Tag Archives: Conservative

Lloyds closure sees New Addington lose last high street bank

While residents worry over the loss of banking services in their neighbourhood, Croydon’s petty Mayor uses the opportunity to collect contact details ahead of next year’s local elections. By our Town Hall reporter, SANDRA STEAD Petty politician Jason Perry, the … Continue reading

Posted in Adele Benson, Business, Croydon East, Kola Agboola, Mayor Jason Perry, Natasha Irons, New Addington, New Addington North, Tony Pearson | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Labour’s scandals and dramas reflected in Croydon politics

The 2025 Labour Party Conference begins in Liverpool on Sunday. Here, our columnist, ANDREW FISHER, pictured right, the party’s former director of policy, assesses the state of Labour little more than a year into Keir Starmer’s government. And he takes … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Andrew Fisher, Croydon East, Croydon West, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Fairfield, Natasha Irons, New Addington, New Addington North, Rowenna Davis, Sarah Jones MP, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Waddon, Zack Polanski | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘A disaster’: Gatwick expansion is real threat to environment

‘Signing off on a new runway at Gatwick is not just reckless, it is fundamentally incompatible with Britain’s legally binding climate obligations’. Yet Croydon’s Tory and Labour politicians are in full support of the airport expansion. By PAUL LUSHION, environment … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon Greens, Croydon West, East Croydon, Environment, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Natasha Irons, Norwood Junction, Sarah Jones MP, Transport, Zack Polanski | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

‘Croydon: our time is coming!’ Labour’s Davis rallies her fans

So just what did Labour’s Rowenna Davis say she has to offer if she is elected Mayor of Croydon next May? KEN TOWL was at her campaign’s official launch, so that you, and Steve Reed OBE, didn’t need to be … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Chris Philp MP, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, Ken Towl, Natasha Irons, Rowenna Davis, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Tamar Barrett (was Nwafor) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Davis’s big launch might have been good, if only I could hear it

POLITICAL SKETCH: Ever been invited to a party when you’ve been expected to pay for your food? Or a launch event which is set up so you can neither see nor hear clearly the speakers on stage? KEN TOWL has, … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Chris Clark, Chris Philp MP, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Fairfield, Ken Towl, Natasha Irons, Rowenna Davis, Sarah Jones MP, South Croydon, South Norwood, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Croydon North, Tamar Barrett (was Nwafor), Thornton Heath | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

After the delays, we reveal traders set for Allders kiosks

EXCLUSIVE: Months late, and with only six of the seven units allocated, Westfield is finally about to find a use for part of the town centre’s former department store. By STEVEN DOWNES  More than a year after being granted planning … Continue reading

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Surrey council takes action on unlawful flags as Perry dithers

Croydon Council, where failed Mayor Jason Perry has claimed there is “zero tolerance” for fly-tippers and, by extension, fly-posters, has failed to take any action against the various flags hoisted without permission on some of the borough’s streets. Yet neighbouring … Continue reading

Posted in Coulsdon, Crime, Croydon Council, Fly tipping, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon, Surrey, Tandridge District Council, ULEZ expansion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

New managers for public library need crowdfunding to operate

CROYDON IN CRISIS: After a year’s delay, only now are ‘plans’ slowly emerging for the future of four public libraries, with no leases yet agreed on at least two sites. GENE BRODIE, education correspondent, reports  It’s been a whole year … Continue reading

Posted in Broad Green, Business, Community associations, Croydon Council, Libraries, Lynne Hale, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington, Old Coulsdon, Property, Sanderstead, Sanderstead Residents Association, Shirley North, Shirley South, Yvette Hopley | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Council digs up Sanderstead park just days before annual fair

Contractors’ tractors and other heavy vehicles moved in on Sanderstead Rec last week to start a council works project. Trouble is, no one at Croydon Council bothered advising local residents, who have spent many months organising their annual local festival, … Continue reading

Posted in Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Sanderstead, Sanderstead Residents Association | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Tory councillor welcomes New Addington flags as ‘great’

A Conservative councillor in New Addington has said that Union flags that have been placed along Central Parade without proper permission “look great”, and he has posted on social media that the council will not remove the flags unless they … Continue reading

Posted in Coulsdon, Crime, Croydon Council, Fly tipping, Mayor Jason Perry, New Addington, Old Coulsdon, South Norwood, Tony Pearson, ULEZ expansion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

This is what ‘Zero Tolerance’ looks like in Perry’s Croydon

PERRY’S PILES: For all the Mayor’s grandstanding on local television news, he has been completely ineffectual in getting rubbish contractors Veolia to do their job. By SANDRA STEAD, Town Hall reporter This is what “zero tolerance” looks like in Jason … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Broad Green, Community associations, Crime, Croydon Council, Environment, Fly tipping, Mayor Jason Perry, Norbury, Property, Refuse collection, Steve Iles, Thornton Heath, Veolia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Council refuses to remove England flags from Coulsdon Road

Croydon’s failed Mayor, Jason Perry, went on the telly last week boasting of “zero tolerance” for fly-tippers. Yet his council has refused to remove hundreds of St George cross flags that have been tethered illegally to lamp posts along Coulsdon … Continue reading

Posted in Coulsdon, Crime, Croydon Council, Fly tipping, Mayor Jason Perry, Old Coulsdon, Surrey, Tandridge District Council, ULEZ expansion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

HR director’s suspension at Sutton raises serious questions

EXCLUSIVE: The six-figure-salaried council director ultimately responsible for hiring and firing staff arrived at Fisher’s Folly only after his own run-in over a disciplinary matter with another local authority, where he walked away with a pay-off of at least £90,000. … Continue reading

Posted in Commissioners, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Stuart King | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Farage party picked a dead woman to run for Croydon Mayor

EXCLUSIVE: Sharon Carby, aged 70, from Bradford, sadly died in 2024. But that didn’t stop Reform UK months later picking her as their Croydon mayoral candidate. By our Political Editor, WALTER CRONXITE Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Party is advertising for … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Now Kerswell’s deputy CEO joins the rush for council exits

EXCLUSIVE: To lose one of her trusted inner circle might be unfortunate for Croydon chief exec Katherine Kerswell, but to lose two is beginning to look like an exodus. By STEVEN DOWNES Elaine Jackson, the senior council executive who Croydon … Continue reading

Posted in Abi Brown, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Debbie Warren, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Jackie Belton, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

‘Busted’: Mayor’s video shows rubbish contractors are failing

PERRY’S PILES: Council bosses accused of making Croydon’s fly-tipping crisis worse with their ‘banded’ collection system. ‘The council has completely lost control,’ says one campaigner. By our Town Hall reporter, KEN LEE Jason Perry, Croydon’s failed Mayor, has given up … Continue reading

Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Broad Green, Community associations, Crime, Croydon Council, Environment, Fly tipping, Mayor Jason Perry, Norbury, Property, Refuse collection, Steve Iles, Thornton Heath, Veolia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Now Perry tries dog-whistle politics over asylum-seeker hotels

Always keen to jump on any populist passing bandwagon, Jason Perry, Croydon’s failed Mayor, last night made it known that he has got the geniuses in the council’s legal department working overtime to see if he can shut down any … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Go West! Cash-strapped council’s finance chief is set to quit

EXCLUSIVE: Councillors were kept in the dark about departure of council’s S151 officer, as her exit is linked to the government’s appointment of Commissioners. By STEVEN DOWNES Jane West, Croydon’s finance director since 2022, is to stand down from her … Continue reading

Posted in Abi Brown, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Debbie Warren, Ged Curran, Improvement Board, Jackie Belton, Jane West, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Police rule out using Live Facial Recognition on Surrey Street

The Metropolitan Police has ruled out the possibility of deploying Live Facial Recognition cameras to deter crime and anti-social behaviour on Surrey Street, Croydon’s ancient street market in the town centre. Some traders say that they were told last week … Continue reading

Posted in Broad Green, Business, Crime, Croydon Business Association, Fairfield, Jose Joseph, Knife crime, Live Facial Recognition cameras, London-wide issues, Policing, Surrey Street | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Calls for TfL to save £80m a year by scrapping 60+ Oyster card

As many as 60,000 Croydon residents could lose their 60+ Oyster discount travelcard if calls to scrap the benefit to reduce future fare rises are taken on board by Transport for London. The 60+ Oyster entitles holders to free travel … Continue reading

Posted in Commuting, Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Shaun Bailey, TfL, Tramlink, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Perry’s Piles: Council refuses to act on 30 dumped mattresses

Croydon’s dismal reputation for clearing up fly-tips around the borough leaves residents defenceless against criminal gangs dumping on the streets in an industrial scale  Having presided over council contractors dumping hundreds of books on the street in Broad Green last … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Crime, Croydon Council, Environment, Fly tipping, Mayor Jason Perry, Refuse collection, Veolia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

£204,000 per year CEO tells staff they’re getting 3.2% pay rise

Our Town Hall reporter KEN LEE on the increasing inequalities in pay at the cash-strapped council Everyone can relax: Katherine Kerswell’s back! Croydon Council’s chief executive announced her return from holiday with her regular, condescending “Weekly Waffle” internal email to … Continue reading

Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Katherine Kerswell | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Council cover-up over security costs for empty community café

CROYDON IN CRISIS: With no prospect of a business taking over the long-vacant Wandle Park café during the busy summer period, the council is spending thousands of pounds on ‘private security’ EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Despite repeated promises by Croydon’s … Continue reading

Posted in Broad Green, Business, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Friends of Wandle Park, Mayor Jason Perry, Waddon, Wandle Park | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Booked! Mayor Perry deceives over destruction of library stock

More crass mismanagement at the council allowed squatters to occupy the vacated Broad Green Library. But it was council contractors who caused the most startling damage. By KEN LEE, Town Hall reporter Jason Perry, the failed Mayor of Croydon, yesterday … Continue reading

Posted in Broad Green, Croydon Council, Libraries, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 34 Comments

After the riots, survey finds we are not an ‘island of strangers’

Have we really lost our sense of community? Or are we all just people separated by our mobile devices? Our columnist ANDREW FISHER, right, looks at some interesting data from a piece of academic research PLUS: Jeremy Corbyn stands up … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Fisher, Community associations, Croydon East, Croydon South, Croydon West, Libraries, Streatham and Croydon North | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments