Tag Archives: Lewis White

After decades of clean-ups, we’re still polluting precious rivers

Posted on July 22, 2022 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: After a week-long heatwave and record temperatures, LEWIS WHITE makes a case for us to cherish local rivers, such as the Wandle, bringing the water companies back into public ownership, and for an end to the concreting over … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon parks, Environment, Nature Notes, Planning, Wandle Park, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The day I saved 7 street trees – with the help of Inside Croydon

Posted on July 19, 2022 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Stirred into action by our report about street trees being in desperate need of some care and attention during the heatwave, loyal reader LEWIS WHITE, right, set off armed with his watering can and a handful of copies … Continue reading →

Posted in Activities, Community associations, Coulsdon, Croydon parks, Education, Environment, Gardening, Wildlife | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Pankhurst points the way for a piece of Coulsdon history

Posted on November 24, 2021 by insidecroydon

Emmeline Pankhurst and Britain’s first public railway are the latest additions to the Coulsdon finial history and art trail, a community project designed and managed by local residents. The first three finials – small, stylised metal models – were positioned … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Community associations, Coulsdon, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, History | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Building in suburban back gardens is not the only answer

Posted on November 15, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: As residents in Old Coulsdon organise themselves to oppose more ‘back-garden’ developments in their village, LEWIS WHITE (right), offers some alternatives to unnecessary intensification It is not unknown for local residents’ associations to be heavily influenced by people … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Coulsdon, Housing, Old Coulsdon, Old Coulsdon Residents' Association, Planning | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Don’t sacrifice Coulsdon to pay off Brick by Brick’s debt

Posted on September 25, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: The unravelling of inter-connected land deals following the collapse of Brick by Brick’s failed house-building business, as exclusively revealed by Inside Croydon, could have long-term damaging consequences for Coulsdon, says local resident LEWIS WHITE (right) I was unaware … Continue reading →

Posted in Brick by Brick, Coulsdon, Coulsdon West, Croydon Council | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

By taking away the buses, they’ve cut off shops in town centre

Posted on August 18, 2021 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: As the council abandons 10 years of delusion over the retail regeneration of the town centre, regular reader LEWIS WHITE, right, goes on a shopping trip to witness the state of the Whitgift Centre for himself I popped … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", Allders, Business, Centrale, Croydon BID, Debenhams, Surrey Street, TfL, Transport, West Croydon, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Coulsdon signs leave a trail of Saxon kings, cricket and plants

Posted on March 7, 2021 by insidecroydon

Visitors to Coulsdon town centre in recent months have been intrigued about the appearance atop street signage of some delicately crafted, colourful figures. It has now emerged that these finials are the work of two loyal Inside Croydon readers, Charles … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Community associations, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, East Coulsdon Residents' Association | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

How my bus ride into Croydon unmasked a growing problem

Posted on October 19, 2020 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: It is against the law to take a ride on public transport without wearing a face mask. But as reader LEWIS WHITE discovered last week, despite 30 TfL bus drivers having died from coronavirus, those rules are hardly … Continue reading →

Posted in Commuting, Health, TfL, Tramlink, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Cut the mowing: how to transform your garden for wildlife

Posted on October 7, 2020 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: After surveys this summer reported a decline in butterfly and moth populations across the country, LEWIS WHITE, a retired landscape architect with decades of experience, offers his advice on how to make your garden more wildlife-friendly this autumn … Continue reading →

Posted in Activities, Environment, Gardening, Wildlife | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

There should be no place for nepotism in any local council

Posted on September 17, 2020 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: A former local government official who worked for three London councils from the 1970s until 2016, LEWIS WHITE (right) observed others doing their jobs in housing, engineering, maintenance, finance and in the comms team. And he is increasingly … Continue reading →

Posted in Croydon Council | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Promising signs of the future for Croydon’s historic Old Town

Posted on March 20, 2019 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: With more than £17million to spend, the council is rolling out plans to spruce up the neglected corner of the Old Town around Croydon Minster. LEWIS WHITE, pictured left, a retired landscape architect, took a Sunday afternoon stroll … Continue reading →

Posted in Broad Green, Croydon Council, Croydon Minster, Croydon parks, Environment, History, Planning, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Let’s revive town centre with more trees and youthful vitality

Posted on February 15, 2019 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Retired landscape architect and local resident LEWIS WHITE offers his suggestions for reviving the town centre after nearly a decade of development blight thanks to Westfield, who yesterday announced that they are ‘reviewing’ their £1.4bn flats and shops … Continue reading →

Posted in "Hammersfield", Business, Croydon parks, Environment, Planning, Valley Park, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Penthouse floor for Purley ‘skyscraper’ was a poor design

Posted on December 5, 2018 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Coulsdon resident LEWIS WHITE, pictured right, gave evidence at the planning inspector’s inquiry held earlier this year. Here is his take on this week’s controversial ruling on the Purley ‘skyscraper’ The decision of the Secretary of State for … Continue reading →

Posted in Planning, Property, Purley | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Time for council to listen to Coulsdon on car parking

Posted on February 17, 2016 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: There’s been plenty of grumbling since the council’s “strong leader” (their phrase, not ours), Tony Newman, told the people of Coulsdon to “get on yer bike”. LEWIS WHITE welcomes the re-opening of the Lion Green Road car park, … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Chris Philp MP, Coulsdon, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon West, Coulsdon West Residents' Association, Croydon Council, Croydon South, East Coulsdon Residents' Association, Old Coulsdon Residents' Association, Planning, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

We need quality homes, not quantity, to avoid ghettoes

Posted on November 5, 2015 by insidecroydon

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Location. Location. Location. LEWIS WHITE is less concerned about the need to build flats in the redevelopment at College Green, provided they offer enough open spaces and are of the right quality, and not mega-sized tower blocks David … Continue reading →

Posted in Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon College, Croydon Council, Education, Environment, Fairfield, Fairfield Halls, Housing, Planning, Property | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments