Friday 20 – Sunday 22 August. Croydon Artists at Brixton Artist Circle
Sunday 12 September. 1pm-5pm. Friends of Grangewood Park Party
This celebrates 120 years since the park first opened its gates. Activities, performers, Art in the Park, music and afternoon tea.
COVID Hospitalisations Increase
The number of COVID patients being treated at Croydon University Hospital has more than trebled in the past month to 56, including five on ventilators. Four people with the virus were admitted to the hospital on Sunday 8 August.
There were 17 patients on 1 July. The Hospital has cared for more than 3,000 patients since the start of the pandemic.
www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/croydon-hospital-hit-huge-spike-21266472
Council Leader Hamida Ali reports in her latest weekly posting on Your Croydon that so far more than 420,000 doses of vaccine have been delivered in the Borough.
E-Scooter Confiscated
While carrying out weapon sweeps and patrolled known hotspot areas the police seized an E-scooter being riden in an anti-social manner on the streets. (Details posted on Next Door West Norbury
Croydon A-level and GCSE Results
www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/19503485.a-level-results-day-croydon
See details on both exams on Your Croydon
Thornton Heath Community Health Hub Celebrates Its First Year
Better known as Integrated Community Networks plus, the pilot hub was set up to connect health and care teams with residents, improving access to local support services.
See details on Your Croydon
Croham Rd Land Plot
www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/19499311.croydon-building-plot-sale-planning-luxury-home
Reeves Site Being Sold For £2m
The burnt down Reeves store site is being sold to a developer for £2m. The plan is for a block of flats and retail.
www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/london-riots-reeves-corner-furniture-21293757
Marking The Riots 10 Years On
Croydon’s poet Haroon Khan performed outside Brixton Station on August 7 and hip hop lyricist Lekan ‘Ajarni’ Kehinde took his art piece to East Croydon Station on August 9. Both marked ten years exactly since the riots in that area. The performances were part of an international bi-annual programme Empire Strikes Back, organised by Louder Than Words, which held workshops for six artists.
New Luxury Care Home Opens
Barchester Healthcare’s new luxury care home, Peony Court, in Park Hill, Croydon, is open for visitors and is looking to recruit positions such as head of maintenance, an activities coordinator, care assistants, and a head of housekeeping.
www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/new-care-home-in-croydon-to-create-22-jobs
Rumours That Labour Has Rejected Two Applicants For the May Elections Panel
Rumours are circulating that two applicants to be on the panel to be Councillors in next May’s local elections have been rejected because of their support for an elected Mayor, including Councillor Jamie Audsley. The panels reviewing whether individuals are suitable are set up by Labour’s London Regional office and do not include . Croydon members. Rejected candidates have the right of appeal to Region.
One of the myths of having an elected Mayor is that they will be well known nationally. This is the case with regional Mayors like Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester, and Sadiq Khan in London. However can you name the few directly elected Borough Mayors?
One of the main criticisms of the current Leader/Cabinet system is that the former Leader had too much unaccountable power backed by a loyal clique. Having an elected Mayor gives one individual even more unaccountable power. At least the current Labour group has changed the way it works to ensure that the Leader has to stand for re-election every year, enabling those colleagues with concerns to challenge them. Or they can pressure the Leader to resign as happened with the former Leader. This will not be possible with an elected Mayor.
Jamie Audsley is somewhat of a maverick, who takes useful initiatives but does not always build the support alliances that he needs to. You can see his activities at www.jamieaudsley.org, and his discussion on having a National Nature Service at:
www.facebook.com/jamie.audsley.5/posts/10159479189756276
He has not up-dated his Facebook page since 12 June. www.facebook.com/JamieAuds. He is more active on https://twitter.com/jamieaudsley
Those members of the Labour Party who support having an elected Mayor have a website at https://croydonlabour4amayor.org.uk. No names are given as to the organisers. See my blog posting containing questions to Jamie.
For my June update on the Mayor debate see:
There is also the Croydon says NO to Directly Elected Mayor group:
History & Social Action News and Events 