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Category Archives: Chris Clark
43 days to go and desperation is appearing in election leaflets
After all the calamities inflicted on Croydon by Tory Mayor Jason Perry, from his 33% Council Tax hikes to his unlawful LTN fines, has Labour fallen into their old trap of over-promising before under-delivering? WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, sifts through … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, Croydon West, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Jeet Bains, London-wide issues, New Addington, New Addington North, Old Coulsdon, Paul Scott, Ria Patel, Richard Howard, Shirley North, Shirley South, Tony Newman
Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Brick by Brick, Claire Bonham, Cllr Esther Sutton, Cllr Ria Patel, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Conservative, Coulsdon, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington, Peter Underwood, Rowenna Davis, Tory
3 Comments
‘Red v Blue’ at Town Hall elections could suffer a Green-wash
Polling day in Croydon’s local elections, including its second mayoral vote, is on May 7. WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor, sifts through recent opinion polls and by-election results, but has a warning from history of how ‘challenger parties’ can be swept … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe East, Chris Clark, Chris Philp MP, Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, Croydon West, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Jeet Bains, London-wide issues, New Addington, New Addington North, Old Coulsdon, Paul Scott, Peter Underwood, Ria Patel, Sarah Jones MP, Shirley North, Shirley South, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Tony Newman
Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Alison Butler, Boris Johnson, Brick by Brick, Chris Philp MP, Claire Bonham, Cllr Esther Sutton, Cllr Ria Patel, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Conservative, Coulsdon, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Green Party, Hannah Spencer, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington, Peter Underwood, Rowenna Davis, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed OBE, Tony Newman, Tory, Zack Polanski
7 Comments
Surrey Street market trader Joseph quits Labour in race row
Jose Joseph, the Surrey Street market stall-holder and one of the best-recognised faces on the local political scene, has quit the Labour Party, accusing it of “discrimination and toxic behaviour”. In a brief statement shared with party colleagues, Joseph announced … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Business, Chris Clark, Croydon Greens, Croydon West, Fairfield, Jose Joseph, Surrey Street
Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 local elections, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Labour Party, Croydon West, Croydon West CLP, Green Party, Jose Joseph, Julie Setchfield, Labour, Labour NEC, Labour Party, Labour selections, London Borough of Croydon, Surrey Street Market, The Green Party, Tony Newman
7 Comments
From ‘last orders’ to holy orders: pub in change of use scheme
Our south of the borough correspondent, SANDRA STEAD, looks into one of the more bizarre planning application received by the council, even by Croydon standards “Sins downstairs, forgiveness upstairs.” That was the shrewd assessment of one local when they heard … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Chris Clark, Church and religions, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Parking, Planning, Property, Pubs, South Croydon
Tagged Blue Anchor, Croydon, Croydon Council, Dr Pastor Paul Enenche, Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Fairfield, London Borough of Croydon, Night-time economy, Restaurant Quarter, South Croydon, South End, Stairway, Tree House
5 Comments
How chief Nimby Philp built in Tories’ own Purley backyard
BARRATT HOLMES, housing correspondent, on what is undoubtedly, even by Croydon’s low standards, the most egregious example of ‘do as we say, not as we do’ from our politicians Croydon residents living south of the Flyover, whether they are in … Continue reading
Labour deputy leaders Young and Collins to stand down in 2026
At least 15% of Croydon’s sitting councillors won’t be seeking election in 2026, while some are doing the ‘chicken run’ to stay on the council gravy train. EXCLUSIVE by WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor Nearly a dozen of Croydon’s current 70 … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Addiscombe West, Brigitte Graham, Broad Green, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Clive Fraser, Coulsdon Town, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Fairfield, Louis Carserides, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Old Coulsdon, Patricia Hay-Justice, Paul Ainscough, Purley, Ria Patel, Richard Chatterjee, Rowenna Davis, Shirley North, Simon Brew, Simon Fox, South Croydon, South Norwood, Stuart Collins, Sue Bennett, Thornton Heath, Waddon, Woodside
Tagged 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Addiscombe, Addiscombe West, Brigitte Graham, Broad Green, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Clive Fraser, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Cllr Stuart King, Conservative, Coulsdon Town, Croham, Croydon, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Green Party, Labour, Labour National Executive Council, Labour NEC, LibDems, Liberal Democrats, Louis Carserides, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Patricia Hay-Justice, Purley and Woodcote, Richard Chatterjee, Shirley North, Simon Brew, South Croydon, South Norwood, Stuart Collins, Sue Bennett, Thornton Heath, Tory, Woodside
13 Comments
‘Hypocrite’ Tory voted for proposal to destroy heritage home
Town Hall reporter KEN LEE on a planning committee meeting where Conservative councillors backed a private developer’s bid to drastically alter a listed family home in a conservation area So much for Tory Mayor Jason Perry protecting family homes in … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Chris Clark, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Town, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Ian Parker, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Ria Patel
Tagged Chris Clark, Chris Philp MP, Cllr Esther Sutton, Cllr Ria Patel, Conservative, Coulsdon, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Ian Parker, Labour, Mayor Jason Perry, Peter Morgan, Planning, Ross Gentry, Tory
12 Comments
Council bosses need to answer for Cheesbrough’s toxic legacy
CROYDON COMMENTARY: The announcement of the departure from the council of its long-standing planning director has been widely welcomed by many residents. But as WAYNE MULLEN explains, after his four-year battle with the council over planners’ misconduct, some of those … Continue reading
Posted in Chris Clark, Croydon Council, Heather Cheesbrough, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Nicola Townsend, Park Hill and Whitgift, Planning, Shifa Mustafa
Tagged Alison Butler, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Heather Cheesbrough, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Nicola Townsend, Park Hill, Paul Scott, Planning, Ross Gentry, Steve Whiteside, Tory, Wayne Mullen
15 Comments
Controversial Brick by Brick site to be auctioned for £550k
BARRATT HOLMES, housing correspondent, reports on the latest planning mystery at the cash-strapped council The scrap of open space at the junction of Edridge Road and Coombe Road, next to heritage-listed building Ruskin House, is set to be auctioned off … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Chris Clark, Croydon Council, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Neal, Planning, Property, Ria Patel
Tagged Brick by Brick, Chris Clark, Conservative, Coombe Road, Croydon, Edridge Road, Esther Sutton, Fairfield, Grade II, Labour, Mayor Jason Perry, Michael Neal, Planning Committee, Ria Patel, Ruskin House, Tory
2 Comments
Council planners agreed to the removal of admired public art
BOROUGH OF THE BANAL: Croydon’s professional planners had an opportunity to insist on the retention of a significant artwork, but approved its removal for something they said would ‘enhance’ the appearance of an East Croydon office block. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN … Continue reading
Posted in AMP House, Art, Borough of Culture 2023, Business, Chris Clark, Croydon Council, East Croydon, Environment, Fairfield, History, Nicola Townsend, Property
Tagged 20th Century Society, AMP House, Australian Mutual Provident, Croydon, Croydon Council, Cultural Quarter, East Croydon, East Croydon station, Humanity Relief, John Grindrod
17 Comments
Serious concern raised over brutal end to town centre artwork
EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES There’s growing concerns and “disappointment” that Croydon, the 2023 Borough of Culture, has managed to lose yet another significant piece of public artwork, right from under the noses of the council. A much-admired, mid-20th Century frieze … Continue reading
Posted in AMP House, Art, Borough of Culture 2023, Business, Chris Clark, Croydon Council, East Croydon, Environment, Fairfield, History, Property, Ria Patel, Stiles Harold Williams, Whitgift Centre
Tagged 20th Century Society, AMP House, Croydon, Croydon Council, Cultural Quarter, East Croydon, East Croydon station, Humanity Relief, John Grindrod, Richard Plant, Stiles Harold Williams, Whitgift Centre
11 Comments
You can depend on Croydon Labour: they always let you down
By STEVEN DOWNES, Editor, Inside Croydon In the end, it was all so sadly predictable. Yet even old cynics didn’t believe it was really going to happen in such a swift and shabby manner until they actually saw it all … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Community associations, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Esther Sutton, Jane West, Janet Campbell, Karen Jewitt, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Patricia Hay-Justice, Ria Patel, Stuart King, Tamar Barrett (was Nwafor)
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Callton Young, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Green Party, Jane West, Katherine Kerswel, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory
15 Comments
And here are the Labour councillors who broke their word over the 15% tax hike and abandoned the people of Croydon
STUART KING. Leader of the opposition Councillor King took over as Labour group leader in May 2022. Had spent previous eight years mostly holding senior positions, including cabinet posts, in the Labour council administration of Tony Newman, Alison Butler and … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Amy Foster, Brigitte Graham, Callton Young, Catherine Wilson, Chris Clark, Chrishni Reshekaron, Christopher Herman, Clive Fraser, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Enid Mollyneaux, Humayun Kabir, Humayun Kabir, Janet Campbell, Karen Jewitt, Kola Agboola, Leila Ben-Hassel, Louis Carserides, Maddie Henson, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Mike Bonello, Mohammed Islam, Nina Degrads, Patricia Hay-Justice, Patsy Cummings, Sean Fitzsimons, Sherwan Chowdhury, Stella Nabukeera, Stuart Collins, Stuart King, Tamar Barrett (was Nwafor), Tony Newman
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Paul Scott, STUART KING, Tony Newman
11 Comments
Conservative Mayor Perry loses 3 votes at Town Hall meeting
ANDREW PELLING reports from the Press Gallery on success for Labour, Green and LibDem councillors in opposing Tory moves to cut Council Tax benefits to old age pensioners and the poor Jason Perry, the Conservative Mayor of Croydon, lost three … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Amy Foster, Andrew Pelling, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jason Cummings, Jeet Bains, London-wide issues, Mario Creatura, Mayor Jason Perry, Nina Degrads, Rowenna Davis, Sherwan Chowdhury, Stuart King, ULEZ expansion
Tagged Alasdair Stewart, Alisa Flemming, Amy Foster, Andrew Pelling, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Claire Bonham, Conservative, Council Tax, Council Tax Support, Croydon, Croydon Council, Green Party, Improvement and Assurance Panel, Jason Cummings, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mayor Jason Perry, Nina Degrads, Rowenna Davis, Tory, ULEZ
4 Comments
Home owner’s victory after four-year battle with planners
The planning department at Croydon’s dysfunctional council has been caught out yet again after the collapse of a developer’s appeal – but only after incurring huge and avoidable costs. Our housing correspondent, BARRATT HOLMES, unravels a saga of deceits and … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Chris Clark, Croydon Council, Heather Cheesbrough, Housing, Jade Appleton, Katherine Kerswell, Nicola Townsend, Park Hill and Whitgift, Parking, Paul Scott, Planning, Property
Tagged Brownlow Road, Chris Clark, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jade Appleton, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Nicola Townsend, Paul Scott, Planning, Planning Committee, Ross Gentry, Silverleaf Developments Ltd, Steve Whiteside
17 Comments
Labour’s ‘toxic legacy’ in Croydon proving hard to shake off
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Around the country, the Tories are in retreat thanks to the failings of their three Prime Ministers. But not in Croydon, where they face a neutered opposition, as political editor WALTER CRONXITE reports In London and in … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, 2024 General Election, Alison Butler, Chris Clark, Chrishni Reshekaron, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Croydon South, Lynne Hale, Mayor Jason Perry, Mike Bonello, New Addington, New Addington North, Paul Scott, Sarah Jones MP, Selsdon Vale and Forestdale, South Croydon, Tony Newman, Waddon
Tagged Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Chrishni Reshekaron, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, David Evans, Green Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mayor Jason Perry, Mike Bonello, Paul Scott, Sarah Jones MP, Selsdon Vale and Forestdale, South Croydon, Tony Newman, Tory, Waddon
11 Comments
Local Labour out of step as Streeting calls for outsourcing
Labour councillors in Croydon joined a union-organised march calling for Mayday Hospital’s ancillary jobs – porters, cleaners and food staff – to be brought back in-house and taken out of the hands of private outsourcing giant G4S, just as Keir … Continue reading
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 Alison Butler, Chris Clark, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Hub, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Lynne Hale, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of Croydon, Paul Scott, Queens Gardens, Taberner House, Tony Newman, Tory
9 Comments
All the King’s men (and women): meet Labour’s shadow cabinet
Last week, we provided the low-down on the new council cabinet under £81,000 per year Tory executive Mayor Jason Perry. Now our Town Hall reporter KEN LEE provides a briefing on the newly unveiled shadow team Some are born great, … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, Alisa Flemming, Bensham Manor, Brigitte Graham, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Chrishni Reshekaron, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Enid Mollyneaux, Fairfield, Jamie Audsley, Janet Campbell, Mayor Jason Perry, Mike Bonello, New Addington, Nina Degrads, Rowenna Davis, Stuart King, Thornton Heath, Waddon, West Thornton, Woodside
Tagged Alison Butler, Brigitte Graham, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Chrishni Reshekaron, Croydon Council, Enid Mollyneaux, Janet Campbell, Labour, Mike Bonello, Nina Degrads, Rowenna Davis, Steve Reed OBE, STUART KING, Tony Newman
3 Comments
King ends front-bench sinecures for most Newman numpties
CROYDON LABOUR IN CRISIS: Starmer and Evans are using this borough as an experiment in central party control over rogue councils. By our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE And there you have it. The 2022 local government definition of a non-job, … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Brigitte Graham, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Chrishni Reshekaron, Enid Mollyneaux, Janet Campbell, Maddie Henson, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor Jason Perry, Mike Bonello, Nina Degrads, Patricia Hay-Justice, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Planning, Steve Reed MP, Stuart King, Tony Newman, West Thornton
Tagged Brigitte Graham, Callton Young, Chris Clark, Chrishni Reshekaron, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, David Evans, Enid Mollyneaux, Janet Campbell, Keir Starmer, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mike Bonello, Nina Degrads, Paul Scott, Steve Reed OBE, STUART KING, Tony Newman, Tory
3 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
