General Election – Do you have any new neighbours who need to register to vote?
With a general election set to take place on 8 June, it is important everyone eligible registers to vote especially those who have moved into Croydon in recent months.
Thousands of people could be disenfranchised by failing to register in time – which may be 22 May, 12 days before polling day if the rules apply as in 2015.
Its also worth checking that you are on the electoral register.
Croydon Electoral Services can be contacted at 020 8726 6300
electoral.services@croydon.gov.uk
https://www.croydon.gov.uk/democracy/dande/elections/regvote/types
Your chance to grill Gavin Barwell on the Prime Minister’s new vision of a shared society, on the big issues for Croydon, on the housing crisis, Croydon Town redevelopment, austerity cuts to benefits and the disabled, the crisis of the NHS, etc.
Croydon Voluntary Sector Alliance Meeting. Friday 28 April, 10am – 12noon.
CVA’s Resource Centre, 82 London Road, CR0 2TB.
To book attendance in advance go to:
http://www.cvalive.org.uk/calendar/item/28146768
Barwell obviously worried by Labour
Given his low majority in 2015 Croydon Central Tory MP Gavin Barwell is clearly worried about the chances Labour has of beating him this time round. Why otherwise would be feel the need to say otherwise in commenting on the launch of Labour’s campaign by Jeremy Corbyn in Queens Gdns? He should realise its always best not to comment thereby giving publicity to the other side.
Corbyn’s launch has even been reported in Clacton:
Creative Croydon’s Singing Session from 24 April
Mondays 7-8.30pm. Learn to sing sessions.
Studio at Art gallery, 2-4 Park Street.
April 24: Relaxation as it is Stress awareness month and a little Jazz as it is Jazz appreciation month!
May 8: An Elizabethan Catch about May, along with a little Gospel and a touch of Tanzania
May 15: A little LGBT item for IDAHOT day plus some Taize and a Tree song!
May 22: Let’s revisit some of our favourites so far and take them up a notch! Plus a surprise new one.
June 5: Something for World Environmental day and World Oceans day.
Fees: 5 week block £25 or £18 concessions. Drop in rates £7 or £5 concessions so you can still miss one and pay less by block booking. Please bring cheques (payable to Creative Croydon) or cash on the night.
Please book via
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/learn-to-sing-global-song-croydon-tickets-33732133720?aff=erelexpmlt
Or if you want to bring your money on the night please come at 6.45 and please let us know if you are coming so we can put out the right number of chairs
Wednesday 26 April. 7pm. United Kingdom
Chance to see the excellent film United Kingdom about Seretse Khama, the King of Bechuanaland (modern Botswana), and Ruth Williams, who lived in Addiscombe while in exile.
Stanley Halls.
https://www.stanleysfilmclub.com/events/a-united-kingdom-12a
Council cancels meeting on Westfield Development
The Council has cancelled a meeting on Westfield/Hammerson’s planning application on the Whitgift shopping centre because of unresolved matters. This will delay the start of the scheme. Does this mean that the Council is at last trying to get more beneficial concessions from the developers?
Meanwhile Hammerson re-finances its £360m debt
Despite all its sales of centres over the past couple of years Hammerson has just re-financed debt of £360m with a syndicate of 14 banks, including the Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, Bank of Taiwan, Chang Hwa Commercial Bank, China Investment Corporation, and Hua Nan Commercial Bank.
BH Live to manage Fairfield Halls
The Council’s preferred bidder to operate Fairfield Halls is BH Live – which already operates 15 leisure and event venues across the south of England.
The social enterprise has pledged to put on events including theatre shows, live music, visual arts, comedy and dance acts, international performances and community events as well as plans for a seasonal roller or ice rink at the venue.
You can find out what BH Live says about itself at
It should be noted that it only appears to operate 3 venues that are like Fairfield Halls as its other 12 venues all appear to be Leisure Centres.
Tony Newman rules out smoking ban in pub gardens
The announcement by Council Leader Tony Newman not to introduce a ban on smoking in pub gardens will be welcome to smokers and pub owners.
However, there is not a level smoking field as the Council continues to allow the illegal smoking indoors at sisha cafes.
Tribute to Darcus Howe
Croydon resident and black rights activist and journalist Marc Wadsworth pens a tribute to Darcus Howe, who lived in Norbury and died on 1 April aged 74.
https://thecroydoncitizen.com/history/tribute-darcus-howe
About 1,000 people attended the event organised by Black Cultural Archives in Brixton to pay tribute to Darcus Howe.
http://www.brixtonblog.com/darcus-howe-remembered-at-black-cultural-archives/43787
The funeral took place on 20 April. Coverage can be seen at
http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/he-will-surely-be-missed-darcus-howe-casket-stops-se24
http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/darcus-howe-funeral-pictures-and-heartfelt-words
The Guardian obituary can be seen at
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/03/darcus-howe-obituary
London Rd History: 154 – Co-op Croydon Funeral care
Kake’s latest posting looks at the address where the Co-op has bene for over 70 years.
http://london-road-croydon.org/history/0154-croydon-funeralcare.html
Brick by Brick gets first planning consents
The first phase schemes have been designed by Coffey Architects – which has drawn up plans for 58 homes on four separate sites – Stitch Studio and Mae Architects.
The consents cover eight sites and will create 111 new homes across the south London borough, delivering a mix of properties for
The Council’s development company has received planning approval for private sale, shared ownership and affordable rent homes on 8 sites across the Borough.
Stuart King welcomes resident’s persistence
Norbury resident Jane Kelly has been keeping up the pressure to ensure that a speed monitor on Norbury Crescent is repaired so its works to monitor speeds in the 20mph zone. . On 21 April it was back in working order ‘merrily flashing speeds from 21 mph and above for practically every vehicle ……So all it now needs is for these motorists to act on the information – some cameras and exemplary fines would be great.’
Transport Cabinet member Stuart King says: ‘I am very pleased to learn this – thank you for your persistence in holding us to account to get this fixed.’
So persistence with officers, keeping Cabinet members informed, can work.
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