Tag Archives: Croydon

Taking Liberty with the arts in a way that celebrates us all

KEN TOWL takes hope, and much joy, from last week’s Liberty Festival, where deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists injected some much-needed culture into the borough. Photos by PAUL FULLER The Liberty Festival, which landed in Croydon last weekend, represented the … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Borough of Culture 2023, Comedy, Dance, Fairfield Halls, Ken Towl, Music, Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Infant death rates were up by 233% after incinerator fired up

Official figures from the ONS for the year after Viridor began its operations at Beddington showed a sharp increase in infant deaths in Selhurst, Broad Green and Waddon wards. STEVEN DOWNES reports Infant mortality rates in one part of Croydon, … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Croydon Council, Environment, Kingston, London-wide issues, Merton, Planning, Refuse collection, Sadiq Khan, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

It’s a Brum do: fixing local government won’t come cheap

After the latest local authority’s finances crashed and burned, and with Michael Gove twiddling his thumbs doing nothing before the General Election, ANDREW FISHER, pictured right, looks at what needs to be done to fix local government in England Councils … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Andrew Fisher, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Council’s debt costs could hit £70m next year warns Mayor

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Jason Perry says he’s still hoping to get a Government write-off of a chunk of the borough’s borrowing, but otherwise he’s short on ideas or solutions. KEN LEE endured the latest ‘Question Time’ at Norbury, so that … Continue reading

Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Norbury, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

MP Jones given new brief to avoid her dealings with ‘Rimmer’

Political editor WALTER CRONXITE on the latest job switch for one of Croydon’s Labour MPs When it came, it had all the hallmarks of an after-thought. A dozen shadow cabinet appointments were announced just after 5pm yesterday, more than a … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Crime, Croydon Central, Croydon South, Sarah Jones MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted in Beckmead Park, Croydon Council, Education, Maria Gatland, Mayor Jason Perry, Schools | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Choir starts a recruitment drive in the search for new voices

One of the borough’s long-standing and much-respected musical organisations is launching a recruitment drive this week. The Croydon Male Voice Choir will be holding an “Open Evening” at its rehearsal room in Sandilands Sports Club, Addiscombe, on October 19, open … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Male Voice Choir, Music | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Beckmead Park, Croydon Council, Education, Maria Gatland, Mayor Jason Perry, Schools | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Starmer reshuffle sees Croydon MP Reed shunted to DEFRA

WALTER CRONXITE, political editor, on how today’s Labour front bench job creation scheme might be taken as proof that turds do somehow manage to rise to the surface… Steve Reed OBE, the right-wing MP who shunted another Labour MP out … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 General Election, Boris Johnson, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Environment, Sadiq Khan, Sarah Jones MP, Steve Reed MP, Streatham and Norbury, ULEZ, ULEZ expansion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

680,000 responses make ticket offices biggest consultation

More people participated in the consultation over the threat of closure to the nation’s railway ticket offices than in any previous public consultation held in this country. In all, two travel watchdogs received a combined 680,000 responses from commuters and … Continue reading

Posted in Commuting, East Croydon, London Assembly, London-wide issues, Transport, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tudor sculptor’s Minster memorials stand the test of time

SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT: Following up on an enquiry from a visitor to Croydon Minster, DAVID MORGAN goes in search of the sculptor of one of the church’s best-known tombs Visitors to Croydon Minster often ask interesting questions about the history of … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Church and religions, Croydon Minster, David Morgan, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

New edition of Nairn takes us on a journey back in time

JOHN GRIDROD reviews a favourite old book, reborn Fancy a spot of mid-century time travel? Well, take a trip back to London in the early 1960s, and go exploring with Ian Nairn, in his recently reissued 1964 guidebook to modern … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Art | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Croydon schools given all-clear over ‘crumbling’ concrete fears

Our education correspondent, GENE BRODIE, on a reassurance offered from the Town Hall Croydon youngsters, many of whom might be looking forward with excitement to their first day at a new school next week can, after all, spend the weekend … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Education, Schools | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Memorial matches stand out as rugby clubs prepare for kick-off

RUGBY ROUND-UP: While the England team’s preparations for the World Cup are in disarray following injuries, brainfade and piss-poor performances, the outlook locally is far brighter, with clubs using the off-season to re-group, re-build and, in some cases, lick some … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon RFC, Old Mid-Whitgiftians/Trinity RFC, Old Walcountians, Old Whitgiftians, Purley-John Fisher, Rugby Union, Sport, Streatham-Croydon RFC, Warlingham RFC | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

MP accuses Aldi of ‘unacceptable’ U-turn on Coulsdon parking

Coulsdon residents are preparing for another battle over parking provision in their district centre, fighting against a scheme which the local MP has described as an “unacceptable proposal”. Just four years ago, Aldi was granted planning permission for their large … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Croydon South, Parking, Planning | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

A decade too late, even Sutton’s LibDems now turn on Viridor

No one wants the polluting Beddington incinerator to be allowed to increase its capacity for burning rubbish. So why is the Environment Agency ‘minded’ to approve the application? STEVEN DOWNES reports Tomorrow is the final day for submissions in a … Continue reading

Posted in Barry Lewis, Business, Croydon Council, Elliot Colburn, Environment, Kingston, London-wide issues, Merton, Planning, Refuse collection, Ruth Dombey, Sadiq Khan, Sutton Council, Waste incinerator | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Perry is director of company handed £50,000 culture grant

EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES One of the biggest single grants handed out by Croydon Council for Borough of Culture projects has gone to a company where Mayor Jason Perry is a director. While several long-established, recognised community arts groups had … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Borough of Culture 2023, Business, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

ULEZ is here to stay and the health benefits are on the way

Opposition to the Ultra Low Emission Zone, which has been expanded to much of outer London today, has simply demonstrated where third-rate Conservative politicians’ priorities lie – and that’s not with the public nor the planet. By our environment correspondent, … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Bexley, Boris Johnson, Bromley Council, Business, Coulsdon, Environment, Health, Kenley, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Mayor of London, Purley, Sadiq Khan, Steve Reed MP, Surrey, Susan Hall, Sutton Council, TfL, Transport, ULEZ, ULEZ expansion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Tories U-turn as they look at re-opening borough’s rat runs

Long-standing road closures which have often provided welcome  traffic calming measures for decades could be under threat in the latest move by an increasingly desperate Prime Minister, reports JEREMY CLACKSON,  transport correspondent Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, is refusing to … Continue reading

Posted in Chris Philp MP, Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South, Environment, Fairfield, Sarah Jones MP, Selhurst, Steve Reed MP, Transport, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Go Nads! Barwell enters row over right-wing MP’s resignation

Absentee peer has a pop at nine-carat ex-MP Nadine Dorries in a Twitter spat likely to spark further rows as the Conservatives look to select their parliamentary candidate for new Croydon East constituency, reports our political editor WALTER CRONXITE Gavin … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Central, Croydon East, Gavin Barwell, Jason Cummings, Shirley South | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Simmonds’ Tribunal ruling prompts national alert to councils

Croydon Council is being used as an object lesson to local authorities across the country. But not in a good way. Again. An Employment Tribunal case successfully taken against Croydon Council by a former senior employee for unlawfully reducing her … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Hazel Simmonds, Katherine Kerswell | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Perry’s parking proposal to impose smartphone apps on drivers

A consultation is expected next month that will halve the free period allowed on most on-street bays Croydon motorists will regard ULEZ expansion as a mere picnic once they grasp what Mayor Jason Perry has in store for them over … Continue reading

Posted in Community associations, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Parking, Steve Iles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Good Lord? Starmer’s gofer Evans is lined up for a peerage

Our political editor, WALTER CRONXITE, delves through some silly season speculation to discover that one of Alison Butler’s exes could soon be heading for the red benches David Evans, the former Croydon business owner who was an aide to Tony … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, David Evans, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A town centre amble that goes from the sublime to ridiculous

KEN TOWL took a stroll down Surrey Street and Church Street and encountered two different takes on what passes for ‘culture’ in Croydon The Croydon Clocktower has an exhibition of the works of Evacustes Phipson. “Evacustes who?” you may ask … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Art, Borough of Culture 2023, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society, Ken Towl, Surrey Street | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

‘Major disruption’ expected as NHS consultants go on strike

“Major disruption is anticipated” at NHS hospitals through to the weekend, as senior medics walk out prior to the August bank holiday weekend as part of planned industrial action. Consultants will be taking strike action from 7am on tomorrow until … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon NHS Trust, Health, Mayday Hospital, Purley Hospital, St Helier Hospital | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment