FIREFIGHTERS from Norbury station had a busy night shift on Sunday, attending four separate incidents.

At 7.50pm crews were called to a collision outside Tesco in Thornton Heath High Street following a collision between two vehicles which left a woman with leg injuries.

"A family in one of the cars were out quickly and were pretty much unharmed," said a member of red watch, the team on duty.

"The other car had a driver and a passenger. On arrival the passenger was said to be suffering from leg pain.

"So we stabilised the vehicle and then we helped the ambulance crew gain access.

"They took about 15 minutes to assess the situation and then they strapped her leg in a brace.

"We stood by while they assisted her out of the car, as we weren't too sure whether the roof would need to be taken off.

"As it turned out they managed to get her out onto the stretcher by bending the door back."

Red watch was out again at 11.30pm after a car ploughed into a wall in Streatham High Road at the junction with Green Lane.

"The car had gone across from the traffic lights and embedded itself into the surrounding boundary wall of a block of flats.

"It took out six metres of wall and railings and ended up balanced on top of the wall.

"There was a family inside the car but no one was injured. They had all left the vehicle before we arrived.

"Police attended and are investigating the cause."

The third incident occurred at around 3.30am. Crews were sent to a car alight in Green Lane, around 200 yards away from the earlier incident.

"That turned out to be a car that had come off the road and struck a BT phone kiosk.

"It absolutely destroyed it and came to rest on its side leaning against a lamppost.

"One driver was involved and he was stood by the side of the road relatively unscathed when we arrived.

"We made sure the vehicle was safe and remained at the scene to make sure the electrical supply to the phone box was safe

Red watch also attended a small fire caused by an electrical fault on a car parked in someone's driveway.

Speaking about the eventful night, the red watch spokesman said: "It wasn't just fire alarms which made it more interesting. 

"It was quite busy, like the olden days." 

EXAM season is always an important time in the Bhanu household, but this summer term will be a particularly big deal, as 16-year-old Ayra prepares for her GCSEs and her brother Arun his SATs.

Arun, 10, also faces a summer of entrance exams in the hope of securing a highly sought after place at a grammar school like his sister. If he is successful he will join hundreds of the borough's most-able primary pupils in opting out of state education in Croydon.

Last week the Advertiser reported that more than half of pupils who achieved a Level 6 – the highest grade – in Key Stage 2 last summer chose to attend schools outside of the borough or at one of Croydon's independent schools.

A closer look at those figures show 56 per cent of these pupils were from Asian – Indian, Chinese, Pakistani and Bangladeshi – communities, compared to 25 per cent of the pupils who go on to a Croydon state school.

That a disproportionate number of Asian parents are shunning the town's secondaries, predominantly for grammar schools in Sutton, comes as no surprise to Ayra and Arun's father Sajeev Bhanu.

"We place more importance on children's education – it's as simple as that," he said. "We take it more seriously than other communities – probably far too seriously.

"Asian parents want their children to get into the best schools. For them it's far more important than anything else, so we spend what time and money we have on their education."

Ayra went to Elmwood Junior School before passing the entrance exam for Wallington High School for Girls. Like many all of the parents who spoke to the Advertiser this week, Mr Bhanu had nothing but praise for his child's primary school, but felt Croydon's secondaries could not measure up to what was on offer over the border.

The Bhanus are also one of a number families who sold their homes in Croydon and moved to Wallington because of their belief in selective education.

Shivaji Joy also sold up when his daughter Pooja, 16, secured a place at Wallington High after attending Elmwood in Thornton Heath.

He said: "Most of the parents we knew at the school have moved away from Croydon because they want a better education for their children. Most of them are Asian.

"One of the schools we looked at was Archbishop Lanfranc but the behaviour of the children was not great compared to schools in Wallington and Cheam.

"I've noticed an improvement [in schools in Croydon] but I don't think my decision would be any different."

Mr Joy, who now lives in Wallington, says Indian families place particular importance on education because of their heritage.

"When I grew up in Kerela, education was always the top priority. It was the same for everyone and now we want the same for our children."

Bindu Raghavan wanted her daughter Lakshmi, 13, to go to one of Croydon's independent schools after leaving what is now West Thornton Primary Academy in Thornton Heath, but could not afford the fees.

"Education is a priority for me," she said. "I was a double graduate in India but when I came here I couldn't afford to study further so now I am concentrating on my daughter. I wanted to send her to a private school but I couldn't because of the financial commitment. The next option was a grammar school. She had potential and I knew they would encourage it.

"I did put down local schools, like Norbury Manor [Business and Enterprise College] and Harris Crystal Palace, but I thought the education and discipline would be better at a grammar.

"I didn't think there would be as much bullying because of the sort of pupils who go there."

Lakshmi was placed in the top 80 students in the entrance exam and was offered a place at Wallington High, where she is now in Year 8.

"I'm very proud of her," said Mrs Raghavan. "If there was one thing I could give her it would be a good education. Education is the best thing."

In Croydon last summer 436 primary school children achieved a Level 6 in maths at Key Stage 2, with 210 (48 per cent) remaining in the borough at a state secondary. Of the remaining 226, 127 were of Asian heritage.

School leaders and politicians told the Advertiser last week that more needed to be done to convince parents that state schools have improved, as well as to continue to drive up standards.

Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell said the borough should have its own grammar school. 

Schools 'have a lot of work to do'

COMMUNITY leader Chandra Babu says Croydon's schools have a lot of work to do if they are to win over the borough's Asian communities.

Mr Babu, vice-chairman of the Asian Resource Centre of Croydon, sent both his daughters, now adults, to Old Palace, a private girls' school run by the Whitgift Foundation.

"I would have preferred to send my children to a state school but I thought I should send them to the best possible school rather stick with my principles," he explained.

"I didn't earn enough money to pay the fees so I went out and set up a business. I would never have considered going and buying a shop but I did so because I wanted a decent income and that's purely for paying fees.

"I didn't believe they could get a good education in the state schools at the time.

"Archbishop Lanfranc would have been a school my children could have gone to but the education there was pretty poor. All credit to the head teacher – David Clark – he turned the school around. Had it been like that ten years before I would have sent my children there."

Asked what the wider community thought of schools in Croydon, he said: "There have been improvements but they're still not good enough. That is the reason they are sending their children to private or grammar schools.

"What would I do? Sack 50 per cent of the teachers. They're not setting high enough standards for the children. They're not ambitious enough. They take it so easy it's unbelievable."

Mr Babu added: "Asian families place a very strong emphasis on education, particularly families from an Indian background.

"I came from a very small village in India. All five of us all have degrees, and beyond that we're expected to be either a doctor or an engineer. My brothers are both doctors. There's a huge amount of work parents have to put in to get to that level. So it comes from home, the culture.

"I believe the state or the borough can learn from that and take advantage of it. Rather than having more Asian teachers, they should have more Asian parents involved in the running of the schools, as governors. Particularly women, because mothers typically take more interest than fathers.

"Very few Asian women are governors at Croydon schools but no one seems to be taking note of that."

Education chief: 'I'm searching for an answer'

THE councillor responsible for education policy in Croydon says she does not know why so many high-performing primary pupils continue their education outside of the borough.

Alisa Flemming, cabinet member for children, families and learning, said the council was in the early stages of a piece of research she hopes will shed light on why.

When the Advertiser suggested those parents believed their children could achieve more elsewhere, Cllr Flemming replied: "Naturally I disagree with that. I think state schools provide our children with a good quality education.

"Is it as good as at a grammar school? Yes, I believe that 100 per cent. They give a full across the board good quality of education.

"I know people who have sent their children to grammar schools, to private schools and indeed to state schools.

"There are extra-curricular activities in private schools you may not be able to get in state schools but, in terms of qualifications, can you come out with decent GCSEs [at a state school]? 100 per cent. Can you come out with 13 A* to C grades? 100 per cent.

"So I genuinely don't know the answer but it is a key piece of research we have started to look at."

Cllr Flemming added: "It would be easy for me to sit here and tell you this is what we're going to do but far too often we implement ideas and strategies and say we have the answer to the problem without actually listening to young people to find out what the problem is.

"The reason I don't have the answer, is because we have to speak to the young people first and find out why they decided to opt out of education in Croydon and what informed their decision." 

CRYSTAL Palace midfielder James McArthur has played down his incident with Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson on Saturday.

After the midfielder went in for a challenge, he tumbled over into Pearson inside his technical area, which prompted what appeared to be a stern response from the manager.

As Pearson helped McArthur up, the Scotsman looked to get back on the field of play only for the manager to hold him back and not let go.

Initially it looked playful but then turned slightly more serious. However, McArthur was adamant there was nothing in the incident and admitted Pearson's presence was a bit intimidating.

"These things happen in football - I've collided into him and he said it was only a joke, so I'll take it in that manner and we move on," said the former Wigan Athletic man.

"If it's on and off the field, it's going to get blown out of proportion but there's nothing in it on my part.

"I got a bit scared, to be honest! These thing happen and you see it quite a lot with managers and players throughout the game, so I'm not bothered by it."

By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)

A FORMER Croydon schoolboy and promising young athlete is in a coma after suffering a head injury during a football match on Saturday.

Redhill FC player Kariym Irving, 22, was involved in a clash of heads while playing for the Surrey team's reserves against Knaphill, but decided to finish the game.

It was only later that evening that Irving collapsed, and he is currently being treated in St George's Hospital in Tooting, where he is in an induced coma.

The 6ft 8ins former John Fisher School pupil is a keen sportsman who also plays rugby as well as representing Surrey in athletics, specialising in the discus.

He used to compete regularly against fellow Croydon Harrier Lawrence Okoye, who went on to reach the 2012 Olympic discus final.

Redhill first team manager Mike Maher has thanked the football community for their support, adding everyone at the club is hoping for positive news.

"Kariym took a knock to the head during the game but there was no sign of concussion and he decided to continue," Maher explained. "He normally lives on his own, but thank God he was with his girlfriend that evening or no one might have been there when he collapsed that evening.

"Kariym is an extremely talented athlete as well as a footballer and we are all just hoping for good news. There is nothing anyone can do at the moment, it's down to Kariym and his doctors, but we are hoping and praying he makes a full recovery.

"It's at times like this the football community pulls together and that has been great to see, we are grateful for all the messages of support for Kariym."

And the Redhill boss believe it is a reminder of the dangers of head injuries.

"Head injuries can never be ignored," he said. "Thankfully, Kariym's girlfriend was there otherwise we don't know what would have happened. After a knock, no matter how small, it's important to keep an eye on the person for the next 48 hours."

COULSDON Bypass was closed in both directions this morning after an emergency incident.  

Transport for London's (TfL) official transport news Twitter account told drivers to expect delays as a result of the "emergency services incident", which occurred at around 10.45am. 

The A23 (Coulsdon Bypass) is currently closed in both directions due to a emergency services incident. Expect delays.

— TfL Traffic News (@TfLTrafficNews) February 9, 2015

It is understood a person was threatening to jump from the rail bridge.

Firefighters from Purley were called to the scene but a crew member told the Advertiser at 11.48am that the situation had been resolved. 

London Ambulance Service and police also attended the incident.  

DWIGHT Gayle says no one at Crystal Palace is getting carried away despite five wins in six matches in all competitions under Alan Pardew.

After Saturday's 1-0 win at Leicester City, Gayle now has Newcastle United in his sights on Wednesday.

And Gayle admitted the game at the King Power had that feeling of a relegation scrap about it at times, even though there was plenty of goalmouth action.

"It was always going to be tough but they gave us a good game," the striker told the Advertiser.

"Luckily we got the win in the end hopefully we can push on from that.

"After the game the gaffer just said to keep our feet on the ground because we're still in the scrap.

"It has given us a bit of confidence and belief, and hopefully in the next few games we can get away from the bottom three and push on.

"There are a lot of games we need to win still, plus there are real hard games at the end so we need to get these points as quick as we can really to make sure we're not fighting for it at the end.

"It was a proper good battle from us and Leicester. You could tell it was a fight at the bottom but I felt both teams had bright spells where they did well and could have got the result.

"Luckily we scored and were on top and also kept the clean sheet, which was good for the defence."

By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)

A MAN accused of stabbing a 52-year-old father of three to death in April last year is expected to enter a plea to the charge this week.

Ephraim Norman, 24, of Kensington Avenue, Thornton Heath, was originally due to be tried at the Old Bailey last October, but proceedings have been repeatedly delayed.

He is now due to enter a plea to the charge of murder on Friday, February 13.

Andrew Else, of Pixton Way, Forestdale was found stabbed in an alley near Selsdon Park Road on April 27 last year. He was pronounced dead at the scene, despite prolonged efforts by paramedics to revive him.

A post mortem revealed that Mr Else had died of multiple stab wounds.

ERIC Pickles visited Park Hill Junior School today as the primary celebrated the announcement that it would be one of almost 300 schools in the country to get a share of £6 billion improvement works.

The communities secretary's visit coincided with government plans revealed today to provide children in 277 schools with high quality classrooms and give teachers access to the best facilities part of the long term plan for education.

The government's Priority School Building Programme will see £2 billion invested in rebuilding and refurbishing schools, with £4 billion allocated between in the next three years to local authorities, academy trusts and voluntary-aided partnerships to better the condition of schools across the country.

Park Hill Junior and Bensham Manor Special School in Croydon are two of just 41 schools in the capital to benefit from a slice of the cash.

Cathy Daniels, head teacher of Park Hill Junior School, said the exciting upgrading of the older parts of the school's building will help children take pride in their work an reflect how much they are valued.

"It will also allow me and my team to focus on the children's learning, rather than nursing along an old building which is in a poor state of repair," she said.

Gavin Barwell MP said he is a "passionate champion" of Croydon's schools. He work has seen more money coming into the borough for extra school places, Quest Academy rebuilt and an extra £12.4 million revenue funding this year.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "It is crucial that we invest properly in education, so that every child has a fair start in life. Thousands of pupils will benefit from better, brighter, warmer classrooms thanks to this funding. Children can't learn and teachers can't teach in schools that are cold and have leaking roofs.

"To create a stronger economy we have to invest in a fairer society so that our young people can be successful in the future."

A CREATIVE writing student's attempt to use his talents to swindle housing benefit have backfired.

Nicholas Harrison, 39, has been dubbed "an unpleasant man" by a judge, after he wrote a series of letters blaming others for his misdeeds, as he tried to explain falsely claiming benefits worth £9,229.52.

He penned his pleas for mercy after refusing to cooperate with the council's investigation and then failing to attend an initial hearing at Croydon Magistrates' Court.

A warrant was issued for his arrest and now Harrison, who wrongly claimed benefits while reading for a degree in creative writing and film studies at Kingston University, has been brought to book.

Harrison admitted failing declare that he was a full-time student, in receipt of a student loan and a student grant while living in Albert Road, South Norwood, between September 2009 and July 2013, and being in receipt of housing benefit.

He was sentenced to undertake 180 hours' unpaid community work; a tagged curfew between 10pm and 6am; and ordered to pay compensation of £9,149.52 and costs of £5,196.25.

Harrison, now of Leyton, east London, was also warned that if he did not comply with the order, he faced going to prison.

Passing sentence, his honour Judge John Tanzer said: "You are an unpleasant man. Not only did you know exactly what you were doing, but you have tried to wheedle your way out of it.

"You were eventually arrested, not even giving yourself up. Not content with that, you continued to write letters saying how it was other people's fault."

Speaking after the case, council leader Tony Newman said Harrison's conviction "should stand as a warning to anybody who thinks they can make fraudulent claims and get away with it."

THE Asian community in Croydon has been urged to remain vigilant after a scammer conned an elderly couple into thinking they had won the lottery.

Croydon's trading standards team has learned that Hindi-speaking residents are being targeted by calls from an India-based call centre.

The scam came to light when an elderly Thornton Heath couple received a call from someone claiming to be acting on behalf of a number of well-known UK companies, and saying the recipient has won a lottery sum of £50,000.

They then ask the victim to call an 070 number to release funds from their bank, or to send up to £375, via Western Union, to release the winnings.

The elderly couple in this case used the 1471 caller-identification service to check the callers' number, concerned it may have been a con.

They reported this to the police, who confirmed it was a known scam number.

More than 2,600 fraud reports received by Action Fraud last year featured 070 numbers. Calls from a landline to this prefix can cost up to 65p per minute and may incur an additional call set-up fee of up to 51p. Calls from mobiles can cost up to £1.50 per minute.

In extreme cases, victims have received phone bills running into hundreds of pounds as a result of calling these premium-rate numbers.

If you receive a call from such a number, dial 1471 to note the caller ID and report this to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, or online at www.actionfraud.police.uk

LEICESTER boss Nigel Pearson has stayed tight-lipped about his bizarre attack on Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur.

Reports on Sunday night suggested Pearson had been sacked by the Premier League's bottom club, in the wake of the Foxes 1-0 defeat to Palace and the manager's bizarre touchline run-in with McArthur, during which he put his hands around the Scotland international's throat.

But Leicester later refuted the speculation and confirmed Pearson was still the club's manager, and this afternoon (Monday) he held a press conference ahead of tomorrow's visit to Arsenal.

Pearson stayed tight-lipped about his clash with McArthur but did aim a broadside at Match of the Day host - ex-Leicester legend Gary Lineker - and pundits Danny Murphy and Jermaine Jenas, who were critical of the 51-year-old's conduct on Saturday night's show.

"It's not helpful when the three fountains of knowledge on Match of the Day make a mountain out of a molehill," Pearson said. at his press conference.

He added: "I can't see too much mileage in discussing yesterday. What I feel, if I have got things to say, I will say it in the appropriate manner to the appropriate people.

"I don't think I have ever been in a position where I speak to openly about what goes on in internal workings."

Lineker almost immediately posted this tweet, in response to Pearson's barb, which made reference to Pearson's post-match claim that he can "look after himself" when questioned about the incident.

Ah Nigel Pearson is blaming MOTD for making a mountain out of a molehill. We'd best be careful in future, the fella can look after himself.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 9, 2015

A FORMER public school master has been jailed for ten years for sexually abusing boys as young as eight.

David Lowe,ex-principal at Cambridge Tutors' College, in South Croydon, molested ten minors, including a chorister who was picked to sing at his wedding,

And last Thursday (February 5) the father-of-five was imprisoned after being convicted of 15 indecent assault charges.

The 61-year-old tutor sexually assaulted six boys at Westminster Cathedral Choir School and four at Ampleforth College - the leading Catholic school in North Yorkshire - between 1978 and 1984, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Lowe was principal at Cambridge Tutors' College in South Croydon for a decade from 1997, and prior to that he had worked at Caterham School as Head of English.

The defendant, who lived until recently in Chalkpit Lane, Oxted, gave a Bristol address to the court.

The jury heard that married Lowe crept around boys' dormitories at night fondling and spanking them as they drifted off to sleep in their bunk beds.

He also carried out attacks during piano lessons and even in a sick bay, the court was told.

One victim, a former pupil at Westminster Cathedral Choir School, told police he was asked to sing at Lowe's wedding in 1981.

Later that year, he said he was sexually assaulted in Lowe's car after he was invited to visit him in Yorkshire.

Prosecutor Philip Bennetts said: "David Lowe had a small group of pupils that he was extra-friendly with.

"He would leave sweets in his locker and notes like 'You're very special, you deserve this, enjoy'.

"Your responsibility was to protect their welfare, not to damage it."

Giving evidenc,e a former Ampleforth pupil said he was just 10 when he was attacked during private piano lessons in the early 1980s.

The victim recalled: "He was poking around in my crotch area - over clothes.

"'It was painful, it was bizarre and it was inappropriate."

A former Westminster pupil described his tutor resting his hands on his tummy and instructing him to 'sing using your diaphragm.'

Lowe then felt the boy's bottom on several occasions during one-on-one music lessons.

The witness said he once begged a classmate to stay behind at the end of the lesson, because he did not want to be alone with Lowe.

He added he had been molested by Lowe "'possibly a dozen times in all " but finally reported the abuse to police after years of silence.

Lowe insisted he had no sexual interest in children and claimed the only physical contact he had with boys was when he tried to help them relax.

Jailing Lowe, judge Martin Beddoe said: "What you did remained a secret for 35 years.

"Your responsibility was to protect their welfare, not to damage it."

A HEAD teacher has defended his school after Ofsted said it "requires improvement" for the second successive inspection.

St Mary's Roman Catholic High, in West Croydon, was told to improve after a visit from inspectors in June 2013 and has been given the same grade following an inspection last month.

Despite Ofsted's findings and poor GCSE results last summer, head teacher Patrick Shields said the school is moving forwards.

Mr Shields, who took on the role formally in September, declined to be interviewed by the Advertiser after the report was published last Friday, but released a statement via email.

He said: "St Mary's welcomes the recent Ofsted report as it provides a clear focus for our continued development. St Mary's is a good school with many areas of strength."

Although inspectors did praise St Mary's in a number of areas, they did not agree it is a "good" school, rating it as "requires improvement" in every category.

The report, published on Friday, said the school needs to do better because students' achievement is "too variable across subjects and between groups of students."

It said performance of the art, business, geography and PE departments "is not as good as it should be".

Core subjects, such as reading, writing, communication and mathematics, are "not yet taught effectively across the school", wrote lead inspector Jackie Jones' report said.

Ofsted criticised teachers for a lack of consistently and said the school's governing body had failed to challenge senior staff over standards and attainment.

The report follows disappointing GCSE results which saw just 42 per cent of pupils leaving St Mary's last summer with at least five A* to C grades including English and maths. While this was marginally above the minimum standard required by the government, it was eight per cent lower than in 2013.

There are signs the school could be on the right track, however.

Ofsted said Mr Shields had identified St Mary's strengths and weaknesses "quickly" and had put into place measures to bring about improvements. It said the changes were "beginning to bring about more rapid school improvement", including to pupil behaviour.

Mr Shields, who has worked behind the scenes at the school since early 2014, replaced Ejiro Ughwujabo, who retired last summer.

Ofsted was particularly pleased that the achievement of disadvantaged students, those who are disabled or have educational needs, is improving "rapidly". Some 37 per cent of the school's more than 700 pupils fall into those categories, double the national average.

St Mary's, in Woburn Road, will be reinspected within a year to gauge whether those improvements have spread to other parts of the school.

Mr Shields said: "I relish the opportunity to continue to move the school forward and will be working with colleagues to draft a robust action plan to ensure further progress."

The Advertiser asked the Education Commission, which oversees Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Southwark, whether it had any plans to convert St Mary's into an academy. 

Ann Bamford, director of education, did not answer the question but said: "St Mary's is on a rapid journey to becoming a high performing school.

"The Ofsted report speaks particularly positively about the strengths of the new head teacher and the very positive behaviour of students.

"The report highlights the broad and balanced curriculum in the school and the very positive Catholic ethos." 

TRENDY retail marketplace Boxpark is poised to move into Croydon.

It is understood founder and chief executive, Roger Wade, of Boxpark Shoreditch is close to finalising a deal to open his new venture on a site next to East Croydon station which forms part of the Stanhope/Schroders' Ruskin Square development.

It will take over an area which at present includes the Croydon Visitor Centre and the CeX entertainment goods shop, both of which are being told the developers are ending their temporary leases.

The scheme will result in the demolition of the two premises and their replacement by Boxpark's units which comprise what the company describes as "stripped and refitted shipping containers, creating unique, low cost, low risk pop-up stores."

It is believed Boxpark could spread down to Dingwall Road.

The company is expected to want to re-create the atmosphere of Shoreditch which includes a mix of fashion and lifestyle shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants.

No-one is officially confirming the deal this week but a company Boxpark Croydon Ltd was officially registered in the middle of December last year.

A spokesman for Boxpark said on Monday the company was not making comment "at this stage."

Stanhope/Schroders issued a statement which simply said: "Croydon Gateway Limited Partnership, which owns the building in which the Croydon Visitor Centre has a short term lease, has decided to exercise its option to terminate the lease with the appropriate notice.

"This was always intended to be a temporary arrangement as the buildings do form part of the Ruskin Square development going forward."

The idea of a Boxpark will fit in neatly with the council's strategy of looking for ways of bringing life to development sites before full-scale rebuilding takes place.

And while it would not be drawn on the proposal, a spokesman said: "We are exploring 'meanwhile' uses for various sites across the town centre to generate activity, employment and new business opportunities."

It also dovetails with Stanhope/Schroders' own aim of animating the Ruskin Square site while the longer-term home and offices development unfolds.

Work has already started on the first housing element of the development.

The rumours of a Boxpark in Croydon has been around for many months, with first suggestions being it could sit along the pedestrian link between Lansdowne Road and the new bridge over East Croydon station.

That concept now seems to have been replaced by the site on George Street, in a prime position to attract the thousands of commuters using East Croydon every day.

CRYSTAL Palace midfielder Joe Ledley says no one in the squad is getting ahead of themselves in the quest for Premier League survival.

That's despite being six points clear of the relegation zone after a gritty 1-0 win at bottom club Leicester City on Saturday.

And Ledley has called on his team-mates to continue their push with 100 per cent concentration, with another potential three points on the horizon against Newcastle United on Wednesday.

"We're not getting carried away," he said. "We're in a position still where we're down there, and we're not safe at all at the moment.

"We're on a good run but we just need to keep coming in every single day and keep that determination going.

"That's what we've got in this squad, everyone works so hard for each other.

"We just need to keep doing that and get the points – then hopefully we survive."

By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)

CRYSTAL Palace striker Dwight Gayle paid tribute to the club's fans for their excellent backing at Leicester City on Saturday and insists the whole club is "buzzing" right now.

After five wins in six in all competitions since Alan Pardew's arrival as manager, Palace have managed to get away from the relegation zone and make the fifth round of the FA Cup.

And as well as looking for another win at home to Newcastle United on Wednesday, Gayle highlighted Julian Speroni for making sure of the points at the King Power Stadium with some stunning saves.

"Each player takes their turn in helping the team out massively and Jules was that guy this time," he told the Advertiser.

"He kept us in it when perhaps he shouldn't have been, but we're very thankful to him.

"We now move on to Newcastle, which is the gaffer's old team and hopefully we can get a result for him, which would be nice for him.

"The fans were like our 12^th man again (at Leicester). Every week they turn in in their great numbers and obviously out-singing the home fans – it feels like a home game for us.

"Everyone is buzzing with the results at the moment. It may not have been our best performance at Leicester but the sign of a good team is sometimes when you don't play so well.

"That is a good sign. Against Everton I thought we played better and didn't get a result, so it was good to react to that loss and just keep pushing forward really."

By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)

A MAN who allegedly tried to dump his dead adopted son's body in the Thames has denied murder at the Old Bailey this morning (February 10).

Colin McSweeny, 59, stands accused of beating Shaun McSweeny, 24, to death with a scaffolding pole at his home in Parry Road, Thornton Heath.

The retired firefighter appeared at the court via video link to deny one charge of murder on or around November 20. He is due to stand trial on June 1.

He was arrested after police were called to reports of a man trying to dump a body in the Thames at Deptford Wharf at around 3am on November 21.

A post-mortem examination determined Shaun was killed following a blunt force to the head. He had a young daughter and a long-term partner.

RESIDENTS lost a long battle to stop the expansion of a high dependency care home in their street last week.

Foxley Residents' Association (FRA) said they felt "betrayed" after they failed to stop plans to increase Highfield House, at 92 – 94 Higher Drive, from 30 bedrooms to 48.

Six of ten councillors voted in favour of the application at a meeting of Croydon Council planning committee last Thursday. It is the third time Fairlie Healthcare, who runs the home, has applied to develop the site.

But FRA chair Lolade Onabolu said residents felt the outcome was a "forgone conclusion", and criticised the committee's chair, Councillor Paul Scott for the lack of "honest debate".

"We all feel betrayed." she said. "Even if the decision is not what we want the process was wrong, there was no honest debate.

"That's upset me a lot more than the outcome. We are very disappointed and we don't have very many options. We think the planning application is not that different to the last one."

FRA fought the application on the grounds Higher Drive is not the right location for an "industrial" sized development like that proposed for Highfield House, which cares for people with serious physical and neurological needs.

Fairlie Healthcare will add a two-story building at 94, joined to the existing building at 92, providing 18 extra bedrooms along with more parking space to the current facility. The frontage will increase from 30 metres to about 70.

But applicant Ian Coomber said the development came after an urgent request from the NHS for bed space. "There is limited space on wards and this disperses care within residential areas."

Objecting at the meeting Steve O'Connell, ward member for Kenley, said there is "no doubt" that Croydon needs more high-dependency care units, but he said this is not the right place.

Cllr O'Connell said: "If we looked at this application a fresh we would not agree to something of this size in this residential area."

Voting in favour of the application, Cllr Scott acknowledged that the site has "generated concern and emotion", but said residential areas are the "right place" for this type of care.

And he dismissed residents' concerns that staff and visitors parking on the street causes traffic problems.

"The photos show cars parking on the other side of the road to other cars, but that happens everywhere," he said.

The planning permission is subject to a number of planning conditions around parking and transport, including stopping large lorries from delivery to the property. Cllr Stephen Mann, who also voted in favour of the expansion, criticised the use of the word "industrial" to describe the home.

"It sounds like disabled people live in a factory. They don't, they live in a residential area," said Cllr Mann.

But Cllr Jason Perry was keen to remind the committee that the existing building at Highfield House was initially refused by the council and allowed on appeal.

He said: "It's clear to see from the photographs from the residents the impact it is having on the area. It is a small hospital in a residential road."

Cllr Scott rebuked Ms Onabolu's claims that the meeting of the planning committee was unfair.

"I think they are somewhat unfounded," he said. "If she had proof to back it up there might be something to answer."

LEICESTER City boss Nigel Pearson will not face an FA charge - despite putting his hands around the neck of Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur.

The Football Association has, instead, written to Pearson, "reminding him of his responsibilities," after the bizarre touchline clash during Saturday's match at the King Power Stadium, which Palace won 1-0.

Last March, then Newcastle manager Alan Pardew - now in charge at Palace - was banned for seven games for headbutting Hull's David Meyler.

Pardew was banned from entering the stadium for three games, before being barred from the touchline for a further four - in stark contrast to Pearson's relatively mild slap on the wrists today.

The 51-year-old former Hull and Carlisle manager put his hands around McArthur's neck after the Palace man fell into Pearson, as he made a tackle close to the managers' technical area.

As McArthur tried to get back on to the pitch. Pearson grabbed hold of his arm and wouldn't let go, which the midfielder subsequently admitted made him feel "a bit scared".

Pearson, who it is rumoured was sacked but later reinstated as Foxes manager on Sunday night, showed little remorse at a press conference yesterday, instead preferring to blame Match of the Day pundits and host Gary Linker for highlighting the issue.

THE chief executive of the Harris Federation - which runs several schools in Croydon - was paid more than twice as much as David Cameron in the last financial year, according to a report today (Tuesday).

Sir Daniel Moynihan earned £375,611 in 2013/14, according to The Guardian. This represented a 13 per cent rise on his 2012/13 salary and compares to the £142,000 paid to the Prime Minister for running the country.

According to The Guardian's report, Sir Daniel is well-ahead of the next highest-paid academy chief, Ian Comfort, chief executive of the Academies Enterprise Trust, who was paid £225,000.

The Harris Federation, whose head office is at Norfolk House, in Wellesley Road, runs 36 primary and secondary academies across Croydon and south London.

The federation is sponsored by Lord Harris, the millionaire chairman of Carpetright and Conservative Party donor.