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Category Archives: Woodside
‘The Fold’: former council-owned site takes a gamble with name
Our housing correspondent, BARRATT HOLMES, on the latest laugh-out-loud move by developers working in the centre of Croydon While this website might be loathe to echo one of the catchphrases of one of the more notorious tabloid columnists, you really … Continue reading
The Sound of Silence is not the song we need from Town Hall
CROYDON COMMENTARY: Since audit regulations were amended in 2015, only five other local councils have been the subject of Reports in the Public Interest, with findings from their auditors of mismanagement or wrong-doing*. Croydon joined that list last year and … Continue reading
Posted in Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Jo Negrini, Report in the Public Interest, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Tony Newman
Tagged Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Croydon, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Ian Kierans, Jo Negrini, Labour, Nolan Principles, Report in the Public Interest, Tony Newman
1 Comment
Council axes its annual grant to flagship Legacy Youth Zone
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Town Hall reporter KEN LEE on the latest casualty of the council’s financial mismanagement The Legacy Youth Zone, a flagship development of Tony Newman’s Labour council, built with £3.25million capital investment from the Town Hall, is to … Continue reading
Kerswell culls 58 more jobs as council wrestles with budget
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Struggling to cut another £38m from its already trimmed spending, council chiefs’ response is to make more frontline workers redundant. By our Town Hall correspondent, KEN LEE Croydon’s cash-strapped council is struggling to make the further multi-million-pound … Continue reading
Council to be rocked by second Report In The Public Interest
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The £70m ‘Fairfield fiasco’ has provoked serious concerns with auditors over the potential misuse of public money, with bungling developers Brick by Brick under scrutiny. EXCLUSIVE By STEVEN DOWNES External auditors are to issue a Report In … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Brick by Brick, Business, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Hamida Ali, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Paula Murray, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Ennis, RIPI II: Fairfield Halls, Sean Fitzsimons, Shifa Mustafa, Tony Newman
Tagged Brick by Brick, Colm Lacey, Croydon, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Grant Thornton, Jo Negrini, London, Oliver Lewis, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Ennis, RIPI, Tony Newman
5 Comments
Wheatley is appointed as chair of housing improvement panel
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Nine months after the conditions in council flats in South Norwood caused a national scandal, and after spending £104,000 on one director who never bothered meeting the Regina Road Residents’ Support Group, the council has got around … Continue reading
Posted in Community associations, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Housing, Regina Road Residents' Support Group, South Norwood, South Norwood Community Kitchen, South Norwood Tourist Board
Tagged Alison Knight, Croydon, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Labour, Martin Wheatley, Regina Road, Regina Road Residents' Support Group, South Norwood
3 Comments
Audsley has nowhere to run after Labour selection stitch-up
The insular and inward-looking local Labour Party is limping towards the finish line of a foregone conclusion, weeks after the Tories and Greens began campaigning to get their candidates elected as Croydon Mayor. By STEVEN DOWNES Croydon Labour’s laborious selection … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Alisa Flemming, Callton Young, Croydon North, Croydon South, Jamie Audsley, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Manju Shahul Hameed, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross
Tagged Callton Young, Croydon, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon Mayor, Croydon Mayoral election 2022, Croydon North, Croydon South, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Manju Shahul Hameed, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed OBE, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross
10 Comments
Love Lane Christmas Street Party, Woodside, Dec 11
Posted in Community associations, Woodside
Tagged Friends of Love Lane, Love Lane Green, Woodside
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Two years late and council safety ‘strategy’ is barely changed
After a week when the borough’s streets were smeared in blood once again, after stabbings on Church Street in the town centre and on Central Parade in New Addington, Croydon’s dysfunctional council is finally getting around to publishing an updated … Continue reading
Croydon at centre of racism allegations over council homes
The scandal surrounding Croydon’s council housing last night plumbed new depths, as ITV News – who first exposed the “appalling” conditions in flats in South Norwood – broadcast a report which strongly suggested that many social housing tenants are stigmatised … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Housing, London-wide issues, South Norwood
Tagged Council housing, Regina Road, South Norwood
1 Comment
Veteran councillor Ryan is deselected while in hospital bed
WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the latest casualties of the council’s financial collapse Pat Ryan, a Croydon councillor for nearly 30 years, was last night deselected by members at a Labour Party meeting in his home ward of Crystal Palace … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, Addiscombe East, Addiscombe West, Amy Foster, Bensham Manor, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Felicity Flynn, Hamida Ali, Humayun Kabir, Jerry Fitzpatrick, John Wentworth, Kola Agboola, Leila Ben-Hassel, Mike Bonello, New Addington, New Addington North, Nina Degrads, Norbury, Pat Ryan, Patsy Cummings, Shafi Khan, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP, Woodside
Tagged Addiscombe West, Amy Foster, Croydon Council, Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Felicity Flynn, Hamida Ali, John Wentworth, Kola Agboola, Labour, New Addington, Pat Ryan, Rowenna Davis, Tony Newman
2 Comments
Ali offered £3.1m lifeline to help reduce cuts to services
CROYDON IN CRISIS: One Labour councillor has provided an idea which could help to reduce some of the drastic cuts in the Town Hall budget. But so far, they’ve not received a reply. By WALTER CRONXITE, political editor It’s a … Continue reading
Newman backers say they want to be Labour’s Mayor candidate
Next week marks one year since the council was forced to declare itself effectively bankrupt. For some senior Labour councillors, it’s almost as if they played no part in the borough’s financial collapse. By STEVEN DOWNES Three members of Tony … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Alisa Flemming, Callton Young, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jamie Audsley, Jason Perry, Manju Shahul Hameed, Sarah Jones MP, Section 114 notice, Steve Reed MP, Val Shawcross
Tagged Alisa Flemming, Callton Young, Croydon, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Croydon South, Donna Murray-Turner, Jamie Audsley, Labour, Manju Shahul Hameed, Mayor, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed OBE, Tony Newman
4 Comments
Cash-strapped council still going over-budget, report finds
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Government commissioners say that there’s been ‘an opportunity missed’ because of the slow pace of change under council CEO. By STEVEN DOWNES Katherine Kerswell, the chief executive of the cash-strapped council, has been subjected to overt criticism … Continue reading
Posted in Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Report in the Public Interest, Richard Ennis, Section 114 notice, Tony McArdle
Tagged Department for Levelling Up, DLUHC, Hamida Ali, Improvement Panel, Katherine Kerswell, Report in the Public Interest, S114, Section 114, Tony McArdle
6 Comments
Council rehomes families from overcrowded Regina Road flats
EXCLUSIVE: New heaters have been promised by the middle of this month, as officials finally start to make changes for those living in ‘appalling’ conditions in South Norwood council flats. By STEVEN DOWNES Families with more than two children living … Continue reading
Posted in Clive Fraser, Community associations, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Health, Housing, Patricia Hay-Justice, Patsy Cummings, Regina Road Residents' Support Group, South Norwood
Tagged Croydon, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Labour, Patricia Hay-Justice, Regina Road, Regina Road Residents' Support Group, South Norwood
1 Comment
Boycotts and resignations in rows over Labour selections
‘The conduct of Labour Party affairs locally does seem to be almost tailored to create continuing unease and disaffection’. WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, with the latest round-up of shenanigans “Croydon North’s in meltdown” was how one angry Labour member put … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, Addiscombe West, Callton Young, Catherine Wilson, Clive Fraser, Croydon North, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Elliott-Jay Munroop, Felicity Flynn, John Wentworth, Karen Jewitt, Louis Carserides, Mohammed Islam, New Addington, New Addington North, Nina Degrads, Norbury, Norbury Park, Pat Ryan, Patsy Cummings, Selhurst, South Norwood, Stella Nabukeera, Stephen Mann, Steve Reed MP, Tamar Nwafor, Thornton Heath, Woodside
Tagged Addiscombe West, Clive Fraser, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, John Wentworth, Labour, New Addington, Norbury Park, Pat Ryan, Patsy Cummings, South Norwood, Steve Reed OBE, Thornton Heath
1 Comment
Spooky! Ghost of council’s past returns in time for Halloween
It must be Halloween. A ghost of Croydon Council’s past has turned up to haunt a mayoral event. A year since Croydon Council went bankrupt, and nine months since he was forced to resign as a councillor after having been … Continue reading
I paid my LTN fine. I won’t be returning to the town centre soon
CROYDON COMMENTARY: In an open letter to council leader Hamida Ali, Kenley resident RICHARD RUSSELL expresses his dismay with the current state of the borough I received a penalty charge notice, fined £65 for driving into Parsons Mead low traffic … Continue reading
Posted in Broad Green, Croydon Council, Environment, Hamida Ali, TfL, Transport
Tagged Fairfield Halls, Low Traffic Neighbourhood, LTN, Parsons Mead, Whitgift Centre
20 Comments
Council leader Ali rules herself out of running to be Mayor
EXCLUSIVE: Newman’s protégé makes a call for ‘a break from the recent past’ at the Town Hall. Plus another sitting Labour councillor decides against standing in 2022. By STEVEN DOWNES The Tony Newman era at Croydon Town Hall should really, … Continue reading
Labour to pick their Mayor candidate just in time for Christmas
EXCLUSIVE: Political editor WALTER CRONXITE reveals how Labour is giving potential mayoral candidates barely a week to put themselves forward for a selection process which appears to have Steve Reed’s fingerprints all over it Anyone wanting to be considered as … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 Croydon Mayor election, Alisa Flemming, Carole Bonner, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Hamida Ali, Jamie Audsley, Jason Perry, Leila Ben-Hassel, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman, Val Shawcross
Tagged Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Donna Murray-Turner, Hamida Ali, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed OBE, Tory, Valerie Shawcross
2 Comments
Regina Road scandal sees two more councillors de-selected
WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the latest round of results in Labour’s sometimes shambolic local elections candidate selection process Labour members in South Norwood tonight de-selected two of Newman’s numpties, Clive Fraser and Patsy Cummings, senior councillors who had been … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, Bensham Manor, Bernadette Khan, Broad Green, Clive Fraser, Croydon North, Humayun Kabir, Humayun Kabir, Jamie Audsley, Louis Carserides, Manju Shahul Hameed, Muhammad Ali, Patsy Cummings, Selhurst, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP, Stuart Collins, Tony Newman, West Thornton
Tagged Broad Green, Clive Fraser, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Labour, Manju Shahul Hameed, Patsy Cummings, Selhurst, South Norwood, Stella Nabukeera, Steve Reed OBE, Stuart Collins, Tony Newman, West Thornton
2 Comments
Cummings and Lewis start the ‘chicken run’ for safe wards
WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on the unedifying scramble among some Labour councillors to find a safe ward to stand in at next May’s local elections The chicken run is underway among the borough’s Labour councillors, with at least one current … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 council elections, Addiscombe East, Alison Butler, Bensham Manor, Hamida Ali, Humayun Kabir, Jamie Audsley, Jeet Bains, Louisa Woodley, Maddie Henson, Mike Bonello, New Addington, Oliver Lewis, Patsy Cummings, Paul Scott, Raj Rajendran, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman, Woodside
Tagged Addiscombe East, Alison Butler, Bensham Manor, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jamie Audsley, New Addington, Oliver Lewis, Paul Scott, South Norwood, Steve Reed OBE, Tony Newman, Woodside
4 Comments
Labour wants to cut voluntary sector funding by a ‘full Negrini’
CROYDON IN CRISIS: A year after they gave a ‘golden handshake’ to the council CEO who helped bankrupt the borough, part of the £38.4m Town Hall budget cuts will impact dozens of charities and community groups. EXCLUSIVE By STEVEN DOWNES … Continue reading
Posted in Age UK Croydon, CAYSH, Charity, Community associations, Croydon CAB, Croydon Council, Croydon Vision, CVA, Hamida Ali, Jo Negrini, Mind in Croydon, South West London Law Centres, Steve Phaure, Whitgift Foundation
Tagged Asian Resource Centre of Croydon, Croydon, Croydon BME Forum, Croydon Carers Support Centre, Croydon Council, Croydon Voluntary Action, CVA, Hamida Ali, Jo Negrini, Labour, Steve Phaure, Whitgift Foundation
7 Comments
Cynical, hypocritical and devious: benefit cut to hit thousands
CROYDON IN CRISIS: For weeks, the Town Hall’s Labour leadership has been planning a cut to Council Tax discounts that will cost some of the borough’s poorest £25 per week or more – and see ‘means testing’ used in the … Continue reading
Posted in Callton Young, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Stuart King
Tagged Callton Young, Council Tax, Council Tax Support, Croydon, Croydon Council, CTS, DPAC, Hamida Ali, Labour, STUART KING
4 Comments
The referendum result shows that time for change is overdue
CROYDON COMMENTARY: Last week’s decisive vote for a new way of running the council should only be a first step, according to an open letter to all the borough’s councillors from Kenley resident BRIAN WATSON Now that a directly elected … Continue reading
