Category Archives: Croydon South

Our four MPs are doing nothing to try to stop carnage in Gaza

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Are our borough’s four MPs doing the ‘right thing’? DAVID WHITE doesn’t think so “Israel has been genociding the Palestinians for months now. The point is why no one stops the carnage. This is the question” These words … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, David White, Natasha Irons, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Nosey’ Parker proves to be a costly expense for local Tories

Our Political Editor, WALTER CRONXITE, on a spectacular own-goal by Croydon Tories’ long-standing agent It is said that people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. The aphorism played out at Croydon Conservatives’ HQ at 36 Brighton Road in Purley would … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Ben Taylor, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Town, Croydon South, Ian Parker | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Big Brother arrives in Croydon with Orwellian police cameras

North End and London Road are to be the first locations in the country to have permanently fitted Live Facial Recognition cameras, despite significant concerns about the legalities of the surveillance techniques and questions over their whether they even work … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Crime, Croydon Council, Croydon West, Fairfield, Knife crime, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Policing, Ria Patel, Zoe Garbett | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Labour candidate refuses to answer questions over spending

According to their election expense returns for one constituency, Croydon Labour were paying a worker at a rate of just £26.89 per day during last year’s General Election campaign. And rival politicians reckon their numbers don’t add up, as WALTER … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Ben Taylor, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Croydon South, Ian Parker | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Planning committee signs a blank cheque for Polaska scheme

Croydon is taking on significant risks by granting planning permission for 220 ‘later-living’ homes in Purley, a councillor warned a Town Hall meeting last night. By our housing correspondent, BARRATT HOLMES The majority of members of Croydon Council’s planning committee … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Neil Garratt, Planning, Polaska, Polaska Assets Ltd, Property, Purley, Purley Pool | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Council now to pay subsidy for Perry’s ‘free’ Purley Pool

Proposals buried in a planners’ report show that a vast development of retirement homes to be built by private developers are to have Croydon’s cash-strapped council picking up some of their construction costs for a swimming pool and leisure centre. … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Polaska, Polaska Assets Ltd, Property, Purley, Purley Pool | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Hastings councillor offers a way through the political brambles

How should we counter the rise of the far-right? As KEN TOWL found out when he arrived on time at the Croydon School of Philosophy, by offering some truth and understanding In the School of Philosophy on Addiscombe Grove, not … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Croydon East, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, Croydon West, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Ken Towl, Natasha Irons, Peter Underwood, Ria Patel, Sarah Jones MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Residents scathing of report on Purley retirement flats

The fix is in. Council planning officials who describe the ‘harm’ that 220 retirement flats would do to Purley have still recommended approval ahead of a committee meeting next week. And there could yet be hidden costs for Croydon with … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Chris Philp MP, Community associations, Coulsdon West Residents' Association, Croydon Council, Croydon South, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, HADRA, Holly Ramsey, Housing, Leisure services, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon Residents' Association, Parking, Planning, Polaska, Polaska Assets Ltd, Property, Purley, Purley Pool, Samir Dwesar, Selsdon Residents' Association, Simon Brew | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

After 12 years, Lidl set to unveil plans for Hamsey Green store

More than a decade after the German supermarket chain paid £2million for the Good Companions pub at Hamsey Green, Lidl are primed to submit a revised planning application for the long-derelict site at the outermost edge of Croydon. Having thwarted … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Chris Philp MP, Croydon South, Lidl, Planning, Sanderstead | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

NHS plans bring Coulsdon’s eight-year saga close to an end

Residents’ associations in and around Coulsdon are encouraging their members and other locals to weigh-in with support for plans to build the long-promised NHS medical centre on the site of a former primary school on Malcolm Road. With £9.8million funding … Continue reading

Posted in Cane Hill Park Residents' Association, Chris Philp MP, Community associations, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Medical Centre, Coulsdon Town, Coulsdon West Residents' Association, Croydon NHS Trust, Croydon South, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, HADRA, Health, Old Coulsdon Residents' Association, Place Review Panel, Planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yes we CAN? Four MPs lobbied to support vital climate Bill

Residents who have become increasingly concerned about the climate emergency have taken their protests to the doorsteps of Croydon’s four MPs. Campaigners from the Croydon Green Network rounded off their lobbying by meeting Croydon East MP Natasha Irons, ahead of … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Community associations, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, Environment, Extinction Rebellion, Natasha Irons, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

MP ‘delighted’ as Coulsdon banking hub set to open by April

Almost three years since the last bank branch in Coulsdon slammed its safe door shut for the final time, residents are about to get a replacement “hub” to provide all the services that were once taken as a standard feature … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Chris Philp MP, Community associations, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon Town, Croydon South, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

MP Philp called out for being casual about truth and honesty

Croydon’s only Conservative MP, Chris Philp, has waded in to the race row fuelled by far-right extremists including Elon Musk, Nigel Farage and Stephen Yaxley-Lennon  over “grooming gangs”. Ever the opportunist, Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, used the BBC’s Sunday … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Crime, Croydon South | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Arise Sir Gareth! Southgate heads 2025 New Year’s Honours

Former Crystal Palace captain receives a knighthood after eight years of reviving the fortunes of the England football team, while snide Tory MP Chris Philp earns himself a gong for hypocrisy Gareth Southgate, who arrived at Selhurst Park as a … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Croydon South, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Policing, Sadiq Khan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Purley Pool revised plan to be revealed next month, Mayor says

A new planning application for the controversial development of the site of Purley Pool is to be submitted in January. That’s according to an email to some residents’ associations from Mayor Jason Perry, who appears to be taking more than … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Chris Philp MP, Community associations, Coulsdon West Residents' Association, Croydon Council, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, HADRA, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon Residents' Association, Parking, Planning, Polaska, Polaska Assets Ltd, Property, Purley, Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown, Purley Pool, Selsdon Residents' Association | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

All Croydon’s MPs vote for controversial Assisted Dying Bill

Film star Adam Pearson says he is ‘heartbroken’ by Commons vote: ‘We have a government who are willing to help disabled people die whilst doing nothing to help them live’ All four of Croydon’s MPs – three Labour, one Conservative … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, Natasha Irons, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Controversial Purley Skyscraper scheme needs ‘adjustments’

Our housing correspondent, BARRATT HOLMES, surveys some of the slow-motion developments that have been troubling residents in the south of the borough The developers of one of the most controversial developments in Croydon of the past decade say that, four … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Mosaic PLace, Planning, Purley, Purley Pool, Purley Way | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Just 2% of Croydon voters join petition call for another election

Tax-avoiding millionaires and newspaper owners are getting all excited about calls for another election. The same people who have said it’s too soon for another vote on Brexit, reports WALTER CRONXITE, political editor A petition raised by a publican in … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, Natasha Irons, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

‘Turnip’ Steve Reed becomes the target for farmers’ tax protest

WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on a new unwitting subject for a sharp parliamentary pen The last time a national newspaper dismissed a public figure as a “turnip”, Graham Taylor’s days as England football manager were numbered. Yesterday, it was Steve … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Croydon North, Croydon South, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Council-run Norwood Grove placed on heritage at risk register

CROYDON IN CRISIS: A listed building, and surrounding parkland that was bought by public subscription 100 years ago, has been declared by government agency Historic England to be at risk of neglect, decay or inappropriate development. By STEVEN DOWNES Tory … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Lloyd Park, History, Mayor Jason Perry, Norbury, Norbury Park, Norwood Grove, Property, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Croydon EV drivers are short-circuited as Perry pulls the plug

While world leaders discuss the climate emergency in Baku, here in Croydon, the local Conservative council is making it more difficult for people to reduce their emissions and save the planet. By our south of the borough correspondent, PEARL LEE … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Environment, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon, Parking, Planning, Purley, Samir Dwesar, Transport, ULEZ, ULEZ expansion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Judge sets Old Bailey court date for Sidcup’s anti-ULEZ bomber

Vandals contine to be charged, have court dates set and are found guilty after causing hundreds of thousands of pounds of criminal damage – while Croydon’s Mayor, who was an ‘expert’ on an anti-ULEZ Facebook group, and his Tory MP … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Chris Philp MP, Crime, Croydon South, Environment, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Policing, Sadiq Khan, TfL, Transport, ULEZ, ULEZ expansion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Philp gets a Tory top job to provide a never-ending punchline

Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, on a Parliamentary appointment that has had Westminster watchers rolling around in laughter Chris Philp, the Croydon South Conservative MP notorious as “the nose in search of a bum”, has finally landed a prize for … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Croydon South | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

It’s looking like Howard’s way for LibDems’ mayoral candidate

WALTER CRONXITE, our veteran political correspondent, reports on an unusual occurance for Croydon: the local Liberal Democrats getting ahead of the game While Councillor Rowenna Davis twiddles her thumbs and waits patiently for the Labour Party “machine” to crank into … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Pelling, Claire Bonham, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Mayor Jason Perry, Richard Howard, Rick Howard, Rowenna Davis, Uncategorized, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Deadline looms for Polaska’s ‘Purley Pool’ planning application

BARRATT HOLMES, our correspondent covering shadowy-developers-based-in-off-shore-tax-havens, on the dearth of information around the massive retirement homes scheme proposed for Purley Mystery surrounds the status of the planning application to build a vast block of more than 200 retirement homes on … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Chris Philp MP, Community associations, Coulsdon West Residents' Association, Croydon Council, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, HADRA, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon Residents' Association, Parking, Planning, Polaska, Polaska Assets Ltd, Property, Purley, Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown, Purley Pool, Selsdon Residents' Association | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments