Category Archives: Oliver Lewis

CLP cancels meeting with motion opposing NHS privatisation

A constituency Labour Party in Croydon cancelled its regular monthly meeting this week – thwarting an attempt to discuss a motion opposing the latest round of NHS reorganisation and privatisation in the borough. Town Hall sources suggest that centrist-dominated Croydon … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Croydon South, Jane Avis, Oliver Lewis | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

£300,000 new book fund just a start to revive public libraries

Our bookish gyms correspondent, GENE BRODIE, on how an announcement of a 9% increase on not very much leaves a long way to go to stock the borough’s library shelves The council’s somewhat dubious practice of telling only half of … Continue reading

Posted in Carillion, Croydon Council, Libraries, Oliver Lewis | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The last 12 months told through Inside Croydon reports

So how was it for you dear? As 2018 draws to an end, we rifle through the past year’s archive to highlight what Inside Croydon’s loyal reader was reading about most JANUARY: Council ‘Godfather’ is made an offer he can’t … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2018 council elections, Addiscombe East, Art, Brick by Brick, Business, Centrale, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Council, East Croydon, Environment, Fairfield Halls, Housing, Inside Croydon, Jo Negrini, London-wide issues, Niall Bolger, Oliver Lewis, Paul Scott, Planning, Purley, Refuse collection, Richard Simpson, Ruth Dombey, Schools, South Norwood, Sutton Council, TfL, Tony Newman, Tramlink, Transport, Veolia, Waste incinerator, Whitgift Centre, Whitgift Foundation, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Croydon to get £1m from Mayor’s ‘gentrification premium’

Croydon has been named as one of London’s six Creative Enterprise Zones, part of the Mayor of London’s initiative to support artists and creative businesses, and develop skills and jobs for Londoners. Croydon has been awarded just £500,000, from a … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Housing, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, Oliver Lewis, Sadiq Khan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Cabinet member says Brick by Brick could build on libraries

GENE BRODIE, our bookish gyms correspondent, on the latest inadvertent slip by a council cabinet member which betrays the next possible target for the council’s ‘award-winning’ house-builders Brick by Brick’s insatiable appetite for turning public property into mainly private flats … Continue reading

Posted in Brick by Brick, Carillion, Housing, Joy Prince, Libraries, Oliver Lewis, Planning, Selsdon & Ballards, South Norwood | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Joy to the world: Please don’t wreck our Arnhem Gallery

Political editor WALTER CRONXITE on a rare outbreak of critical thinking in the council chamber, as one councillor spells out for the Fairfield Halls management the blatant imbecility of one of their proposed name changes At last, a Labour councillor … Continue reading

Posted in Arnhem Gallery, Art, BH Live, Fairfield Halls, Joy Prince, Neil Chandler, Oliver Lewis | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Three Croydon high streets among ‘unhealthiest’ in London

Another day, another survey that demonstrates that Croydon is slowly deteriorating into decay, poverty and neglect. The Royal Society of Public Health published a list of “Unhealthiest Streets” this week, and Croydon was the only borough that had three entries … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Croydon Council, Environment, Fiona Twycross, Health, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, New Addington, New Addington North, Oliver Lewis, Paul Scott, Sadiq Khan, Simon Hall, South Norwood, Thornton Heath, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Butt-plug art ‘Not everyone’s cup of tea’, says councillor

A month since Inside Croydon revealed how the Arts Council and Croydon Council had jointly put up £48,000 of public money in grants for an arts festival which included an act that sought to “demystify the anus” and another where … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Oliver Lewis, Tony Newman | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Council gets more secretive over its councillors’ declarations

Political editor WALTER CRONXITE reports on a strange reversal of previous open and transparent Town Hall policy, which is deliberately keeping cabinet members’ interests under cover The Labour group which is running Croydon Council is becoming more secretive by the … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Badsha Quadir, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jason Cummings, Louisa Woodley, Mario Creatura, Oliver Lewis, Paul Scott, Simon Hall, Simon Hoar, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Angry complaints force U-turn over leisure centre charges

The council’s ‘Better’ leisure centres have been forced to abandon plans to charge the carers of disabled people for use of the facilities. But those on low incomes are still expected to pay £28.50 for a membership scheme they probably … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Felicity Flynn, Fieldway, GLL - Better, Greenwich Leisure, Health, Leisure services, Louisa Woodley, New Addington, Oliver Lewis, Purley, Purley Pool, Simon Hall, South Norwood, Sport, Swimming, Thornton Heath, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Controversial chair of planning Scott gets promoted to cabinet

WALTER CRONXITE reports on the latest egregious example of Town Hall patronage, and all done at your expense – including one of ‘Tony’s Cronies’ getting £6,000 per committee meeting Despite managing to bring together 17 residents’ groups in opposition to … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Brick by Brick, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Housing, Jane Avis, Louisa Woodley, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mark Watson, Oliver Lewis, Paul Scott, Planning, Simon Hall, Stuart Collins, Stuart King, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Fieldway’s Hall launches attack on ‘unacceptable’ Veolia

WALTER CRONXITE, our political editor, on the widening splits within the leadership of the Labour group on the council, with local elections less than four months away One of Croydon council leader Tony Newman’s most trusted lieutenants has this week … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Carole Bonner, Felicity Flynn, Fieldway, Fly tipping, Louisa Woodley, New Addington, New Addington North, Oliver Lewis, Refuse collection, Simon Hall, Stuart Collins, Tony Newman, Tony Pearson, Veolia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Speakman speaks truth to the council’s powers-that-be

WALTER CRONXITE, our political editor, on a rare outburst of straight talking among our Town Hall elected representatives “Thank goodness someone finally had the courage to say it,” one very senior Labour councillor confided after Monday night’s full council meeting … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Alison Butler, Croydon Council, Donald Speakman, Jason Cummings, Jo Negrini, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Oliver Lewis, Patsy Cummings, Phil Thomas, Purley, South Croydon, South Norwood, Stuart Collins, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Labour deputy leader Butler is under threat of de-selection

Croydon Labour’s long-delayed local election candidate selection process is beginning to look like a cross between House of Cards and Game of Thrones, as WALTER CRONXITE reports Alison Butler, the all-powerful deputy leader of the Labour group on Croydon Council, … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Addiscombe East, Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Andrew Rendle, Bensham Manor, Broad Green, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Humayun Kabir, Jamie Audsley, Jane Avis, John Wentworth, Karen Jewitt, Louisa Woodley, Maggie Mansell, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mike Selva, New Addington, Norbury, Oliver Lewis, Shafi Khan, Sherwan Chowdhury, South Norwood, Stuart Collins, Thornton Heath, Tony Newman, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rulebook gaffe forces Labour to lift councillor’s suspension

Confusion and suspicion surround Bensham Manor councillor Jamie Audsley’s status within the Labour group at Croydon Town Hall, after his suspension from the ruling party’s whip over a disciplinary matter was dropped within 24 hours of its being announced. Sources … Continue reading

Posted in Bensham Manor, Jamie Audsley, Oliver Lewis, Thornton Heath, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Bungling Newman sets up Collins for deputy leader contest

Tony Newman, Croydon’s Labour council leader, seems primed to torpedo his councillors’ own local election prospects with his latest piece of old pals’ act patronage. In the past 18 months, through poorly presented and badly timed policy announcements issued from Croydon … Continue reading

Posted in 2016 London elections, 2018 council elections, Addiscombe West, Alison Butler, Broad Green, Croydon Council, John Wentworth, Maddie Henson, Mark Watson, Oliver Lewis, Pat Clouder, Patricia Hay-Justice, Paul Scott, Sarah Jones MP, Stuart Collins, Toni Letts, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Murder on the dance floor as Newman checks who’s in step

Ignore the pointless “debate” on the EU referendum and badly sung versions of Land of Hope and Glory. Monday’s council meeting was in fact a thinly disguised contest to judge the performances in the Town Hall chamber of some of … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jane Avis, Kathy Bee, Mark Watson, Mayor of London, Nathan Elvery, Oliver Lewis, Sadiq Khan, South Norwood, Stuart Collins, Stuart King, Toni Letts, Tony Newman, Vidhi Mohan, Wayne Lawlor, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

House on King Henry’s Drive lights up New Addington

A house on King Henry’s Drive has been declared the winner of the 2015 New Addington best Christmas lights display.

Posted in Carole Bonner, Fieldway, Louisa Woodley, New Addington, Oliver Lewis, Simon Hall | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Night of the short knives as Newman sacks chief whip Ryan

WALTER CRONXITE, our man in the public gallery with a Twix bar and a copy of the Racing Post, offers the inside information on what passes for a reshuffle at the Town Hall It was the sort of “hit” that … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Hamida Ali, Humayun Kabir, Manju Shahul Hameed, Oliver Lewis, Pat Ryan, Patricia Hay-Justice, Sherwan Chowdhury, Simon Hall, Stephen Mann, Tony Newman, Waddon, Wayne Lawlor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Councillor concerned by TfL’s short-notice bus consultation

A Croydon councillor has criticised Transport for London over a consultation about changes to bus routes for failing to give residents in New Addington enough notice of a couple of key meetings, both staged this week, during the school half-term … Continue reading

Posted in London Assembly, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, New Addington, Oliver Lewis, Purley, Tramlink, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Fewer than 30 attend BNP’s shabby charade on Central Parade

It seems that the widespread support being claimed by the bigots of the BNP for a campaign they are running in New Addington is as non-existent as the plans to build a mosque on which it is based. Fewer than … Continue reading

Posted in Carole Bonner, Croydon Central, Fieldway, Gavin Barwell, Louisa Woodley, New Addington, Oliver Lewis, Simon Hall, Steve O'Connell | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Labour and Tories condemn ‘hate-driven’ BNP campaign

In a rare demonstration of cross-party unity in Croydon for the benefit of the locals, four Labour councillors have today come together with a local Tory MP and Conservative London Assembly Member to condemn a “hate-driven” anti-Muslim campaign in New … Continue reading

Posted in Carole Bonner, Croydon Central, Fieldway, Gavin Barwell, London Assembly, Louisa Woodley, New Addington, Oliver Lewis, Simon Hall, Steve O'Connell | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Does Croydon’s new council have much to rave about?

One month on, WALTER CRONXITE, our local elections pollster who was first to call correctly the result of the Croydon Town Hall vote, takes a look behind the scenes in Fisher’s Folly to see what changes might be in store … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 council elections, Bernard Weatherill House, Capita, Coulsdon Town, Croydon 8/8, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon Radio, Fly tipping, Gavin Barwell, Jon Rouse, Mario Creatura, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Oliver Lewis, Phil Thomas, Planning, Refuse collection, Richard Ottaway MP, Steve Reed MP, Stuart Collins, Taberner House, Tony Newman, URV, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Miliband leads calls for more affordable housing in Croydon

VOTE 2014: Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, has set up his local councillors in Croydon for what could be some frank discussions with major developers in the borough, including Westfield, Barratt Homes and John Laing, after he announced that his … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2014 council elections, 2015 General Election, Boris Johnson, Business, Cane Hill, Coulsdon, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell, Housing, IYLO, Louisa Woodley, New Addington, Oliver Lewis, Planning, Property, Steve Reed MP, Taberner House, Tony Pearson, URV, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Are you local? New Addington’s Royston Vasey campaign

VOTE 2014: Labour needs to win both New Addington seats if they are to have any chance of winning control of the Town Hall, but they have been handicapped by internal wrangles and Tory accusations of being “outsiders” Labour’s determination … Continue reading

Posted in 2014 council elections, George Ayres, Karen Jewitt, Louisa Woodley, New Addington, Oliver Lewis, Tony Pearson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment