Category Archives: Maria Gatland
RAAC and ruins: Link school discovers dangerous concrete
Another local special school is shut down over concerns about ‘crumbling’ concrete used in its buildings. By GENE BRODIE, education correspondent The Link Secondary School on Croydon Road is the latest to be affected by concerns over RAAC, the lightweight … Continue reading
Two Croydon schools forced to close over crumbling concrete
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Council’s Tory leadership accused of ‘deceiving’ parents with statement issued last week on the state of the borough’s schools. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Despite assurances issued by the council, at least two Croydon schools will not be … Continue reading
Perry’s back-pedalling furiously on Boris-backed bike scheme
Croydon Mayor’s long-term opposition to safe cycling infrastructure could yet lead to a scheme along Brighton Road causing someone serious injury, maybe worse, as the council fails to act on a potential death trap. By JEREMY CLACKSON, transport correspondent The … Continue reading
Here’s the Mayor and 33 Croydon Tory councillors who THREE times voted in favour of hitting you with a 15% Council Tax hike
JASON PERRY. Mayor of Croydon Elected in May 2022 with a margin of fewer than 600 votes. Is paid £82,000 per year by the council. His office answers the phone just 20 hours per week. Stood on a election promise … Continue reading
Council’s planners lose multiple cases at appeal and in court
Independent inspectors and judges at the High Court continue to rule against decisions made by Croydon’s planning department. Yet those making these dubious, developer-friendly decisions remain in place Research for Inside Croydon has found at least another 11 planning cases … Continue reading
Labour try to pass off Coulsdon address for South Croydon
CROYDON LABOUR IN CRISIS: The blundering local campaign organisation has dropped another clanger with its declaration of its candidate’s address for a ward by-election. By STEVEN DOWNES Croydon Labour’s by-election campaign in South Croydon, already causing discontent among grassroots party … Continue reading
Tory quits party over selection for South Croydon safe seat
Our south of the borough correspondent, PEARL LEE, reports on acrimony and manoeuvrings among the Conservatives over their choice of by-election candidate Danielle “Dani” Denton has been selected by the Conservatives as their candidate in the South Croydon ward by-election … Continue reading
Labour officials pick ‘worst-ever’ candidate for by-election
CROYDON LABOUR IN CRISIS: Emergency resolution from constituency party blames Local Campaign Forum for multiple failures in local elections. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Labour officials have hand-picked as a candidate for the South Croydon election re-run someone who three weeks … Continue reading
Tory Mayor’s unnecessary ward by-election set for June 30
The South Croydon ward by-election will be held on Thursday, June 30, the council has announced. The by-election is a needless expense for the cash-strapped council that has been caused by Tory Mayor Jason Perry putting himself forward as a … Continue reading
£100,000 Mayor Perry unveils his old team as the new team
WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the completely predictable make-up of the borough’s executive Mayor’s first cabinet, and the wheeling and dealing over who will chair the Town Hall’s most influential committees Given that it took nearly five days to count … Continue reading
From bankrupt to laughing stock as council count continues
WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the country’s longest-lasting election count, and more unwanted notoriety for Croydon The Croydon election count looks set to head into a fifth day, and its second week, after yesterday’s session at Trinity School managed to … Continue reading
Tories accused of ‘pandering to prejudice’ over cycle lanes
The Conservatives’ Mayoral candidate is contradicting his own party leader over a roads improvement scheme in South Croydon Jason Perry, the Conservative candidate to become the first executive Mayor of Croydon, has launched a petition which warns against “traffic chaos” … Continue reading
Three ex-pubs are put up for sale as developers get cold feet
Community group has six weeks to find at least £1m to buy a once-successful East Croydon boozer, as owners abandon plans to build flats Three former pubs have been put up for sale, as firms of developers appear set to … Continue reading
Friends group opposes works to restore Croham Hurst after fire
Those not working this Bank Holiday Monday in the fine weather forecasted might want to take their recreation on the top of Croham Hurst, especially with the cooling tree cover on the route from the Croham valley. After the hard … Continue reading
Fire brigade on stand-by for fire risk at Croydon beauty spot
There’s growing concerns, ahead of another hot and dry weekend, for the safety of a Croydon beauty spot from fires, coupled with mounting anger at the carelessness and “eco-vandalism” of some who might be planning to hold barbecues at Croham … Continue reading
Large sections of Croham Hurst left scarred after day-long fires
Firefighters are on standby today to dampen down the embers after fire left a large part of Croham Hurst charred and blackened. Three fire engines attended the Site of Special Scientific Interest for most of yesterday, as a bush fire … Continue reading
Councillor appeals to public to avoid fire risk at Croham Hurst
With the London Weather Centre already declaring this month the driest June since records began, a councillor in South Croydon has appealed to the public not to light fires or barbecues in one of the area’s most sensitive natural open … Continue reading
Pollard’s manifesto makes election a question of honesty
ELECTION COUNTDOWN: Four years ago, the Conservatives in Croydon demonstrated their contempt for the electorate by not even bothering with a manifesto. This time round, as political editor WALTER CRONXITE reports, what they have produced is simply not very credible … Continue reading
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
