Category Archives: London-wide issues

Khan’s lead at the polls could be enough to elect Cummings

If the pollsters have got their numbers right, history could be about to be made in next month’s London Assembly elections, according to our resident psephologist WALTER CRONXITE This time next month, for the first time in history, Croydon and … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, Claire Bonham, Croydon Greens, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Patsy Cummings, Peter Underwood, Sadiq Khan, Shaun Bailey, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Time to end borough’s ‘lazy’ political duopoly say Greens

Voters at next month’s council by-elections are being encouraged to end the Town Hall’s unfunny double act, reports WALTER CRONXITE, political editor The Green Party has accused the political duopoly which dominates Croydon politics of becoming “lazy”, with Tories and … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Esther Sutton, Hamida Ali, Housing, Kenley, New Addington North, Park Hill and Whitgift, Paul Scott, Peter Underwood, Simon Hall, South Norwood, Tony Newman, Tracey Hague, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

MP tells developers they could rebuild Downsview bungalow

Croydon North MP Steve Reed has written to a firm of property developers demanding that they cease immediately all work on a new block of flats on a residential street in Upper Norwood, threatening them that they may need to … Continue reading

Posted in Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Housing, Planning, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Tories include a proven liar among by-election candidates

The Conservative Party candidates in the council by-elections next month include one man who, the last time he stood for election to Croydon Council, was accused of telling falsehoods by no less than three bishops, and a woman who allowed … Continue reading

Posted in Bishop of Croydon, Croydon Council, Kenley, London Councils, Lynne Hale, New Addington North, Ola Kolade, Park Hill and Whitgift, South Norwood, Steve O'Connell, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

BME Forum ‘deeply troubled’ by Johnson’s racism report

Croydon’s Black and Minority Ethnic Forum has entered the row over the government’s controversial racism report that was published this week, saying that they were “deeply troubled” by its findings. The report has been accused this week of cherry-picking “data … Continue reading

Posted in Boris Johnson, Community associations, Croydon BME Forum | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Podcast: ‘My living nightmare in temporary accommodation’

Last week, we published the account by SHANTAL MOSES (left) of her  lockdown year spent with her young son in inadequate and dangerous accommodation provided by Croydon Council. This is Croydon’s real housing crisis, another aspect of the appalling conditions … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Croydon Council, Housing, Under The Flyover | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Brick by Brick’s delayed accounts show another £0.8m loss

Report states ‘material uncertainty in respect of going concern’ Fairfield Halls project costs soar to £76.4m New directors find many BxB properties over-valued Auditors ‘unable to determine whether adequate accounting records have been kept’ With just a few hours to … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Housing, Jo Negrini, Planning | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Fire Brigade ‘concerns’ over safety of 44-storey tower

The fire brigade has expressed concerns about the fire safety of the “unusual methods” of construction of the world’s tallest prefab, the black twin towers on George Street opposite East Croydon Station. Inside Croydon revealed in February that delays with … Continue reading

Posted in 101 George Street/Ten Degrees, East Croydon, Housing, Property | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Gammons and other chancers among 20 Mayor candidates

“Jeez.” That was the one-word reaction of Tim Donovan, the long-standing political editor of BBC London, when he saw the full horror of the 20 runners and riders in the race to be Mayor of London. Poor old Tim, who … Continue reading

Posted in London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Shaun Bailey, Sian Berry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Developers in legal challenge over Upper Norwood plans

Residents of a road of 1920s-built bungalows and cottages in Upper Norwood who fear that their cherished neighbourhood is about to be destroyed have called in their MP and hired lawyers to fight against profit-hungry property speculators, and the local … Continue reading

Posted in Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Environment, Housing, Planning, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Ali was emailed about ‘appalling’ council flats six months ago

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council leader talks about damp and mould in two flats in South Norwood. Community workers have found the same problem widespread throughout three tower blocks, where residents are ‘belittled’ by officials and are left ‘feeling worthless’. … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Housing, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

‘My family’s hell on earth’: 18 months in a Croydon B&B

The appalling conditions in council flats in Regina Road is just one aspect in which Croydon Council is failing residents. It is nearly 10 years since Croydon Council was exposed for using sub-standard and dangerous B&B bedrooms in a Thornton … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Housing, Thornton Heath | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Council’s flats scandal caused by ‘complete corporate failure’

The scandal of the unliveable conditions in council flats in South Norwood has been the result of “a complete corporate failure” at Croydon Council, the council leader told a committee of MPs this afternoon. Councillor Hamida Ali was addressing the … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Housing, London-wide issues, South Norwood | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

Council’s ‘urgent’ inquiry into housing scandal is slow to start

It took Croydon Council five days after they were approached by ITV News with serious questions about the appalling conditions in council flats in South Norwood before they announced an “urgent inquiry”. And in the council’s first response to the … Continue reading

Posted in Addiscombe West, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Housing, Patricia Hay-Justice, Sarah Hayward, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Hayward promoted to investigate Regina Road scandal

CROYDON IN CRISIS: A controversial former Labour council leader is promoted and given a possible £40,000 pay rise by Hamida Ali in the latest round of musical chairs at the Town Hall. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Sarah Hayward has been … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, London-wide issues, Policing, Sarah Hayward, Shifa Mustafa, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

‘Why do you appear not to know the answer to anything?’

Anyone who watches the full horror of the 17-minute unedited interview conducted by ITV News’s Dan Hewitt with Hamida Ali last night will quickly realise why Croydon was so reluctant to put up the council leader to talk about the … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Housing, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Tenants in rushed evacuation from South Norwood block

There were chaotic scenes outside the block of council flats on Regina Road this afternoon as tenants were being hurriedly evacuated from the building by Croydon Council staff. Some of those being moved complained of heavy-handed tactics, as they clutched … Continue reading

Posted in Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Housing, London Assembly, Patsy Cummings, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

‘Appalled’ Jenrick seeks ‘urgent answers’ over Croydon flats

Croydon Council has been roundly criticised for its failures to act over the chronic and dangerous water leaks and long-term damp in its block of flats in South Norwood. The appalling conditions – described as “the worst I have ever … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Clive Fraser, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Hamida Ali, Housing, Jane Avis, Mayor of London, Patsy Cummings, Sadiq Khan, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

‘Is it because the council don’t care? Where is their humanity?’

Millions around the country were shocked when they saw a television news report last night which showed the appalling – and dangerous – conditions tenants in a council-owned block in South Norwood have had to endure for months. Here, the … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Housing, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Croydon shamed over ‘dangerous squalor’ in council flats

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The council is effectively bankrupt, after lending £200m to a house-building firm that delivered just three purpose-built council homes in five years. Yet some of the council’s existing housing stock has been shamefully neglected, according to a … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Housing, South Norwood | Tagged , , | 36 Comments

Tories O’Connell and Mohan stand down from council

Two senior Conservative councillors, Steve O’Connell and Vidhi Mohan, announced today that they are standing down from the council. It brings to five the number of ward by-elections that will need to be staged on May 6, the same day … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, Fairfield, Kenley, London Assembly, New Addington North, Park Hill and Whitgift, Simon Hall, Steve O'Connell, Tony Newman, Vidhi Mohan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Dog owners warned thieves operating in South Croydon

Dog owners in South Croydon have been warned to be vigilant while out walking their prized pooches, after tell-tale signs suggesting that thieves may be operating in the area were found by gardeners at a local church. Plastic ties fixed … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Policing, South Croydon | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Organisers cancel South Norwood ‘Reclaim These Streets’ vigil

Organisers of a vigil this evening at Norwood Junction say they have abandoned their plans “with a heavy heart”, following yesterday’s High Court ruling that banned an event being held at Clapham Common to protest against violence, following the abduction … Continue reading

Posted in Community associations, Crime, Policing, South Norwood Community Kitchen, South Norwood Tourist Board | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Assembly election count to take extra day because of covid

It has been confirmed that the count for the Mayor of London and London Assembly elections being held on May 6 will be spread over two days. The London election results have tended to be tortuous events, even in normal … Continue reading

Posted in 2021 London elections, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Nearly 1,000 catalytic converter thefts in borough in 2020

Official police figures published today show that Croydon is the second worst-hit borough in London for catalytic converter thefts, while the number of arrests for the crime remain “pitifully low”, according to a London Assembly Member. Crime stats show that … Continue reading

Posted in Caroline Pidgeon, Crime, London-wide issues | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment