Tag Archives: Fairfield
Face-less and word-less: fringe candidates who want your vote
Just who are these people wanting you to entrust them with your precious vote on May 7? As KEN TOWL discovered, some appear very reluctant to let you know who they are, or what they really stand for There’s this … Continue reading
Councillors wave through 676 flats with just 20% affordable
Housing correspondent BARRATT HOLMES on the latest tall towers coming to the skyline of central Croydon Deep in the middle of a housing crisis, Croydon Council has broken its own rules by granting planning permission to a £200million housing scheme … Continue reading
Jam and Jerusalem are coming to a branch in central Croydon
The country’s largest women’s organisation, famous for its jam-making and cake bakes, the singing of “Jerusalem”, but above all its general good deeds and fellowship, is coming to central Croydon. The Women’s Institute is looking to establish a central Croydon … Continue reading
Surrey Street’s Mr Fox ‘cocktail pub’ freehold is put up for sale
Yet another Croydon town centre pub has closed, as the food and drink business empire of a colleague of Mayor Jason Perry appears to be feeling the strain. Signs for Fleurets, a specialist pub and hospitality property agency, appeared above … Continue reading
Veteran car run to take a swerve past road affected by closures
Organisers of the 2025 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run have altered the route through central Croydon when the event takes place early on the morning of Sunday November 2. The 400-or-so road-worthy museum pieces taking part in this annual … Continue reading
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
Labour tweaks the rules to make sure members have no say
There might actually be something resembling a council candidate selection meeting for Labour members in Broad Green ward tonight – though most reasonable people will see through it as a thinly disguised foregone conclusion By STEVEN DOWNES Some Labour members … Continue reading
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
Local Labour members angry at ‘travesty’ of selection process
Uncharacteristic ‘openness’ from the Labour Party exposes their latest sham selection process, with candidates for next year’s local elections being named without grassroots members in most wards getting any say at all. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES The fix is in. … Continue reading
From ‘last orders’ to holy orders: pub in change of use scheme
Our south of the borough correspondent, SANDRA STEAD, looks into one of the more bizarre planning application received by the council, even by Croydon standards “Sins downstairs, forgiveness upstairs.” That was the shrewd assessment of one local when they heard … Continue reading
Four black women among six councillors rejected by Labour
Six of Labour’s 34 sitting councillors have been deemed not good enough to be candidates for the party at the 2026 local elections – including a council shadow cabinet member and a 2024 parliamentary candidate. EXCLUSIVE by WALTER CRONXITE, Political … Continue reading
Labour axes at least two sitting councillors in brutal process
At least two of Labour’s sitting councillors have been deselected by party chiefs in a brutal process that has opted to discard the combined experience of 40 years’ service at the Town Hall EXCLUSIVE by WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor The … Continue reading
Only 20% ‘affordable’ in 676 flats proposed for College Green
Housing correspondent BARRATT HOLMES on the latest proposals for huge towers providing expensive flats and situated close to East Croydon Station The site next to the Fairfield Halls and Croydon College, once owned by Croydon Council through its failed house-building … Continue reading
Met to target town centre as one of London’s crime ‘hot spots’
Croydon town centre has been named in a list of crime “hot spots” issued today by the Metropolitan Police, among the places in London most likely to attract anti-social behaviour, theft and street crime. Increased police patrols will be at … Continue reading
Town centre PSPO is another Perry failure. It’s time to scrap it
CROYDON COMMENTARY: It was Einstein who was supposed to have said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Here, PETER UNDERWOOD, right, questions the council’s thinking behind the … Continue reading
Labour deputy leaders Young and Collins to stand down in 2026
At least 15% of Croydon’s sitting councillors won’t be seeking election in 2026, while some are doing the ‘chicken run’ to stay on the council gravy train. EXCLUSIVE by WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor Nearly a dozen of Croydon’s current 70 … Continue reading
Fear on the streets – our latest podcast looks at crime and ASB
The Croydon Insider is the only news podcast for London’s most populous borough, and in our latest episode our panel discusses a range of news stories and the issues that matter to them – including difficulties encountered in reducing the … Continue reading
Surrey Street trader wins civic award for his community work
Jose Joseph, the Surrey Street stall-holder who provides hot meals for the homeless in Croydon town centre every week, has been recognised for his efforts in the community with a special certificate at this week’s Civic Mayor Awards ceremony at … Continue reading
Oval Tavern’s Sutton to take on little pub under the Flyover
Esther Sutton, one of Croydon’s most respected business-owners, will next week be taking the keys to The Royal Standard pub, one of Croydon’s hidden gems and which boasts the “most Croydon of beer gardens”. “The Standard will still be The … Continue reading
Greens name Underwood as 2026 Croydon Mayor candidate
Peter Underwood, the Green Party’s Croydon mayoral candidate in 2022, is to be the Green candidate in 2026, too. The Greens, who won their first two council seats in Croydon in 2022, made the announcement last night, leaving Labour as … Continue reading
Planning consent granted for 580 flats in ‘space-age’ Croydon
Croydon Council has approved the plans to convert two 1960s office blocks on Wellesley Road, Apollo House and Lunar House, from office to residential use. More than 580 flats will be created as part of a scheme on behalf of … Continue reading
Ex-Labour councillor to stand for Greens in Fairfield in 2026
Paul Ainscough, once a Labour parliamentary election candidate and a former councillor for the party, has been selected to stand for the Green Party at next year’s council elections in Fairfield ward. He says he “feels let down by Labour”. … Continue reading
Top Tory admits Fairfield Halls could be sold for the right deal
CROYDON IN CRISIS: ‘Come on down! The price is right!’ The cabinet member for finance has said that the arts and conference centre could yet be sold if the cash-strapped council is ordered to do so. By STEVEN DOWNES Jason … Continue reading
