Tag Archives: Timothy Godfrey

£180m Fairfield operator contract is called-in for scrutiny

Fifteen Conservative councillors signed official forms to call-in the decision to award the operator contract for the Fairfield Halls, a move which some fear might delay the appointment process, and others have described as petty political point-scoring. The matter will … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Stranack, Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Chris Philp MP, Chris Wright, Donald Speakman, Dudley Mead, Fairfield, Fairfield Halls, Gavin Barwell, Helen Pollard, James Thompson, Jan Buttinger, Jason Cummings, Jeet Bains, Lynne Hale, Margaret Mead, Maria Gatland, Mario Creatura, Sean Fitzsimons, Tim Pollard, Timothy Godfrey, Yvette Hopley | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Croydon Tories are playing with Fairfield Halls’ future

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Although they already know the identity of the winning bidder to run the Fairfield Halls following a council-run competitive tendering process, Croydon Conservatives yesterday moved to call-in the decision to the scrutiny committee, potentially delaying the appointment. TIMOTHY … Continue reading

Posted in Art, David Lean Cinema Campaign, Fairfield Halls, Riesco Collection, Selhurst, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Old Ashburton library to be handed over to private companies

That “ambition” thing we were told so much about in 2013 and 2014, before the last Town Hall elections? It seems that if you want to turn it into the “delivery” thing, it can take a long time and a … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Ashburton, Community associations, Croydon parks, Education, Friends of Ashburton Park, Timothy Godfrey | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Tories oppose 2,000 homes in housing minister’s constituency

WALTER CRONXITE reports on the planning permission granted to a Labour council scheme which could make Gavin Barwell’s constituency a safe Tory seat Barely a year before the next Town Hall elections, and Croydon Tories last night handed a gift-wrapped … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Ashcroft Theatre, Brick by Brick, Chris Wright, College Green, Coulsdon East, Coulsdon Town, Croydon Central, Croydon College, Croydon Council, Environment, Fairfield, Fairfield Halls, Gavin Barwell, Helen Pollard, Housing, Jason Perry, Jo Negrini, Luke Clancy, Planning, South Croydon, Sue Winborn, Theatre, Timothy Godfrey, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Council confirms Fairfield Halls will not open before Nov 2018

Jo Negrini, the council’s chief executive, may like to pretend to her property speculator mates that refurbishment work on the Fairfield Halls is “on track”, but even her own officials are now admitting that Croydon’s major performing arts centre will … Continue reading

Posted in 2018 council elections, Ashcroft Theatre, Brick by Brick, College Green, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Housing, Jo Negrini, Planning, Timothy Godfrey, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Council gets chain reaction to Grangewood Park’s broken gate

Croydon Council has received something that is far removed from a love letter for Valentine’s Day, as residents are demanding urgent action to help protect Grangewood Park. The much-loved public open space, which includes ancient woodland on a hillside between … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, Environment, Friends of Grangewood Park, Quadron, Thornton Heath, Timothy Godfrey | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

We all need to act to help to save our under-funded parks

CROYDON COMMENTARY: Landscape architect LEWIS WHITE says that our parks, public gardens and open spaces are too precious to allow to be allowed to rot for lack of money, and says that now is a time for action Parks give … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Duppas Hill Park, Environment, Timothy Godfrey | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Friends groups wary of cash-strapped council’s park plans

Another resident closely involved with a parks group has aired reservations about Croydon Council’s “Premier League” of the borough’s parks, questioning the lack of consultation regarding a public survey conducted last year, and the failure to discuss proposals with friends … Continue reading

Posted in Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Grange Park, Timothy Godfrey | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

We’re not Larkin about: hedgehogs need our council’s help

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (yes, such a body does exist), is calling on Croydon Council and its contractors to be hedgehog aware when cutting the borough’s parks’ grasses and verges, especially when using strimmers. Our gardening power tools are … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon parks, Environment, Gardening, Selhurst, Wildlife | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Dozens of open spaces excluded from ‘premier league’ of parks

WALTER CRONXITE reports on how the council is laying the groundwork for a privatisation-by-stealth of some of the borough’s open spaces If any more proof were required that Croydon’s worthless consultations are used to justify the council going ahead and … Continue reading

Posted in Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Friends of Grangewood Park, Jamie Audsley, Jo Negrini, Lloyd Park, Timothy Godfrey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Work to refurbish Fairfield Halls already behind schedule

Just five months into the £30 million refurbishment of the Fairfield Halls, and Croydon Council is already admitting that it will take longer than the promised two-year closure to complete the works. With the main refurbishment contractor not due to … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Colm Lacey, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Jo Negrini, Paula Murray, Property, Theatre, Timothy Godfrey, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Town Hall’s theatre of the absurd to stage some real drama

Having closed down its original venue and with its alternative venue temporarily shut for refurbishment, Croydon Council has had to turn over the Town Hall chamber this weekend to the Warehouse Theatre for it to be able to stage its … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Theatre, Timothy Godfrey, Warehouse Theatre | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Boxpark opening airbrushes all mention of Ambition Festival

Boxpark Croydon has finally announced its opening dates. Boozepark, which was lured to the site alongside East Croydon Station with a £3 million loan from the Labour-run council, is to stage a two-day “Opening Festival” on October 29 and 30 … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Ambition Festival, Boxpark, Business, Dance, East Croydon, Jo Negrini, Music, Timothy Godfrey | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Croydon pulls plug on Wandle Regional Park funding

Croydon Council has pulled the plug on its annual grant to a quango which was set up with other local authorities to create a regional park in the Wandle Valley, stretching through Merton and Wandsworth to the Thames. Senior council … Continue reading

Posted in Broad Green, Charity, Coulsdon, Croydon Council, Croydon parks, Environment, Timothy Godfrey, Waddon, Wandle Park | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Make a splash with council’s free swimming offer for under-16s

Free summer swimming for under-16s is available at all of Croydon Council’s leisure centres for the six weeks of the schools’ summer holidays. As well as free swimming there will be crash courses for those new to the water, and … Continue reading

Posted in Activities, Croydon Council, Education, Health, Leisure services, New Addington, Purley, Purley Pool, Schools, South Norwood, Swimming, Thornton Heath, Waddon | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Labour members get chance to ask Reed about Corbyn coup

Labour members in Croydon North, who Steve Reed OBE, the constituency MP, refused to answer with a frank explanation of his position over the party’s leadership, have the chance to get up close and personal with Progress vice-chair this Saturday … Continue reading

Posted in Catriona Ogilvy, Croydon North, David Wood, John Wentworth, Selhurst, Steve Reed MP, Timothy Godfrey, Toni Letts | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Council backing for tour launch that calls Croydon a ‘crap town’

Croydon Council Tax-payers have spent at least £3 million over the past five years for an official press office which as well as churning out the latest news from the council, also has the responsibility for “moulding” and improving the … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Cinema, Croydon Council, Environment, Evening Boris, History, Planning, Taberner House, Whitgift Centre | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Council’s shock non-announcement: Murray handed culture job

The sheer predictability of Croydon Council over its internal stitch-ups on senior jobs is so crass that sometimes even they appear embarrassed by it. Paula Murray has been confirmed as Croydon’s culture director in a permanent capacity. Hitherto the deputy … Continue reading

Posted in Alison Butler, Ambition Festival, Art, Ashcroft Theatre, Boxpark, Business, Croydon Council, East Croydon, Fairfield Halls, Jo Negrini, Music, Paul Scott, Paula Murray, Stanley Halls, Theatre, Timothy Godfrey | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Murray being lined up for full-time £80,000 director job

Cash-strapped Croydon Council is ploughing on with plans to recruit a full-time “culture czar” on a salary of around £80,000 a year, despite having had a recruitment freeze on more mundane council jobs for the past six months. Oddly, no … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Croydon Council, Fairfield Halls, Paula Murray, Timothy Godfrey | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Croydon needs to race for a Superhighway for a real legacy

CROYDON COMMENTARY: After three deadly accidents involving cyclists in Croydon in the past month, AUSTEN COOPER says that our borough’s roads are overdue a modern transport infrastructure Tomorrow evening sees the return of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series that last … Continue reading

Posted in Commuting, Croydon Council, Croydon Cycling Campaign, Cycling, Cycling, Selhurst, Sport, TfL, Timothy Godfrey, Transport | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Boxpark delays could see Ambition Festival staged in October

BELLA BARTOCK, arts correspondent, reports on how a council-backed arts fest can’t fix a date in the diary It’s just a few weeks since Croydon Council made the announcement that it would use £160,000 of Council Tax-payers’ money to stage … Continue reading

Posted in Ambition Festival, Art, Boxpark, Business | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Cyclists set to snub £150 entry fee for charity bike race

Croydon’s cyclists seem likely to snub the £150 entry fee being demanded by the organisers of a charity event being staged as part of the town centre bike race next month. It is the second year that Croydon has staged … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Croydon Commitment, Cycling, Cycling, Sport, Timothy Godfrey, Tony Newman, Tramlink | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Godfrey has towering ambitions for Croydon Water Tower

A senior Croydon councillor has undertaken to ensure that the 150-year-old Water Tower will be maintained and says that the council is working “to secure the long-term future” of the Grade II-listed building. A local parks group last week reported … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Environment, Fairfield, History, Museum of Croydon, Timothy Godfrey | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Only 700 respond to survey that excludes library users

GENE BRODIE, our libraries and bookish gyms correspondent, on the council’s latest crass move over another bogus-looking consultation Croydon’s Labour-run council is being accused of trying to “fix” the borough’s latest consultation on the running of its public libraries, by … Continue reading

Posted in Carillion, Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, John Wentworth, Libraries, Timothy Godfrey, Toni Letts, Tony Newman, Upper Norwood Library Trust | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fairfield’s Vennell: The phasing argument is ‘no longer useful’

Kate Vennell, the chair of the charity board which runs the Fairfield Halls, has today dismissed any further calls for a phased redevelopment of Croydon’s arts venue, which is due to close in July to allow a £30 million council-funded … Continue reading

Posted in Art, Fairfield Halls, Kate Vennell, Timothy Godfrey | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments