University campus gets down to business with leak-proof pants

Posted on April 19, 2023 by insidecroydon

The London South Bank University campus, which opened in October 2021 in the town centre, has so far helped 14 Croydon businesses through its Help to Grow training programme. The LSBU says that more than 250 businesses across London and the south-east have signed up for the £7,500 12-week courses, which receive a 90per cent Government subsidy.

‘Incredibly helpful’: Kelly Newton, founder of Croydon start-up Nixi Body

The LSBU Croydon campus, based in the listed Electric House building, already offers a range of business and accountancy degree courses.

The 14 Croydon firms who have received support from Help to Grow have had help through training, covering financial management, leadership and digital skills, and personalised support through tailored growth plans to enable them to increase earnings, revenue and profits.

One of the latest Croydon firms to sign up under Help to Grow at LSBU is Nixi Body, a start-up that makes leak-proof knickers for women with incontinence, periods, maternity and menopause. Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Education, LSBU campus | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

No ducting the issue after grease fire at Norbury takeaway

Posted on April 19, 2023 by insidecroydon

A fire in a London Road takeaway in Norbury on Monday, which caused the evacuation of 26 people living in flats above the premises, has renewed calls for stricter safety checks on restaurant extraction systems.

Abby’s grilled: the takeaway and its ducting system were damaged in Monday’s fire

It took 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters to tackle the fire at Abby’s Grill, causing the closure of the main London Road on Monday evening, including during the peak rush hour.

London Ambulance Service and police were also attending.

“The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by grease igniting within the extraction system,” a statement released by the London Fire Brigade said. Continue reading →

Posted in London Fire Brigade, Norbury | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Burst water main causes severe traffic disruption in Kenley

Posted on April 19, 2023 by insidecroydon

There are significant road closures in the area close to Kenley railway station, following a burst water main on Kenley Lane on Monday.

Pipe down: the gaping hole in the road on Kenley Lane after the mains burst on Monday

SES Water implemented the emergency road closures overnight, and they suggest that they could be in place at least until this Friday, April 21. But the utlities company has not ruled out the works, and the road closures, continuing through the weekend.

Last night, they closed Hayes Lane between the junction with Park Road and Kenley Lane. Continue reading →

Posted in Kenley | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ruskin House Screen Club presents: We Are Many, Apr 28

Posted on April 19, 2023 by insidecroydon

Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, Ruskin House | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Locals petition Perry over neglect of South Norwood reserve

Posted on April 18, 2023 by insidecroydon

From sewage farm to sanctuary: South Norwood Country Park is an example of how a large area in the middle of a built-up borough can be reclaimed. Now the cash-strapped council’s neglect is putting all that at risk

The dereliction and decline of another of Croydon’s cherished public open spaces has prompted residents to petition Jason Perry, the Mayor of Croydon, to re-open the visitor centre in South Norwood Country Park.

More than one thousand people have already signed the petition; at 2,000 signatures, the petition can be presented at a Town Hall meeting.

According to Croydon Council’s own website, the visitor centre is “closed for refurbishment”. But park users have been waiting for three years to hear any news from the council when that promised refurbishment might happen. Continue reading →

Posted in Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of South Norwood Country Park, Schools, South Norwood, Wildlife, Woodside | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Reach for the skies: Streatham Common Kite Day set to return

Posted on April 18, 2023 by insidecroydon

High rises: a bright and blustery day provides the perfect conditions for Streatham Common Kite Day, a free festival which makes a return this May

After a covid-enforced gap, the Streatham Common Kite Day returns next month for its 22nd staging.

The organisers claim the Streatham Common Kite Day is London’s only free family-friendly kite festival, combining world-class displays with the opportunity to fly your own kite.

Thousands attended the last kite day in 2019, and this year’s event, on Sunday May 14 from 11am to 5pm, promises the same mix of expert displays with delicious food and drink on offer at the stalls. Continue reading →

Posted in Activities, Lambeth Council, Outside Croydon | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Foxley Lane care home is inviting community groups to lunch

Posted on April 18, 2023 by insidecroydon

The residents of Chestnut Gardens extended a warm welcome to their friends from the Selsdon and Sanderstead Rotary yesterday.

Lunch party: Rotary club members and Chestnut Gardens residents met yesterday

Chestnut Gardens, on Foxley Lane in Purley, is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the country’s largest care providers, supporting older people living independent lives. Barchester Healthcare has more than 12,000 residents across 248 homes and hospitals for short breaks to long-term stays.

Chestnut Gardens provides dementia care, residential care and respite care.

The Rotary club members meet every week and usually have to pay for their lunch at their regular venue. This week, their lunch was paid for by Chestnut Gardens. Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Care Homes, Purley | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

TfL issues travel advice for Coronation bank holiday weekend

Posted on April 18, 2023 by insidecroydon

Transport for London has issued its advice to those visiting the capital for the Coronation next month – with the disruption having started overnight this week.

Public transport: the Tube system is likely to be packed with monarchists over the Coronation weekend

There is a bank holiday weekend from May 6 to May 8, with the Coronation taking place on the Saturday.

“To support the delivery of infrastructure and preparations for the event, localised temporary vehicle restrictions will be implemented overnight on April 17-18 and May 2-3,” TfL’s latest travel update states.

“Our public transport network will be running with no planned closures on the day of the Coronation, Saturday May 6, to support customers travelling around London. Night Tube and Overground services will be running on Friday 5 and Saturday May 6. Continue reading →

Posted in London-wide issues, TfL, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Illustrated talk: Hidden meaning of the Coronation, May 3

Posted on April 18, 2023 by insidecroydon

Continue reading →

Posted in Activities, Community associations, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, History | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Labour attack ads score yet another embarrassing own goal

Posted on April 17, 2023 by insidecroydon

‘Smear campaign’ which started with ad backed by Croydon North’s MP has managed to draw even more attention to how his mates bankrupted the borough. By WALTER CRONXITE, political editor

Own goal: the only council with a 15% Council Tax hike was Croydon, bankrupted under Labour, and where the party’s councillors ultimately failed to oppose the tax hike

Labour’s controversial attack ads, which started with a racist dog whistle that tried to brand Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as some kind of apologist for paedophiles, have landed another embarrassing own goal by highlighting how in Croydon, Steve Reed’s mates bankrupted the borough.

Ahead of the next month’s local elections being held around the rest of the country (but, apart from the occasional by-election, not in Croydon or London), the now-familiar Labour attack ad format turned its attention over the weekend to Council Tax.

“Do you think your Council Tax should be 15% higher?” the brains trust running the Labour campaign asked this time.

“Rishi Sunak does,” the Croydon cabal running Labour’s campaign said in answering their own question. Continue reading →

Posted in Alison Butler, Chris Philp MP, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon North, Croydon South, David Evans, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Steve Reed MP, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Perry has no plan to improve our borough’s toxic air pollution

Posted on April 17, 2023 by insidecroydon

Deadly toxic: Croydon’s heavy traffic makes the borough’s air quality one of the most polluted in all of London

CROYDON COMMENTARY: The borough’s Conservative Mayor, Jason Perry, is failing to protect the health of Croydon residents, says Councillor RIA PATEL (pictured left)

We all know that Mayor Jason Perry has been very vocal about opposing ULEZ, the Ultra-Low Emission Zone, so I assumed he must have a better plan to reduce air pollution.

Yet in response to my question at a recent council meeting, he admitted that he doesn’t even have one. This failure puts all our health at risk.

Let’s be clear, air pollution is a killer. A recent study by Imperial College estimated that nearly 200 people die every year in Croydon due to air pollution, and thousands of years of life are lost across our borough. Croydon has one of the highest death rates from pollution in London.

Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council, Croydon Greens, Environment, Fairfield, Health, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Ria Patel, ULEZ expansion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Giffgaff uses Croydon as setting for their Blade Runner-style ad

Posted on April 17, 2023 by insidecroydon

Mobile phone provider Giffgaff’s latest television ad campaign, launched last Friday, portrays Croydon as a dystopian hell hole populated by louts and beset by antisocial conduct in rubbish-strewn, semi-derelict streets.

The campaign – called Ode to Bad – seeks to contrast bad behaviours, ranging from littering, queue-jumping and noise nuisance to inconsiderate parking, brawling and corporate greed. Continue reading →

Posted in Activities, Art, Business, Environment, Nestle Tower, Pubs, Surrey Street | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Minster misery over desecration and destruction in churchyard

Posted on April 17, 2023 by insidecroydon

Mindless vandalism: the scene outside Croydon Minster yesterday morning

The congregation of Croydon Minster arrived for yesterday’s morning service to discover widespread and wanton destruction of gravestones in the churchyard alongside the building.

Gravestones which had survived the terrible fire which had destroyed much of the medieval church building, or even the worst bombings of the Blitz in World War II, now lay shattered in many pieces, beyond any hope of repair or restoration.

At least 20 headstones had been smashed, the graves desecrated, some which date back nearly 300 years.

The senseless vandalism appears to have been carried out over at least three successive nights.

On three occasions, from last Wednesday (April 12) to Friday (April 14), stones had been pushed over, broken into pieces and the debris left lying around.

David Morgan, iC’s Minster correspondent, said, “Church officials were at a loss as to understand why anyone would destroy gravestones in this way.” Continue reading →

Posted in Church and religions, Crime, Croydon Minster, David Morgan | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Old Lodge Lane Parade improvements, consultation, Apr 20

Posted on April 17, 2023 by insidecroydon

Continue reading →

Posted in Purley | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Spinster sisters’ life-long service to the Girls Friendly Society

Posted on April 16, 2023 by insidecroydon

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT: A small brass plaque in a corner of Croydon Minster was only the beginning of the story of a life of service to the church and community, as uncovered by DAVID MORGAN

Honoured: the plaque to Ethel Cooper, in the Lady Chapel at Croydon Minster

On the wall of the Lady Chapel in Croydon Minster is a small brass memorial, dedicated to Ethel Cooper, who died in 1936.

The wording etched into the metal states that Ethel Cooper gave 50 years of devoted service to the Girls Friendly Society in Croydon.

There were only a few memorials erected in the church during the 1930s, so who was Ethel and what was the significance of her work in the Girls Friendly Society that merited a such an honour?

Ethel Cooper and her family lived in the same Croydon house, 10 Dingwall Road, for many years. The 1881 census recorded her parents, William and Emma, together with their five children: Agnes, Emma, Melicent, Ethel and Alfred. They also had a domestic servant, Clara Watts. Continue reading →

Posted in Bishop of Croydon, Charity, Church and religions, Community associations, Croydon Minster, David Morgan, Education, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Anarchy in Croydon’ fears as Mayor axes 22 safety officer jobs

Posted on April 15, 2023 by insidecroydon

Neighbourhood Safety Officers work to reduce fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour, and one worker facing redundancy warns that erasing his department is ‘a complete invitation to stabbings’. By STEVEN DOWNES

Historic document: 17 years ago, the council celebrated the introduction of the NSOs

A council workers’ union is claiming that cash-strapped Croydon’s decision to axe its Neighbourhood Safety Officer team will create a surge in fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour around the borough – and possibly worse.

One union official has described the cuts as “a complete invitation to anarchy”.

The cuts, authorised by Tory Mayor Jason Perry in the council budget he pushed through last month together with his 15per cent Council Tax hike, will see as many as 22 NSOs lose their jobs, at a time when national government are talking of cracking down on anti-social behaviour.

The NSOs work with the police to investigate anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping, while also providing intelligence on other issues, including drug dealing and knife crime.

The planned cuts were originally included in the 2022-2023 budget that was passed in the last weeks of the discredited Labour administration that originally bankrupted the borough. Continue reading →

Posted in Council Tax, Crime, Croydon Council, Fly tipping, Katherine Kerswell, Knife crime, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Special school offers its stones to plug gaps in park’s walls

Posted on April 15, 2023 by insidecroydon

Croydon Council officials have given Cressey College a free pass over the “disappearing” rocks from ornamental walls around Park Hill Recreation Ground, assuring residents and friends’ groups that the stones used by the private special school’s builders over the Easter weekend had not been taken from elsewhere in the park.

Mind the gap: the gaping holes in the walls around Park Hill Recreation Ground are nothing to do with Cressey College, say Cressey College

But despite assurances issued on behalf of Horizon Care and Education Group, the business that operates the school, that a planning application for their 10-foot-high security fence on the boundary with a public open space has been submitted to the local authority, no record of it can be found on the council’s planning portal.

Cressey College provides places for up to 188 pupils with SEND, special educational needs and disabilities, with their fees of up to £81,000 per pupil per year usually paid for by Croydon and other local authorities.

In 2023, Cressey College failed its Ofsted inspection, being rated as “Inadequate” in four out of five inspection categories. Continue reading →

Posted in Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Park Hill and Whitgift, Park Hill Recreation Ground, Planning, Schools | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Trampoline park bounces into a new era after £1.2m refurb

Posted on April 15, 2023 by insidecroydon

First cut: Henry Joy and his family cut the ribbon to declare Oxygen Croydon officially re-opened

A local Croydon family, the Joys, presided over the official reopening this week of Oxygen Croydon, following a £1.23million upgrade and refurbishment.

Henry Joy, 18, and his sisters, Izzy, 15, and Libby, 14, cut the ribbon at Oxygen’s launch event, releasing more than 100 hyped-up bouncers into the transformed indoor trampoline and activity park on Purley Way. Continue reading →

Posted in Activities, Business, Purley Way, Waddon | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

MP’s assistant expelled by Tories after ‘vile’ rape-shaming tweet

Posted on April 15, 2023 by insidecroydon

A Conservative councillor who works as a parliamentary assistant to a former Government minister has been expelled from the Tory Party.

Mirror cracked it: how the newspaper broke the Slator story

Shaun Slator, elected to Bromley Council last May for St Mary Cray ward, was fiercely criticised for posting “despicable” rape-shaming comments on social media last December. Labour MP Jess Phillips described Slator’s comments as “dangerous and stupid”.

Slator was chair of the Bromley and Chislehurst Conservative Association. He says he will appeal against the expulsion. Slator’s profile has been erased from the Bromley and Chislehurst Conservatives constituency website, where the MP is Sir Bob Neil.

Slator remains listed on the House of Commons website as being employed as an assistant to Jackie Doyle-Price, the MP for Thurrock. Doyle-Price was a minister while Liz Truss was Prime Minister.

A party spokesperson said, “The Conservative Party has an established code of conduct and formal processes where complaints can be made in confidence. This process is rightly confidential.

“Following the conclusion of this process, Councillor Slator has been expelled.” Continue reading →

Posted in Bromley Council | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Locals concerned that Perry plans to sell listed Norwood Grove

Posted on April 14, 2023 by insidecroydon

Gone to pot: the gardens at Norwood Grove, once described as among the most beautiful parks in London, have been neglected and vandalised

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The cash-strapped council continues to allow Listed buildings to fall into serious disrepair while attempting to flog off public property that was bought through public subscription.
EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES

The way we were: how the Grade II-listed White House at Norwood Grove, opened to the public in 1926 by the Prince of Wales, used to look

Another day, another alarming report of the abandonment to near-dereliction of part of Croydon’s built heritage, while council officials make moves to sell off another piece of once-cherished public property.

In the case of Norwood Grove, which was bought 99 years ago through public subscription, it is arguable that the property is not Croydon Council’s to sell.

Norwood Grove was once described as “surely… the most beautiful of all the parks to be found in South London”. Not now it isn’t, with the Grade II-listed building, which is thought to be 200 years old and steeped in history, looking in a very sorry state, the gardens left untended and vandalised and its out-buildings subject to graffiti and some close to collapse. Continue reading →

Posted in Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Environment, History, Mayor Jason Perry, Norbury, Norwood Grove, Norwood Society | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Engineering works on tram network extended until Monday

Posted on April 14, 2023 by insidecroydon

The engineering works that have seen part of the London Tram network in central Croydon closed since the start of the Easter weekend will not be completed on schedule, with the closures now extended to next Monday, April 17.

No service: trams won’t be stopping at Reeves Corner, or other town centre stops, at least until Monday

Transport for London made the announcement of the delayed re-opening of the network this afternoon.

The “essential works” began on April 7, Good Friday, and were supposed to be completed tomorrow, April 15. Nine days were originally scheduled to replace just 120 metres of track on Church Street, between the junction of Middle Street and Old Palace Road.

Last month, TfL had promised that services would resume on Sunday April 16.

The works have meant that there is no tram service between Wandle Park and East Croydon via Church Street and West Croydon. Continue reading →

Posted in East Croydon, TfL, Tramlink, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Croydon teen is found guilty of murder of Croydon teen

Posted on April 14, 2023 by insidecroydon

A jury at the Central Criminal Court this afternoon took just three hours of deliberation to find an unnamed teenager guilty of the December 2021 murder of Zaian Aimable-Lina in Ashburton Park.

Murder verdict: sentencing in the case will take place at the Old Bailey next month

Both the victim and his attacker were 15 years old at the time of the murder.

Aimable-Lina was stabbed three times, including in the heart.

His assailant, now 17 but who cannot be identified because he is under 18, was also found guilty of possession of an article with a blade.

Aimable-Lina was one of five Croydon teenagers who were murdered on the streets of Croydon in 2021, the most murdered teenagers of any London borough that year. The youngest victim was 14.

Continue reading →

Posted in Addiscombe East, Crime, Knife crime | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Politicians struggle to be heard over iftar’s soup slurping

Posted on April 14, 2023 by insidecroydon

KEN TOWL broke a Ramadan fast with two out of Croydon’s three MPs and two Mayors (one all togged up). He just couldn’t really hear much of what they had to say

Sound venue: the Braithwaite Hall, where you can’t always hear what’s being said. Thankfully

The acoustics aren’t great in the Braithwaite Hall, venue for this year’s Croydon’s ceremonial Mayor’s charity Iftar dinner and, quite frankly, not all of the speakers were that good either. So please forgive me if I give a less than comprehensive account of the speeches.

It was a charity event, and I ought to be kind, so I list here the beneficiaries of the evening, should you wish to donate to them: Croydon Sickle Cell and Thalassemia Support Group;
ACLT, Thornton Heath (a bone marrow, organ and blood donation charity) and Waggy Tails. They are all worthwhile charities and deserving of your support, despite any cynicism we might have about politicians who might like to associate themselves with good causes. Should you wish to support them, follow the links and press “donate”. Continue reading →

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Braithwaite Hall, Chris Philp MP, Church and religions, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Faiths Together In Croydon, Ken Towl, Mayor Jason Perry, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

BBC Bargain Hunt to film at Southon’s next Selsdon auction

Posted on April 14, 2023 by insidecroydon

Are you going, going…: Catherine Southon’s next auction will be filmed for Bargain Hunt

Bargain Hunt, the BBC television programme where amateur antiques “dealers” bid to out-do each other at an auction, is being recorded in Selsdon later this month.

Auctioneer and TV antiques expert Catherine Southon is staging the latest of her auctions at Farleigh Court Golf Club, from 10.30am on Wednesday April 26 and Thursday April 27. Continue reading →

Posted in Activities, Art, Business, Selsdon and Addington Village | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Kerrr-ching! Kerswell reckons £192,000 per year not enough

Posted on April 13, 2023 by insidecroydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The best-paid employee at the cash-strapped council is lobbying for a bumper pay rise – and is being supported in her claim by the part-time elected Mayor. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES

Ivory tower: council CEO Katherine Kerswell reckons she deserves to be paid more

Barely a month after she helped to push through an inflation-busting 15per cent Council Tax hike for the borough’s residents, Katherine Kerswell, the council’s chief executive, wants her own pay rise.

Kerswell, who has overseen around 400 lower-paid job cuts since she was parachuted in to Fisher’s Folly in October 2020, already receives a more-than-generous annual salary of £192,474.

Council Tax bills dropped onto residents’ door mats at the end of last month demanding an extra £240 per year for the average household – “to avoid having to make another £22million of cuts” was the reason given by part-time Mayor Jason Perry for the 15per cent tax hike in the bankrupt borough.

Now, Katharine Street sources suggest that Tory Mayor Perry (£82,000 per year in allowances from the cash-strapped council) is supporting Kerswell’s pay claim. Continue reading →

Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Jo Negrini, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments