Category Archives: Queens Gardens

Pictures on our streets show we need more art in Croydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Pablo Picasso said, ‘Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life’, and PETER UNDERWOOD believes that our borough, and its many outstanding arts organisations, could do with a bit more of the dust being washed … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Art, Borough of Culture 2023, Croydon Greens, Fairfield Halls, London Mozart Players, National Gallery Art On Your Doorstep, Peter Underwood, Poetry, Queens Gardens, Talawa Theatre Company, Turf Projects | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

National Gallery artworks exhibit comes to Croydon’s doorstep

You would probably be blissfully unaware if you relied on information from the propaganda bunker at part-time Mayor Jason Perry’s dysfunctional council, but parts of Croydon are today arrayed with a selection of some of the world’s greatest artistic masterpieces. … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Coulsdon Sixth Form College, Croydon Council, Croydon Minster, Croydon parks, Education, National Gallery Art On Your Doorstep, Park Hill Recreation Ground, Queens Gardens | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

MPs told that Croydon flats are example of how not to build

The appalling conditions in ‘luxury apartments’ in new-build flats at The Fold, opposite Croydon Town Hall, were raised with a House of Commons select committee hearing yesterday Leading housing campaigner Kwajo Tweneboa cited The Fold in central Croydon as an … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Fairfield, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Property, Queens Gardens, Steve Reed MP, Taberner House, The Fold | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Fold managers admit to fire alarm fault in 35-storey tower

EXCLUSIVE: Four fire marshals and battery-powered smoke alarms have been intalled in the mould-ridden block, where there is only a single staircase to serve as a fire escape. By STEVEN DOWNES The managers of The Fold, the 35-storey residential tower … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Housing, Mayor of London, Property, Queens Gardens, Taberner House, The Fold | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mouldy Fold: no problems with council flats says Town Hall

Croydon Council is to carry out checks on its 90 flats in Malcolm Wicks House, the fourth block built in the Queen’s Quarter where the 35-storey private rental tower The Fold is being evacuated to allow its owners to completely … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Housing, Mayor of London, Property, Queens Gardens, Taberner House, The Fold | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Let us be free from this hellhole’: Fold tenants issue demands

EXCLUSIVE: Residents in one of Croydon’s tallest buildings are becoming increasingly angry and militant over their treatment by their multi-billion-pound landlords. By STEVEN DOWNES The owners of The Fold, the 35-storey residential tower in Queen’s Gardens, have been given a … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Property, Queens Gardens, Rowenna Davis, Taberner House, The Fold | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

UnFolding story: residents’ meeting is moved as concerns rise

EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Fire safety inspectors from the London Fire Brigade were on site this morning at The Fold, the 35-storey tower block close to Croydon Town Hall, where residents fear for their well-being because of poor-quality finishes to … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Housing, Mayor of London, Property, Queens Gardens, Taberner House, The Fold | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Fold folds: Hundreds of tenants given six months to leave

EXCLUSIVE: Croydon faces another housing crisis as poor build quality on four blocks built alongside the Town Hall is forcing the owners to carry out extensive works. By STEVEN DOWNES Residents living in Croydon’s fourth-tallest building, 35-storey The Fold, on … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Housing, Mayor of London, Property, Queens Gardens, Taberner House | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Thank you iC readers! 50 ask about helping Nightwatch charity

By STEVEN DOWNES, Editor, Inside Croydon In more than 15 years of running the InsideCroydon.com news website, there’s been countless occasions when I have had cause to be amazed or delighted with the help and wisdom of our tens of … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Croydon Nightwatch, Croydon parks, Queens Gardens | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Charity Nightwatch appeals for volunteers to help vital service

Croydon homelessness charity Nightwatch has issued an urgent appeal for volunteers to come forward to assist with its vital work. Nightwatch, which has been operating for almost 50 years, offers food and other support to the homeless and working poor … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Croydon Nightwatch, Croydon parks, Queens Gardens, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Europe Day picnic in Queen’s Gardens, May 9 from 4.30pm

Posted in Activities, Queens Gardens | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Mayor Perry replies on Nightwatch with nasty hint of menace

Our Town Hall reporter KEN LEE has got hold of a confidential letter from the Tory Mayor in which there’s an implied threat of action against a homelessness charity Croydon Mayor Jason Perry is a fully paid-up member of the … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Croydon parks, Esther Sutton, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Queens Gardens, Ria Patel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

L&G ‘deeply concerned’ by state of high-rise flats at The Fold

Insurance and pensions giant Legal and General has admitted that there are serious problems with damp and mould, leaking roofs and sewage issues in The Fold, the 35-storey residential tower close to the Croydon Flyover, built on council-owned land, where … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Housing, Mayor of London, Property, Queens Gardens, Taberner House | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Perry backs down from legal threats against homeless charity

CROYDON IN CRISIS: 87% of our readers said Croydon’s Mayor should not be threatening Nightwatch with an injunction for feeding the hungry in Queen’s Gardens. Now the council has announced there will be no legal action. By STEVEN DOWNES Croydon … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Charity, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Croydon parks, Housing, Jad Adams, Lynne Hale, Mayor Jason Perry, Queens Gardens | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Majority of councillors sign letter of support for Nightwatch

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Open letter to Mayor Perry describes the ‘shocking way’ the council has treated one of the borough’s most-respected charities. By STEVEN DOWNES More than half of the borough’s elected councillors have signed an open letter to Mayor … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Charity, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Croydon parks, Housing, Jad Adams, Mayor Jason Perry, Queens Gardens, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Perry’s council threatens legal action against homeless charity

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Tory Mayor ignored call for his council to act with ‘respect and compassion’ after they issued threats of legal action against one of the borough’s leading volunteer groups. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon Nightwatch, the charity which … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Charity, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Croydon parks, Housing, Jad Adams, Mayor Jason Perry, Queens Gardens, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Another Croydon scandal: the £3k per month high-rise slums

Activist exposes serious issues with town centre ‘luxury apartments’ which were only built three years ago The housing crisis takes on a whole new meaning when you are a private tenant, living in a building completed just three years ago … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Property, Queens Gardens, Ria Patel, Sadiq Khan, Taberner House | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Locals demand to know why Sanderstead Rec looks wrecked

CROYDON IN CRISIS: With each passing week, the impact of living in a cash-strapped, poorly managed and neglected borough is becoming clear to residents, even in what used to be regarded as the leafy suburbs. PEARL LEE, our south of … Continue reading

Posted in Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Heathfield House, Queens Gardens, Refuse collection, Sanderstead, Sanderstead Residents Association, Taberner House | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Perry slow to stop cars parking in town centre pedestrian zone

Our transport correspondent, JEREMY CLACKSON, on the belated end to a free parking wheeze in a kids’ playground It has taken Tory Mayor Jason Perry nearly two whole months to get around to issuing parking tickets on cars parked illegally … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Fairfield, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Queens Gardens, Steve Iles, Taberner House | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

£250 per day fees paid to lead on borough’s Heritage Trail

CROYDON IN CRISIS: One arts company in the borough appears to have won the Lottery for its role in the less-than-inspiring flagship project for the Borough of Culture. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES The project lead working on the Music Heritage … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Borough of Culture 2023, Business, Croydon Council, Education, Museum of Croydon, Music, Queens Gardens | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

It’s hard to find signs of the borough’s musical heritage trail

So just what do we get for the £220,000 of Lottery cash splurged on Croydon’s Music Heritage Trail? We sent LOUISA GAUTREY along to road-test the trail and its accompanying app As a teenager who listens to a wide range … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Borough of Culture 2023, Croydon College, Croydon Council, Croydon School of Art, Fairfield Halls, Music, Queens Gardens | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Nightwatch blocked from feeding homeless by council building

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The volunteers from an award-winning charity have been kicked off the steps of the council’s office building, in case they put off prospective business tenants of the cash-strapped authority. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon’s £82,000 per year … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Croydon parks, Housing, Jad Adams, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Queens Gardens, Sarah Jones MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Towering prices leave L&Q with 1,500-plus unsold homes

Brick by Brick was ahead of the trend for building unsellable, over-priced shared ownership homes. By BARRATT HOLMES, housing correspondent Croydon’s Brick by Brick is not the only housing business that appears to be struggling to off-load its stock of … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Croydon Council, Housing, Jo Negrini, Queens Gardens, Taberner House, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Part-time Perry and Labour in playground squabble over park

After a decade of Town Hall squabbles, the legacy of Newman and Butler’s years in charge of the council is a playground for the children of tower block half-millionaires. WALTER CRONXITE on another late, costly and incomplete town centre project … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Business, Chris Clark, Croydon Council, Environment, Housing, Lynne Hale, Mayor Jason Perry, Paul Scott, Planning, Property, Queens Gardens, Taberner House, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

This is £12m Fairfield ‘plaza’ that Mayor Perry wants to create

Existing designs for a public open space between the town’s major arts centre and Croydon College have been derided as ‘jokey’, ‘crass’ and ‘one gigantic hardscape of pink and grey candy stripe concrete’. By STEVEN DOWNES Mayor Jason Perry’s announcement … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Fairfield, Fairfield Halls, Heather Cheesbrough, Housing, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, Place Review Panel, Planning, Queens Gardens | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments