Category Archives: Purley Pool

Speakman quits Tory party and launches attack on ageism

EXCLUSIVE: WALTER CRONXITE on the latest recriminations over party selections for the local elections next month Donald Speakman, a Tory councillor in Purley for the past 16 years, has resigned from the Conservative Party and has started a campaign to … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Badsha Quadir, Donald Speakman, Purley, Purley Pool, Simon Brew, Tim Pollard | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

2018 Purley Swimathon, Purley Pool, Feb 24 and Mar 1

Posted in Charity, Purley, Purley Pool, Purley Rotary Club, Sport, Swimming | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

GLL lined up for libraries, as well as leisure and pools

GENE BRODIE, our bookish gyms correspondent, on an added twist to the tale of a 20-year leisure centre management contract GLL – Greenwich Leisure Ltd – could be lined up to take over the operation of Croydon’s library service. GLL … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Carillion, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Fusion, Greenwich Leisure, John Laing Integrated Services, Leisure services, Libraries, New Addington, Purley, Purley Pool, South Norwood, Sport, Thornton Heath, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Council is splashing the cash for another swimming summer

Croydon’s Labour council has splashed the cash again, to give the borough’s under-16-year-olds free swimming sessions over the summer holidays. The free offer runs from Monday July 26 to Tuesday September 4. “This is the fourth summer in a row … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Croydon Council, Leisure services, New Addington, Purley, Purley Pool, South Norwood, Sport, Swimming, Thornton Heath, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Make a splash with council’s free swimming offer for under-16s

Free summer swimming for under-16s is available at all of Croydon Council’s leisure centres for the six weeks of the schools’ summer holidays. As well as free swimming there will be crash courses for those new to the water, and … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Croydon Council, Education, Health, Leisure services, New Addington, Purley, Purley Pool, Schools, South Norwood, Swimming, Thornton Heath, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Palace keeper Speroni helps Swimathon splash the cash

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni was on hand to get the Purley Swimathon underway this year, with swimmers aged from seven to 80 raising more than £20,000 towards local causes. As well as supporting their own chosen causes, the swimmers … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Crystal Palace FC, Football, Purley Pool, Purley Rotary Club, Sport | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Make a charity splash in the new year with Purley Swimathon

There are still a few lanes available for eager fund-raisers at the 2016 Purley Swimathon on Saturday February 27 and Thursday March 3.

Posted in Activities, Charity, Purley, Purley Pool, Purley Rotary Club, Swimming | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Barwell clings on to turn the tide for the Tories in Croydon

To borrow a phrase from that giant among Croydon residents, Ronnie Corbett: “And finally…”. WALTER CRONXITE, our man in the public gallery with a Yorkie bar and a copy of Computer Weekly, offers his analysis of the local state of … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, 2016 London elections, 2018 council elections, Ashburton, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Gavin Barwell, Housing, Purley Pool, Purley Way, Sarah Jones MP, Selsdon & Ballards, Steve O'Connell, Sutton Council, Tony Newman, Waddon, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Barwell starts to close the gap on Jones in Croydon Central

Parliament will be dissolved in three weeks’ time, with the polls suggesting the borough’s one battleground seat, Croydon Central, will be a tighter contest than was previously predicted, reports WALTER CRONXITE The result of the Selhurst ward by-election last week … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", 2015 General Election, Addiscombe West, Andrew Pelling, Ashburton, Croydon Central, David Wood, Gavin Barwell, Mario Creatura, Purley Pool, Sarah Jones MP, Selhurst, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Council meeting goes through the motions as a costly joke

WALTER CRONXITE, our man watching the webcast with a Yorkie bar and  a cup of strong black coffee, calls for another reform of Croydon Council: scrap meetings of the full council. They’re a complete waste of time and public money, … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Pelling, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Gavin Barwell, Julie Belvir, Kenley, Lynne Hale, Mario Creatura, Mike Fisher, Nathan Elvery, Phil Thomas, Purley, Purley Pool, Richard Ottaway MP, Sanderstead, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard, Tony Newman, Waste incinerator, Whitgift Foundation, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

POLL: Back our scheme to save Purley Pool – permanently

FLIP FLOP (Part 94): Purley Pool has been given a reprieve, of sorts. Following an announcement this morning by Tony Newman, the council leader, the only public swimming pool serving a vast catchment area in the south of the borough … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Fusion, Leisure services, Mike Fisher, Planning, Purley Pool, Swimming, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Money-saving argument over pool closure won’t hold water

Campaigners hoping to keep Purley Pool open might want to consider whether the costs saving argument put forward by Croydon Council for the closure actually… well… holds water. The pool at Purley was earmarked for closure in 2014 by the … Continue reading

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council, Nathan Elvery, New Addington, Planning, Purley, Purley Pool, Purley Way, Sport, Swimming, Tony Newman, URV, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Croydon needs a comedy candidate: Run, Jonny! Run!

Yesterday’s announcement that The Pub Landlord is to stand as a candidate in the General Election in South Thanet, wherever that might be, was satire of the highest calibre, worthy of Beyond the Fringe or Private Eye. But it also … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Business, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Croydon 8/8, Croydon South, Gavin Barwell, Jon Bigger, Mario Creatura, Purley, Purley Pool, Richard Ottaway MP, Tony Newman, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Purley Pool shows Tories and Labour are both in shallow end

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Croydon South’s anarchist candidate, JON BIGGER, pictured left, says that the decision over Purley Pool is another example to show there’s little difference between his Conservative and Labour election rivals The debate around the closure of Purley Pool … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Jon Bigger, Leisure services, Purley, Purley Pool, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Benn puts clear blue water between herself and pool closure

The Hon Emily Benn, who once distinguished herself as being “a Benn, not a Bennite”, made it clear at last night’s Croydon South Posh-Off debate that she’s not Ed, nor Ed. And she doesn’t much care for some of the … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Purley, Purley Pool, Richard Ottaway MP, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Spot the difference as Philp takes on Benn in Purley Posh-Off

There promises to be a “Posh-Off” when Coulsdon and Purley Debating Society stages a General Election debate next Monday – yes, it’ll be January 5 – as the Tory candidate in Croydon South, Chris Philp, takes on Labour’s The Hon … Continue reading

Posted in 2015 General Election, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Jon Bigger, Kathleen Garner, Purley, Purley Pool, Richard Ottaway MP, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Developer price tag for New Addington pool is £10m too much

David Cameron and Gideon Osborne, the Tory Prime Minister and his Chancellor, have been described as “two posh boys who don’t know the price of milk”. Croydon’s own career politician, Gavin Barwell, the MP for the Whitgift Foundation, has himself … Continue reading

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Leisure services, Nathan Elvery, New Addington, Planning, Property, Purley, Purley Pool, Sport, Swimming, Tony Newman, URV | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Pool closure leaves Labour’s Emily Benn high and dry

WALTER CRONXITE on how Labour has quickly reinforced Croydon’s North-South divide, in moves which it may come to regret Have you got the message? If you live in Purley, Kenley or Coulsdon, Labour don’t expect you to vote for them. … Continue reading

Posted in Ashburton, Bishop of Croydon, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Central, Croydon South, Emily Benn, Gavin Barwell, Parking, Purley, Purley Pool, Tony Newman, Transport, Waddon, West Thornton | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Purley Pool to close as council Budget cuts begin to bite

Croydon Council is to close Purley Pool in a cost-cutting exercise aimed at avoiding having to spend at least £780,000 on urgently required repairs and renovations to the much-neglected swimming facility. Purley’s swimming pools’ fate was sealed once the council … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Croydon South, Fusion, Leisure services, Nathan Elvery, Planning, Property, Purley, Purley Pool, Sport, Swimming | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Purley Rotarians want you to get in the swim for charity

The local Rotary Club is recruiting swimmers and teams of swimmers to take part in the 2014 Purley Swimathon in February. The 2013 Swimathon raised £24,000 for local organisations and charities. The Swimathon is a fun event organised to help … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Community associations, Purley, Purley Pool, Purley Rotary Club | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Go with Mo: Croydon takes part in world record attempt

A week on from Mo Farah winning his second Olympic gold medal in the 5,000 metres, Croydon’s runners have been playing their part in a world record attempt 5km run. ParkRun is an outstanding, nil-cost series of weekly races staged … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 Olympics, Activities, Addiscombe West, Athletics, Health, Purley, Purley Pool, Sport, Swimming, Thornton Heath | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Grassroots sports clubs are facing an Olympic task

What lasting impact will the Olympics have on sport in Croydon? Not much, says STEVEN DOWNES It’s less than 50 days now until the Olympic Games begin in our city. But here, in Croydon, we seem almost untouched by the … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 Olympics, Activities, Athletics, Cricket, Croydon Harriers, Health, Leisure services, Purley, Purley Pool, Rugby Union, Schools, Shirley North, Sport, Streatham-Croydon RFC, Swimming | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Purley campaigners fear their pool is “under attack”

Campaigners supporting Purley Pool are concerned that a council consultation process is laying the groundwork for redevelopment of the pool, car park and the former Sainsbury’s store. The council’s “spatial” planning team has issued a circular inviting submissions from developers … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Health, Leisure services, Parking, Planning, Property, Purley, Purley Pool, Richard Ottaway MP, Sport, Swimming, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Purley Pool campaign calls for support on masterplans

Campaigners to save Purley Pool are seeking your help urgently to help influence the consultation process Croydon Council is undertaking for its masterplans for the borough. Purley Pool has been given a four-year stay of demolition by Croydon Council leader … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon South, Leisure services, Mike Fisher, Purley Pool, Sport | Leave a comment

Croydon misses the starter’s gun for Olympic Weekend

Finally, Croydon admits the Olympics really are coming to London. It was 6.30 last night, six months after Boris and London’s Games organisers had set a deadline for local authorities throughout the capital to make submissions, and a month since … Continue reading

Posted in 2012 Olympics, Activities, Croydon Council, Fusion, Leisure services, Purley Pool, Sara Bashford, Sport | 1 Comment