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Category Archives: Peter Underwood
Council gardeners are now an endangered species in Croydon
CROYDON COMMENTARY: While the new Mayor announces the restoration of some services, such as the graffiti-cleaning team, other parts of the fabric of the borough are still vanishing, like red-list endangered species, in this year’s £38m round of cut-backs. PETER … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Gardening, Heathfield House, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, South Croydon
Tagged Conservative, Coombe Wood, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Memorial Ground, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Grounds Maintenance, Haling Grove, Heathfield House, Jason Perry, Mayor Jason Perry, South Croydon, Tory, Waddon, Waddon Ponds, Wettern Tree Gardens
8 Comments
Election results leave Labour supporters angry and dismayed
With the final declaration in, WALTER CRONXITE reports on the state of the council after the 2022 elections By the end, the emotions on show at the Croydon Council election count at Trinity School were less those of shock, disappointment … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Pelling, Broad Green, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Coulsdon, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Jade Appleton, Jason Perry, Katherine Kerswell, Kola Agboola, Louisa Woodley, New Addington, New Addington North, Oliver Lewis, Park Hill and Whitgift, Paul Scott, Peter Underwood, Planning, Robert Canning, Sanderstead, Selhurst, South Croydon, Steve Reed MP, Tony Pearson, Val Shawcross, Waddon, Yvette Hopley
Tagged 2022 Local Elections, Adele Benson, Andrew Pelling, Brick by Brick, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Conservative, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon North, Croydon South, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mayor, New Addington North, New Addington South, Paul Scott, Ria Patel, South Croydon, South Norwood, Steve Reed OBE, Thornton Heath, Tory
13 Comments
Tory Perry wins historic Mayor election by less than 600 votes
Democracy was kept waiting while council officials struggled with their abacuses. By our sleep-deprived political editor, WALTER CRONXITE Jason Perry has been declared the first elected Mayor of Croydon, after a borough-wide vote sent a message to the local Labour … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Pelling, Croydon Greens, Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Trinity School, Val Shawcross, Winston McKenzie
Tagged 2022 Local Elections, 2022 Mayoral election, Andrew Pelling, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Green Party, Jason Perry, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Tory, Val Shawcross, Winston McKenzie
36 Comments
Not for the first time, questions were better than the answers
And with a week to election day, the last of the set-piece hustings was staged at The Wreck at the Fairfield Halls last night. KEN TOWL, pictured right, went along, so that you wouldn’t have to… So what did we … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Pelling, Fairfield Halls, Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, The Wreck, Val Shawcross, Winston McKenzie
Tagged 2022 Mayoral election, Andrew Pelling, Boris Johnson, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Farah London, Gavin Palmer, Green Party, Jason Perry, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Tory, Val Shawcross, Winston McKenzie
27 Comments
Stumped on the stump: candidates caught out over 2nd choice
It has been said that politics is a form of performance art… so using a stage in The Wreck for election hustings last night was quite appropriate. But it was one question that stole the show It was the first … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Pelling, Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Val Shawcross, Winston McKenzie
Tagged 2022 Mayoral election, Andrew Pelling, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Tory, Val Shawcross, Winston McKenzie
3 Comments
Mayor will have little say over borough’s rubbish contractors
CROYDON COMMENTARY: It is one of the biggest and most important services provided by any local council. But the manner in which the borough has outsourced the management of bin collections, street cleaning and waste disposal and recycling has become … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Business, Croydon Council, Fly tipping, idVerde, Kingston, London-wide issues, Merton, Peter Underwood, Refuse collection, Stuart Collins, Sutton Council, Val Shawcross, Veolia, Waste incinerator
Tagged #Binmageddon, #MuckyMerton, #SuttonBinShame, 'Royal' Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Beddington Lane incinerator, Croydon Council, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Merton Council, SLWP, South London Waste Partnership, Stuart Collins, Sutton Council, Veolia, Viridor
4 Comments
Take your pick: our ward-by-ward guide to council elections
With a complete listing of all the candidates in Croydon’s May 5 councillor vote, political editor WALTER CRONXITE provides a guide to where the contest for the Town Hall might be won or lost The introduction of Croydon’s first democratically-elected, … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Addiscombe West, Alisa Flemming, Andrew Pelling, Badsha Quadir, Bensham Manor, Broad Green, Caragh Skipper, Chris Clark, Clive Fraser, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Felicity Flynn, Gareth Streeter, Hamida Ali, Helen Redfern, Jade Appleton, Jan Buttinger, Janet Campbell, Jason Perry, Jose Joseph, Kenley, Leila Ben-Hassel, Mike Bonello, New Addington North, Norbury, Norbury Park, Ola Kolade, Old Coulsdon, Oliver Lewis, Oni Oviri, Park Hill and Whitgift, Paul Scott, Peter Underwood, Purley, Purley Oaks and Riddlesdown, Sanderstead, Scott Roche, Selhurst, Selsdon and Addington Village, Selsdon Vale and Forestdale, Shirley, Shirley South, Simon Hall, Simon Hoar, South Croydon, South Norwood, Stella Nabukeera, Steve Hollands, Stuart King, Thornton Heath, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman, Tony Pearson, Waddon, West Thornton, Woodside
Tagged 2022 Local Elections, 2022 Mayoral election, Addiscombe West, Alison Butler, Bensham Manor, Brick by Brick, Broad Green, Conservative, Coulsdon, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Fairfield Halls, Forestdale, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mayor, New Addington, Paul Scott, Purley, Selsdon Vale and Forestdale, South Croydon, South Norwood, Steve Reed OBE, Thornton Heath, Tony Newman, Tory, Waddon
4 Comments
‘Any would be better for Croydon than the old strong leader’
With a month until election day, hustings for the borough’s first-ever Mayoral contest are coming thick and fast. KEN TOWL went along to last night’s event held in Park Hill, so that you didn’t have to… Val Shawcross really ought … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Pelling, Jason Perry, Ken Towl, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Val Shawcross
Tagged 2022 Mayoral election, Andrew Pelling, Boris Johnson, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, DEMOC, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Green Party, Jason Perry, Ken Towl, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Tony Newman, Tory, Val Shawcross
16 Comments
Croydon’s less-than-magnificent 8: Winston’s back for more
There’s quirkiness and eccentricity among some of the candidates to become the borough’s first executive Mayor, as well as some who perhaps are not quite what they claim to be. Editor STEVEN DOWNES on the confirmed candidates list for May … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Pelling, Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Val Shawcross
Tagged 2022 Mayoral election, Andrew Pelling, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Democratically Elected Mayor of Croydon, Farah London, Gavin Palmer, Jason Perry, Peter Underwood, Richard Howard, Val Shawcross, Winston McKenzie
5 Comments
It’s time to re-balance the Town Hall with a bit of honesty
CROYDON COMMENTARY: The Green Party’s mayoral candidate, PETER UNDERWOOD (pictured left), reacts to the news of a possible further postponement of the council’s budget-setting meeting When Labour announced on Twitter that they had “balanced Croydon Council’s budget”, I did ask … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Peter Underwood
Tagged Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Labour, Peter Underwood, Tory
5 Comments
Council needs to listen to the people and halt Lodge auction
CROYDON COMMENTARY: The Labour-run council promised that the borough’s parks and green spaces would be safe in their hands. On Wednesday, part of a public park in Thornton Heath goes up for auction. PETER UNDERWOOD explains why he is protesting … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Croydon parks, Friends of Grangewood Park, Peter Underwood, Thornton Heath
Tagged Croydon Council, Friends of Grangewood Park, Grangewood Park, Green Party, Heath Lodge, Labour, Peter Underwood, Thornton Heath
4 Comments
Underwood: Axis exit is a big chance to boost small business
The Green Party’s Mayoral candidate says that council tenants could get far better housing repairs service if the Town Hall ignored the big multi-national outsourcers and used Croydon SMEs The council should replace its housing repairs and maintenance contractor not … Continue reading
My six-point plan to restore some pride in the Fairfield Halls
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The auditors’ Report In The Public Interest published this week reflects very badly on the way our council is run, says the Green Party’s mayoral candidate, PETER UNDERWOOD Fairfield Halls should be one of the crown jewels … Continue reading
Resolutions are just rules. Here’s my 22 suggestions for 2022
CROYDON COMMENTARY: How’s your New Year’s resolution going? PETER UNDERWOOD (pictured right) doesn’t do them, saying ‘they always seem to be just rules that get broken and forgotten about too quickly’. Instead, here, in no particular order, he offers 22 … Continue reading
Underwood selected as Green candidate for office he opposed
The local Green Party have selected their candidate to stand for election as the first directly-elected Croydon Mayor, and have managed to choose someone who opposed switching to a Town Hall system run by a directly-elected mayor. Peter Underwood is … Continue reading
Asthma’s postcode lottery: ‘We all have a right to breathe’
Croydon is the worst place in London to have asthma, analysis from charity Asthma UK has shown. Yet Bromley, the borough next door to Croydon, is rated as the best place in the capital for asthmatics. The charity’s findings are … Continue reading
Death of David Amess reminds us we still have a long way to go
CROYDON COMMENTARY: After the second murder of an MP in five years, PETER UNDERWOOD reflects on the importance of our politicians being able to meet the people they are supposed to represent I am writing this on Sunday morning, two … Continue reading
‘If you want something better, then you have to vote for it’
REFERENDUM COUNTDOWN: With just days to go before the borough-wide ballot, PETER UNDERWOOD, pictured right, offers a Green Party perspective on the governance of the council We all know that Croydon Council is useless. On Thursday, we are being offered … Continue reading
Veolia use Brexit excuse as rubbish service goes up in smoke
Croydon Council has confirmed what residents and environmental activists have observed and warned about for years: much of the waste sorted for recycling in the borough is being sent straight to the Beddington Lane incinerator and burnt. The council, and … Continue reading
Four London boroughs have no plans for waste reduction
CROYDON COMMENTARY: The boroughs of Croydon, Sutton, Merton and Kingston have a new draft South London Waste Plan and, according to PETER UNDERWOOD (right), it’s a load of rubbish One of the most common issues people raise with me is … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Environment, Fly tipping, Kingston, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Merton, Peter Underwood, Refuse collection, Sutton Council, Veolia, Waste incinerator
Tagged Beddington Lane incinerator, Croydon Greens, Kingston Council, Merton Council, Peter Underwood, SLWP, South London Waste Partnership, South London Waste Plan, Sutton Council, Veolia, Viridor
6 Comments
Climate Commission report presents challenges for council
A council-commissioned report has been published on the borough’s response to the climate emergency. Say its authors, “The clock is ticking on climate change… we need to ensure that we are building an economy fit for the future.” The 59-page … Continue reading
Tories are tipped to cling on to Croydon and Sutton seat
NOT-SO-SPECIAL ELECTION SPECIAL: With just hours to go before the polling stations open, WALTER CRONXITE, our political editor, offers some important advice to make sure that your votes count After a turgid campaign that has lasted, off and on because … Continue reading
Posted in 2021 London elections, Croydon Greens, Kenley, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Neil Garratt, New Addington North, Park Hill and Whitgift, Patsy Cummings, Peter Underwood, Sadiq Khan, Shaun Bailey, South Norwood, Woodside
Tagged Conservative, Green Party, Kenley, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Assembly, Mayor, Neil Garratt, New Addington, New Addington North, Park Hill and Whitgift, Patsy Cummings, Peter Underwood, South Norwood, Tory, Woodside
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Volunteers back Attenborough’s call to halt deep-sea mining
Greenpeace Croydon took part in a national protest last weekend calling on the government to ensure our oceans are off-limits to deep-sea mining. The volunteers’ photographs of their banners, displayed at sites around the town centre, together with hundreds from … Continue reading
Tory Assembly candidate in racism row over stop and search
Election candidates have not been subject to the kind of public scrutiny they might have expected pre-covid, and online hustings last week demonstrated why such questioning is so necessary. By STEVEN DOWNES Neil “Father Jack” Garratt, the Conservative candidate for … Continue reading
Posted in 2021 London elections, Crime, Knife crime, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Neil Garratt, Patsy Cummings, Peter Underwood, Policing
Tagged Conservative, Croydon, Croydon and Sutton (London Assembly constituency), Green Party, Labour, London, London Assembly, Neil Garratt, Patsy Cummings, Peter Underwood, South Norwood, Sutton, Tory
1 Comment
Garratt and Cummings finally agree to debate climate crisis
It took them a while but, finally, the two frontrunners in the race to be Croydon and Sutton’s London Assembly Member have agreed to take part in an online hustings organised by the Friends of the Earth’s Croydon Climate Action … Continue reading
Posted in 2021 London elections, Climate Crisis Commission, Community associations, Croydon Friends of the Earth, Environment, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Neil Garratt, Patsy Cummings, Peter Underwood
Tagged Conservative, Croydon, Croydon and Sutton (London Assembly constituency), Croydon Climate Action, Friends of the Earth, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London, London Assembly, Neil Garratt, Patsy Cummings, Tory
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