Your Croydon - November 2010

Issue 43
46 - August
November
2010
2010
Your primary source of community information
www.croydon.gov.uk
Going for gold
A warden’s life for me
Books in a theatre of war
Borough’s young people
take on Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
There’s more to a
parking warden’s day
than issuing fines
How one US soldier uses
Croydon’s library service
in Afghanistan
Page 16
Page 20
Page 15
Have your say on
tough decisions
Like others around the
country Croydon Council
has been told it must deliver
services with much less
money.
But, unlike most, we
are asking residents to tell
us which services are really
vital to them and should
survive in the financial
squeeze
That is why the council
has launched a new internet
tool that puts residents at
the heart of the decisionmaking process.
Using the new budget
simulator, residents can
easily tell the council which
services they value most,
which should be protected
and suggest the best
ways of responding to the
government’s attempts to
reduce the national deficit.
Residents can vote on
almost every aspect of the
council’s services – from
parks to leisure centres,
from libraries to caring for
the vulnerable.
They can even suggest
how much council staff
should cost, which charges
should be increased and
how to make the savings
needed over the next
four years.
The consequences of
decisions made on the
budget simulator will be
displayed on the council’s
website, leaving residents
in no doubt about the facts
behind their choices.
All the responses will be
given to councillors before
Boom boom – on
go the lights
Have your say: the council’s budget simulator gives you the chance to influence spending
they make vital decisions
on prioritising services and
ensuring council tax rises
are kept to an absolute
minimum.
Anyone completing
the survey is also able to
suggest how the council
should save money and
keep public costs down.
Hundreds of residents
have already logged onto
www.croydon.gov.uk/
youchoose to have their
say, while scores more have
been giving their views
at road shows being held
around the borough.
Resident Michelle
McKay, from New
Young people go to the vote – page 11
Addington, said: “It’s a
really good idea because we
should have a say in where
our money’s going, we
should be able to influence
how it’s spent.”
And Amanda Wilson,
from Selsdon, added: “It’s
a good idea – it gives us
a bit of a say, and puts
some power into local
people’s hands. I get into
conversations and debates
with my friends about this
sort of thing – we wonder
where our council tax goes
every month.”
With next year’s
budget promising to be the
toughest in history, council
leader Mike Fisher said:
“These are hard decisions,
but we need to be tough to
keep council tax down with
less funding.
“It’s vital that we use
our resources to fund the
services local people think
are the most important.
“It’s not our borough – it
belongs to everybody who
lives here and pays council
tax – so we want local
people to help us decide
where we should prioritise
spending.”
The budget survey is
running until 5 November.
• For more details, see pages
6 and 7.
Restaurant cleanliness – page 12
The country’s bestloved fox put minds
at ease when he was
able to answer one
of this season’s most
pressing questions.
Your Croydon
asked Basil Brush if
he had any concerns
about being able
to reach the light
switch when he gets
to turn on Croydon’s
Christmas lights this
month.
“Oh – I can reach
pretty much anything,”
he laughed, “the tail
extends, don’t you
know?”
“The only thing is,
I think you need more
than 50p for the meter
these days. Someone
told me it’s gone up
to a pound – which is
terrible inflation!
“I used to tell
Gordon Brown about
that – and I told him
how to fix it, too.
“It’s all about the
stock exchange. I
told him to remember
that balloons are up,
feathers are down but
nappies will always
remain unchanged.
“That’s what I told
him, and that’s what
I’m telling that new Mr
Cameron.”
Basil was in town
to promote this
year’s Fairfield panto,
Cinderella, and is
pictured with leading
lady Gemma Bissix
who will be on hand at
the North End switchon – on Thursday, 18
November – just in
case Basil’s tail isn’t
quite long enough.
• See page 14 for
details of Croydon’s
Christmas and a great
family competition.
When the Town Hall was bombed – page 21
2 yournews
Borough
recycling
rates are
on the up
Recycling and composting
rates in Croydon are
double what they were
four years ago.
And residents say they
are pleased with the steps
taken by the council that
have brought about the
increase.
Since 2006 the amount
of waste being recycled or
composted in the borough
has risen steadily from
just 16% to more than
32%.
In addition to the part
played by residents, the
increase has been largely
helped by the council’s
introduction of a range of
new services, including
more collections of plastic,
card, food and garden
waste and collections from
over 2,300 blocks of flats.
This has seen the
amount of waste sent to
landfill fall over the same
period from 160,000 to
108,000 tonnes.
A survey of residents
revealed that satisfaction
levels with the council’s
recycling programme have
increased from a figure of
60% in 2006/7 to 71% in
2008/9.
Satisfaction with
refuse collections has gone
up from 75% to 79% in
the same period.
November 2010 | Your Croydon
A new helping hand
A new weekly benefits
advice surgery has been
launched for council
tenants in South Croydon.
The new service is
designed to help people
better understand their
rights and responsibilities
regarding benefits.
It will take place every
Wednesday between
10am and noon at the
Old Lodge Lane Baptist
Church community hall,
in Reedham Park Avenue,
Purley.
In just a few minutes,
tenants in the Purley,
Coulsdon and Kenley areas
can have their benefit
entitlement checked,
and get help in claiming
entitlements, as well as
backdating and appeals.
Advice can also be
given on other services and
entitlements. There is no
need for an appointment,
just drop in.
The Croydon welfare
rights team also provides
a free telephone helpline
which operates on
Mondays from 2pm to
7pm, Tuesdays from 3pm to
4.30pm, Wednesdays 11am
to 2pm, and Fridays 9am
to noon.
www.croydon.gov.uk/
advice
The council’s welfare
rights team has a specialist
debt adviser, and dedicated
advisers for children with
disabilities and for those
over 60.
The team also has
designated advisers, based
in local housing offices (see
box), for council tenants.
To book an appointment,
call directly, or talk to your
income/tenancy officer for
a referral.
Belinda Batt North area
Strand House
020 8726 6000
ext 18161
Jarek Kopec
South central
Taberner House
020 8726 6000
ext 61680
Jackie Olukunle
East New Addington
01689 808208
Norovirus is a highly
contagious disease, often
called the winter vomiting
bug, that affects many
people throughout the
winter season.
Anyone can catch it and
symptoms include nausea,
vomiting and/or diarrhoea.
Most people are able
to fight off the norovirus
infection on their own and
feel better within two days.
It is not always possible
to avoid getting a norovirus
infection.
If you are worried about
your health you should call
your GP or NHS Direct on
0845 4647.
Croydon’s annual riot of colour
Once again, the people
who live and work in
Croydon have shown
they are a greenfingered bunch who care
passionately about the
look of their areas.
This year’s Croydon
in Bloom awards were
presented to individuals,
community gardeners,
conservationists,
businesses and school
pupils.
And Jean McClymont,
winner of the front
garden award, also learnt
that she had been named
runner-up in the same
category in the London in
Bloom awards.
Front garden award – 20 Carlton Avenue, Sanderstead (also second place in
London in Bloom front garden awards)
Best hanging basket or container display – 4 Birdhurst Rise, South Croydon
Bloomin’ pub and restaurant award – The Spreadeagle, Katharine Street, Croydon
Business premises award – The Shaw Trust working at Croydon Crematorium
Community garden award – Borough Grange, Sanderstead
Best school garden – Chipstead Valley Primary School, Coulsdon
Best conservation award – Friends of Foxley Wood, Purley
Town or district centre award – Croydon BID
yournews
2
promotion
14
yourcommunity
6
yourhealth
18
yoursafety
8
yourheritage 20
yourspace
10
yourevents
22
specialfeature
12
yourdiary 23
To get in touch with the Your Croydon editorial team, email
yourcroydon@croydon.gov.uk or call 020 8760 5644
Your Croydon welcomes letters for publication. They should be no more than 200
words. Receipt of a letter (in print or by email) does not guarantee inclusion. The right
to edit letters is reserved, as is the editor’s right of reply. Letters from known politicians
and political groups will not be published. Post your letters, including your name and
address, to Your Croydon, 7th Floor, Taberner House, Park Lane, Croydon CR9 3JS
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newspaper please recycle it.
100766/150M/9
Advice surgery and
helpline details across the
borough can be found at
Fighting
winter’s ills
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but inclusion of an advertisement does not indicate council
endorsement of any products or services mentioned.
If you have any concerns or observations regarding the distribution
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yournews 3
Have your e-say at yourcroydon@croydon.gov.uk
Youngsters’ turn
in the Limelight
Written by young people
for young people, a new
magazine has got out of
the blocks to a flying start
by featuring an interview
with Dame Kelly Holmes.
Nine Croydon
youngsters met the
Olympic double gold
medallist recently after
a ceremony to applaud
teenage graduates of
the Dame Kelly Holmes
Legacy Trust’s Get
on Track job training
programme.
The interview with
Dame Kelly features in
Limelight, a new councilsupported magazine for
young people aged
12 to 25.
The first edition, just
published, also carries
interviews with A-list
Hollywood actor Michael
Douglas, rapper Professor
Green, and Skins actor
Jack O’Connell.
The budding
journalists asked Dame
Kelly about her charity,
and its partnership with
international recruitment
agency Morgan Hunt,
which funded Get on
Track.
The programme
involves a range of
community-based
activities designed to
boost the confidence and
prospects of teenagers not
in education, employment
or training (neets).
During the interview,
at Glaziers Hall, London
Bridge, the youngsters
quizzed Dame Kelly on
her long athletic career as
an 800 and 1500 metres
runner.
Daisy Boyle, a 12-yearold Shirley High School
pupil, from Addiscombe,
asked the former athlete
if she kept in touch with
Debbie Page, the PE
teacher who inspired her
passion for athletics.
“Debbie comes
round to my house for
barbeques, and last week
we went to dinner,” said
Dame Kelly.
“She was the only
People aged 16 and over
who are familiar with a
bike but lack confidence
in riding can sign up for
four-week courses at
Sutton Arena.
The courses cost £12
and there are four of them
running until June next year.
Participants will work
toward the Bikeability
level 1 cycle proficiency
test.
Each week cycle
instructors will guide
participants through the
basics of road safety and
take them on gentle rides
through the borough.
Kelly’s heroes: Dame Kelly being grilled by Limelight staffers
teacher who told me I was
good at something.”
The teenagers began
working on Limelight
during the summer at
Sir Philip Game Centre,
in Morland Avenue,
Addiscombe.
The magazine is
edited by Jamie D’Costa,
a 16-year-old Whitgift
School student from South
Croydon, and run by
journalist Adeline Iziren
and human relations
adviser Suzette Guizele.
Jamie, who hopes to
become a doctor one day,
said: “Limelight isn’t just
for budding journalists,
but for any young person
who wants to develop
their communication and
team-working skills.
“It’s a great
opportunity which has
enabled members of
my team to have a chat
with Jack O’Connell, and
gave me the chance to
The write stuff: winning authors of the ‘out of this world’ story competition
this world’, stories were
submitted ranging from
psychological thrillers to
science-fiction and fantasy.
Saba-Ikhalas’s entry
won the 14 to18 year
category, whilst the 10 to
13 competition went to
Cycling
lessons
The first begins on 17
November and ends on 8
December.
ring Professor Green to
find out what he did on
tour.
“I recommend young
people join Limelight and,
if you can’t, at least pick
up a copy of the magazine
– it’s free.”
For more information,
or to apply to become
part of the Limelight team,
call Adeline on 020 8654
4235 or 07950 255 389.
Alternatively, email rise@
inspiredmedia.uk.com
The kids are all write
How can you escape
something that has been
with you your whole life?
Questions are all I
have because nobody
believes me, nobody can
help me. I am alone and
possibly crazy, or dead, or
being haunted.
I didn’t know you
could be haunted by
yourself.
This is the chillingly
disturbing introduction
to The Other Me – a short
story written by SabaIkhlas Malik – who, at only
14, has already begun to
challenge writing territory
normally associated with
Stephen King.
Her story of paranoia
and fear was one of nearly
50 entries in a creative
writing competition run
by Croydon library service
over the summer. Themed
on the idea of ‘out of
News in brief
13-year-old Lavinia Miller.
Judged on originality,
quality of writing and
emotional content, the
choice of winners was
exceptionally tough.
This was emphasised
by the chair of the judging
panel, Christian Ainley – a
local teacher and author
of the fantasy novel The
Enchanted Amulet.
Presenting the winners
with their certificates,
Whitgift Centre shopping
vouchers and a signed
copy of his book at the
Central Children’s Library
he commented: “Some
of these stories were not
like anything I’d seen
before. Originality is very
important, and there were
so many different writing
styles here.
“A lot of people tend
to just copy the style of a
best-selling author, but in
this competition I could
see that people had put in
a lot more effort and had
really tried to be different.”
Also highly
commended in the
competition and pictured
here along with the
winners were Aisha Shahid
(13), Georgina Dobson
(11), Katie O’connell (14)
and Neelam Shah (18).
The winning stories
are published in full at
www.croydon.gov.uk/
outofthisworld
To book call 020 8686
4433 select option 1
ext 61428 or email
activelifestyles@
croydon.gov.uk
Are you a
carer?
To celebrate Carers’ Rights
Day and help Croydon’s
carers to find out more
about their rights, Croydon
Council and local voluntary
organisations are hosting
a ‘drop in’ session on 7
December in Fairfield.
The session runs from
10am to 4pm. Carers
can drop in for a cup of
tea, pick up information
which could help in their
caring roles and speak to
professionals for advice.
It is also an opportunity
to meet and talk to other
carers.
For further information
contact the Carers
Information Service on
020 8649 9339.
Census jobs
Do you know someone
who’s looking for fixedterm work next year?
The Office for National
Statistics needs talented,
well-connected people
from all communities
to help ensure that
everyone completes their
questionnaire.
From 1 November
applications are invited for
census collector posts,
working for a six to eightweek period between 21
March and 6 May 2011.
Full details on all the
jobs and how to apply at
www.censusjobs.co.uk
4 yournews
November 2010 | Your Croydon
Schools strategies could Pitching in for the girls
signal change ahead
Parents have a chance
to see how schooling in
Croydon may change
over the next 10 years.
Three draft strategies
set out ambitious
proposals for the borough’s
schools, and describe how
the council plans to meet
the educational needs
of children and young
people in the borough.
The draft strategy
for primary schools
could see governing
bodies consult on the
amalgamation of separate
infant and junior schools
into primary schools.
It also recommends
any one-form entry
schools that are not
deemed outstanding by
Ofsted should consider
partnership with one or
more other schools.
The proposals
recognise the need for
more secondary school
places for boys in the
north of the borough.
The draft strategic
plans also express
the desire to rebuild
or refurbish several
of the borough’s
secondary schools,
once the Government’s
capital funding model
is announced.
These plans cite the
rebuilding of Selsdon High
School (as The Quest
Academy), Archbishop
Lanfranc School and
The Priory Special
School as the council’s
highest priorities for
capital investment in
secondary education.
The council is also
keen to support proposals
for a ‘Free School’ in the
north of the borough and
the possible relocation
of Addington High on
to a new site in centre
of New Addington.
Councillor Tim Pollard,
cabinet member for
children, young people
and learning, said “We
have a responsibility to
provide every child and
young person in Croydon
with access to good
quality, suitable education,
so that they can reach
their full potential.
“These draft strategies
set out our plans to make
sure that this is the case
over the next decade.”
The pace at which
these changes can be
carried out will be
determined by the detail of
the coalition Government’s
capital funding strategy,
which will replace
Building Schools for
the Future with a new
system of grading school
investment priorities.
For Croydon’s special
schools and specialist
provision in mainstream
schools, the Special
Educational Needs and
Inclusion Strategy sets out
the council’s continuing
commitment to improving
and enhancing provision,
and promoting multiagency cooperation and
involvement to support
all children, particularly
those with complex and
severe learning difficulties.
Faye White MBE, captain
of England and Arsenal
Ladies’ football teams,
officially opened a new
floodlit football pitch
at a Croydon school.
The opening at
Coloma Convent Girls’
School was followed by
an exhibition match, a
question-and-answer
session with Faye, who
Slim your bin and save
Join Croydon’s Slim Bin
Challenge and see how
much you can save by
reducing your waste,
reusing where you can and
recycling what is left over.
You could get a free
compost bin, goody bag
and a visit from one of
the council’s friendly
advisers. Simply register
by emailing your
name, address and
phone number
to slimbin@
croydon.
gov.uk
or call 020
8726 6200 for
further details.
In November,
we are asking
residents to monitor
for two weeks what
they are throwing
away, and then try
to minimise what
is thrown away for
the following two
weeks by reducing,
reusing and recycling.
The idea is to show
residents how easy it
is to reduce what is
thrown away, saving
them, and the council,
money in the process.
Many residents don’t
realise that it costs,
on average, £775 to
landfill each dustcart’s
load of rubbish – so it
makes economic and
environmental sense
to get on board.
When you give us your
details we will send you a
pack detailing everything
you will need to do to
take part, including
how the first
50 residents
to register can
claim their free
compost bin,
arrange a visit
from a council
adviser (if you
would like) and
make a start on
your challenge.
When you
have completed
the challenge,
you will need
to fill out a
short survey
about how easy it was
for you to reduce what’s
thrown away and we
will send you a goody
bag filled with lots of
exciting things, to thank
you for taking part.
also held a training
session with 26 students.
The new pitch was
built with the help of a
£228,399 grant from the
Football Foundation – a
charity funded by the
Premier League, The
FA and government.
It will allow Coloma
Convent Girls’ School to
increase the number of
girls and women playing
football in Croydon and
can be used by local
clubs and other schools.
Faye said: “It’s
fantastic to hear that
such an amazing new
facility will be the focal
point for girls’ football
at Coloma Convent
Girls’ School and its
surrounding community.”
Summit to harness
Croydon’s potential
Ways of harnessing
Croydon’s potential
will be discussed at
a summit meeting of
senior professionals
from public and private
organisations.
The Develop Croydon
one-day seminar will
be told how the town
is perfectly placed on
the corridor between
Gatwick Airport and
central London, and must
be ready to maximise the
economic opportunities
this creates.
The borough’s
transport links –
including trams, East
Croydon station, and
the recently opened
London Overground East
London line – are among
the borough’s great
strengths.
Sir Simon Milton,
the London Assembly’s
deputy mayor for policy
and planning, is set to
chair the event, that will
also discuss the major
new developments
under way.
Develop Croydon,
which is being held on
16 November at Croydon
Park Hotel, Altyre Road,
will feature the most
senior public and private
sector decision makers
involved in the future
development of the
borough.
Addresses,
workshops, discussion
groups and presentations
will enable them to
engage, to assess
investment opportunities,
and to help decide the
future of London’s largest
borough.
Tony Pierce, project
director, Croydon
Opportunity Area, said:
“We need to decide ‘what
sort of new Croydon do
we want?’.
“But it’s not about
just creating a vision, it’s
about actually becoming
the capital’s third city
and ensuring we make it
happen.
“Develop Croydon
will help this come
about.”
yournews 5
Have your e-say at yourcroydon@croydon.gov.uk
Remembering the fallen
Remembering: wreaths are laid on Remembrance Sunday at the Katharine Street cenotaph
Croydon is once more set
to honour the memory of
those who have given their
lives for the country.
Fairfield is set to host
the borough’s principal
memorial service for
Britain’s troops on
Remembrance Sunday, 14
November.
Everybody attending is
asked to be seated by 10.45
for the 11am start.
The service will be
followed by a parade from
Fairfield, past the Town
Hall, to the formal wreathlaying at the cenotaph in
Katharine Street.
And with British
forces on deployment in
Afghanistan, it is especially
important that respect is
shown for the sacrifices they
have made, and continue to
make.
Among those laying
wreaths will be the Mayor
of Croydon, Councillor Avril
Slipper; the Royal British
Legion, Territorial Army,
Metropolitan Police Service,
London Fire Brigade, the Red
Cross, St John Ambulance,
Air Training Corps, Dunkirk
Veterans Association,
Rotary, and cadet and youth
organisations.
The Fairfield service
and the Katharine Street
ceremony are open to
members of the public.
Some road closures
will be introduced and
Katharine Street itself will
be closed to traffic from
the morning into the early
afternoon.
Any groups that would like
to take part in the march, or
lay a wreath, are asked to
contact the Mayor’s office
in Croydon Town Hall by
calling 020 8726 6000.
A smaller ceremony,
again open to all, will take
place at the Katharine
Street memorial at 11am on
Armistice Day, Thursday 11
November.
Walks for
everyone
Mums and dads with
young children still in
buggies are meeting up
once a week for a bit of
gentle exercise and a lively
chat – led by volunteers
from the council’s health
walks scheme.
Leaving South
Norwood pool every
Friday at 10am, and
lasting about an hour, the
free guided walk takes in
South Norwood Country
Park on a route planned to
be flat enough for anyone
who might find problems
with steps or steep slopes.
This means the walks
are also suitable for people
in wheelchairs – or for
anybody who doesn’t want
to exert themselves too
much.
“Walking’s a great way
to work up to a healthier
lifestyle,” said Alison
Hunt, who coordinates
the borough’s “walking for
life” programme.
“It’s something we can
all do more of very easily.”
Call the Active
Lifestyles team on
020 8726 6900 for
information on a wide
range of walks around
the borough, with routes
suitable for all ages and
levels of fitness.
Saturday courses with CALAT
Would you like to take up a new hobby or learn a new skill, but don’t know what to choose?
We have a range of one day and short courses on Saturdays that will give you an introduction
to something new. All materials are provided, unless stated otherwise, all you need to do is
book your place and come along.
Courses run at CALAT Smitham, South Norwood, Croydon High Street and New Addington
Centres on various Saturdays through the year. For further details see our Course Directory
or visit www.calat.ac.uk.
Don’t delay, enrol today!
0870 556 1630
www.calat.ac.uk
Pick up your free copy of the CALAT Course Directory available from all Croydon libraries, leisure centres,
CALAT centres and various venues across Croydon
Your Croydon Oct 2010.2.indd 1
YC10/10
23/08/2010 10:20
6 yourcommunity
£36m
November 2010 | Your Croydon
estimated gap in council’s budget for 2011/12
Tell us – we’re
With huge cutbacks in funding for local services expected this month, the council wants
YOU to tell us what next year’s priorities should be.
The budget
simulator allows
you to find
out about the
different areas
of Croydon
Council’s
services, and
how much they
cost each year.
Huge government cutbacks
in public spending mean
the council has to make big
savings – while protecting
the services that are the
most important to YOU.
That is why we are
asking local people to
identify the things that are
essential to them – by using
a simple online budget
simulator.
By logging onto the
council’s website, residents
will be able to see the
reality of the financial task
that Croydon Council has
to undertake.
The simulator will show
investment, and which
services can be scaled
back – or even stopped
altogether.
For Croydon, it is
estimated the council will
Tom Amuah,
Broad Green
Sylvia
Addison,
New
Addington
“If people have
grievances about
where their council
tax money’s
going, they can do
something about it
with this site. I’ll have
a look at it, and I’ll
tell my friends about
it. It’s always a good
thing that the council
takes account of what
residents think.”
“It’s a good idea
because it’ll give
people a say in how
the budget is spent.
I think it’ll be good
for people to take
an active part in
these things. I’ll use
it – I welcome the
opportunity to have
my opinions heard by
the council.”
need to cut its costs by
about £70m over the next
four years.
All options available
to reduce spending will
be considered and, at this
stage, nothing will be
ruled out.
In addition to the
£60m of efficiency savings
the council has already
made over recent years,
work is under way to
redesign some services
further to make them
Balancing act: council leader Mike Fisher keeps an eye on one family’s budget
more efficient.
It is important that you
make known your ideas
as to where these savings
could be made.
The budget simulator
allows you to find out
about the different areas
of Croydon Council’s
services, and how much
they cost each year.
You can then make
suggestions as to how you
would change the way in
which the council spends
money next year.
The website will give
you vital information,
such as the council’s
overall budget, the
savings targets we must
make under the coalition
government, and the
budgeted amounts spent
last year on each service.
You can increase or
cut those amounts to tell
us where you think the
money should be spent.
For example, you can
Three simple steps will allow you to tell council
chiefs how you want to see money spent.
•Step 1: Where you think the priorities should be.
•Step 2: See the consequences of those decision –
eg, if you increase spending on parks, you will be
able to see roughly what you will get for your money.
•Step 3: See the results – see the total impact your
budget has had on the borough. Increased spend in
one area will mean reducing another – and going over
budget will result in an increase in council tax.
vote for more investment
into play equipment in
parks, more to be spent on
keeping the streets clean,
or more investment into
caring for the elderly.
But you must balance
the books in order to keep
council tax down.
The results will be
sent back to the council’s
senior decision makers
before they begin setting
the budget and council tax
for next year.
Your opinions are
crucial in this process,
and we’d like your ideas
on where the council
should look to reduce its
spending in 2011/12.
Your feedback will help
to influence the council’s
approach to its financial
plan.
The simulator is
available at www.croydon.
gov.uk/youchoose
yourcommunity 7
Have your e-say at yourcroydon@croydon.gov.uk Have your say on how Croydon’s budget should be
allocated by visiting www.croydon.gov.uk/youchoose
listening
People will
realise that we
have only so
much in the
purse.
Cornelia
Hickling,
Norbury
Wayne
Taylor, South
Croydon
Amanda
Wilson,
Selsdon
“The idea is a good
one. It means people
will realise that we
have only so much in
the purse, and if you
spend the money in
one area it takes it
off elsewhere. I think
it will appeal to a
certain section of the
public, people who
are, perhaps, more
aware of the funding
issues.”
“It sounds like a good
idea, mainly because
we’ll be able to see
where the council
tax is going. Some
services probably
do get more than I’d
give, and others not
enough. It’s certainly
a step forward and
I think it’ll give us
a chance to make
Croydon more
of a community.”
“It’s good – it’ll give
us a little bit of say, it
puts some power into
the public’s hands. I’ll
have a go on it, and
so will my friends. We
get into conversations
and debates about
these sort of things
and I’m sure they’ll all
want to get involved.
We do wonder where
the council tax goes
every month.”
Council leader Mike Fisher has
called on residents to grab the
opportunity to shape council
budgets with both hands.
Niranjn
Nagrecha,
Thornton
Heath
“I think it’s good
because it gives
people a say in what
happens to their
money. I’d like to see
more spent on street
cleaning, but I don’t
know where I’d take
the money from to
keep the balance –
that’s the problem. It’s
a good idea that the
public is getting
a voice.”
Sliding scale: click and drag to say how you feel next year’s budget should balance
Council chief:
“Take this unique
opportunity”
Councillor Fisher, who has
been hitting the streets to
drive up awareness of the
consultation and show
how the simulator works,
is ultimately responsible
for all council spending.
The father-of-two,
a former civil servant
worker from Selsdon,
said: “This is a genuinely
unique opportunity for
people to have a real say
in how we spend their
money, and we only get
to make these decisions
once, so I’d urge everyone
to get involved.
“We won’t beat around
the bush. Times are going
to be tough for local
councils everywhere, and
we need to be honest with
people – some services
simply cannot continue
to be priorities if we want
to keep council tax right
down and deal with the
cuts affecting the public
sector.
“We can either be
smart and act now by
listening to what local
people want, or make a
knee-jerk decision next
year.
“I’ve done the budget
simulator myself – it
takes ten minutes, and
really opens your eyes
to some of the really
difficult decisions we
face in prioritising street
cleaning, bin collection,
trading standards, social
care and a host of other
services the council
provides.
“We have a while yet
before the council sets
its budget next year, and
all the results will be fed
back to us before we take
any spending decisions
next March.
So, by getting involved
now, the people of
Croydon can be assured
their views WILL make a
difference.”
8 yoursafety
November 2010 | Your Croydon
I’ll admit that I’m not all that happy with having to give up a day like
this, but it does make sense to offer this option, and I’m not going to
complain because I know what I did was wrong.
Bakh
Working off the pounds
Pounds sterling, that is, as offenders opt for community service instead of paying a fine.
Seven years after starting
to offer litter offenders
community service instead
of a fine, Croydon’s
groundbreaking scheme is
continuing to prove both
popular and effective.
Mark Pinnock, head of
Streetscene at the council,
said: “We see a steady
stream of people who
opt for litter picking and
graffiti removal instead of
paying the cash fine.
“Usually it’s because
people genuinely can’t
afford to pay – but some
of those we catch do feel
that this is a good way of
putting something back
into the community to
make up for their bad
behaviour.”
The borough believes
that it was the first in
the country to formally
adopt this approach back
in 2003, and, over the
years, has seen around
250 offenders each give
up five hours to pay off
their fine.
Each charge notice
that is issued carries
information about how
people can opt out of their
£80 fixed penalty.
The most recent
person to find themselves
tackling a community
service task was Bakh
Amin, an employee of
a Croydon town-centre
mobile phone shop.
Bakh had been caught
leaving rubbish from the
business out on the street
without having a trade
waste agreement to have
it properly removed. His
punishment involved
painting over graffiti.
“I’ll admit that I’m
not all that happy with
having to give up a day
like this,” said Bakh, “but
it does make sense to offer
this option, and I’m not
going to complain because
I know what I did was
wrong.
“The scheme gives
out a really powerful
message,” concluded
Mark, “offenders are
made to think about what
they’ve done, and I think
it’s unlikely that any of
them will do the same
thing again.”
Serving the community: Bakh says he has learnt his lesson
Don’t get burnt on the 5th
Fireworks bought on the cheap can carry a high cost
There’s
absolutely no
enjoyment
in suffering
burns and
disfigurement.
With family finances still
being stretched as bills
and costs spiral everupward, the impending
fireworks season is a
pressure many households
could do without.
Under those
circumstances, handing
over cash to the illicit
trader selling cheap
fireworks from the back of
a van might appear to be
the less costly alternative
to going to a licensed
seller.
On the face of it,
the cut-price fireworks
may seem a good deal, a
bargain, an opportunity
not to miss –
but are they?
Those fireworks could
well be a menace to
the community.
The regulations
regarding the sale and
storage of fireworks have
been around for a while
now, but white-van man
offering unregulated
fireworks to anyone
who wishes to buy them
undermines the rules and
takes away the public’s
protection.
Fireworks designed
to be let off in strictly
prescribed exclusion zones
find their way to small
back gardens, local greens
and alleyways.
The potential for
serious, possibly fatal,
injuries is multiplied,
and it could well be an
innocent passer-by
or a child that suffers.
Monitoring and
controlling the sale of
fireworks, the council’s
trading standards
officers often appear to
be the bad guys in this
matter, seemingly taking
away people’s fun and
enjoyment.
Trading standards
chief Alan Phillips said:
“There’s no absolutely no
enjoyment in suffering
burns and disfigurement.
“It may be tempting
but it simply isn’t worth
the risk of buying
fireworks from an
unlicensed trader because
they are a few pounds
cheaper than going to a
registered outlet.”
Alan’s team ensures
correct storage by licensed
retailers; that only
fireworks which meet set
standards in production,
performance and
instruction are sold; and
that the law on underage
sales is upheld.
The law prohibits the
sale of fireworks from
the back of a van, as the
person responsible is
unlikely to be traceable
when things go wrong, as
they often do.
If you know or have
information regarding
the sale of fireworks from
a vehicle or an illegal
source, the council’s
trading standards
department would like to
hear about it.
Information can be sent
to trading.standards@
croydon.gov.uk
Alternatively, you can call
020 8407 1310.
yoursafety 9
Have your e-say at yourcroydon@croydon.gov.uk
Operation Refresh will place additional police officers in
Thornton Heath, Bensham Manor, Broad Green, West
Thornton and Selhurst.
Refreshing the fight
against crime
New joint operation in north of borough aims to mirror the success of earlier
town-centre anti-crime initiative.
Extra police and increased
resources will be visible on
the streets as a major anticrime initiative swings
into action in the north of
the borough.
Run in partnership by
the council and police,
Operation Refresh will
place additional police
officers in Thornton
Heath, Bensham Manor,
Broad Green, West
Thornton and Selhurst.
It is felt that a major
reason for the perception
of increased levels of
crime in the area is the
high number of people
living in, and travelling
through, an area so
well served by busy
shopping areas and a
number of good transport
networks, including the
recently opened London
Overground line running
into West Croydon station.
This has resulted
in residents being the
victims, rather than the
offenders.
The new scheme
follows the success of
Operation Safe for All,
which enjoyed great
success targeting violent
crime in the centre of
Croydon.
In addition to an
increase in the number of
visible patrols, Operation
Refresh will see the setting
up of a dedicated team
comprising an inspector,
five sergeants and 18
constables.
And it will bring
together the council,
police, other partners
and, most importantly,
the local community
– all working to bring
about a real reduction in
incidences of crime and
antisocial behaviour in the
targeted wards.
Councillor Steve
Knife arch: one of the tools used in Operation Refresh
O’Connell, cabinet
member for community
safety, said: “While figures
in these areas are slightly
up, it’s true to say that
people have an unrealistic
fear of crime.
“The perception often
outweighs the actuality.
“I’m confident that,
just as Operation Safe for
All did in the town centre,
Refresh will go a long way
to putting people’s minds
at rest and offer them firm
reassurance as regards
their personal safety.”
Among the tactics
being employed under
the scheme is the use of
mobile metal-detecting
arches.
The highly
transportable arches
are quick and easy to
assemble, making them
suitable for use at short
notice at any venue where
there is the possibility
of knives or other metal
implements being carried.
Chief Inspector Steve
Lawrie, of Croydon
police said: “We’ve used
the arches at a number
of locations around the
borough in the past.
“They’ve proved a
remarkably useful tool
in the fight against knife
crime and are a great
deterrent to anybody
thinking about going out
and about armed with a
weapon.”
Chief Superintendent
Adrian Roberts, Croydon’s
borough commander, has
gone on record as saying:
“We’ll be directing more
of our resources to target
those involved in crime
and antisocial behaviour,
and we’ll be looking to get
additional police resources
from outside the borough
to help us.
“A lot of these tactics
will be similar to those
that have been tried
and tested in Operation
Safe for All – basically,
anything that’ll help us
to make these wards feel
safer for those who live,
visit or work there.”
Met matters
Return of the
dark nights
The clocks have turned
back, and we are now well
into autumn. With the
nights drawing in, I would
like to remind people of
personal safety and repeat
the message to residents
about keeping their homes
secure.
Lock your windows
and doors and don’t
tempt burglars by leaving
valuables visible through
doors, windows and letter
boxes.
At this time of year,
people are travelling
to work and school in
the dark. This can lead
to a rise in road traffic
accidents. I would like
everyone to be careful
when driving and walking
on the streets.
November sees bonfire
night and Diwali taking
place, and fireworks
are a big part of the
celebrations. These events
are enjoyed safely by most
residents but can be spoilt
by a few.
Remember, you have
to be 18 years old to
buy fireworks, and using
them in an unsafe or
intimidating way is an
offence. Our advice is
always take care, follow
the instructions and,
where possible, attend an
organised event.
We told you about
the launch of Operation
Refresh in last month’s
Your Croydon. This is still
a top priority for us, and
together with Croydon
Council, we will continue
this well in to next year.
Residents and
businesses in the areas of
Bensham Manor, Broad
Green, Selhurst, Thornton
Heath and West Thornton
have asked us to increase
our visibility and we are
responding to that.
We know that crime,
and fear of crime, are
of concern to people,
and we can really have
an impact by working
with the council and
other services. This also
gives us flexibility with
our resources, while
continuing business as
usual in the rest of the
borough.
This activity will
combine work to prevent
people from committing
antisocial behaviour and
crime, while punishing
those who commit
offences. I will continue to
update you on Operation
Refresh.
It is important we
continue to hear about
what is going on in your
area and any concerns
you may have. To this
end, we are continuing
the public question time
events, giving you an
opportunity to quiz myself
and Councillor Steve
O’Connell on crime, fear
of crime and antisocial
behaviour.
The next opportunity
for you to do this, will be
on 16 November, from
7pm to 8.30pm, at the
Woodside Baptist Church,
in Spring Lane.
For more information
on how we are making
Croydon a safer place to
live, work and visit, go to
www.croydon.gov.uk/
safercroydon
Ch Supt
Adrian Roberts
Croydon borough commander
Get in touch
What do you think about the crime blitz?
Send an email to yourcroydon@croydon.gov.uk
10 yourspace
£7m
November 2010 | Your Croydon
to be spent over the next year on the transformation of a
former secondary school to a new primary school.
New primary school
Rising from the site of the former Selhurst School for Boys, the new Crescent Primary School
will provide great new facilities for local children.
“This is a chance
for parents
to have a say
in how their
school will grow
and develop
right from the
outset. I want
every parent
to be involved
in their child’s
education.
Jane Fairbourn
Headteacher
This year, parents from
Selhurst have more choice
in where to send their
children to school with the
opening of a new councilrun school, the Crescent
Primary School on the site
of the old Selhurst School
for Boys.
Over the next year
£7m will be spent
completely refurbishing
the inside of the building
and equipping it with the
latest technology, while
the attractive Edwardian
façade of the building will
be retained.
Pupils will also have
the use of a multi-use
games area, a playing field
and an AstroTurf pitch,
and the local community
will be able to make use
of the school’s hall for
events and activities.
For the newlyappointed headteacher
of the school, Jane
Fairbourn, the next few
years will be an exciting
time.
This is not the first
time that Mrs Fairbourn
has started a school from
scratch. In Epsom she was
the founding headteacher
of Southfield Park Primary
School, a school that was
rated outstanding in its
last Ofsted inspection,
while before that she was
one of the first teachers
appointed to a brand new
infant school in Crawley.
She said of the new
primary school: “This is a
chance for parents to have
a say in how their school
will grow and develop
right from the outset. I
want every parent to be
involved in their child’s
education and I will work
closely with parents to
make sure that this is the
case.”
With many years
teaching experience
behind her, Mrs Fairbourn
also has lots of ideas
on the kind of learning
environment she wants to
create at the school.
“I want the pupils of
the school to have fun
and to love coming here,
and I want us to embrace
creative and innovative
teaching methods so that
every child is challenged
– I want to make sure
that they have learnt
something every day
when they go home,” she
added.
The Crescent Primary
School is now accepting
applications from parents
of children due to start
school in September 2011
when it will admit 3 forms
of reception class children.
If you would like to
know more about the
school, please email
enquiries@thecrescent
primaryschool.co.uk or
call 020 3468 8742.
Students show homely side
Competition gives young artists channce to have work permanently displayed.
Local art students are
being given the chance to
emulate one of Britain’s
most famous sculptors
by designing a piece for
prominent display in a
Purley Way store.
Croydon College’s
department of art, design
and media has joined forces
with John Lewis at home
to produce a piece of work
by a local up-and-coming
artist.
The competition is open
to second- and third-year
fine art, graphic design and
photography degree-course
students, as well as recent
graduates.
Store manager Glynis
Gunning-Stevenson said:
“Many customers will be
familiar with the Barbara
Hepworth sculpture Winged
Figure over the door of our
Oxford Street branch.
“We’ve set the students
at Croydon College
a challenge to create
something that will be
displayed in our shop.”
The students have
been asked to create a
piece of artwork on the
theme of “home”, and they
can choose the medium
they want to use for their
submission, including:
screen printing, etching,
photography, painting,
digital imagery and, of
Don’t forget that if your child was three
years old between 1 September 2009
and 31 August 2010 you need to apply
for a primary school place by 15 January
2011. To find out about applying for
school in Croydon please visit www.
croydon choiceadvice.co.uk or call
the Croydon Choice Adviser on
020 8688 6383.
course, textile design.
The winning entry, due
to be announced as Your
Croydon went to press, will
be displayed at the front of
the shop, and the winner
will receive £250 of John
Lewis vouchers.
Chrissie Morrison,
higher education fine art
lecturer at Croydon College
said: “We’re thrilled to be
working with the John
Lewis at home team on this
exciting project.
“This is an excellent
opportunity for the
students to showcase their
work in a public space and
communicate to a wider
audience.”
Caring Croydon
Film crews from
Littlewoods.com and the
Pride of Britain awards
were in Croydon recently
to candidly film local
people doing what they
do best – being really nice
to each other.
Hidden away in a
nondescript workman’s
tent and loitering on
corners with small but
powerful cameras, the
team was on the lookout
for those random little
acts of kindness that
make such a difference
to people’s lives – like
getting a warm smile and
a bunch of flowers from a
complete stranger!
The film clips will appear
when the awards are
screened on ITV1 on 10
November – and upwards
of seven million people
will get to see just how
considerate Croydon
people really are.
yourspace 11
Have your e-say at yourcroydon@croydon.gov.uk
676
empty homes in Croydon – reduced from a figure of almost 6,000 in 1999.
UKYP? You bet!
Tension is beginning to mount as young people looking to represent their
peers and influence local decisions gear up for the UK Youth Parliament
vote due to take place in February.
The build-up to the next
Parliamentary elections
is under way, with
nominations already being
accepted.
But, before you check
the calendar because it
seems only six months
since you last went to the
polls, it should perhaps
be pointed out that the
elections, next February,
are for the UK Youth
Parliament.
UKYP is a national
charity that gives young
people aged from 11 to 18
a voice through working
in partnership with local
authorities.
When elected, the
young people get access
to leading local politicians
and business people,
giving them a unique
opportunity to express the
wishes and opinions of
people in their age group.
These will be the fourth
boroughwide UK Youth
Parliament elections in
Croydon, and they promise
to be really exciting.
During their year
in office, the current
Members of Youth
Parliament – Charlotte and
Colm – and their deputies
– Joanna and Montel –
have worked on a number
of campaigns, each of
which directly affects
people of their own age.
The campaigns have
included:
•Bridge the Gap –
looking at improving
the relationship
between young people
and the police;
•Believe in Health,
Believe in Yourself –
raising awareness of
mental health Issues
for young people; and
•Moving Forward –
aimed at improving
public transport in
Croydon.
Having stood for
election to give young
people a voice, each says
that is the very reason why
the importance of UKYP
to the concerns of young
people should not be
underestimated..
Charlotte Brown, 16,
said: “I’ve always felt that
young people should have
more control over the
things that affect them,
such as their education
and leisure activities.
Charlotte: young people
should have more control
“UKYP enables us to
express our opinions,
which is an important part
of improving life for young
people’
They all feel that
their self-confidence
has been boosted and
that they have gained
valuable skills thanks to
their involvement – skills
including public speaking,
debating and team work.
Montel Peck, 14, said:
“What I`ve enjoyed most
is the residentials, meeting
new people, having fun
and debating – particularly
debating in the House of
Commons.
“Thanks to UKYP I was
given that opportunity –
not many people of my age
can say that.”
Colm Appleby Kenny,
14 (pictured above),
agreed: “I`ve learned
more skills and met lots of
people.
“One of my best
achievements is getting
555 names on the Moving
Forward campaign petition
to reduce overcrowding on
Croydon buses.”
Anybody who
would like to help
swell that number
can do so by signing
Colm’s survey at www.
ipetitions.com/petition/
movingforwardcroydon/
Youngsters will be
voting for two Members of
Youth Parliament and two
deputies, all of whom will
represent young people in
Croydon.
The nomination process
runs until December.
Candidates will begin
canvassing for votes in the
new year, visiting schools
and youth clubs to get
their message across, and
to encourage voting.
Polling stations will be
set up in schools between
7 and 16 February, with
the count and results
ceremony scheduled for
18 February.
What I`ve
enjoyed most is
the residentials,
meeting new
people, having
fun and debating
Montel Peck
Empty homes team getting results
Scheme enjoys success in reducing number of empty properties across Croydon to increase housing numbers.
There are 676 empty
privately-owned properties
in the borough, but a
council team is helping to
bring them back into use.
A boroughwide audit
has been completed and
found all the homes
considered as “long-term”
empty properties.
Although it appears
to be a large number,
it represents less than
0.5% of the private sector
housing stock and is
well below the national
average.
In 1999, when the
council won the empty
property strategy of the
year award from the
Empty Homes Agency,
there were 5,800 empty
homes in Croydon.
Empty property officers
from the council are
now reviewing them and
investigating a number of
different ways to get them
back into use.
One example is a social
enterprise scheme that
refurbishes properties to
a high standard, while
another developer is able
to refurbish homes without
the need for the owner to
raise finance to fund the
works.
Empty property
officers are also working
closely with the housing
enforcement team to
ensure that a number of
problem properties are
dealt with.
A few uncooperative
owners will be asked to
take action.
There have been some
recent successes in this
area, notably at 49 to 79
Wellesley Road, where
the sale of these housing
association properties
was completed by
auction in June. All are
now at various stages of
refurbishment and will
shortly be returned to full
occupation.
Another property has
recently been inspected
by Rentokil, with empty
property officers, with a
view to dealing with an
infestation of pigeons, rats
and fleas, and will shortly
be sold to a local builder
as soon as probate is
obtained.
The property has been
secured and had warning
signs attached while
awaiting the sale to be
completed.
12 specialfeature
November 2010 | Your Croydon
3,000
businesses storing, handling and cooking
food across the borough.
Food for
This month two local restaurant owners face the threat of being banned from running a food business. John Bownas
reports on the people who work to protect diners from the dirty and downright dangerous.
Last year
there were
six immediate
closures
to protect
customers,
and four cases
that ended
with successful
prosecutions.
The owners of the Safi Tix
buffet restaurant in West
Croydon got front-page
coverage in the local press
when the pair pleaded
guilty to numerous charges
of failing to maintain
proper hygiene standards.
Fortunately, the
revolting pictures of rotting
rodents and filthy kitchens
at their eaterie are far from
commonplace on Croydon.
That is largely thanks
to the diligent work of the
council’s food safety team
– whose investigations into
the conditions at the Safi
Tix restaurant led to its
owners facing the current
court action.
The team of eight is
responsible for inspecting
and assessing the standard
of food storage, handling
and cooking at nearly
3,000 businesses across
Croydon – the largest
number in any south
London borough.
In a typical year
they handle some 600
complaints and as well as
investigating these, will
also carry out the same
number of programmed
food inspections.
Last year these resulted
in six immediate closures
to protect customers, and
there were four cases that
ended with successful
prosecutions.
Until recently the team
handed out ‘scores on the
doors’ star awards to show
customers how well they
rated each establishment.
Brian Griffiths is the
head of the team and has
worked in Croydon for
31 years. Your Croydon
spent some time with him,
exploring what goes on
behind the scenes – but
first we wanted to know
what is happening to the
old scores on the doors
scheme.
“Basically we realised
that the star ratings used
on the old scheme were
too close to the hotel
rating system – people
were getting confused.
And this wasn’t helped
because the phrase ‘scores
on the doors’ doesn’t really
tell people what the rating
is all about.”
What Croydon is now
launching is the start of
a new national scheme –
simply called ‘Foodsafe.’
This is considered a lot
more of a user-friendly
name because it does what
it says on the tin, so to
speak.
“It’s also very businessfriendly,” continued Brian.
“For instance, if someone
gets a low score then they
can ask us to revisit after
three months so that we
can check to see if they
have improved. We always
leave people with plenty
of advice, and one of
our main goals is to see
specialfeature
November 2010 | Your Croydon
13
We’re always looking for ways to help businesses improve. Recently we set up a healthy catering
scheme and ran seminars and workshops to try and encourage people to make some small changes
to their menus to make them healthier – just simple things like cutting out a bit of the fat, sugar or salt.
Brian Griffiths
thought
standards getting better.
Enforcement really has to
be a last resort.
“This was always a
feature of scores on the
doors – so in that sense
we are continuing with a
successful part of the old
scheme.”
Brian explained that
he could point to loads of
businesses that improved
enormously from one
inspection to the next.
“Little Bay in Selsdon
Road only got a couple
of stars when we first
checked them out, but
by the next time round
they had shot up to five
stars – and that’s probably
reflected in how well they
are trading now.”
The team’s day-to-day
work means they spend
a lot of time working
alongside food businesses
– as Brian puts it, “we’re
definitely not just there to
come down on them like a
tonne of bricks.
“We’re always
looking for ways to help
businesses improve.
Recently we set up a
healthy catering scheme
and ran seminars and
workshops to try and
encourage people to make
some small changes to
their menus to make them
healthier – just simple
things like cutting out a bit
of the fat, sugar or salt.”
But, of course, there
are times – such as the
case of Safi Tix Noodle Bar
– when enforcement is the
only option.
“We do target places
that regularly fail to stick
to the basic hygiene rules,”
explains Brian, “if we
find that standards have
dropped then we serve
hygiene improvement
notices and follow these
up later on to ensure the
owners have complied
with what we have asked
for.”
Despite the downturn
in the economy, Brian’s
team is still incredibly
busy. “A lot of firms are
diversifying, and some
shops are now adding
food products to what
they have normally sold.
We’re also seeing a lot
of new home catering
firms setting up and we’re
looking at the way that
child-minders store and
prepare food.”
Food safety staff also
get called into action
when there are major food
scares or outbreaks of
infectious diseases.
They were heavily
involved in the e-coli
outbreak at Godstone
Farm in Surrey last year,
one of Britain’s worst
affecting almost 100
people.
Brian added: “There
were actually a few cases
diagnosed early on in
Croydon, and that helped
the investigation to
pinpoint the source of the
problem.
“There have also been
some food virus outbreaks
in local hotels over the
past 18 months – and
we worked very closely
with the Food Standards
Agency a while back when
they identified a batch of
peanut butter from Ghana
that was tainted with
aflotoxin – a carcinogenic
mould that can cause liver
cancer.
“There was a local
firm who had been
responsible for importing
this product, so there was
a concentration of it in
local shops and we had to
do the rounds to get it off
the shelves as quickly as
possible.”
Other food products
come in for scrutiny from
time to time as the team
explores a wide range of
different issues.
There is always
something new to be
investigated concludes
Brian: “It might be tuna
one month, where we
check for mercury or
cadmium contamination
– or the next we might
be testing alcohol in
restaurants, looking out
for fake brands.”
If you have a concern
about food safety in a
local Croydon restaurant
or shop then the easiest
way to report the
problem is to text the
word FOOD followed by
a brief description of the
complaint to 60660, the
council’s text hotline.
Get in touch
How do you rate
Croydon’s restaurants?
Send an email to
yourcroydon@
croydon.gov.uk
14 yourcroydonpromotion
November 2010 | Your Croydon
Basil gives Croydon a
booming Christmas
CBBC star Basil Brush will
be making sure Croydon’s
Christmas starts with a
“boom boom” when he
teams up with Hollyoaks star
Gemma Bissix to switch on
the town’s Christmas lights.
The foxy pair, who
will be starring together
in Cinderella at Fairfield,
promise to bring a touch
of magic to Croydon’s
Christmas opening event,
which will take place in
North End on Thursday, 18
November.
Acts will be playing
on stage from lunchtime
onward, with a host of fun
events leading up to the big
6pm switch-on of the new
Christmas lights display.
A spectacular, rainbow
colour scheme of different
festival themes will be
simultaneously switched on
throughout the town centre
and surrounding roads.
There will also be one very
special light unveiled – a
unique design by a Croydon
primary schoolchild, chosen
from hundreds of entries
from across the borough.
The switch-on will kick
off Croydon’s Christmas
Festival, which will see
WIN a fantastic Croydon Christmas day
out for your family with Your Croydon
Your Croydon has an exclusive competition to offer readers – the chance to win a
Family Ticket* to Fairfield’s star-studded pantomime Cinderella on the evening of
Monday, 6 December, plus a £40 Whitgift Centre shopping card.
You can give your family this first-rate day out in Croydon this Christmas by telling
us the name of the former Hollyoaks star who will be switching-on the town’s new
lighting display on 18 November.
Just fill in the coupon below and post it to: Your Croydon Christmas competition,
c/o White Label Consultants, 6th floor, Carolyn House, 22-26 Dingwall Road,
Croydon CR0 9XF to arrive no later than Friday, 12 November.
The winner will be the first correct answer randomly selected after the closing date.
Competition rules apply (see below) and the editor’s decision is final.
Name:
Address:
a host of events taking
place throughout the
festive period, including
a giant ferris wheel and
temporary ice rink on the
Fairfield forecourt for an
extravaganza weekend from
Friday, 26 November to
Sunday, 28.
Meanwhile, Santa will
move into his grotto in
the Whitgift Centre on 16
November, while at 5pm
on Saturday, 13 November,
Allders will be switching on
its own Christmas lights.
The Christmas lighting
display, the switch-on event
and Christmas Festival,
have been arranged by
Croydon Bid, the company
representing, and funded by,
the town centre’s businesses.
Lisa McCance, interim
Bid manager, said: “Croydon
Bid has worked really hard
this year to make sure that
the town gets a fantastic
Christmas by investing in
a spectacular and more
sustainable lighting scheme,
which will enhance our
town centre.”
Don’t forget to drop into
the Bid-funded Croydon
Visitor Centre, by East
Croydon station, to find out
what’s happening across the
borough during the festival
season.
You can also keep up
to date by visiting www.
croydonchristmas
festival.com
Contact telephone number (daytime):
Email:
Competition answer:
*Family ticket comprises four tickets (two adults, two children) and will need to be
used for Fairfield’s evening performance of Cinderella on Monday, 6 December.
Competition rules
i. In our competitions, we ask for your full name and address in order to send you your prize if you happen to be the
lucky winner. Only Croydon Bid and companies working for Croydon Bid will have access to your personal details and
will never pass them to anybody else.
ii. You must provide us with the required details if you wish to enter this competition. Only one entry per person.
iii. Entries must be submitted using an original coupon and sent to the correct postal address. Unless otherwise stated,
competitions are only open to UK residents over the age of 16.
iv. The competition winner(s) will be contacted personally. In the event of there being no reply from the phone number or
address supplied, the Bid reserves the right to offer the prize(s) to a runner-up or withhold it for use in another competition.
v. Prizes must be taken as stated and cannot be deferred. There will be no cash alternatives.
vi. The Bid does not accept any responsibility for late or lost entries. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.
vii. Entrants must comply with all rules to be eligible for the prizes. Ineligible entries or entries made fraudulently will be
automatically disqualified.
viii. This competition is not open to employees or contractors of the Bid or any person directly or indirectly involved in
the organisation or running of the competition, or their direct family members.
ix. The editor’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
How to keep your home
fit for your future.
With Houseproud, the home
improvement scheme for older
homeowners.
If you’re receiving income-related or disability
benefit and are age 60 or over, Croydon’s
Houseproud scheme can help. They can arrange
flexible loans from £3000 at affordable rates for
home improvements, repairs and adaptations.
No set-up costs. No fear of negative equity or
repossession. They even help you plan the work
and get it done. Houseproud is the worry-free way
to look after your home so that it can look after you.
Phone free or return the freepost coupon
for more details.
Call 0800 783 7569 free
www.houseproud.org.uk
Name
Address
Post code
Tel
Tick one of the following:
I/We are in receipt of an income-related or
disability benefit.
I/We do not know and would like Houseproud
to check eligibility for an income-related or
disability benefit.
Return this free (no stamp needed) to:
Elderly Accommodation Counsel (HP), FREEPOST
LON15755, London SE1 7YZ.
Please send me a free
Houseproud DVD along with
an information pack.
CROY4 11/10
yourcommunity 15
Have your e-say at yourcroydon@croydon.gov.uk
The Alps was a wonderful experience. I feel this to be an exceptional
achievement for myself, as I’m absolutely terrified of heights.
Joshua, 18
Croydon’s young going for gold
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is won by about 350 young people each year – Claire Richards pulled on her
walking boots to learn more.
Contributing to their
community, learning new
skills, planning for an
expedition – these are
just some of the things
young people in Croydon
are doing as they work
toward winning the Duke
of Edinburgh’s Award.
Doing all the work in
their spare time, those
taking part are aged
between 11 and 25 and, in
addition to boosting their
confidence and fitness
levels, their tasks often
benefit others.
Programmes are tailor
made to reflect individual’s
abilities and interests, and
are a real adventure from
beginning to end.
In Croydon, the scheme
is closely linked with
the Croydon Adventure
Project, giving young
people the chance to
try their hand at many
new activities including
kayaking, canoeing, rock
DofE: a chance to try something new
climbing, hill walking and
orienteering.
Amy, 17, has found
the experience invaluable:
“This year has been a great
year for me.
“I’ve had some of the
best times of my life at D
of E and this experience
will stay with me for a
long time.”
Young people going for
a gold award also have the
chance to take part in a
residential activity, which
this year took place in the
French Alps.
Joshua, 18, said of
the trip: “The Alps was a
wonderful experience and
I gained many skills there;
one of which was rockclimbing and climbing the
mountain face – the Via
Ferrata.
“I feel this to be an
exceptional achievement
for myself, as I’m
absolutely terrified of
heights.”
Founded in 1956,
the Duke of Edinburgh’s
Awards have been an
important part of many
young people’s lives,
providing them with a
sense of responsibility
Hitting the heights: Duke of Edinburgh candidates catch their breath
and the ability to make
decisions.
Since the scheme’s
foundation, almost 1.9
million awards have been
handed out, with around
350 young people from
Croydon receiving awards
annually.
There are three levels
of award; gold, silver and
bronze, and the Croydon
Open Award Centre is
enrolling young people at
all levels now.
The centre is open to
all young people aged 14
to 25 who live, work or
study in Croydon.
For more information,
contact the Croydon
Open Award Centre on
020 8684 2189 or email
I’ve had
some of the
best times of
my life at
D of E
CAPYP@croydon.gov.uk
Young musicians find the right note
Council and London Mozart Players unite to help young instrumentalists feel part of the world of music.
Budding young musicians
are being given the
chance to gain valuable
experience by playing
with musicians from one
of the country’s leading
ensembles.
The council is offering
the youngsters a unique
opportunity to attend
a series of creative
workshops and master
classes given by the
London Mozart Players
(LMP).
Funded by the Mayor
of London’s Music
Education Fund, the
scheme aims to give
young Londoners from
diverse social backgrounds
at different levels of
learning, the chance to
develop their skills on a
musical instrument, play
in a group with other
students, and work and
perform with some of the
UK’s finest professional
musicians.
Graeme Smith, head
of Croydon Music and
Arts, said: “Music services
are where the world of
education meets the world
of music.
“This funding will
help us to draw upon
the expertise of our local
professional orchestra
to enable our young
musicians to feel part of
the world of music; an
experience which will be
of great benefit to their
education.”
Up to 2,200 young
people, aged from eight to
18, will benefit from the
scheme.
They will attend LMP
open rehearsals and
free performances at
Fairfield, and take part in
master classes, join youth
orchestra rehearsals with
LMP players, and a series
of creative workshops for
beginner and intermediate
players in schools and
music service centres.
The project will
culminate with a
performance of a new
piece devised and
performed by the young
people with LMP players
and composers.
16 yourcommunity
November 2010 | Your Croydon
I wanted a job with a career structure, and here I can see there’s plenty of training and a good
opportunity to move up. “And it’s good to meet people and help them when I can.
Nathanial Francis
Walking the
parking beat
The popular perception may be that a parking warden’s day is all about issuing tickets and arranging tow-aways.
John Bownas joined a veteran of the parking beat to learn what really happens.
Len Delacroix has been a
parking warden for almost
nine years – although
these days his job title is
civil enforcement officer.
Alongside him today is
Nathanial Francis – who
started in the job only this
week.
Nathanial, who has
lived in Croydon for about
20 years, was drawn to
his new role for several
reasons.
“I wanted a job with a
career structure,” he said,
“and here I can see there’s
plenty of training and a
good opportunity to move
up.
“And it’s good to meet
people and help them
when I can.”
Today the sun is out,
but when the weather’s
wet and there are angry
motorists to deal with, we
wonder if this might take
the shine off.
“I know I’ll have to
take the rough with the
smooth,” he admits, “but I
see this job as being 80%
about customer service –
and that should more than
make up for the bad days,
just knowing that I’m
being useful.”
Len’s experiences do
sometimes echo the view
of parking enforcement
being a tough job.
“I certainly have had
a few times when things
have got hairy”, he said.
“I’ve had beer poured
over me outside a pub
and been threatened with
having my legs broken –
but given how long I’ve
been in the job that has
probably been the worst
of it.
“You just have to stay
calm. Most drivers who
get angry are just trying
to wind us up to get us to
say the wrong thing.”
Our first illegally
parked car today showed
just why the council can’t
let parking be a free-forall.
At the back of the
town hall a dustcart
couldn’t get past because
a car had parked in a bay
that was closed because of
adjacent demolition work.
The large yellow “bay
Learning the ropes: old hand Len Delacroix passes on his years of experience to Nathaniel Francis, just started in the job
closed” sign and the fact
that no room was left for
other motorists to get past
should have been enough
clues not to park here.
“It’s cases like this,”
Len told Nathanial,
“where we have to radio
in for a lorry to move the
car off to the pound.
“People still talk about
us clamping, but we
don’t. What’s the point
in stopping a car from
yourcommunity 17
Have your e-say at yourcroydon@croydon.gov.uk
We only issue a couple more tickets on this particular beat. These are to people who have overstayed the
time they have paid for or are parked without displaying a ticket or a blue disabled parking badge.
I saw a few
friends today
while we were
out and they all
think it’s great
I’m doing
this.
Nathanial Francis
moving when the whole
point is to keep spaces
turning over?”
We only issue a couple
more tickets on this
particular beat. These
are to people who have
overstayed the time
they have paid for or are
parked without displaying
a ticket or a blue disabled
parking badge.
Len is careful to be
that you’ve checked all the
windows for a ticket or
badge.”
One of the ticketed
cars has nothing in any
of its windows, but Len
points out that tucked in
the driver’s door pocket is
something that might be a
blue badge.
After printing off a
penalty charge notice he
tries to get a picture of
“Most drivers who get angry
are just trying to wind us up to get
us to say the wrong thing.”
thorough when making
records of each ticket he
issues.
“A lot of people appeal
against fines – that’s why
we take plenty of photos
of the car from all angles.
“You want to be able
to show where it’s parked
and also be able to prove
the inside of the car and
makes notes in his book
to tell the processing team
what he has seen.
“The back-office people
listen to appeals and
match up what people
say with what I’ve noted
today,” he tells Nathanial.
“It’s really important
to get all of this down
immediately so you can’t
be accused of not being
able to remember an
important detail.”
We quickly lost count
of the number of people
who asked for advice on
where they could park or
wanted directions around
town.
None of this gets
formally logged or
recorded, but if this is
a typical day it clearly
makes up a big part of the
job.
They’re the good
points; when asked what
he considers the toughest
part of the job, he says:
“It’s probably the number
of times that I see people
parking using blue
disabled badges when I
have a strong suspicion
they shouldn’t be.
“We know that
people abuse the system,
but even when you see
someone carrying heavy
shopping bags without
trouble and they get into
a car that’s been parked
using a blue badge it’s
very hard to challenge
them because some
disabilities may not be
immediately obvious.
“That’s really
frustrating,” he says,
“but we do have a team
of officers and police
clamping down on anyone
breaking the law like this.”
And what about those
“targets” that people
sometimes accuse the
council of setting for the
number of tickets that he
“has” to issue?
“That’s a complete
myth,” laughs Len. “I have
days when I don’t give
out any at all – although
sometimes everyone seems
to be breaking the rules.
“Over time, it all
usually averages out, but
nobody’s breathing down
my neck if I’m out for a
few days and don’t issue
many tickets.”
How does Nathanial
feel after his first day on
the beat?
“I’m looking forward
to being out on my own,”
he grins.
“I was nervous about
the number of people I
know around here and
what they might think
about me doing this work.
“But I saw a few
friends today while we
were out and they all
think it’s great I’m
doing this.”
Get in touch
Has one of our
wardens helped you?
Send an email to
yourcroydon@croydon.
gov.uk
18 yourhealth
39
November 2010 | Your Croydon
pharmacies in Croydon when the NHS was established
in 1948 – and prescriptions cost one shilling.
100 years of perfect health
Often taken for granted, the local chemist offers a lot more than you may have realised.
Pharmacy was at the front
line of health care long
before the birth of the NHS.
Anybody who followed
the recent TV series
Victorian Pharmacy
will appreciate what
great experimenters
and innovators early
pharmacists were.
This year one of
our local community
pharmacies is celebrating
its centenary.
Fishers Chemist was
established by George
Fisher in 1910, and
continues to serve the local
community in
South Norwood.
A century ago, the
shops and services looked
very different to their
modern counterparts.
Records show that,
when the NHS was
established in 1948, there
were 39 pharmacies
in Croydon and NHS
prescriptions cost just one
shilling – 5p in new money.
Happily coinciding with
Fishers’ centenary, 8 to 14
November is national “Ask
Your Pharmacist Week”,
Then and now: the changing face of Fishers, in South Norwood
promoting pharmacies
as frontline providers of
health care.
CJ Patel, chairman of
Croydon Local Pharmacy
Committee, said: “We’ll be
celebrating the unique role
pharmacy plays at the heart
of communities.
“We’re often the first
port of call when people
feel unwell. As well as
dispensing medicines,
we offer a wide range of
services.”
For certain minor
conditions there is no
need to go to your GP for
treatment. Pharmacy First
is a scheme that helps
provide quicker access to
treatments. Ask at your
local pharmacy for more
details.
Good things are
happening in community
pharmacy but there is no
room for complacency.
NHS Croydon is
running a review of services
that will inform what
pharmacy services will look
like in the future.
A public consultation
is taking place during
December and January,
and the findings will be
published later in the
new year.
For further information,
or to get involved, visit
www.croydon.nhs.uk/PNA
or call 020 8274 6223 on
weekdays between 9am
and noon.
Community pharmacy
has progressed almost
beyond recognition over
the past 60 years.
The days of miraculous
cure-all pills, opiates for the
melancholies, and beauty
products laced with arsenic
are gone.
To learn more about the
history of pharmacy, visit
the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society museum web site at
www.rpsgb.org.uk/
informationresources/
museum/
In addition to
private help and advice,
pharmacies offer a
range of NHS services,
including:
• advice on quitting
smoking;
• weight management;
• sexual health services;
• advice and help on
medicines; and minor
ailments treatment –
Pharmacy First.
Check with your local
pharmacy to see which
NHS services it provides.
Beating the winter blues
Get in shape for Christmas, and greet the new year in the best of health.
If winter lethargy has crept into your bones, and you are keen
to feel fit and spry for the Christmas festivities, Croydon’s active
lifestyles team could have the answer.
Join the new physical activity programme and you will find
yourself exercising with people of similar fitness levels to you –
and soon reaping the benefits.
The programme has many different activities on offer with a
wide range of classes to suit all abilities.
Activities range from aerobics to African dance, Pilates to
badminton, and Aquacise to an active and upright class for the
over 65s – and more.
With venues and times available throughout the week,
anybody should be able to find a class to fit around their schedule.
Why not try body balance – a combination of t’ai chi, yoga
and Pilates, leaving you feeling calm – or work out to music,
exercising the lower body with the legs, bums and tums class.
Yoga Kisson, 60 from Croydon, attends the line dancing
course at the Unitarian Church, in central Croydon, every
Thursday lunch time.
Yoga has always wanted to join a class and, since attending,
has never looked back.
She said: “Not only do I feel great, but by regularly going to
the classes, I’ve actually lost weight.
“The teachers are fantastic and very patient as it’s a mixed
ability class. They give you so much encouragement it makes
you want to go back every week”
Exercising for 30 minutes on most days of the week can help
to reduce stress levels, and reduce the risk of developing type 2
diabetes, certain cancers and osteoporosis.
It can also improve energy and increase fitness levels, help
to maintain weight and aid weight loss – just in time for the
Christmas period.
For full details of all the classes available contact the active
lifestyles team by calling 020 8726 6900 or sending an email to
activelifestyles@croydon.gov.uk
Join a class today and receive the benefits of a healthier new
you before the new year.
yourhealth 19
Have your e-say at yourcroydon@croydon.gov.uk
85%
of diabetes consultations happen with a GP, practice nurse or a diabetes
specialist nurse – so there is not always a need to visit hospital.
Living with diabetes
World Diabetes Day is on 14 November – and a specialist at Croydon University Hospital says
we can all help ourselves in the fight against this debilitating disease.
With more than 16,000
Croydon people known to
be living with the illness,
and possibly many more
who do not realise they
are, diabetes could be the
borough’s most prevalent
medical condition.
Helping lead the fight
against the disease in
Croydon is Dr Richard
Savine, a consultant in
the diabetic department
at Croydon University
Hospital.
He recently took part in
the Channel 4 programme
The Hospital, which
followed Croydon Health
Services’ diabetes team and
a number of young patients.
It illustrated the
difficulties in treating young
people with diabetes and
the challenge for staff
in raising awareness of
the condition with their
patients and its relationship
with their lifestyle choices.
Your Croydon was able
to grab a few minutes of Dr
Savine’s time to learn more
about the condition.
What’s your average day
like at Croydon University
Hospital?
Every day here is slightly
different.
There’s usually a clinic
and a ward round more
often than not.
About once a week I’m
“on-call” and have to look
after all the unwell patients
who are admitted through
the emergency department,
and between times there’s
lots of administrative and
management work to be
squeezed in, plus all the
unexpected stuff which
crops up in an average
week.
There’s rarely a dull
moment!
How did you end up
becoming a diabetes
consultant?
My brother has had
diabetes since he was 10,
my Dad has type 2 diabetes,
and three out of my four
grandparents had diabetes
of one form or another,
so I think it was mainly a
(perhaps misplaced) desire
to be able to look after
them and patients like
them.
On a professional level,
as patients with diabetes
can develop so many
different problems, I liked
that you have to keep
up your skills in lots of
different areas
– a little bit of cardiac
medicine, a little bit of
neurology, a little bit of
renal medicine etc.
What’s the most
rewarding thing about
your job?
It’s when you see a patient
who had been struggling
with one or more aspects of
living with diabetes, and,
because of something you
have suggested or tried to
help with, they’re now able
to lead a more normal life.
What’s the biggest
challenge you face
treating diabetics?
It’s partly that diabetes can
be much more damaging
than people realise – it can
cause heart disease, strokes,
kidney failure, amputations
and all sorts of other very
damaging problems.
In addition to this, type
2 diabetes is also becoming
more common, and being
seen in younger patients
more than ever before.
It shouldn’t be a cause
for panic, but it certainly
WORLD
DIABETES DAY
High profile: Richard Savine’s TV work has helped highlight diabetes dangers
means that there are going
to be more people with
problems from diabetes in
years to come.
Does every diabetic need
to come into hospital?
Absolutely not.
Around 85 or 90% of
consultations in diabetes
happen in a community
setting, – with a GP, a
practice nurse, a diabetes
specialist nurse, or even me.
What’s the most
important thing that
people living with
diabetes can do to
improve their health?
I’d love to say there’s a
magic answer, but it’s really
the same things that apply
to everyone, whether they
have diabetes or not –
eating sensibly and staying
physically active.
If I had to pick a
single thing, though, it
would probably be to stop
smoking.
Smoking’s always
very damaging but, in
combination with diabetes,
its really spectacularly bad
news. We all recognise it’s
one of the hardest things
for our patients to achieve,
though.
What would you say are
the best ways for people
to avoid contracting type
2 diabetes later in life?
Having a sensible diet,
keeping your weight down
and regular exercise is the
best way.
There is quite a sizeable
genetic component to
developing type 2 diabetes,
but unfortunately, you can’t
pick your parents!
What would your message
be to those people living
in Croydon who are most
at risk of contracting type
2 diabetes?
Again, it’s eating sensibly,
keeping your weight down,
and staying active.
If you think you have
symptoms of diabetes, or
have close relatives with
diabetes, seeing your GP for
screening may help.
People tend to be very
fatalistic about diabetes and
they shouldn’t be, because
they can influence how it
affects them.
What response have
you had since the TV
programme was aired?
Most of the feedback has
been positive.
A few people were
worried that the program
showed the patients with
The Croydon
Community Integrated
Diabetes Service,
in partnership with
Croydon Diabetes
Network, will be holding
a Croydon World
Diabetes Day event on
Saturday, 13 November,
at Fairfield.
The morning
session, from 9am to
12.30, is for people
with diabetes, their
families and carers and
members of the general
public.
From 1pm to 4pm
there will be a session
aimed at healthcare
professionals and
people working in
related fields.
For more
information, contact
Abdool Nayeck on 020
8274 6332.
For further
information and advice
about diabetes, visit:
www.croydon.nhs.uk/
diabetes
If you think you may
be at risk, you should
ask your GP for a blood
test for type 2 diabetes.
Alternatively, call
Croydon Community
Integrated Diabetes
Service on 020 8274
6332.
the most severe problems,
and didn’t show those
patients living and coping
with diabetes without such
difficulties, which I suppose
is true to some extent.
For me, the telling thing
has been the emails from
several young diabetics who
told me that, after seeing
the programme, they’ve
started to test their blood
sugars and take charge
of their diabetes for the
first time.
20 yourheritage
November 2010 | Your Croydon
The scheme’s a great idea – ebooks and ereaders are a great thing for the military.
I appreciate you extending this service to me, and am amazed at the kindness I’ve received.
Capt Scott Stewart
War and peace
e-book service
Library service helps an American soldier deal with serving
in one of the world’s most dangerous war zones.
I found your
library while
searching
the internet
to purchase
ebooks.
When Croydon’s library
service launched its
downloadable e-books
scheme, it didn’t occur to
anybody that an American
soldier in the middle of
a war zone would be a
grateful subscriber.
There can be few
better ways to unwind
after a stressful day at
work than sitting down
with a good book. And
when your workday
involves serious military
duties in one of the
world’s more volatile
countries, the need to
destress is even more
important.
And that is why
Captain Scott Stewart,
of the US Army and
currently serving in
Afghanistan, is so glad he
found the service.
Speaking from his base
in the war-torn country,
Scott said: “I found your
library while searching
the internet to purchase
ebooks.
“I read a lot of UK
authors, such as Val
McDermid, Chris Ryan,
and Conn Iggulden, so
your library popped up
while looking for books.”
Scott, who settles
down with a Sony
e-reader to lose himself
in the electronic pages,
added:
“The scheme’s a
great idea – ebooks and
ereaders are a great thing
for the military.
“I appreciate you
extending this service to
me, and am amazed at the
kindness I’ve received.”
But it is not only
serving military personnel
who benefit from the
scheme.
People with mobility
and vision problems have
helped ensure the success
of the scheme, launched
just over a year ago.
Great Scott: Capt Stewart, with pals at a US Army base.
Hundreds of library
subscribers have
downloaded about 1,000
books to be read on either
their computer monitors
or mobile devices.
The project was led
by Croydon Disability
Forum, which received
a Big Lottery grant to
implement the scheme,
primarily aimed at readers
with mobility or vision
impairments.
Those who find it
hard to read normal text
are able to borrow audio
versions of the books,
and these have proved
particularly popular,
prompting a decision to
purchase an additional
200 titles.
The audio books have
also found favour among
college students learning
to speak English as a
second language.
As well as helping
with the normal learning
process, they are a great
aid to cracking some
of the idiosyncrasies of
English pronunciation.
Another, less obvious,
benefit is the fact that, as
books borrowed on the
scheme expire after two
weeks, there are never
any overdue fines to pay.
Picture perfect
Calat tutor sees her highly detailed plant life paintings
hung at influential USA exhibition.
Fine detail: examples of Leigh Ann’s work
A keen eye for detail and
a rock-steady hand have
helped a Calat tutor on
the road to international
recognition.
Leigh Ann Gale, who
teaches at Croydon Adult
Learning and Training’s
Smitham Centre, in
Coulsdon, has had
her work chosen to be
exhibited at a prestigious
event in the USA.
The botanical
illustrator is one of 72
artists from 15 countries
selected to have their
work showcased at
the 13th International
Exhibition of Botanical
Art and Illustration.
The exhibition runs
until 17 December at
The Hunt Institute for
Botanical Documentation,
in Pittsburgh.
Two of Leigh Ann’s
paintings were selected
for the event – Red
Onion Study and Ludisia
discolour ‘Red Velvet’.
Leigh Ann travelled
to the USA for a preview
of the exhibition before
returning to resume
her Calat botanical
illustration courses. Her
growing reputation as a
recognised expert in her
field has helped to make
the courses extremely
popular.
She said: “It was a
great honour to have my
work selected to appear
at the Hunt Institute’s
exhibition.
“It was a real thrill
to see my work hanging
alongside pieces by the
world’s best botanical
illustrators, but it’s
great to get back to the
classroom because I get
so much back from the
students, some of whom
have a real talent.”
At the end of the
exhibition, Red Onion
Study, which Leigh
Ann has donated to the
institute, will be taken
on a six-month tour
across the USA. The other
painting will return to
Leigh Ann in January.
A graduate of the
Ravensbourne College
of Art & Design, Leigh
Ann’s interest in botanical
illustration began at
evening classes just like
those she now runs.
Her teaching career
started at Calat in 2005,
and in 2008 she gained
her Post Graduate
Certificate in Education.
Leigh Ann Gale
She is also a member
of the Society of Floral
Painters, and the
Hampton Court Palace
Florilegium Society,
where she currently has
five paintings held in the
Royal Archives.
In February, Leigh
Ann will be exhibiting
her work a little closer
to home at the Shirley
Sherwood Gallery, Royal
Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Examples of Leigh
Ann’s work can be viewed
at www.la-botanicalart.
co.uk
Have your e-say at yourcroydon@croydon.gov.uk
yourheritage 21
The severity of the damage and the number of people trapped and injured reflected in
the fact that two George Medals were awarded to members of the staff, the medical
officer of health and a duty telephonist who, although injured, remained at her post.
Frank Birch
The day the Town
Hall was bombed
The removal of the footbridge linking the now-demolished Fell Road office block with the Town Hall left a hole in the
side of the Victorian building – but it is not the first time the old walls have been breached.
Wartime Croydon was a
perilous and frightening
place to be, particularly
during the Blitz when,
due to its airport, industry
and railway connections,
it became a prime
target for almost nightly
German bombing raids on
the capital.
Thousands of homes
were destroyed or left
badly damaged, and
hundreds lost their lives.
One of the more highprofile casualties of the
bombing raids was the
Town Hall which saw a
gaping hole torn in its
Fell Road flank when a
bomb hit the moat on the
evening of Sunday, 24
November, 1940.
This was only two
months after the building
had suffered considerable
bomb-blast damage,
particularly to the windows
of the council chamber.
Frank Birch, a later
town clerk, wrote: “The
severity of the damage
and the number of
people trapped and
injured reflected in the
fact that two George
Medals were awarded to
members of the staff, the
medical officer of health
and a duty telephonist
who, although injured,
remained at her post.
“Both displayed
considerable courage and
stoicism in continuing to
carry out their activities
and assisting with the
rescue of the injured.”
A lone German
bomber dropped two
bombs over the town.
The one that hit the Town
Hall destroyed the airraid precautions (ARP)
reporting centre in the
basement, killing three
women telephonists.
The borough’s medical
officer, Dr Oscar Holden,
was in the Town Hall at
the time and he rushed
to the wrecked basement,
where he crawled through
dust, smoke and debris to
administer pain-killing
drugs to a number of the
trapped telephonists.
One of those was
Wendy Hollyer, who,
despite being badly hurt,
managed to continue to
answer calls while rescuers
dug their way to her.
The second bomb
dropped by the lone
raider narrowly missed
the shops in High Street
to fall just behind the
Central Croydon Liberal
Club, in Scarbrook Road,
and explode in the club’s
cellar.
The explosion caused
the building’s collapse,
killing most of the 30 or
so people inside at the
time. Only three came
out alive. Had the bomb
fallen later in the evening,
when more members
would have been present,
the death toll would have
been much higher.
Rescue work at the
club was hampered
by the fact the earlier
bomb had destroyed the
ARP reporting centre
from which the rescue
operation would have
been coordinated.
But these were just
two incidents among a
great many more which
affected thousands
of people across the
borough.
Marking the events
of 1940, the Museum
of Croydon is hosting
the Over Our Skies
exhibition, telling the
story of the Battle of
Britain, and the Blitz that
followed.
Running until 31
Devastated: how a German bomber left Croydon’s Town Hall
70 years ago this month
December, the exhibition
uses first-hand accounts
to detail what daily life
was like for local people
living under the threat of
bombings, and how Croydon
has been affected since.
For more details, visit
www.museumofcroydon.
com
Dragons fire imagination
Inspired: fun and inspiration for young and old at Clocktower exhibition.
A new exhibition about
dragons has opened at the
Museum of Croydon.
It combines hands-on
activities with depictions
of dragons in Chinese and
world mythology, and the
exhibition explores the
stories told about these
fantastic beasts.
There are stunning
loans from the British
Museum, alongside the
Museum of Croydon’s own
exceptional collection of
Chinese ceramics. Dragon
Tales brings young
children face to face with
centuries-old dragons
and encourages them to
discover more through
dragon-themed play.
An events programme
for under-5s, families and
adults accompanies the
exhibition.
Dragon Tales, in the
Riesco Gallery, Croydon
Clocktower, runs until
December, Monday to
Saturday, 11am to 5pm
(closed Sundays and bank
holidays), and entry is
free.
22 yourevents
November 2010 | Your Croydon
Fairfield, Park Lane, Croydon CR9 1DG
Box office 020 8688 9291
Book online at www.fairfield.co.uk
where you can choose your own seats.
A booking fee of £2.25 per ticket may apply
Warehouse
Fairfield
Monday 1 November
ROCKAPELLA
The world’s leading a capella
group, in the UK for the first
time £18.50
Tuesday 2 November
LUNCHTIME EVENT: THE
MANUS ENSEMBLE
Includes string trios and
quartets, piano trios and
quartets and the romantic
piano quintets.
£5, ShowCard £4.50
Tuesday 2 November
BRENDAN SHINE SHOW
One of Ireland’s best loved
singers who has had a string
of hits including Catch Me If
You Can, My Son and Rose
of Castlerea. £14.50
Wed 3 Nov
S4K’S A MIDSUMMER
NIGHT’S DREAM
The Bard’s comedy gets a
musical transformation from
Shakespeare 4 Kidz.
Adults £16, children £10,
1 adult ticket free with every
10 children.
MAXIMUM RHYTHM
‘N’ BLUES
Starring The Manfreds with
original members Paul Jones,
Mike D’Abo, Tom McGuiness
and Mike Hugg £21, £23
Thursday 11 November
ELLINGTON SINGS
ELLINGTON
Lance Ellington, son of
legendary bandleader Ray
Ellington, performs some of
the most beautiful songs ever
written. £17.50
Friday 12 November
THE SENSATIONAL 60S
EXPERIENCE
All the original hits performed
by the original hit makers.
£19.50, £21
Friday 12 November
JOE PASQUALE
ESP = EXTRA SENSORY
PASQUALE
It’s time for Joe to hit the road
and open his third eye.
£16.50
Wednesday 3 November
WEST END SONGBOOK
Featuring well loved songs
from the hit musicals of
the 30s, 40s and up to the
present day. £10
Fri 12 Nov
CROYDON COMEDY CLUB
FORTNIGHTLY AT
FAIRFIELD
See some of the circuit’s
top comedians plus special
guests and exciting new acts.
Fringe Festival. £10
Friday 5 November
SACREBLEU THE
CABARET
A regular first Friday of the
month event comprising
music, comedy, sketches,
speciality acts, improv, open
mic. £14.50, concessions
£12.50
Sat 13 Nov
THE LITTLE BIG CLUB
LIVE IN CONCERT
The line up includes Barney,
Bob the Builder, Angelina
Ballerina, Pingu, Fifi and the
Flowertots and Fireman Sam.
Adults £14, child £12, family
£46
Sunday 7 November
THE NEW AMEN CORNER
IN CONCERT
The band keep the memory
and music alive of this
legendary band.
£15.50, £16.50
Saturday 13 November
LONDON MOZART
PLAYERS
Francesco Piemontesi plays
Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.
25, one of the composer’s
final concertos. £10 - £29.50
Tuesday 9 November
PAUL CARRACK
Legendary Sheffield-born
singer, songwriter and former
frontman of Ace, Squeeze
and Mike & The Mechanics is
back. £27.50
Monday 15 November
STATUS QUO
QUID PRO QUO
With over 40 years of hardgigging behind them, Quo
know better than almost
anyone how to put on a
show. £34.50 (£2.50 booking
fee)
Wednesday 10 November
Mon 15 – Sat 20 Nov
MASTER CLASS
Starring Stephanie Beacham
(Dynasty), this award-winning
play invites you to observe
the great diva Maria Callas.
£16 - £24.50
Tuesday 16 November
LUNCHTIME EVENT:
CANTILENA
An exciting flute and piano
duo founded in 2007.
£5, ShowCard £4.50
Tuesday 16 November
THE ARMSTRONG &
MILLER SHOW LIVE
BAFTA Award Winner –
including the street-talking
WWII chav pilots. £20 (£2.50
bkng fee)
Wednesday 17 November
TENORS UN LIMITED
Tenors Un Limited set out
to bring their own unique
blend of wit, charm and vocal
arrangements. £18, £20
Friday 19 November
ROTARY CLUB OF
WALLINGTON
INTERNATIONAL BOXING
EVENING
Featuring S.E. London ABA
versus British Army Team.
Proceeds to Help for Heroes
and other charities. Contact
020 8647 4444 for tickets.
Friday 19 November
OFF THE WALL
One of the world’s leading
tributes to the legendary
Pink Floyd.
£18.50, concessions £17
Wednesday 3 November to
Sunday 21 November
CARDENIO
SHAKESPEARE’S
LOST PLAY
Sunday 21 November
THE STARS ARE
COMING OUT
TONIGHT
A Charity Gala in support
of Marie Curie Cancer
Care. £25
Tuesday 23 November
BRUBECKS PLAY
BRUBECK
Seldom has an entire family
been as prolific and talented.
For over 50 years Dave
Brubeck has been a giant of
American jazz.
£19.50, £22.50
Wednesday 24 November
ROYAL PHILHARMONIC
ORCHESTRA
Nicola Benedetti performs
Bruch’s phenomenally
successful Violin Concerto
No.1. £10 - £29.50
Tuesday 30 November
LUNCHTIME EVENT:
YOUNG-CHOON PARK
A child prodigy who
performed Beethoven’s
Piano Concerto No.1
when she was 9.
£5, ShowCard £4.50
Tuesday 30 November
SEAN LOCK
LOCKIPEDIA
Back by popular demand!
Lockipedia… is a very
unreliable, misleading
but highly entertaining
information resource.
£17.50
Sean Lock Lockipedia
In 1611 a play was submitted
to print with highly intriguing
penmanship. In this worldpremiere edit by Jonathan
Busby and Luis del Aguila,
a play that has been lost
400 hundred years is given
new breath onstage at
the Warehouse Theatre.
Tuesdays at 6.30pm,
Wednesday to Saturday at
7.30pm, Sunday/matinees
at 5pm Tickets £12 (£9)
Thurdays all tickets £10
A FISTFUL OF BARTON
Dick Barton returns in a
brand new adventure
Tuesdays at 6.30pm,
Wednesday to Saturday at
7.30pm, Sunday
\matinees at 5pm
Tickets £17/£14/£11
Thursdays all tickets £12
Friday 26 and Saturday 27
November
CINDERELLA
The perfect pantomime for
young children from three
years and older.
Friday 26 Nov at 10.15am
and 1.30pm.
Saturday 27 Nov at
10.15am, 1.30pm
& 3.30pm.
Children £6
Grown Ups £7.50.
Now booking for Christmas
and the New Year. Opens
Friday 10 December
Clocktower
Are We Here? A festival of place
Clocktower Arts presents Are We Here? – a festival of film,
music, theatre and art
Are We Here? will investigate how the built environment
can, at once, seem oppressive but be inspirational with a
particular reference to the wealth of world-beating artists
who have been inspired by Croydon, and to what extent
where you live informs who you are.
Featuring Jonathan Meades, St Etienne, Dr Feelgood,
Steven Severin and much, much more. Keep an eye on
www.croydonclocktower.org.uk for more details.
Are We Here? – Jonathon Meades Retrospective
Jerry Building + Heartbypass Wednesday 03 November
Isle Of Rust Wednesday 10 November
Joe Building Thursday 18 November
On The Brandwagon Saturday 20 November
St Etienne Thursday 04 November & Thursday 11 November
3/10/18 November 8pm £7.30/£4.80
20 November: 8pm £8–£10 (with Q&A)
Although not from Croydon, and nor has he ever made
a film about Croydon, Are We Here? is proud to present
the first retrospective of influential author and broadcaster
Jonathan Meades.
Described by AA Gill as “the civic David Attenborough”,
Jonathan Meades’ documentaries are widely regarded as
some of the most thoughtful, intelligent and perfectly crafted
pieces of factual television ever made.
From subjects as diverse as urban regeneration (On The
Brandwagon) to his relationship with his father (Father To
Man) one thing that binds all his films together is a palpable
sense of the importance of place.
yourdiary 23
yourevents
Details of all Croydon
Council meetings can be
found on the council website
at www.croydon.gov.uk/
meetingsofthecouncil
Croydon Clocktower,
Katharine Street, Croydon
Ticket office: 020 8253 1030
Online: www.croydonclocktower.org.uk
David Lean Cinema
The Arbor (15)
Fri 29 Oct – Thu 04 Nov
Stars: Manjinder Virk, Neil
Dudgeon, Monica Dolan
Clio Barnard’s dissection
of the life and legacy of
playwright Andrea Dunbar
is a fascinating look at
working-class Britain and
the effects of growing up on
a gritty Bradford estate.
Mr Nice (18)
Fri 29 Oct – Thu 04 Nov
Stars: Rhys Ifans, Chloë
Sevigny, David Thewlis
During the ’80s, Howard
Marks had 43 aliases,
89 phone lines, and
25 companies trading
throughout the world.
Chico & Rita
The Social Network (TBC)
Fri 29 Oct – Thu 04 Nov
Stars: Jesse Eisenberg
Rooney Mara
What begins in a dorm
room soon becomes a
global social network
and a revolution in
communication.
Autism-friendly screening
Despicable Me (U)
Sat 20 Nov
Stars the voices of: Steve
Carell, Jason Segal,
Russell Brand.
Could the greatest
mastermind become a
potential Dad?
Oil City Confidential (15)
Sat 13 Nov
Stars: Wilko Johnson, Lee
Brilleaux, John Martin,
John B.Sparkes. A film
noir documentary about
Dr. Feelgood; the story of
four men in cheap suits
who crashed out of Canvey
Island. See the film and
then see Dr Feelgood, who
will be performing live after
the film – buy gig and film
for £15.00
Chico & Rita (PG)
Fri 19 – Thu 25 Nov
Cuba, 1948. Chico is a young
piano player with big dreams.
Rita is a beautiful singer with
an extraordinary voice.
The Kids Are Alright (15)
Fri 19 – Thu 25 Nov
Stars: Mia Wasikowska,
Julianne Moore, Mark
Ruffalo. A brother and sister
set out to find their samesex parents’ sperm donor.
The Social Network
Wall Street Money Never
Sleeps (12A)
Fri 05 Nov– Thu 11 Nov
Stars: Michael Douglas,
Shia LaBeouf, Charlie
Sheen. The return of the
paragon of 1980s greed –
Gordon Gekko.*Contains
infrequent strong language
Crystal Palace
November home fixtures
Date Team
Kick-off
9
Watford
8pm
13
Coventry
3pm
27
Doncaster
3pm
The Kid (15)
Fri 12 – Thu 18 Nov
Stars: Rupert Friend,
Natasha McElhone
Life on a council estate in
the 1980s.
Africa United (TBC)
Fri 12 – Thu 18 Nov
Stars: Roger Nsengiyumva,
Sherrie Silver.
Three Rwandan children
embark on an epic
journey across seven
African countries to attend
the opening ceremony
of the World Cup in
Johannesburg.
Over Your Cities Grass
Will Grow (TBC)
Wed 17 & Thu 18
November
French, English, German
with English subtitles
Documentary on the life
of German artist, Anselm
Kiefer.
From Here to Eternity (PG)
Stars: Burt Lancaster,
Montgomery Clift, Deborah
Kerr. Adaptation of James
Jones’ novel about life on a
Hawaiian military base just
before Pearl Harbour.
My Afternoons With
Margueritte (15)
Fri 26 Nov – Thu 02 Dec
French with English
subtitles.
Stars: Gerard Depardieu,
Gisele Casadesus. A true
bond of affection unites
Germain, who lives a quiet
life at the local bar with
his girlfriend Annette, and
Margueritte.
Another Year (12A)
Fri 26 Nov – Thu 02 Dec
Stars: Jim Broadbent,
Imelda Staunton
*Contains infrequent strong
language
Dates for your diary
Council
Deadlines for public questions for forthcoming full council meetings (all start at 6.30pm)
Noon on the relevant deadline date
Meeting: Monday, 6 December
Meeting: Monday, 31 January
Deadline: Monday, 22 November
Deadline: Monday, 17 January
To submit a question (maximum number of words: 50) for consideration at a full council
meeting, email it to council.questions@croydon.gov.uk; fax it to 020 8760 5657;
print and complete the form at www.croydon.gov.uk/councilquestion and post it to
Questions for the council, Democratic and legal services, Taberner House, Park Lane,
Croydon CR9 3JS; or call 020 8726 6000 extn 63876.
Scrutiny
Meeting: 2 November Meeting: 9 November Meeting: 16 November Community services and safety scrutiny sub-committee
Health, social care and housing scrutiny sub-committee
Scrutiny and overview committee
Scrutiny meetings (start at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall)
Neighbourhood Partnerships
Neighbourhood partnership meetings start at 7.30pm
Meeting: 3 November Group: Coulsdon East and Coulsdon West
Venue: Richmond Hall, Fourth Drive (vehicle access via Lion Green Road car park)
Meeting: 10 November Group: Thornton Heath, Bensham Manor and West Thornton
Venue: Gonville Primary School, Gonville Road
Meeting: 17 November Group: Fairfield, Heathfield and Shirley
Venue: Shirley High School, Shirley Church Road
Meeting: 24 November Group: Norbury and Upper Norwood
Venue: Salvation Army Hall, Westow Street
For information on Neighbourhood Partnerships, visit the website at
http://tinyurl.com/neighbourhoodpartnerships,
email neighbourhood.partnerships@croydon.gov.uk,
write to Neighbourhood Partnerships, Democratic and legal services, Taberner House,
Park Lane, Croydon CR9 3JS or call 020 8726 6000 extn 62564 or 64919.
Croydon Community Police Consultative Group
Meetings of the Croydon Community Police Consultative Group are held in the Council
Chamber of the Town Hall. All are open to the public and begin at 6.30pm. For further
information, go to www.croydononline.org/ccpcg
Forthcoming meeting dates are:
Wednesday, 10 November, 2010
Details of all Croydon Council meetings can be found on the council website at
www.croydon.gov.uk/meetingsofthecouncil
Contact us
General enquiries
T: 020 8726 6000
Opening hours
8am-7pm (Monday),
8am-6pm (Tuesday-Friday)
F: 020 8760 0871
Minicom: 020 8760 5797
Email: contact.thecouncil@
croydon.gov.uk
Housing
T: 020 8726 6100
F: 020 8760 5745
E: housing@croydon.gov.uk
Environmental reporting
T: 020 8726 6200
E: contact.enviroteam@
croydon.gov.uk
Planning and building
control
T: 020 8726 6800
F: 020 8760 5406
E: planning.control@croydon.
gov.uk
Adult social services
Tel: 020 8726 6500
Fax: 020 8633 9428
Email: referral.team2@
croydon.gov.uk
Help us to prioritise
your services
Times are tough. We need to prioritise which
services to deliver with less money from
the Government.
Our online budget tool allows you to suggest how
much you would like us to spend on which services.
Until 5 November, help us make the right decisions.
Log on to:
www.croydon.gov.uk/youchoose
“Tell us… we’re listening”