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Tag Archives: Jerry Fitzpatrick
Our Mayor needs to possess vision and global understanding
CROYDON COMMENTARY: As the row over Rowenna Davis’s censored manifesto rumbles on, former Labour councillor JERRY FITZPATRICK, pictured right, explains how international affairs can very properly be matters of local importance In no particular order, I want the Mayor of … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Chris Philp MP, Croydon South, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Rowenna Davis
Tagged 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Chris Philp MP, Cllr Rowenna Davis, Conservative, Councillor Rowenna Davis, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon South, Gaza, Genocide, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Palestine, Rowenna Davis, Tory
8 Comments
We’re South London and very, very proud of our FA Cup team
CUP FINAL COMMENTARY: With a chance for another opportunity to reflect on the scale of the achievement of Saturday’s FA Cup final win at Wembley, JERRY FITZPATRICK thanks the Eagles heroes for giving Croydon something to cheer about The most … Continue reading
East Croydon bridge to open in October, as MP fails to update
East Croydon Station’s Bridge to Nowhere is expected to be open, and finally allow pedestrians to go somewhere, in October. That’s according to Jeet Bains, the council cabinet member for planning and regeneration, in a speech at a Town Hall … Continue reading
Posted in Addiscombe West, Commuting, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon West, East Croydon, Natasha Irons, Planning, Sarah Jones MP, TfL, Transport
Tagged Addiscombe, Bridge to Nowhere, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Croydon West, East Croydon station, Jerry Fitzpatrick, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Natasha Irons MP, Network Rail, Planning, Sarah Jones MP, Tory
12 Comments
Here’s our wish-list for a better Croydon and Sutton in 2025
What do you want for Croydon, and Sutton, in 2025? We approached a wide range of figures, including loyal readers, religious leaders, educators and business people for their thoughts – and hopes – for the New Year Ken Towl Addiscombe … Continue reading
Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Andrew Fisher, Claire Bonham, Climate Crisis Commission, Council Tax, Crime, Croydon Council, Croydon Harriers, Croydon Insider, Croydon parks, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Crystal Palace FC, David Morgan, Environment, Housing, Inside Croydon, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Ken Towl, Knife crime, Lloyd Park, Mayor Jason Perry, Nick Mattey, North End Quarter, Peter Underwood, South Bank Poly, Sutton Council, The Andrew Fisher Interview, Under The Flyover, Waste incinerator
Tagged 2025, Addiscombe, Allders, Andrew Fisher, Anna Arthur, Beddington, Bishop of Croydon, Claire Bonham, Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Harriers, Crystal Palace, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Crystal Palace FC, David Morgan, Deborah Bowen, Donna Fraser, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, Green Party, Jerry Fitzpatrick, John Jefkins, Johnny Dobbyn, Ken Towl, Labour, London, London South Bank University, Maureen Levy, Mayor Jason Perry, Nick Mattey, Peter Underwood, Rt Rev Dr Rosemarie Mallett, Tim Coombe, Vanguard Way, Vanguard Way Association, Whitgift Centre
13 Comments
Network Rail can’t afford staff for Bridge to Nowhere ticketing
Our transport correspondent, JEREMY CLACKSON, on the latest bizarre twist in a £22m railway saga of incompetence and mismanagement The deadline for resident comments is fast approaching on a planning application for the notorious Bridge to Nowhere – with proposals … Continue reading
Posted in Addiscombe West, Commuting, Croydon Council, East Croydon, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Planning, TfL, Transport
Tagged Addiscombe, Bridge to Nowhere, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, East Croydon station, Jerry Fitzpatrick, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Network Rail, Planning, Tory
8 Comments
Historic Glamorgan pub’s threat of demolition from developers
CROYDON COMMENTARY: Time is running out to try to save a Victorian era pub building for community use continues, as JERRY FITZPATRICK, a former Addiscombe councillor, explains Campaigners determined to save a historic pub in Cherry Orchard Road have come … Continue reading
In memory of Arno Rabinowitz, always positive, always a friend
ARNO RABINOWITZ died at the weekend. He had been one of Inside Croydon’s earliest and staunchest of supporters, and one of our most frequent and most sage of comment writers, even gracing the pages of Croydon Commentary on occasion. Here, … Continue reading
Posted in Inside Croydon, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Uncategorized
Tagged #Binmageddon, Arno Rabinowitz, Croydon, GLC, ILEA, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Labour, South Africa
Comments Off on In memory of Arno Rabinowitz, always positive, always a friend
Seifert’s Croydon landmark set to be converted into 250 flats
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Architecture and heritage campaigners have expressed concerns over plans to turn 24-storey No1 Croydon at East Croydon from office use to residential – and the local council won’t do anything about it. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES The … Continue reading
Posted in Addiscombe West, Art, Business, Croydon Council, East Croydon, Housing, No1 Croydon, Planning, Property
Tagged 20th Century Society, Addiscombe, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, East Croydon, East Croydon station, Jerry Fitzpatrick, NLA Tower, No1 Croydon, Permitted Development, Planning, Rabbit Hutch flats, Richard Seifert, Slums of the future, The 50p Building, Tory
15 Comments
No one can afford ticket machines for the Bridge to Nowhere
After 11 years and at least £22m of public money, it now turns out that the organisations responsible for the pedestrian bridge at the northern end of East Croydon Station don’t have the readies to finally complete the project, as … Continue reading
Posted in Addiscombe West, Community associations, Commuting, Croydon Council, East Croydon, ECCO, Heather Cheesbrough, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Menta Tower, Planning, Property, Transport
Tagged Bridge to Nowhere, Croydon, Croydon Council, East Croydon Community Organisation, East Croydon station, ECCO, Govia Thameslink, Heather Cheesbrough, Jason Perry, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Mayor Jason Perry, Menta, Network Rail
13 Comments
Seven heavenly seasons’ finishes: but which is your favourite?
Was that the best finish to a Palace season ever? As four Crystal Palace players sign-in for the England training squad ahead of the Euros, life-long Eagles fan JERRY FITZPATRICK looks at how past stand-out years compare, and offers you … Continue reading
Posted in Crystal Palace FC, Eberechi Eze, Football, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Oliver Glasner, Wilfried Zaha
Tagged Adam Wharton, Bert Head, Crystal Palace FC, Dougie Freedman, Eberechi Eze, England, Euros 2024, Gareth Southgate, Ian Wright, Jerry Fitzpatrick, John Jackson, Malcolm Allison, Mark Bright, Selhurst Park, Steve Coppell, Terry Venables, Wilfried Zaha
3 Comments
A paradigm of politics: John Smith’s final visit to Croydon
To mark the anniversary of the death of John Smith MP, former Labour councillor JERRY FITZPATRICK casts his memory back 30 years to the day the party leader addressed a rally in Croydon, accompanied by a young Anthony Blair At … Continue reading
Out of destruction in Gaza there needs to come a lasting peace
CROYDON COMMENTARY: As the conflict in Palestine enters its seventh month, JERRY FITZPATRICK, as a Croydon Jew, puts forward his views on the intractable issues in the Middle East and what is needed to end 75 years of war I … Continue reading
Posted in Jerry Fitzpatrick
Tagged Benjamin Netanyahu, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Palestine, West Bank
9 Comments
‘Tough on causes of crime’ needs more than a glib throwaway
CROYDON COMMENTARY: Retired barrister and former councillor, JERRY FITZPATRICK, pictured right, offers his insights into an important piece of work conducted on youth crime and safeguarding Speaking as Shadow Home Secretary in 1993, Tony Blair famously promised to be tough … Continue reading
Posted in Crime, Education, Health, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Knife crime, London-wide issues, Policing, Schools
Tagged Croydon, Croydon Council, Croydon Safeguarding Children Partnership, Elianne Andam, Jerry Fitzpatrick, knife crime, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Metropolitan Police, NHS, Serious Youth Violence, youth knife crime
2 Comments
Hope Not Hate is bringing its message to Croydon this Sunday
CROYDON COMMENTARY by JERRY FITZPATRICK Describing itself as an organisation which has “roots firmly and proudly in the British anti-fascist movement”, Hope Not Hate works to expose and oppose extreme right-wing political activity in Britain. A record number of far-right … Continue reading
Posted in Activities, London-wide issues, Mayor of London, South Croydon, Susan Hall
Tagged Conservative, Extremism, Hope Not Hate, Jerry Fitzpatrick, London, Mayor, racism, South Croydon, Susan Hall, Tory
11 Comments
The night Paul Robeson sang for Croydon, and MI5’s spies
It is 75 years to the day since Paul Robeson sang at the Davis Theatre in front of an audience of 3,000, including several secret service ‘spooks’. JERRY FITZPATRICK takes up the story of the Black American activist and his … Continue reading
Posted in Art, History, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Music
Tagged Davis House, Davis Theatre, FBI, Jerry Fitzpatrick, McCarthyism, MI5, Paul Robeson, Peggy Ashcroft, President Harry Truman, Spies
7 Comments
ECCO remembers woman with lightest of carbon toeprints
By JERRY FITZPATRICK Next Wednesday, March 6, East Croydon will be celebrating the remarkable life and work of local resident Joan Pick, the woman with the lightest of carbon toeprints. Joan Pick was best-known as “the running lady”, whose figure … Continue reading
Victorian schools where Scripture had priority over science
In a previous article, JERRY FITZPATRICK, pictured right, looked at the history of Croydon’s first state school as it marks its 150th anniversary. Here, he sets out what school life was like in the final years of the 19th Century, … Continue reading
Oval Primary set to celebrate 150 years at centre of community
JERRY FITZPATRICK, pictured right, who was the chair of Oval Primary’s governors for 16 years, looks back at the history of Croydon’s first state school as it marks its 150th anniversary The autumn of 1873 saw the opening of Croydon’s … Continue reading
Mayor Perry to spend thousands on certificates for old mates
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The Conservatives at the cash-strapped council are still wasting public money when it comes to doling out meaningless bits of ceremonial tat to their mates. By WALTER CRONXITE, political editor Mayor Jason Perry, who earlier in the … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Badsha Quadir, Croydon Council, Jan Buttinger, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Louisa Woodley, Mayor Jason Perry, Pat Clouder, Pat Ryan, Paul Scott, Shafi Khan, Simon Hall, Steve Hollands, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard, Toni Letts, Tony Newman, Tony Pearson, Vidhi Mohan
Tagged Alderman, Alderwoman, Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jane Avis, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Labour, Mayor Jason Perry, Paul Scott, Tony Newman, Tory
5 Comments
Councillors line up Stormzy for the Freedom of the Borough
More dither and delay by our cash-strapped council, after they are forced to check whether the global superstar rapper will accept a civic honour. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon’s Labour councillors want to give Stormzy the Freedom of the Borough. … Continue reading
Posted in Alisa Flemming, Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Badsha Quadir, Bernadette Khan, Croydon Council, Gerry Ryan, Helen Pollard, Jane Avis, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Louisa Woodley, Maggie Mansell, Mayor Jason Perry, Pat Clouder, Paul Scott, Shafi Khan, Simon Hall, Simon Hoar, Steve Hollands, Steve O'Connell, Tim Pollard, Toni Letts, Tony Newman, Vidhi Mohan
Tagged Alderman, Alderwoman, Alison Butler, Andrew Pelling, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Hamida Ali, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Merah Louise Smith, Paul Scott, Simon Hall, Stormzy, Tony Newman, Tory
6 Comments
If council budget fails to pass, expect a long night on Mar 8
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Former senior councillor JERRY FITZPATRICK looks ahead to tomorrow night’s key budget meeting, and previews what could be in store in the Town Hall meeting under an executive Mayor and with the balance of power between the … Continue reading
Posted in Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jane West, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice
Tagged 15% Council Tax hike, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Jane West, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Liberal Democrats, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory
11 Comments
Ombudsman orders urgent review of council’s housing policies
Retired lawyer and former councillor JERRY FITZPATRICK on a breakthrough ruling for those on Croydon’s housing register with special medical needs In an important and hard-hitting decision, the Local Government Ombudsman has required Croydon Council to undertake a thorough review … Continue reading
Squaring the rubbish circle on Oval Road was never easy
CROYDON COMMENTARY: In answer to a public question at last night’s Town Hall meeting about the terrible state of Oval Road since rubbish contractors Veolia started a bin bags trial in 2020, Cllr Scott Roche said ‘a review of the … Continue reading
Posted in Addiscombe West, Business, Community associations, Croydon Council, ECCO, Fly tipping, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Patricia Hay-Justice, Refuse collection, Tom Lawrence, Veolia
Tagged #Binmageddon, Addiscombe, Addiscombe West, East Croydon, East Croydon Community Organisation, ECCO, Jerry Fitzpatrick, Oval Road
3 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
