jane Avis, Labour, London, London Assembly, London Borough of Croydon, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, S114, Section 114, South Norwood, South Norwood Library, Tony Newman, Woodside
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BxB-built library which has never opened is now to be closed
The story of South Norwood Library is just the latest example of how thoroughly screwed-up and costly the council’s relationship with its loss-making house-builders has become. GENE BRODIE, our bookish gyms correspondent, reports This could only happen in Croydon. The … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Croydon Council, Education, Jane Avis, Libraries, Lisa Taylor, Oliver Lewis, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Section 114 notice, South Norwood, Tony Newman, Woodside
Tagged Bradmore Green Library, Brick by Brick, Broad Green Library, Croydon, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Jane Avis, London Borough of Croydon, Old Coulsdon, Oliver Lewis, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Sanderstead Library, Sarah Jones MP, Shirley Library, South Norwood, South Norwood Library, Tony Newman
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‘Mistakes will be made’ warn staff after latest round of cuts
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Libraries to close, refuse dumps to close, while elderly, disabled and mental health services are to be cut. Even buses for SEND schoolchildren face the axe. Yet the council’s ‘renewal plan’ will still spend £37m more in … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Katherine Kerswell, Libraries, Refuse collection, Sarah Hayward, Section 114 notice
Tagged Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Renewal Plan, Hamida Ali, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, S114, Sarah Hayward, Section 114
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The cuts: Fisher’s Folly to be sold and 3-weekly bin collections
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The problem facing Croydon Council as it seeks to balance its books is that, after a decade of Tory austerity, there’s precious little left to cut. STEVEN DOWNES reports The frustration with the slow pace of progress … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Alisa Flemming, Andrew Fisher, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Libraries, Lisa Taylor, Refuse collection, Report in the Public Interest, Schools, Section 114 notice, Timothy Godfrey
Tagged Alisa Flemming, Andrew Fisher, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Lisa Taylor, London Borough of Croydon, S114, Section 114, Timothy Godfrey, Tory
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Libraries Week, but not in Coulsdon, Purley, South Norwood…
“It’s Libraries Week!” declared a council-run Twitter account yesterday. The exciting range of services on offer included using something they called “eaudiobooks”, perhaps to listen to while in the bath? But it is not libraries week if you would usually … Continue reading
Libraries, pool and Arena may not open because of cash crisis
CROYDON IN CRISIS: More embarrassment for Tony Newman as Croydon-owned sports centre in his ward remains closed, while fears have been revived that the Labour-run council could flog off some libraries for housing Several of the borough’s public libraries and … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Croydon FC, Croydon Harriers, GLL - Better, Leisure services, Libraries, Simon Hall, Sport, Tony Newman, Woodside
Tagged Bradmore Green Library, Coulsdon Library, Croydon, Croydon Arena, Croydon Council, Croydon Public Libraries, GLL, Greenwich Leisure, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Norbury Library, Purley Library, Purley Pool, Shirley Library, Simon Hall, Tony Newman, Woodside
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Roald Dahl: From pilot and spy to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Twits, James and the Giant Peach… generations of children and adults have been delighted by Roald Dahl’s books. Today is Roald Dahl Day, and here Dahl fan and former primary school teacher LAURA STEELE, … Continue reading
Plans announced to reopen five libraries after covid lockdown
Weeks after other London boroughs reopened their libraries following the easing of covid-19 lockdown restrictions, Croydon has announced that five of its dozen public libraries will begin operating again with a reduced service from next Monday, July 20, including offering … Continue reading
£83m: Council counts the cost of coronavirus emergency
The Town Hall borrowing millions of pounds more, only 1 in 5 council staff able to work in Fisher’s Folly, local businesses ‘on their knees’, and a ‘tsunami’ of mental health cases presenting at GP surgeries are just some of … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Libraries, Lisa Taylor, Tony Newman
Tagged Croydon, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Tony Newman
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Council goes into covid-19 lockdown as it closes its offices
Council buildings across the borough were shut at close to no-notice yesterday, as Croydon went on a coronavirus lockdown. The council propaganda department made the announcement hours after Inside Croydon had revealed plans to close the borough’s 12 public libraries. … Continue reading
Posted in CALAT, Croydon Council, Health, Libraries
Tagged coronavirus, Covid-19, Croydon, Croydon Council, London Borough of Croydon
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