Developer has a change of heart over Victorian drinking fountain

May 12, 2014, 11:30 pm

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A VICTORIAN drinking fountain has been reinstalled after a lengthy planning dispute between South Norwood residents and a developer was resolved.

The fountain was bought by the people of South Norwood for Queen Victoria's golden jubilee in 1887 but was lost when the wall it was in was demolished to create a car parking space ten years ago.

It has now been put back in almost exactly the same spot on the corner of the new Tesco Express in South Norwood Hill.

Ajay Marria, the developer of the flats above the Tesco Express, fought to change the conditions attached to his planning permission to avoid reinstalling the fountain.

However, he said he has now changed his mind and is happy to have done something for the local community.

He said: "I am based in Croydon so I want to do something as a local developer.

"After the story went in the Croydon Advertiser, I read a lot more into it and what the fountain meant to the local community and started to see how important it was. So it's worked out well."

South Norwood historian John Hickman had fought to reinstall the antique fountain and campaigned along with The Norwood Society and North Croydon Conservation Area Advisory Panel.

He had claimed the fountain's removal was an "act of vandalism".

Mr Marria originally wanted to alter the conditions on his planning application, which said he would not be able to sell his flats unless he reinstalled the fountain.

The disused drinking font was found in Croydon Council depot in Purley in three pieces, which Mr Marria initially thought meant it was broken.

He wanted the council to repair it but Mr Hickman discovered it was actually constructed in three separate pieces.

Mr Hickman said: "This is a victory for South Norwood and its residents. There are many pieces of lost heritage in the area and we can't afford to see them slip away.

"I went and met up with Mr Marria after the article was in the Advertiser and he suddenly realised what it meant to the people of South Norwood.

"It rightly belongs to the residents of this area."

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Family of Anthony Billy 'confused and disappointed' after Croydon coroner rejects open verdict on fire death

May 13, 2014, 1:58 am

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THE family of a man who burned to death in Croham Hurst Woods are "confused and disappointed" that a coroner decided not to reach an open verdict. In the days before his death, Anthony Billy told his care worker he owed money to a drug dealer. Mr Billy's family feared he may have been murdered but spent three years fighting for answers after police told them in the immediate aftermath that he had taken his own life. They welcomed coroner Selena Lynch's decision to rule out suicide after a four-day inquest, which concluded last Friday. But Simmone Simpson, Mr Billy's sister, strongly believes the coroner should have recorded an open, rather than narrative, verdict about his death on January 19, 2011. Mrs Lynch told Croydon Coroner's Court an open verdict might lead some to conclude there was something more to Mr Billy's death. "I have found it wasn't suspicious," she explained. "He died at his own hands." Ms Simpson said: "For our own peace of mind we needed the state to accept that they had made one mistake - they said it was suicide. "It was massive [that they ruled out suicide] because it means the investigation was wrong from the beginning. So we're thankful for that. "However, the family are confused and disappointed with the narrative verdict. "We hoped the coroner would base her conclusion on facts, not opinion. We cannot be sure of exactly what happened to Anthony, so an open verdict seems to us the only option." Mr Billy suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and was living in Russell Hill Lodge supported accommodation in Purley at the time of his death. His mental state was said to be "stable" and he had recently spent Christmas with his family, who described him as "extremely well". However, Mrs Lynch said there were signs in Mr Billy's life that "something was going in the background". He had become less interested in taking part in activities, his "delusions" - including speaking of a "god of fire" - were becoming more frequent and he was regularly asking staff if he could access his money. Mr Billy, a frequent cannabis smoker, also told his key worker he owed cash to a drug-dealer. At around 3pm on January 19, he asked the manager of the care home for £5. When the request was refused, he "stormed out". "Mr Billy left his home and went to a petrol station on Brighton Road, Croydon," Mrs Lynch told the court. "He purchased a canister and filled it with almost three litres of diesel. He then walked to the woods at Croham Hurst, doused himself in [fuel] and applied a naked flame using a lighter or possibly a cigarette end." A passer-by called 999 and police, firefighters and ambulance crews were sent, but Mr Billy was later pronounced dead. The lighter and canister were found at the scene. "Thanks to a thorough investigation we can be satisfied [Mr Billy] died at his own hands," said Mrs Lynch, who added that the remaining question was why. The coroner suggested a number of potential reasons but reached only one firm conclusion: "All the evidence is that this was completely out of character for him. There was never any suggestion that he would harm himself." She ruled out that Mr Billy had accidentally lit the fuel with a cigarette. As to whether he had been killed, as his family feared, she said: "I don't think it was a case of homicide. He wasn't murdered, he died of his own hand." Mr Billy's family alleged Russell Hill Lodge could have done more to protect him after he raised concerns about a drug debt, but Mrs Lynch said she could find no "causative failure" in the "good" care he received. The inquest had heard he had told key worker Rebecca Yates about the debt on January 16, but when it was raised with his care coordinator no further action was taken. Mrs Lynch said even though staff knew Mr Billy owed money for drugs, as he was not willing to talk about it, it was "difficult for them to do anything to help him". Ms Simpson believes the home should have alerted the police and their failure to do so meant the initial investigation incorrectly concluded Mr Billy had taken his own life. "We're not looking for someone to blame for what happened," she said, "but the coroner has missed the opportunity to highlight what went wrong and why. "That doesn't give me any confidence that this won't happen again, which is what we have been fighting all these years to prevent.""No evidence of criminal involvement," say police THE police were forced to re-examine Anthony Billy's death last year after his family complained about the way the original investigation was handled. After a cursory investigation, officers concluded he had taken his own life and, according to Simmone Simpson, Mr Billy's sister, told the family: "This is what people with mental health issues do. They become unwell and they end it." It later emerged that police had not interviewed members of staff at Russell Hill Lodge, failed to submit the fuel cannister and lighter for forensic examination and had lost CCTV footage of Mr Billy at the petrol station during the download process. The family contacted the Independent Police Complaints Commission and, last summer, the investigation was reopened. The detective leading the new effort told the Advertiser there had been "gaps" in the initial inquiry. Ms Simpson believes police "prejudice" meant the original probe was closed without the drug-debt angle being properly investigated. Their fears were increased when a school friend said Mr Billy had told him in the days before his death that "bad people were out to get him". After the conclusion of the inquest, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said the second investigation had found "no evidence of criminal activity or third party involvement". Mr Billy's family have been invited to meet with South London and Maudsley, which runs Russell Hill Lodge, to discuss lessons the NHS trust can learn from his death.

Wayne Hennessey surprised by Crystal Palace fans' noise after Wolves experience

May 13, 2014, 2:22 am

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CRYSTAL Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey says the Eagles fans are much louder than those at Wolverhampton Wanderers. The League One champions are well known for having big support away from home and creating a good atmosphere, but Hennessey has admitted Palace fans turn up the volume that extra notch. The Wales international made his Eagles debut on Sunday against Fulham and has praised the fans' support since his arrival in January. "They are a fantastic bunch and they are a credit to themselves," said Hennessey. "Playing in front of them was really nice it was just a shame it wasn't a home game. "They are so loud and all that. I have come from a big crowd at Wolves and stuff, but these are very loud. "They have me surprised me. I'm sure when I played against Palace a few years ago, they weren't as loud as they have been. "Fair play to them, they are absolutely amazing."

Seven re-bailed over investigation into shot fired through window of Croydon house

May 13, 2014, 2:46 am

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SEVEN people arrested after a shot was fired through the window of a house in Waddon have been re-bailed. Police were called after a gun was fired at a house in Allen Road, Croydon, at 4.30pm on February 23. Officers attended the scene and discovered no one had been injured in the attack. That evening police descended on an address in Grenaby Road, Croydon, and arrested seven people, including a man and a woman in their 20s, as well as two boys and three girls ages between 15 and 17. They were later bailed until a date in late-April and have since returned to a south London police station and been bailed again until mid-July.

Four players Crystal Palace should sign

May 13, 2014, 3:18 am

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Crystal Palace are in need of some transformation this summer in order to help them towards another stable season in the top-flight of English football. It is well known that Tony Pulis has asked for a larger transfer budget compared to previous transfer windows and that a number of players will be heading towards the exits but the big question lingers of what players should Crystal Palace add to their current success? Here are four targets that Crystal Palace could have a look at this summer: Aaron Cresswell The left-back has featured for Ipswich Town 43 times this season, accumulating two goals and the Championship's joint second highest amount of assists with 13. Crystal Palace have been short of consistent quality in this position throughout the past two seasons with two of the main players in this position with both Dean Moxey & Jonathan Parr out of contract this summer. It's fair to say that Cresswell could fit into the shape that Tony Pulis has built this season with counter-attacking football being the key to Crystal Palace's success this season along with strong defending. Connor Wickham Featuring for both Sheffield Wednesday & Sunderland this season, the 21-year-old has scored 16 goals this season over the two leagues with an average of a goal every 156 minutes and collecting ten assists on the way. Crystal Palace require a consistent striker and with more than ten goals scored in the past two seasons, Connor Wickham could be built into a striker with some deadly force with the help of Tony Pulis and his coaching staff. Bafetimbi Gomis Out of contract this summer, the French forward could be an unlikely target for Crystal Palace but the question remains to be answered of whether he would be happy to give up his term of European football to join the South London side. It was tipped in January that Iain Moody travelled to France to watch the forward but nothing has since emerged of it, he has been linked to a number of clubs and this rumour is set to continue with the dominant striker searching for a club. The 28-year old has scored 22 goals this season with three of those being in Lyon's Europa League campaign. Thomas Ince At Selhurst Park on loan at the back-end of the season making eight appearances and scoring a goal on his debut, Thomas Ince could be a gem that could develop into a great player under the management of Tony Pulis. The 22-year-old has featured in 161 games in his five-season career, scoring 41 goals and creating a further 39, it is also well worth noting that the young winger has scored a goal on average every 300 minutes throughout his career so far. Pulis' interest in the player has been absolute with the Welshman tipping Ince to becoming a "top Premier League player" in the future.

Croydon North MP Steve Reed gets Paxman-esque grilling during visit to children's centre

May 13, 2014, 3:54 am

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NEWSNIGHT may be losing its interrogator-in-chief but a children's centre in Croydon appears to be training the next generation of Jeremy Paxmans. Steve Reed MP visited Gingerbread Corner last Friday for a pre-election debate with children aged five to 11-years-old. The Croydon North MP could be forgiven for expecting an easy ride but was instead met with the sort of grilling Paxman would have been proud of. While one or two of the questions were light-hearted ("Why do police eat doughnuts?"), the majority showed the children have a keen interest in politics, even if some were reluctant to admit it. Mr Reed was asked why so many MPs are white and male, what he is doing to help homeless people and whether the unemployed should "earn" their benefits by volunteering. One child, channelling his inner Nigel Farage, even asked: "Why are Germans running our country when they created the Second World War?" Sue Moses, chief executive of Gingerbread Corner, in Grenaby Road, Croydon, said the questions were all of the children's creation. "We told them earlier in the week that an MP was coming and we were going to do our own Question Time," she said. "They were obviously very interested because they came up with so many questions and there was no coaching. All I did was print them out. "I have to say I was really proud of them, both of their insightful questions and because they paid an enormous amount of attention to Steve's answers." Mr Reed told the Advertiser he enjoyed being "thoroughly grilled" during his visit, which ended with a trip to the ball pool. "I have to admit they threw some really tough questions at me," he said. "They asked why there are wars, why some people are racist and even why police eat doughnuts. "We're lucky to have such a fantastic childcare centre in Croydon. I only wish there were more places like it." Mrs Moses believes the visit planted seeds of interest that will hopefully ensure the children grow into voters. "Children have a much better idea of politics than you might imagine," she said. "Steve asked one boy, who is ten, whether he was interested in politics. He said no, but then asked lots of politically astute questions. "Politics is something we have to get children interested in from an early age so they know how important it is to have a say about how the country is run. "I think the children took away a greater understanding of why it's important to get involved, which many of them wouldn't have had if they hadn't been offered this opportunity."

Croydon Municipal Sunday Football League Cup Finals

May 13, 2014, 4:02 am

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Croydon Municipal Sunday Football LeagueStewart Vaughan Cup Final Surrey Valley made amends for their Surrey Cup final defeat in midweek by overcoming AFC Thornton 3-1 in a thrilling game at Tooting and Mitcham FC. Valley started the brightest and were rewarded with an early goal from Dan Jupe, rounding the keeper to score. A Steven Gerrard-esqe slip from a vVlley defender allowed Adam Rea a free run on goal five minutes later and he made no mistake tucking the ball away under the keeper. Perry Monkton then scored the goal of the game with an effort from 40 yards, almost a replica of the cracker scored in the midweek final loss, before Jupe finished the scoring with an accomplished finish before half-time. League Challenge Cup Final Kobs Utd came from behind to seal the league challenge cup over Santos 92. Santos were on the back foot from the beginning but edged in front following a great move through Daniel Snadden. Santos pressed for a second but Kobs held firm. Just as the half-time whistle was about to blow, Gary Bonsels collided with the Kobs keeper which resulted in a broken kneecap. Following a delay for the ambulance, Kobs came out after half-time on the front foot, forcing an equaliser following a corner which deflected off a Santos player for an own goal. With the game drifting into extra-time, B Samuals grabbed a winning goal with five minutes left on the clock and Kobs saw off the game for a great win. If any club is interested in joining the Croydon Municipal Sunday Football League for next season, please contact General Secretary Paul Scott at paulscottcmsfl@gmail.com.

I had to join Crystal Palace for the sake of international career, says former Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey

May 13, 2014, 4:11 am

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CRYSTAL Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has admitted it wasn't hard for him to leave Wolverhampton Wanderers. The custodian told members of the local press after Fulham on Sunday that he had to leave Molineux to save his international career with Wales. And when the Eagles came calling, he admitted it wasn't a tough decision to leave the League One side for the top flight of English football. "Near the end, it wasn't very difficult to leave," said Hennessey. "I was playing League One football where I didn't get a game, which was disappointing because I need to be for Wales. "Chris Coleman pulled me aside and said I needed to be playing, because Boaz Myhill was playing for West Brom at the time. "It wasn't hard for me in the end, and obviously if a Premier League club comes knocking, you're going to go."

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Crystal Palace loan star: I'm not ruling out a permanent switch to Selhurst Park

May 13, 2014, 4:15 am

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TOM Ince says he is "definitely not" ruling out a summer move on a permanent basis to Crystal Palace. The winger has had to watch the likes of Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie start in Tony Pulis' side despite impressing on his debut with a goal and assist back on February 8 against West Bromwich Albion. Pulis has gone on record stating he would like to keep Ince beyond his current loan deal from Blackpool, but he has also been linked with moves in the United Kingdom and abroad. "I have had a bit of a long season being up and down," said Ince. "I just want to do what every footballers does and put their feet up and go on holiday. "I'll come back in June, see what my options are there for me. I have just got to pick the right one for me. "I have enjoyed my time at Crystal Palace. The players, the staff and the fans have been phenomenal for me. "It's hard for a loan player to come in. You're not really a Palace player but if we manage to sit down in the summer, I'll have a chat with the chairman here. "I am definitely not ruling Palace out. I know the feel and the team. "It's not easy when you come into a team on loan, and if the players weren't great and you weren't playing, you can easily lose your head but these lads have been fantastic. "The whole squad has been positive and you can see that in the games. "When you've got a squad like that, where you feel welcome and you feel at home, there's always a positive vibe."

Crystal Palace stopper reflects on debut and pre-season in America

May 13, 2014, 4:26 am

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WAYNE Hennessey made his Crystal Palace debut on Sunday at Craven Cottage against relegated Fulham and has claimed he has a "great feeling" when playing for the club. The Eagles put an end to their first season back in the Premier League on Sunday with a 2-2 draw in west London against Felix Magath's side. Hennessey joined Tony Pulis' side in January from League One side Wolves where he made 166 appearances in his four seasons at the club. The 27-year-old Welsh International has been tipped to succeed Julian Speroni as goalkeeper at Selhurst Park next season. Speaking about his selection on Sunday, Hennessey said: "I found out (I was playing) when I was working on set-pieces, the gaffer just pulled me in and told me. "It was a great feeling to be playing for Crystal Palace. It was a fantastic day for me. It felt good, it was a shame we didn't win but both sides played well and it was interesting." Chris David scored a stunning equaliser in the final minute of the game on Sunday, a shot that arguably couldn't be stopped by Palace's Player of the Year, Speroni. The youngster shot from distance, and to Hennessey it looked like the shot was going "miles over". "As soon as he's hit it, I thought it was miles over, and the next minute I've looked back and it's hit the crossbar and gone in. I couldn't believe it." The club are currently in the middle of making preparations for their pre-season campaign with a number of games due to take place in the United States. Hennessey is looking forward to the preparation leading up to next season and is hoping for a few good games. "I've been out there before but never played there," he said. "It should be good and hopefully there will be a few good games. "We know what to expect, we'll get our fitness up and crack on from there. "All of the lads are great credit to themselves, we've been through thick and thin and blended together; hopefully it continues and we get stronger."

Broken down bus near East Croydon causes tram suspension

May 13, 2014, 4:59 am

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A BROKEN down bus in between Lebanon Road and East Croydon tram stops has forced the suspension of trams on part of the line. There is currently no service between Sandilands and East Croydon after a number 466 bus broke down on the tram line. Engineers are currently on site to repair the bus, which was heading away from East Croydon towards Addington Village.

Health bosses hope information boards will display improvements at Croydon University Hospital

May 13, 2014, 5:11 am

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SAFETY and hygiene levels, the names of senior nurses and the number of staff on duty are among details now available at a glance to patients at Croydon University Hospital. Large information boards have gone on prominent display in wards across the hospital. They feature important information, such as safety scores, and will be updated regularly in a bid to improve care, said Croydon Health Services (CHS). It said the scheme – dubbed the 'ward boards' initiative - will mean more frequent checks to ensure patients have food, drink and pain relief. The name and photograph of the nurse in charge of the ward will also be displayed and the boards will also detail the number of staff on duty in each ward compared to recommended levels. Patients will also be able to tell at a glance how the ward is rated for safety, infection control and hygiene. Zoe Packman, director of nursing for CHS, said making this information easily accesible will help drive up standards. "The 'ward boards' put patient safety, care and attention right at the top for all to see," she said. "We want everyone to see immediately on entering on our wards that everything we do is about giving patients better care. "These boards put the information our nurses need clearly on display for all visitors to see how well they are doing. "It also supports a culture of continuous improvement on our wards by listening to what our patients, visitors and staff tell us." CHS will hope the information boards will lead to improved patient experience scores, one of several areas the Care Quality Commission (CQC) urged the trust to address following an inspection last September. It is in the process of finalising plans for a £17.5 million refurbishment of its cramped and out-of-date A&E department, another issue highlighted by the CQC. The trust said information displayed on the boards would be reviewed and updated at regular meetings, where staff working on each ward would come together to monitor the care of every patient and agree the best course of action for those staff on shift. Sandra Simon, manager of Purley 1 ward, said the boards would enable her to "invest more time into making patient experience better". "I can have more time to attend to their needs," she added. The boards are in use in seven wards so far and will be rolled out across the rest of the hospital in phases.

Croydon teen Fico Dougan murdered by youth shortly after he said 'rap music makes me want to stab someone,' Old Bailey hears

May 13, 2014, 5:40 am

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A TEENAGE boy told friends rap music "makes me want to stab somebody" shortly before knifing an acquaintance to death, a court heard. The 16-year-old, who cannot be named due to his age, fatally stabbed Fico Dougan with a kitchen knife after smoking cannabis at a house in Ockley Road, Broad Green, on September 25 last year, his trial at the Old Bailey heard today (Tuesday). He then ran out of the house before burning clothes and shoes at his home in Mitcham, prosecutor Martin Hicks QC told the court. The teenager has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Dougan, 17, who died from a stab wound to the heart. The defence will argue diminished responsibility on grounds the defendant was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, Mr Hicks told the court. Jurors heard that the defendant had gone to visit a relative in Ockley Road on the afternoon of the alleged murder. Mr Hicks said the defendant had earlier smoked cannabis. Mr Hicks continued: "At some point when he was there (the defendant) was observed listening to music on his headphones and he was heard to say words to the effect of; 'when I listen to rap music I want to stab somebody.' "It was a weird thing to say at the time according to others and they thought little more of it." Fico arrived "some time later" to see his friend at the house. They were sitting on the sofa when "at some point the defendant left the room," Mr Hicks told jurors. He continued: "He went there and according to (witness) he had what she described as a vague sort of stare on his face. "Afterwards (the defendant) burst back into the living room from the kitchen area. And this time he was holding a large knife, a kitchen knife, and without warning seemingly and for no good reason, proceeded to attack Fico, who was seated on the sofa with it, and the crown suggests (defendant) stabbed Fico in the chest." Jurors heard how a friend intervened to try and stop the attack, "screaming for him to stop" but the defendant was "paying no attention; he was not listening." The defendant was arrested at his home in Mitcham a short while later, where officers found him burning jeans in the garden, the court heard. Mr Dougan, a former Archbishop Tenison's student, was pronounced dead at St George's Hospital that afternoon. The trial continues.

Vote for your Crystal Palace player of the season

May 13, 2014, 5:41 am

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Here is your chance to vote for your Crystal Palace player of the season. Just take a look at our suggestions and vote for your favourite.

New Surrey signing Kevin O'Brien hoping for more T20 success

May 13, 2014, 6:24 am

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IRISH all-rounder Kevin O'Brien hopes to hit the ground running after signing for Surrey on a short term contract to play in the NatWest T20 Blast. O'Brien will be available for the opening game against Sussex on Friday night at the County Ground in Hove. The all-rounder will be available for the first part of the campaign, before leaving to play for the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel in the Caribbean Premier League. And O'Brien, who also played for Surrey last summer, is looking forward to turning out in front of some big crowds at the Oval. "I'm really excited to be back at Surrey and am looking forward to this year's campaign," he said. "It's great to be back. Last year was quite a quick stop, for three games, but I'm here a lot longer now this season. "I love it here. I think it helps playing in front of 25 or 28,000, it's great playing in front of those big crowds. "Hopefully again this season I can hit the ground running and put in some good performances for the team." Surrey got to the final at Edgbaston in last summer's T20 before losing to Northamptionshire, and O'Brien is anticipating another successful campaign. "I think last season was a successful on for Surrey before unfortunately falling at the last hurdle on finals day," he said. "Hopefully we can play some good cricket, the changing room is full of world class players and it's going to be an exciting tournament to get involved in."

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VOTE for you Crystal Palace game of the season

May 13, 2014, 6:45 am

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They've memorably beaten Everton and Chelsea, drawn with Liverpool, but what was your favourite Crystal Palace game of the season? Vote from our list below...

Crystal Palace set to face two Major League Soccer sides in July

May 13, 2014, 8:01 am

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CRYSTAL Palace co-chairman Stephen Browett has confirmed that two of the Eagles' three pre-season games in the United States will be against MLS sides. Tony Pulis' squad look set to travel to the east coast, ruling out any fans' hopes of playing the LA Galaxy. However, a game against the New York Redbulls, who have the likes of Thierry Henry, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Tim Cahill, could be on the agenda. Negotiations have gone well and an announcement of who Palace are playing is set imminently. "There was a small trip to the east coast a few years ago but now we're looking at playing two MLS teams and a team who play in the second division in the USA," Browett told the Advertiser. "It's not a tournament, we're travelling to three different clubs. They are kind of decided but they're not confirmed. But two out of the three are MLS teams." Furthermore, Browett was quoted on the BBS messageboard, saying: "Provisionally it's a 10 day tour with 3 matches in 3 different East Coast(ish) cities."

Julian Speroni to learn World Cup fate with Argentina tonight

May 13, 2014, 8:15 am

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CRYSTAL Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni will find out tonight if he has been selected for Argentina's World Cup squad. A number of nations are currently submitting their 23-man squads, along with a standby list. Manager Alejandro Sabella is believed to be taking his time due form and fitness concerns of some players before announcing his squad at 10pm Argentina time. That's around 4am in the United Kingdom. Speroni has been in outstanding form this season, playing week in, week out in the Premier League. He picked up the Palace fans' player of the year last week and has expressed his desire to be part of the Argentine national squad on a number of occasions. It is believed Sabella has been sent DVDs of Speroni in action, with a number a of eye-catching saves included, yet he failed to call him up for a friendly back in March. Speroni turns 35-years-old this Sunday and this summer's World Cup will be the last chance he could represent his country at senior level. His future at Selhurst Park is set to be discussed with Eagles boss Tony Pulis this week too, with the club's board ready to offer him a new contract depending on Pulis' decision.

LIVE: Croydon Decides election debate at Fairfield Halls

May 13, 2014, 8:45 am

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WELCOME to the build up and live coverage of Croydon Decides, the Advertiser's debate ahead of the council elections on May 22. Leaders and prominent members of the five main parties - Conservative, Labour, Ukip, Green and Liberal Democrat - will be taking your questions at Fairfield Halls from 7pm this evening. Council leader Mike Fisher, who held off Labour four years ago, is representing the Conservatives at the debate. Cllr Tony Newman will hope a strong showing at Croydon Decides will help Labour reconnect with voters following back-to-back defeats in 2006 and 2010. The UK Independence Party (Ukip) will also be present on the panel, with Peter Staveley, branch chairman for Croydon Central and South, planning to stress the need for change. Tracey Hague, a trustee at Croydon Voluntary Action, will be representing the Green Party and qualified architect John Jefkins speaks for the Liberal Democrats, who lost their last councillor in Croydon in the 2006 election.The panellists Audience members have submitted questions, a selection of which will be put to the panel. They cover issues from Croydon's two-party politics and fly-tipping to the flooding earlier this year and recovery since the riots in 2011. You can follow the debate on the live blog below, on our Facebook page and on Twitter via #croydondecides. An audio recording of the event will be uploaded later this evening. Questions put to the panel are available to candidates from other parties not represented at the debate, as well as independents, following the event, with the answers published on our website. Please email gareth.davies@croydonadvertiser.co.uk for the list.

 

CROYDON DECIDES: Your verdict on the Advertiser's election debate

May 13, 2014, 1:00 pm

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CROYDON Decides, the Advertiser's election debate, was held at Fairfield Halls this evening. It brought the leaders and prominent candidates from five main parties - Conservative, Labour, Ukip, Green and Liberal Democrat - together to discuss questions, set by our readers, on the big topics ahead of going to the polls next Thursday (May 22). The debate has now come to a close though we will be uploading a full audio recording later this evening (Tuesday). Those who attended, and anyone who has the chance to listen back, can let us know what they thought of the hustings via the survey below. The Advertiser would like to thank the candidates, audience members and Fairfield Halls for agreeing to host the event.