Croydon's new Youth MPs to tackle trafficking and public safety

December 2, 2013, 11:52 pm

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THE four young people who will represent Croydon in the Youth Parliament this year have been chosen. Among the issues they have pledged to tackle are bullying, disability discrimination, human trafficking and public safety. Nearly 7,000 youngsters across the borough went to the polls last week to choose their representatives in the organisation , which represents 11 to 18-year-olds to local and national decision makers. The newly elected Members of Youth Parliament (MYP) are Jesus Ghafarokhi and Benie Kumanda; their deputies are Bethany Monk and Michael Sookhan. The quartet will spend the next year attending youth parliament debates, organising campaigns, cajoling MPs and councillors, and listening to young people across the borough. Mr Ghafarokhi, 16, who attends Thomas More Catholic School in Purley, said his priorities include promoting neighbourhood watch schemes and tackling road safety, bullying and human trafficking. Regarding the latter, he said: "People don't really know about it; it is something that is kept under the rug but it is really severe and can completely ruin someone's life." Beni Kumanda, 15, said she hoped to tackle negative attitudes towards people with disabilities and help provide more activities for them including youth clubs. The Year 11 student, who attends Norbury Manor Business and Enterprise College for Girls, said: "I want people to treat those with disabilities just the same as they treat others. "I have a stammer and people tend to judge me just through my stammer. "I go to a speech therapist who gives me some skills that I use [to control it] so that no one else can see." New deputy MYP Bethany Monk, who attends Oasis Academy Shirley Park, said she hoped to reduce crime and stamp out bullying, partly through pushing for more youth clubs. For a full report on the election and more from the new MYPs see this Friday's Advertiser

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Crystal Palace defender: I don't know who will be down the bottom come May

December 3, 2013, 1:07 am

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CRYSTAL Palace defender Danny Gabbidon admits he does not know which teams will be down the bottom of the Premier League come the end of the season. The Welshman believes there are "so many that could get sucked in" when assessing the current standard of the league. The Eagles take on Gabbidon's former club West Ham United on Tuesday night, with new boss Tony Pulis gunning for three points. "It's a tough league with five or six really good teams, and the rest you can pick up points against," said Gabbidon. "I'm not really sure who is going to be down there in the mix but we have to pick up points ourselves, that's the main thing. "These next few games we have got an opportunity to try and do that, close that gap and get us back into the mix. "As long as we're the fourth placed team (at the bottom) at the end of the season, hopefully there will be three worse teams than us and we'll be happy. "There are so many teams that could get sucked into it, it's tough league. "If you go two or three games without a win, it's very hard confidence-wise as there are so many good teams. "We'll just have to see what happens and we're only focused on ourselves in what we're trying to do. "Hopefully at the end of the season we'll be out of the bottom three – that's the main aim."

New report highlights increased use of smoke bombs at English football matches

December 3, 2013, 1:08 am

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THERE has been a worrying increase in the number of flares and smoke bombs let off at football matches, according to a new report. A survey, commissioned by the Premier League, found that 86 per cent of supporters are concerned for their safety – with 96 incidents of pyrotechnics being reported across the Premier League, Football League, Football Conference and domestic cup competitions during the first three months of the season. This is a huge rise as, for the whole of the 2012-13 season, 172 incidents were reported while, the previous season, there were just 72 recorded incidents. Earlier this season, then Palace manager Ian Holloway criticised the Eagles supporters who let off a smoke bomb in the away end at Anfield, at the start of Palace's 3-1 defeat to Liverpool. However, the report shows Palace fans are far from the worst offenders – with Everton, Man Utd, and Wigan fans involved in five 'flare-related incidents' so far this season. Liverpool, Man City and Sheffield United fans have been involved in four incidents. Cathy Long, head of supporter services at the Premier League, told the BBC: "It's the biggest concern we've got among fans at the moment "There have been incidents across the world where people have had bad injuries or died. "We've been lucky that our leagues haven't had such major issues yet, but we want to stop that from happening." Pyrotechnics are common place in European grounds but a relatively new trend in English stadia. After the Palace vs Liverpool incident, Ian Holloway told the Advertiser: Why is it acceptable to do it at a football ground? It can endanger someone's health. "With all that smoke, smoke's a killer. I don't understand how some fans think it's a good idea."

Nursery school loses 'outstanding' rating following Ofsted visit

December 3, 2013, 2:18 am

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A NURSERY School has slipped from top of the class to struggling to make the grade following an inspection by Ofsted. Tunstall Nursery School, in Addiscombe, was rated as "outstanding" in April 2011. Last month Ofsted reinspected the school and judged it as "requires improvement". Staff had reason to feel aggrieved because the school was rated as "good" in three out of four categories, including achievement, teaching and behaviour. But the inspector criticised its leadership team for failing to monitor the quality of teaching regularly enough. The report, published this week, also said their feedback to staff was "not effective" and that more-able children, and those with English as an additional language, were not making enough progress. Tunstall was inspected two days after the new early years inspection framework was adopted. Head teacher Diane Ward said the school had an action plan in place to deal with the issues raised by Ofsted. She said: "I'm disappointed because I think Tunstall is an outstanding nursery. "We did have a couple of days where we were upset about it, but now we're not at all. "Now we honestly feel we can put this right. We're not feeling defeated by it. "We hope very much to get back to our proper status within a year. "What was sad was taking down the 'outstanding' banner outside the school, but we might keep it and put it up again one day." Ofsted said that staff work well together as a team and parents spoke highly of the care shown towards their children.

UPDATED: Cyclist in hospital after crash in Norbury

December 3, 2013, 2:28 am

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A CYCLIST was seriously injured in a rush-hour collision in Norbury this morning. Police were called to London Road at the junction with Roche Road just before 8am to reports of a collision between a van and bicycle. A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: ""We were called at 7.51am today to reports of a road traffic collision involving a cyclist and a car on London Road. "We sent a responder in a car and an ambulance crew. "Staff treated a 35-year-old man for back pain and he was taken as a priority to St George's Hospital." Originally, police said his injuries were life-threatening but the cyclist's condition is now improving. Road closures put in place at the scene have now been lifted. The bike remained entirely intact but the van's windscreen was smashed in by the collision with the cyclist. It is the second crash involving a cyclist in the space of a month in Croydon, after Roger de Klerk died outside East Croydon Station on November 12 when his bike went under a 410 bus. There have been a spate of other fatal crashes across involving cyclists across London in recent weeks, prompting a fresh debate on cycle safety.

FANS VIEW: Why Mile Jedinak is Crystal Palace's captain fantastic

December 3, 2013, 5:38 am

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THE uncompromising style that Mile Jedinak exhibits is the kind that could become symbolic for Tony Pulis' reign as manager. Tough-tackling, physical combative and yet fair while doing so, Jedinak is the midfield presence that Stoke City tried to secure last January and it's unsurprising that the midfielder's deal was agreed within a week of Pulis' arrival. Jedinak is a player that Palace fans really cherish. He featured on the Five Year Plan podcast before the second leg of our play-off with Brighton and his confidence and self-assurance inspired a belief that would have given the most negative of supporters a lift. Even now, months after the occasion, it's still worth listening to as you get a real impression of the kind of character he is. As a captain, Jedinak is exemplary in his attitude. A central figure in the team, his role isn't just as a player on the pitch but as a point of reference off it. Colleagues of his often speak fondly of his leadership qualities, while managers have also commended him for his reliability. These qualities have been backed up by the accolades which have come his way in the last season, as at both club and international level he has received Player of the Year awards. While the midfielder had a lull towards the start of the season – one which was mirrored by the majority of the squad – his recent performances have seen the Australian international return to form, which has coincided with the draw against Everton and the win at Hull City. Adjusting to Premier League football can be a tough challenge but, bar the blip, Jedinak has proven himself to be a highly capable defensive midfielder in the division. The three and a half year deal doesn't guarantee that he'll stay with the club for that entire spell, but what it will do is ensure that there's at least some resale value should Palace get relegated and should he wish to continue his career in the Premier League. His signing is a great step in the right direction for Palace and an indicator that, despite our struggles at the foot of the table, steps are being taken to improve our fortunes.

LATEST ODDS: Crystal Palace vs West Ham

December 3, 2013, 6:49 am

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THE bookies are hedging their bets when it comes to tonight's London derby at Selhurst Park. Crystal Palace are priced at 9/4 to win Tony Pulis' first home game in charge, while you can get 7/5 on a West Ham victory. The draw is priced at 23/10. If you fancy a flutter on the first goalscorer, Dwight Gayle is the 7/1 favourite with SkyBet - despite not being a regular starter in recent weeks. Other Palace players favoured to find the next first are Cameron Jerome and Marouane Chamakh ( both 15/2) and Jason Puncheon (9/1). For an outside bet, defensive trio Joel Ward, Damien Delaney, and Danny Gabbidon are all 40/1 to open the scoring. But, if you're prepared to back a West Ham first scorer, Carlton Cole is rated most likely at 13/2.

Oyster fares rise but it's still £2.40 for Croydon tram users paying by cash

December 3, 2013, 6:51 am

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THE price of a weekly bus and tram ticket will rise by 4.1 per cent in the new year. Single tram and bus fares are also set to increase by 3.6 per cent for those using Oyster cards. However, there's good news for tram users who prfer to pay by cash, as those fares are being frozen for the next 12 months. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, announced the changes on Tuesday, arguing the freeze would help those "feeling the pinch". A pay-as-you-go (Oyster) single on a bus or tram will go up from £1.40 to £1.45 whereas the weekly bus and tram pass will rise from £19.60 to £20.40, in line with the price increase for national rail services. Those using a pay-as-you-go Oyster card to make several journeys each day will see the cap frozen at £4.40 while travellers using cash will also see their single fares frozen at the current level of £2.40. For those travelling from the Croydon area into London, the cost of a weekly Zone One to Six Travelcard will rise by 4.3 per cent from £55.60 to £58. Harriet Barker, who uses a weekly travel card, said the fare hikes were "really unfair". "People are losing their jobs in Croydon. The Home Office buildings are closing and Whitgift is being taken over. They built the trams to get people into the town centre and now they are more expensive with less reason to come here." Bukky Oluonye, who uses a pay-as-you-go Oyster, said it was "crazy". "Everything is going up like electricity and gas. How are we supposed to afford anything at the moment? "I feel fortunate because I have a job but what about all those who are unemployed and need to travel away from Croydon to find work?" Caroline Straker said she would save herself thousands of pounds by finding a job locally and using her car rather than public transport. "I'm one of the lucky ones with my own car but it's disgusting. The service hasn't even improved either, what are we paying for?" The average rise for all travel is 3.1 per cent, lower than the 4.1 per cent predicted. The mayor has said he has had to make £16 billion worth of efficiency savings to make up the difference by introducing contactless payment cards. The measure aims to save £80 million a year and will involve shutting down hundreds of ticket offices across London. It is the first time travel fares have not risen above inflation overall since Mr Johnson became mayor and is aimed to help part-time workers and those looking for jobs.

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'Jeremy Paxman? I was too tired to remember his name'

December 3, 2013, 8:58 am

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THE man with the world's best memory has blamed exhaustion for his struggle to recall the name of a TV host. Jonas Von Essen beat 120 competitors to win the World Memory Championships in Croydon on Monday - before going on Newsnight and struggling to recall Jeremy Paxman's name when tested to recite the show's credits. But on Tuesday the cheerful 22-year-old put the blip down to very little food and sleep and the intensity of the three-day competition. He told the Advertiser: "I was so extremely exhausted after three days of competition and then I almost did not have any lunch. "And then I got there they did not tell me what was going to happen. They just put me there and I thought there was going to be an interview, but they said 'Just memorise that.' "I was so tired that I almost could not see what I was reading. "And then I think I memorised it all but I could not bring it all back. "It would be like asking a runner who has just done an ultra marathon to do a 100m sprint - you would not expect him to do very well." It was less than three years ago that Mr Von Essen, of Gothenburg in Sweden, started entering memory contests, and he said winning at the Croydon Conference Centre event was a "huge surprise." "It is all about techniques," he added. "I was born with an ordinary memory and three years ago I had an ordinary memory. But then I discovered a book with memory techniques and I started to practice. "I noticed that immediately I could memorise things that I could not memorise before and I found it was very cool of course and I wanted to see how far I could take it."

Bookies think Rough Copy are unlikely to make X Factor final

December 3, 2013, 12:59 pm

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CROYDON'S Rough Copy will fall agonisingly short of reaching the X Factor final, if you believe the bookies. The trio are among the final four acts who will compete for a place in the final on this weekend's show. Three acts will go through, with one eliminated on Sunday night but, according to the oddsmakers, Rough Copy are most likely to suffer semi-final heartbreak. The lads are a long 14-1 shot to win the show, well behind Luke Friend (7/1) Nicholas McDonald (5/1) and the odds-on favourite, prison officer Sam Bailey (4/11). Rough Copy began the X Factor live finals as one of three Croydon acts but are now our sole representative, after Lorna Simpson and, two weeks' ago, Hannah Barrett were voted off.

Conservative candidate reveals battle with bowel cancer

December 4, 2013, 1:34 am

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ANDY Stranack, Conservative candidate at the Croydon North by-election, has spoken publicly for the first time about his battle with cancer. Mr Stranack, 43, underwent emergency surgery at Croydon University Hospital in March after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. The charity worker spent the next nine weeks in hospital and admits there were moments where he thought he would die. Next Thursday he will complete six months of chemotherapy and has already returned to his work as a mentor for troubled youths on the Monks Hill estate near Selsdon. Showing the spirit that earned him plaudits from across the political divide while on the campaign trail Mr Stranack now hopes to stand in the local elections next May. Last week the Advertiser interviewed Labour's Steve Reed a year on from his election victory. For his Conservative rival, beaten into second, it has been a dramatically different 12 months. Mr Stranack, who has cerebral palsy, initially credited weight loss after November's by-election to the stress of a non-stop campaign. "I noticed I had lost a lot of weight, which I thought was a good thing to begin with," he said. "I went to the doctors a few times and was eventually diagnosed with possible gallstones but, by the end of March, it was obviously something more serious. "I was told I was told I had bowel cancer, but I put on a strong face. For me my first thoughts were for my family, the kids I mentor and the job club I run. I was more worried about what was going to happen to them than life or death." Mr Stranack was diagnosed on March 25 and underwent surgery the following day. Surgeons were able to remove the cancerous tissue but there was a complication following the procedure which left him in hospital for nine weeks. "There were nights when I went to sleep wondering whether I was going to wake up in the morning," he said. "Fortunately I got through it with the support of my family, friends and the church, as well as the party which has been very good." Mr Stranack is no stranger to adversity. At the age of five, doctors told him he would never walk because of his cerebral palsy. Within two years he had proved them wrong. He rarely ducks a challenge. In 2001, he gave up his £30,000 job as a policy officer at Croydon Council, sold his house in Birdhurst Rise, South Croydon, and went to live on the Monks Hill estate. "Generally in my life I've overcome adversity," he said. "Cancer was just another barrier to overcome. "I was told as a child I would never walk, but I did. It put a character trait in me which I have relied on." Mr Stranack, who is now living back at home with his parents in Waddon, will finish his chemotherapy programme at The Royal Marsden hospital in Sutton on December 12. Doctors have said there is a 30-40 per cent chance the cancer will return, but he has put that possibility to the back of his mind. "Spending time thinking about it is a waste," he said. "You have to get on with life and do what you want to do. "It's taught me that I should focus on what is important. So I've gone back to helping the kids in Monks Hill because I love doing it. "I find happiness in helping people. It's the only way to look at life." Mr Stranack added: "When I was first told I had cancer I thought to myself that I was born in Mayday with only 30 per cent chance of survival because of a lack of oxygen at birth. "I see the years since as a blessing and that's how I feel now. I want to seize every extra day I get." After impressing during the Croydon North by-election, Mr Stranack was seen by Conservative party insiders as an ideal candidate for next year's local elections. Despite his ordeal, he has not ruled that option out. He said: "I'm trying to live day by day, rather than setting too many long term goals. "But, assuming everything is going okay with my health, I certainly would like to represent Croydon as a councillor. "It's absolutely not put me off. I'm still passionate about Croydon and what politics can do."Charity effort A protege of Mr Stranack is to take part in a charity banger race to raise money for the hospital that is treating his mentor. Mr Stranack first met an 11-year-old Steven Pickering on the Monks Hill Estate through Croydon Jubilee Church and, over the years, has supported his efforts to find work. Mr Pickering, now 26, said: "Andy has done so much to help me that when I heard he had cancer, I wanted to do something to help him. "In the past Andy has helped me take part in a number of races and I thought it would be a great idea if I could do a race to support the people who are treating him." Mr Stranack said: "Steven was a bit of a tearaway when I first met him and was well known to the police and the council's housing team. "Over the years I've just helped him with simple things like writing CVs and helping him find work. "When I was diagnosed with cancer, I was not worried about death because I have a strong faith, but I was worried about how Steven would react to the news." Mr Pickering hopes to raise £500 by taking part in the race, which is at Wimbledon Stadium on Sunday (December 8).

PICTURES: Crystal Palace vs West Ham

December 4, 2013, 1:34 am

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A FRENETIC London derby ended in Palace's third win of the Premier League season. Marouane Chamakh bagged the only goal late in the first half as the Eagles beat West Ham 1-0, in Tony Pulis' first home game in charge. The game was often scrappy but both teams were fully committed, with Palace putting in a display full of grit and determination. Here's a selection of photos from the match, taken by Palace club photographer Neil Everitt.

Crystal Palace 1–0 West Ham United: Chamakh gives Eagles vital three points in London derby

December 4, 2013, 1:36 am

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CRYSTAL Palace secured a vital three points with a hard-fought 1-0 win over West Ham United tonight. Maroaune Chamakh was the matchwinner in the first half, guiding home a header from Barry Bannan's superb cross, and they had chances in the second period to double their lead too. It was a big win heading into Saturday's game against Cardiff City in SE25, and it lifts the Eagles off the bottom of the Premier League and on ten points. Another three points against the Welsh side at the weekend will put them level on points too. The Eagles started brightly, with Cameron Jerome and Maroaune Chamakh looking to combine in attack, while Barry Bannan nearly carved out a chance when he crossed to the back post but it went out for a goal-kick. West Ham tried to respond when Razvan Rat came in from the left and tried to curl into the top corner but sent it way over Julian Speroni's goal. Joey O'Brien then sent in a dangerous ball from the right but Joel Ward did brilliantly to get a head to the ball before Carlton Cole. Damien Delaney was the first into the referee's notebook on the half-hour mark for chopping down Ravel Morrison 25-yards out. And from the free-kick, Stewart Downing fooled everyone by chipping the ball over the top to Kevin Nolan, who couldn't get a clean connection on the ball and Speroni saved. The visitors cranked up the pressure and should have perhaps taken the lead ten minutes before the break when Cole burst into the box from the left, and instead of shooting, played a pass across the face of goal which Downing failed to convert after pressure from Delaney. A minute later, they went even closer to drawing first blood. Downing delivered a superb ball in from the left and Mohammed Diame rose above everyone to head narrowly over the crossbar. But as what happens in football so much, you can score against the run of play – and it was Palace who got the first goal in this London derby through Marouane Chamakh. Barry Bannan delivered in a low corner, which came back out to him, and the Scottish international delivered a pinpoint cross for the former Arsenal (and West Ham loan man) to power home a header past Jussi Jaaskelainen. Selhurst Park erupted – and so did Chamakh, who told the Advertiser in the summer he was promised game time by Hammers boss Sam Allardyce last season but didn't get it. Into the second period and Palace had three golden opportunities to extend their lead. First, Jerome raced onto a ball over the top, and with Jaaskelainen racing out, he played the ball back to Chamakh. The Moroccan teed up Puncheon inside the box and saw an effort deflect off James Collins and onto the post. Then a ball back into the box found Kagisho Dikgacoi inside the six-yard box, but he couldn't quite keep his header down as it narrowly went over. Their third chance just 40 seconds later fell to Jerome, who raced through on goal, skipping Collins' challenge, but he was denied by Jaaskelainen. When the ball came back out, he and Chamakh got in a tangle and the ball was cleared. West Ham thought they had got back into the match on the hour when Stewart Downing fired home, but the assistant referee's flag was up for a foul by O'Brien following a cross. Jimmy Kebe replaced Puncheon for the hosts soon after, and the winger had the ball in the back of the net from 12-yards out, but Jedinak had been flagged for a marginal offside decision. Speroni at the other end had to be alert, getting down well to hold on to Downing curling free-kick, while Ravel Morrison dragged a shot wide on the volley. Dikgacoi unleased a good effort towards the top corner from range for the Eagles, while Stuart O'Keefe then came on for the influential Bannan. Jonny Williams also came on minutes later for goalscorer Chamakh, and the diminutive midfielder got a huge reception back at Selhurst since injury in September, as did the Moroccan for his goal. The Hammers went close to equalising when James Collins headed wide from a corner, while five minutes of added time was awarded to set up a nervous ending. Kebe should have wrapped things up at the death when he beat Jaaskelainen to the ball, and as he swivelled under pressure, he sent an effort just over with an empty net to aim at. But the final whistle came despite late West Ham pressure and Selhurst Park erupted. However, there will surely be action taken against Ravel Morrison, who was caught on television clearly pushing Joel Ward in the face as the players celebrated. A yellow card was given, but the midfielder looks likely to be in hot water with the Football Association. Palace: Speroni, Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Moxey, Jedinak, Dikgacoi, Bannan (O'Keefe 82), Puncheon (Kebe 66), Chamakh (Williams 85), Jerome. Subs Not Used: Price, Mariappa, Gayle, Phillips. Attendance: 23,891 By Croydon Advertiser Sports Reporter Mark Ritson

Crystal Palace boss: I want Selhurst Park as a fortress

December 4, 2013, 2:05 am

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CRYSTAL Palace boss Tony Pulis was delighted to get a win on his managerial debut at home against West Ham United on Tuesday night. Maroaune Chamakh's goal shortly before the break gave the Eagles a vital three points in their quest to move out of the relegation zone. Speaking to the media after the game, Pulis says he wants Selhurst Park to become a "fortress". "It's a great result and what we have to do is obviously win games and put points on the board to give everybody hope," he said. "The supporters were wonderful, but you have to win these games to give them the opportunity and the chance to do what I've come here to do, which is keep the club up. "If you win games, you give them hope and the more hope you give them, the more they'll back the team. "They all have to buy into what we need and that is when teams come to Palace, it's got to be a fortress." And the boss once again hinted he will look to add to the squad in January but hailed the current group of players for grinding out victory against the Hammers. "The players have been fantastic," said Pulis. "The attitude of the players and the commitment of the players has been absolutely wonderful from the first minute I walked in. "We will need to strengthen the side. We need to bring a bit more quality into it and I think they will be absolutely delighted if we can do that. "Obviously we have to do that within what the club can afford. But we need to stay in the race before the window opens. "The resilience and the commitment was there. We had good organisation, we've worked really hard on trying to fill spaces and keep people in front and I thought we did that very well at times."

VOTE: Who was your Crystal Palace man of the match vs West Ham?

December 4, 2013, 2:17 am

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AMONG the doom and gloom of early season defeats, it was a tough job at times to pick a man of the match. But choosing the Eagles star man from last night's win over West Ham may be an equally tricky task - but this time for the right reasons. Several players put in outstanding performances as The Eagles saw off The Hammers, but who was your man of the match? Is it a defender, with the Palace rearguard having kept a third clean sheet in four games? Or did the midfield foraging of Barry Bannan or skipper Mile Jedinak catch your eye. Then, there's the strikers - Cameron Jerome put in a sterling shift, while Marouane Chmakh netted the vital winning goal. To vote for your man of the match, click on your chosen player in the poll on the right-hand side of this page.

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Ottaway calls on Jeremy Hunt to explain NHS Croydon response

December 4, 2013, 3:35 am

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RICHARD Ottaway MP has called on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to explain why no one has been held to account for the financial scandal at NHS Croydon. Both Mr Hunt and Sir David Nicholson, the outgoing chief executive of NHS England, have said they are unable to compel the former head of the trust to answer questions about a £28 million misreporting of its finances. Mr Ottaway has written to the Secretary of State to express frustration with his response and "outrage" that no one has been held responsible. He said: "I remain seriously concerned and angry about this situation whereby nobody seems to be responsible or indeed accountable for the loss of such a huge sum of public money." Mr Ottaway said it was "astonishing" that Ms Taylor had refused to give evidence and questioned whether she should continue to work in the NHS. After leaving her £145,000 a year job in Croydon, shortly before the misspending came to light, Ms Taylor went on to work for the NHS in north London, then as special administrator to the now dissolved South London Healthcare NHS Trust. She is now director of the South East London Commissioning Strategy Programme. NHS Croydon posted a £5.5m surplus in 2010/11 but it was later revealed to have overspent by £23m. An independent investigation, commissioned by NHS London, blamed system errors and said health services were unaffected . While it found no one at fault it revealed that interim finance director Mark Phillips has made "unwarranted adjustments" to the agreement of balances while reporting directly to Ms Taylor. A joint scrutiny committee, set up six local authorities in south west London, conducted its own investigation which Ms Taylor, and several other key figures, refused to cooperate with. It concluded that the misspending had been deliberately hidden and, in May, the committee wrote to Mr Hunt and asked him to compel Ms Taylor to give her account of what happened. A fortnight ago Mr Hunt replied that he did not have the power because she was a former employee of Croydon's primary care trust, which has since been dissolved. A week later Sir David said he too was unable to take action. Mr Ottaway told the Advertiser: "The law is the law and if Jeremy Hunt was advised that he doesn't have the power to intervene then we have to accept that, but it means the law is highly unsatisfactory and, frankly, incomprehensible. The law needs to be reformed. "Someone must be responsible. If it's not the management of Croydon's primary care trust then someone higher up the chain." Mr Ottaway added: "I find it astonishing that a senior civil servant is not prepared to assist in finding out what went wrong, to the point that I question whether or not that person is suitable to hold another position inside the NHS. "So I've asked Mr Hunt where the buck stops and I'm looking forward to hearing from him. "If I don't get answers pretty soon then I'm going to raise this on the floor of the House."

Sullay KaiKai is one to watch says Crystal Palace star

December 4, 2013, 3:36 am

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SULLAY KaiKai is "one to watch", according to Palace midfielder Jonny Williams. The young forward was called up to the first team squad and travelled to Norwich City on Saturday after a number of impressive performances for the U21 squad this season. That included a recent hat-trick against Queens Park Rangers, in which Williams provided an assist on his way back to full fitness following injury. "That's the great thing about Palace, as we've shown over the years, way before me," Williams told the Advertiser. "If you're good enough, you'll get the chance and it's a great message to the younger players. "It was great to have Sullay along and I roomed with him the night before the game and took him under my wing." And the Wales international described KaiKai's attributes as Palace boss Tony Pulis keeps tabs on him for the near future. "He's a very good technical player with a great first touch," said Williams. "He likes to take on a player too and take free-kicks. He scored a couple of them in an U21 game recently, so he's a very good technical player. "He is very attack-minded, left or right, central or up top, any any attacking roles he can play. "He is one to watch."

World's dumbest flytipper leaves her prescription in rubbish pile

December 4, 2013, 3:50 am

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A Battersea woman has been fined for flytipping after a prescription with her name on it was found in a pile of rubbish dumped opposite Reeves Corner. Iesha Price was prosecuted and fined £535 for her part in creating a festering mound of rubbish in the town centre in January. Council enforcement officers identified her after finding her prescription and she was given a fixed penalty notice. However, after failing to make payment, declining to attend an interview under caution and missing an initial court date, she finally surrendered herself and pleaded guilty. The council has recently announced a fresh investment of £100,000 in its 'Keep it Clean' campaign. A mobile phone app has been launched making it easier for residents to report environmental crime and there will be a further crackdown on littering from teams patrolling the town centre. Councillor Simon Hoar, cabinet member for community safety and public protection, said: "There's no excuse whatsoever for fly-tipping and anyone who's caught will be issued with a fine to remind them that it is not only antisocial but also illegal. Failure to pay will result in court action and a far bigger fine as the courts also frown on such behaviour."

No trams to New Addington until next Thursday

December 4, 2013, 4:54 am

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TRAM services to New Addington have been suspended until next Thursday while major engineering works take place. But Transport for London (TfL) is promising passengers will end up with a smoother ride and more reliable service. The main work started today and trams will not be operating between Sandilands and New Addington until Sunday (December 8) From Monday until Thursday (December 12) the service is suspended between Addington Village and New Addington. The work at Larcombe Close curve, Coombe Lane/Shirley Hills tram crossing and down to New Addington includes track replacement, signal system maintenance, platform repaving and road resurfacing. TfL says diversion routes for drivers are in place and replacement school and local buses in operation. Sharon Thompson, director of LondonTramlink, said: "We are undertaking major improvement work on the New Addington branch of the network. "The works, which are essential to ensure the continued safe and reliable service that we provide to our customers, include track replacement, systems maintenance and road resurfacing. "We're doing everything we can to keep disruption to a minimum including working a 24-hour rota."

Crystal Palace defender plays down Ravel Morrison incident

December 4, 2013, 5:25 am

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JOEL Ward has played down the incident involving West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison last night. The Crystal Palace defender was caught on camera being pushed in the face by the youngster after the final whistle. "It was just one of them things, it wasn't anything," said Ward. "It was a hard-fought game and we worked a lot on shape and how to go about it. I felt we were solid, we worked hard as a group and I think we deserved the win in the end. "We are working hard in defence and we're growing in each game. "Tony has been brilliant in training and we've done a lot of work on individual stuff. Maroaune Chamakh got the winner on 42 minutes thanks to a header from Barry Bannan's cross, and Ward was very happy for the Moroccan to get his second goal of the season. "He created some great chances and maybe unlucky not to take a few more," said Ward. "All credit to him, he works so hard and put in a big shift for the team. He showed that. "He brings a different threat in the air for us. He's a great lad and works hard for us. "Any striker, you want them inside the goal and doing what they do best."