Category Archives: Helen Pollard

Scott and Butler lined up to receive council service award

Councillors who presided over Croydon’s financial ruin could soon be honoured by the very borough they helped bankrupt, thanks to the council’s flawed constitution. By Town Hall correspondent, KEN LEE Tony Newman, Alison Butler, Paul Scott, Simon Hall and other … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Bernadette Khan, Croydon Council, Donald Speakman, Hamida Ali, Helen Pollard, Mark Watson, Mayor Jason Perry, Pat Clouder, Paul Scott, Paul Smith, Simon Hall, Steve O'Connell, Stuart King, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

One-third of Tory councillors to quit at 2022 local elections

WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on wholesale changes among the borough’s opposition party One-third of Croydon’s Conservative councillors will be standing down at the next local elections, in May 2022. The collapse of the borough’s finances under Labour, who have controlled … Continue reading

Posted in 2022 council elections, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Gareth Streeter, Helen Pollard, Jan Buttinger, Kenley, Luke Clancy, Old Coulsdon, Oni Oviri, Purley, Sanderstead, Selsdon Vale and Forestdale, Simon Hoar, Steve Hollands, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Tory leader Perry shows ruthless streak by sacking Creatura

Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, on the latest game of musical chairs at the Town Hall Mario Creatura has been sacked from his front bench job with the Town Hall opposition group in a reshuffle of the Croydon’s Conservative councillors … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Stranack, Croydon Council, Gareth Streeter, Helen Pollard, Helen Redfern, Jason Perry, Mario Creatura, Scott Roche, Tim Pollard, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Pollard fires starting gun on race to be Croydon Tories’ leader

EXCLUSIVE: Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, says that the next local election campaign has  just begun Croydon’s Conservatives have started a search for a new Town Hall leader after Tim Pollard, who has been in the job since 2014, announced … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Helen Pollard, Helen Redfern, Jason Cummings, Jason Perry, Mario Creatura, Tim Pollard | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Norbury residents start fighting fund for BxB legal challenge

Residents in Norbury have launched a fighting fund a possible challenge through the courts to a Brick by Brick housing scheme which, they maintain, will build on land over which there is a legally binding covenant which forbids development. Other … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Community associations, Croydon Council, Helen Pollard, Norbury | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Shock! Council discovers trees on site it gave to Brick by Brick

Brick by Brick, the council’s loss-making in-house house-builder, has suffered yet more setbacks after the council “discovered” that two sites it wanted to concrete over were either too close to high-voltage electricity pylons, or had real live trees growing there. … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Helen Pollard, Paul Scott, Planning, Property, Selsdon & Ballards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Village fears as council bites into cherished conservation area

There is a growing suspicion, and some fear, among residents living in the close-knit community of Addington Village that council plans to alter the boundaries of the long-established conservation area are because of some deep ulterior motive to allow more … Continue reading

Posted in Addington, Addington Residents' Association, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Helen Pollard, Planning, Selsdon & Ballards | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Shhh! Four libraries could be flogged off. Don’t tell anyone

Our bookish gyms correspondent, GENE BRODIE, on how the Labour-run council is clearing the way for more non-unionised volunteer-run libraries than the Town Hall’s Tories ever managed Croydon Council has been accused of secrecy again, this time after stopping most … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Broad Green, Carillion, Coulsdon, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Education, GLL - Better, Helen Pollard, Jo Negrini, Libraries, Norbury, Old Coulsdon, Planning, Property, Purley, Sanderstead, Shirley North, South Norwood, Tony Newman, Upper Norwood Library Trust | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tories accused of breaking their own rules over selections

Political editor WALTER CRONXITE on complaints of undemocratic interference in the candidate selection process, and too much influence from the local party leader in those allowed to stand in May’s Town Hall elections At least four of Croydon’s longest serving … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Chris Wright, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon West, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Donald Speakman, Fairfield, Helen Pollard, Ian Parker, Mike Fisher, Purley, Shirley North, Steve Hollands, Sue Winborn, Tim Pollard, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Pollard’s candidate list ignores five wards in Croydon North

WALTER CRONXITE on another bungled announcement by Croydon Conservatives No matter how hard they try to make it look as if they do give a toss about the north of the borough, Croydon’s Tories really don’t give a shit. And … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Addiscombe West, Ashburton, Bensham Manor, Coulsdon West, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Gareth Streeter, Gavin Barwell, Helen Pollard, Jeet Bains, Kenley, Purley, Selhurst, Shirley North, Simon Hoar, South Croydon, South Norwood, Steve Hollands, Sue Winborn, Thornton Heath, Tim Pollard, Vidhi Mohan, Waddon, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Coulsdon councillor Bains gets bumped in Tory selections

WALTER CRONXITE, our political editor, reports that in the latest Croydon game of musical chairs, the music hasn’t stopped yet Jeet Bains, the subterraneanly low-profile Conservative councillor for Coulsdon West, looks to be the first casualty of the enforced re-selections … Continue reading

Posted in Addiscombe West, Ashburton, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon West, Croydon Council, Donald Speakman, Dudley Mead, Fairfield, Heathfield, Helen Pollard, James Thompson, Jeet Bains, Luke Clancy, Margaret Mead, Mario Creatura, Purley, Selsdon & Ballards, Sue Winborn, Tony Newman, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Commission draws the line under Newman’s bid for control

Political editor WALTER CRONXITE on how an effort to shore-up Town Hall power through boundary changes has left Croydon’s Labour leadership even more dependent on Jeremy Corbyn, the party leader many of them tried to oust The Local Government Boundary … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Addiscombe West, Andrew Rendle, Ashburton, Croydon Council, David Wood, Fairfield, Gavin Barwell, Helen Pollard, Kenley, Maddie Henson, Maria Gatland, New Addington, Paul Scott, Selhurst, South Croydon, Stephen Mann, Steve O'Connell, Sue Winborn, Tim Pollard, Timothy Godfrey, Toni Letts, Tony Newman, Vidhi Mohan, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Tories agree: Labour’s Fairfield deal looking good for Croydon

WALTER CRONXITE on an outbreak of consensus and agreement for the future of the borough Tory councillors’ “opposition for opposition’s sake” approach to the £30million refurbishment of the Fairfield Halls crumbled amid commonsense, the best interests of the borough and … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Helen Pollard, Mario Creatura, Sara Bashford, Sean Fitzsimons, Theatre | Leave a comment

£180m Fairfield operator contract is called-in for scrutiny

Fifteen Conservative councillors signed official forms to call-in the decision to award the operator contract for the Fairfield Halls, a move which some fear might delay the appointment process, and others have described as petty political point-scoring. The matter will … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Stranack, Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Chris Philp MP, Chris Wright, Donald Speakman, Dudley Mead, Fairfield, Fairfield Halls, Gavin Barwell, Helen Pollard, James Thompson, Jan Buttinger, Jason Cummings, Jeet Bains, Lynne Hale, Margaret Mead, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Sean Fitzsimons, Tim Pollard, Timothy Godfrey, Yvette Hopley | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Tories oppose 2,000 homes in housing minister’s constituency

WALTER CRONXITE reports on the planning permission granted to a Labour council scheme which could make Gavin Barwell’s constituency a safe Tory seat Barely a year before the next Town Hall elections, and Croydon Tories last night handed a gift-wrapped … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Ashcroft Theatre, Brick by Brick, Chris Wright, College Green, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon West, Croydon Central, Croydon College, Croydon Council, Environment, Fairfield, Fairfield Halls, Gavin Barwell, Helen Pollard, Housing, Jason Perry, Jo Negrini, Luke Clancy, Planning, South Croydon, Sue Winborn, Theatre, Timothy Godfrey, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Council plans for ‘tatty’ Surrey Street market fail to impress

It was a long night at Tuesday’s council scrutiny meeting, but the wait for the “big reveal” of the £1million plans for the borough’s cherished market was a bit of a waste of time, as WALTER CRONXITE reports Residents living … Continue reading

Posted in Carole Bonner, Croydon Council, Fairfield, Helen Pollard, Joy Prince, Mark Watson, Planning, Sean Fitzsimons, Surrey Street | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Lycra-obsessed Tories forget their support for parks and ride

Croydon is the most unsafe borough in south London for cycling, according to a senior councillor. Not that anyone was at the Town Hall meeting to register the point, as STEVEN DOWNES reports If a tree falls in a forest … Continue reading

Posted in Commuting, Connected Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Cycling, Environment, Fairfield, Heathfield, Helen Pollard, Lloyd Park, Sean Fitzsimons, Stuart King, Tim Pollard, Transport, Wandle Park | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Croydon Tories still don’t grasp meaning of data protection

Croydon Tories clearly do not understand the meaning of the word “Protection” in the title of the Data Protection Act. Last week Inside Croydon published a report on how the local Conservative Party, and its Town Hall group leader, Tim … Continue reading

Posted in Coulsdon, Helen Pollard, Ian Parker, Tim Pollard | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mystery behind anonymous objection to South Croydon school

Mystery surrounds the sudden emergence of opposition to a scheme to build a primary school on Aberdeen Road in South Croydon, just behind Bar Txt on South End. Large, migraine-inducing coloured leaflets (it is long-overdue that a criminal offence was … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Education, Environment, Fairfield, Gavin Barwell, Helen Pollard, Parking, Pubs, Restaurants, Schools, South Croydon Community Association, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

96 days to go and councillors’ self-interest is showing

Have you had someone with a rosette knock at your door yet? You will, says WALTER CRONXITE, you will. Though how the tax-payers of Croydon will benefit from one of the longest election campaigns in history is questionable Fed up … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Addiscombe West, Chris Wright, Croydon Central, Dudley Mead, Eddy Arram, Gavin Barwell, Helen Pollard, Jan Buttinger, Jason Cummings, Jason Perry, Louisa Woodley, Maggie Mansell, Malcolm Wicks MP, Margaret Mead, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Mark Watson, Patricia Hay-Justice, Robert Canning, Sara Bashford, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Hollands, Tim Pollard, Timothy Godfrey, Tony Newman, Wayne Lawlor, Whitgift Foundation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Exclusive: John Loony wins Tory election (sort of). At last

After a political career that started in failure (to misquote Enoch Powell), John Cartwright has at last won a public vote. Cartwright, after spending 20 years contesting every possible election in Croydon as John Loony, the Official Monster Raving Loony … Continue reading

Posted in Dudley Mead, Fairfield, Gavin Barwell, Heathfield, Helen Pollard, Maria Gatland, Mike Fisher, Phil Thomas, Riesco Collection, Sanderstead, South Croydon, Tim Pollard | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

These councillors voted last night to build on a Croydon park: next month they will want you to trust them with your vote

When you last had a chance to vote for the local council four years ago, were you asked for your views on the council building on public open space so that the developers could make more than £100million in profit? … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 council elections, Business, Chris Wright, Coulsdon East, Croydon Council, David Osland, Environment, Fairfield, Heathfield, Helen Pollard, Housing, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Lynne Hale, Planning, Property, Richard Chatterjee, Sanderstead, Shirley North, Sue Winborn, Taberner House, Tim Pollard, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Grassroots discontent over selection of deputy leader’s wife

Grassroots Croydon Conservatives are asking whether Councillor Helen Pollard was given preferential treatment by the local party’s leadership after she was nominated earlier this week to stand in Fairfield ward at the local elections in May. Helen Pollard is married … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 council elections, 2015 General Election, Fairfield, Gavin Barwell, Heathfield, Helen Pollard, Mike Fisher, New Addington, Sanderstead, Tim Pollard, Tony Pearson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

De-selected Pollard quickly finds Fairfield ward an easy Fitze

Congratulations to the Pollard family, who had to go barely 24 hours facing the horrible prospect of living like ordinary, hard-working Croydon residents and no longer receiving their annual “allowances” total of £67,354 for their part-time roles as Croydon councillors. … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 council elections, Andrew Stranack, Boris Johnson, David Fitze, Fairfield, Heathfield, Helen Pollard, Jan Buttinger, Jason Perry, Kenley, Maria Gatland, Mayor of London, Michael Neal, South Croydon, Steve Hollands, Steve O'Connell, Sue Winborn, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tories dump councillor No3 as Barwell strengthens his hand

Andy Stranack was duly selected on Saturday night as a Tory candidate for Heathfield ward in May’s local elections. Stranack’s selection saw a third sitting Conservative councillor dumped in the selection process so far and provided the latest sign that … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 by-election, 2014 council elections, 2015 General Election, Croydon Central, Dudley Mead, Eddy Arram, Gavin Barwell, Heathfield, Helen Pollard, Ian Parker, Jason Cummings, Justin Cromie, Lynne Hale, Margaret Mead, Phil Thomas, Sanderstead, Sara Bashford, Selsdon & Ballards, Steve Reed MP, Tim Pollard, Yvette Hopley | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments