WORK should start on Menta's 54-story Morello residential tower early next year, the company's boss announced this week.

At the same time, Craig Marks has unveiled proposals for a new 240-flat development on the site of Galaxy House, the former Bank of America offices, in Cherry Orchard Road, East Croydon.

"I have not disappeared from Croydon and am not going anywhere," he told the Advertiser this week, in a bid to silence critics who claimed Europe's tallest residential tower would never get off the ground.

Working with housing developers Redrow, Mr Marks said the Galaxy House development would add another dimension to the regeneration of the East Croydon and help meet the council's target of bringing 7,300 new homes to the town centre over the next 20 years.

Pre-planning application proposals for Galaxy House were presented to last night's (Thursday) meeting of Croydon Council's strategic planning committee.

The scheme involves the demolition of the existing office block and its replacement by four new buildings, comprising a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom flats.

News that the Morello tower development is getting back on track will be welcomed by those who feared the development, which received planning permission at the end of 2011, was in trouble.

Mr Marks has admitted in the past that investors had been put off by a combination of the effects of the 2011 riots and the general economic downturn.

But, he said, news of the £1billion Westfield/Hammerson deal for the Whitgift shopping centre was "just the thing people had been waiting for", and that interest from potential investors was being revived.

As a stopgap, Mr Marks has been allowing Network Rail to use the Morello tower site to store construction equipment for the new East Croydon Station pedestrian bridge, and as an access route for vehicles serving the various station facilities and businesses.

He said: "We had been hoping to start work on site this year, but Network Rail has now asked if they can continue to use it until the end of the year and I have agreed.

"We have therefore not been in a position to start on the development, because we wanted to ensure the station could continue to function."

He added: "We will be starting on site at the beginning of next year when we get the land back from Network Rail."

A CULINARY couple have shown their preserves are a thick cut above the rest by scooping two prizes in a prestigious contest.

Ian and Sadie Jennings, who run Kush Cuisine, in Lower Road, Kenley, entered this year's Original World Marmalade Awards after customers recommended they give it a go.

And the move paid off for the pair, who beat competition from as far afield as the Philippines and Australia to win a silver award for their orange, mango and cardamom marmalade, and a bronze for their lemon and lavender one.

"It takes a lot of trial and error," Mr Jennings told the Advertiser.

"We either try them out ourselves or take them to farmers' markets to see how they go down with customers. Our marmalade that won silver is our most popular, so that was good."

His wife, who runs the shop, said they were aiming to get a double gold next year, which would mean their winning marmalade would be automatically sold in Fortnum & Masons, which supports the event.

"The judges are very particular and often the event is attended by royalty. It would be amazing to get that kind of recognition for our produce," said Mrs Jennings.

"We were so proud. Marmalade is a huge genre with all different flavours."

Speaking about their specialist food business, which the couple set up eight years ago, Mrs Jennings said: "Ian has been a chef for 25 years and used to work for a catering business.

"He used to focus on making sauces a lot, and they were so good he started cooking up jars to sell at farmers' markets.

"Then it just went from there, and we set up Kush Cuisine which has been a real success."

The Jennings sell their 200g jars for £3.99, as well as selling a range of jams, chutneys and sauces.

The contest was held at Dalemain Mansion in the Lake District, and raised funds for Hospice and Home and Action Medical Research.

TEENAGERS were armed with imitation guns to make their school play go with a bang.

Trinity School, in Shirley Park, hired 30 life-like weapons to give its modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry V a gritty edge.

Andrew Godfrey, head of drama productions at the £13,000-a-year school, told the Advertiser: "I think because the weapons were in the context of the piece it was OK to use them; it seemed to fit in with the scene of modern warfare.

"We were very careful with the guns and counted them in and out after each night, to make sure there were none missing.

"We also obviously spoke to the children beforehand about using them, but even though they are real metal there was no way they could hurt themselves if they tripped over or something.

"The students enjoyed using the props and no parents commented on us using the guns. The company we got them from also made us sign a disclaimer; there were very strict rules about using them."

Dapo Agiri, a Year 10 student, played the role of Exeter, King Henry's uncle and right-hand man.

He said: "The school hiring the guns for our production has made the battle scenes really exciting.

"I love acting and this is a fantastic role which I have really enjoyed.

"I am even going to use one of the speeches for my Lamda drama exams."

The play, which took three months to produce from start to finish, will be followed with a production of Pirates in the summer term.

Mr Godfrey added: "Henry V went really well, and the audience seemed to really enjoy it. The themes in the play are still very relevant today which is why I thought it would be a great play for the students to do."

The guns were hired from Bapty and Co, which has supplied weapons for the Batman and Die Hard films.

BACKERS of a free school planned for Norbury are preparing to cross the final hurdle which they hope will lead to approval.

They will be presenting their case for the Advance School to a meeting of officials from the Department for Education (DfE) on April 3.

They expect to learn whether approval to open the school has been granted in May.

The Advance School, if approved, will eventually cater for 630 pupils aged four to 11, and will be based at the former Age UK offices in London Road, Norbury. It would open initially with 90 pupils.

Russell King, founder of the school, is emphasising a key "selling point" of having two teachers, instead of one, taking classes in maths and English.

Mr King said this week: "We are delighted that the DfE has recognised the quality of our application and agreed to interview us. We have a great team of highly skilled people involved so we are looking forward to the interview.

"There were around 250 free school applications last year of which just under half reached the interview stage.

"Of those the vast majority were successful, so it is very good news for us to learn that we have reached the penultimate stage before approval."

GEORGE Tappenden cannot stand, sit up unaided or play properly with his little sister – in other words, he cannot live the life of a typical, happy toddler.

In November, 18-month-old George was diagnosed with a life-limiting disease, since when he has lost the use of his legs.

Now, having previously told George's story, we want to help – and want your help – to raise money which could potentially change the life of this brave little boy.

When George was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), his parents were told that he may not live to see his eighth birthday, and supporting his own head could become impossible.

Now his mother, Lucy Frost, 33, and father, Anthony Tappenden, have launched a huge fundraising drive, to buy crucial equipment which will help to improve George's life.

First of all, they want to buy George a Snap Dragon wheelchair, which will help him sit up, stand and give this gorgeous little boy more freedom.

The problem? It costs £21,000.

The family have already raised around a third of this figure but we're appealing to Advertiser readers, local business and anyone else willing to help to donate some money – however small – to improve George's quality of life.

Lucy, of Wydehurst Road, Addiscombe, said: "We want to give him as normal a life as possible. The chair costs £21,000 but will enable him to sit up and reach for his favourite book.

"It will also help him stand and give him more freedom to play with his sister Evie. Right now he can't even crawl.

"Everyone around him is heartbroken that he will face a lifetime of challenges but little George knows no different, when he tells his big sister off for overstepping the mark, cuddles mummy and daddy like a teddy bear and giggles just like any other child.

"This chair will even support him to stand, which is incredible.

"While George's physical abilities are limited, his mind will give him the strength and determination that he will need to achieve wonderful things in his life.

"Every penny counts so please help us if you can."

George, who is the nephew of former page 3 girl Nicola T, now has his own Twitter account, raising awareness of his condition, and currently has more than 700 followers, including One Direction singer Zayn Malik.

A host of celebrities, including stars from The Only Way is Essex and EastEnders, will play in a fundraising football match for George this weekend.

Bit it's not just celebrities getting involved. Lucy, who recently moved to Addiscombe from Shirley, has been bowled over by the support of the local community.

She added: "So many people have been very generous and run marathons, held quiz nights and raffles and spread the word about George, but we still have a long way to go.

"The Kids Play Café in Addiscombe have been so helpful from the beginning with fundraising so we're so thankful to them."

SMA is a muscle wasting disease which leaves children unable to bear their own body weight. The wheelchair costs £21,000 – and the family are so far only a third of their way towards achieving the target. We'd love Advertiser readers to make a donation, however small, to help this brave little boy enjoy a better quality of life. In effect, your £1, £5, whatever it is, could help George to stand up and sit down – what may seem like very normal things for an 18-month-old child. If you would like to donate, the easiest option is to visit his JustGiving page, or www.georgesrainbowfund.com You can also follow George's progress on Twitter @GeorgeTRainFund If you or your business would like to donate in a more substantial way, or perhaps arrange a fundraising event for George, please call reporter Sarah Hayes on 01737 783823 or e-mail sarah.hayes@croydonadvertiser.co.uk

The charity football match takes place on Sunday, kick off 3pm, at Ebbsfleet United Football Club, in Gravesend, Kent.

CRYSTAL Palace co-chairman Steve Parish has warned that he will ban any supporters who continue to abuse him with expletives on the social networking site Twitter.

After last Sunday's defeat to bitter rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, a number of supporters made their feelings known to some of the players and Parish, with one fan in particular taking it too far in the supremo's eyes.

He said: "People ask why I engage with them – these people are giving our club a bad name.

"They damage your club financially and they boast about not paying to get in. It's a tiny minority of fans who ruin it for people and cause problems, and they expect me to accept it.

"Well I'm not going to accept it. If you come on Twitter and call me this and that, you're going to get banned.

"If I know who you are, you're banned from the ground until you learn how to speak to people properly."

Parish attributed the abuse to a small minority of fans, but admits he has been shocked by the level of abuse he's received.

"What is an eye-opener for me is that they think it's OK to talk to people like that.

"I think I've been brave, and you can have any opinion you like, but the vile language and the abuse?

"And what worries me is that they think it's OK to talk to somebody like that.

"There was one guy in particular last Sunday night calling me this and that, and a couple of weeks ago he had to queue up for tickets and he started swearing, saying we had to sort our box office out.

"And he expects me to say 'oh, yes, I'll get right on that'? If you went into a shop or a hospital and you used that language, you'd get arrested.

"If they're upset and disappointed about a game and they want to have a go at me or the manager, that's fine, that's football."

And he revealed a few fans are still reeling over Dougie Freedman's departure last October, while he says he will continue to talk to fans online – as long as they are polite and do not start ranting.

"I don't want to get it twisted that you're not allowed to have an opinion or you're not allowed to disagree – that's not what football is about – it's about opinions," he said.

"I embrace every single fan and a couple of them have now learnt not to swear at me and I have conversations with them.

"Some of them are still upset Dougie Freedman went and the way he went. Fine, I'll have that debate with them, this isn't a dictatorship, we embrace people that care about the club.

"But I won't be abused by people and then be expected to engage with them.

"As far as I'm concerned, with that particular fan last Sunday, he's in a minority. At least most of them are bright enough.

"Half of these people, you don't even know if they're Palace fans."

Parish revealed he and fellow board members are constantly fighting battles with the authorities to protect supporters who cause trouble on a regular basis.

"We spend an enormous amount of time defending these people and our supporters against the police," said Parish.

"Stephen Browett and I are constantly having debates with the club and through Phil Alexander because of interest that arises from Palace fans, and we're defending them.

"The problem is, the police are around this all the time. They get this attitude verbally, and in the end, these people end up treating everybody like it."

And Parish says he and other senior figures at the club are keeping a watchful eye on Twitter users who decide to abuse when things go wrong or when they have a problem with the club.

"This one guy last Sunday was saying 'we know how untrustworthy you are', but on what basis?

"We're all just doing our best at the club, and you just stop and think 'do you really need this?' We're trying to go for promotion.

"It's like there's a group of them that think somehow their support of the club transcends everybody else's.

"I mean, you have to go back through some of the tweets from some of these people and see just what they're saying – these are the people I don't want at the football club."

RIDDLESDOWN Collegiate's Year 7 football team have reached the National Cup semi-finals after beating Plymouth-based Ivybridge Community College at home.

Miquel Scarlett was the hero after a fantastic hat-trick, but his first goal with 20 minutes to go was cancelled out in the second minute of stoppage time and the game went to extra-time.

But despite the comeback, Scarlett sealed a 3-1 win after two counter-attacks to put them through to face Emerson Park School, from Havering.

The team have played 20 fixtures this season, winning 19 and losing one, and are now only one game away from a place in the national final.

The whole squad have been an absolute credit to the school and have showed great enthusiasm all season

Team manager Andy Vass said: "I can't believe how quickly the boys gelled as a team and the key factor to their success has been their determination."

This is the first time a Riddlesdown team has gone so far in an 11-a-side tournament and the Collegiate are very proud of their achievement.

The school's football teams have gone from strength to strength over the past few years, with success at both district and county level, but a place in the national final would take it to the next level.

The game against Emerson Park will be played at Riddlesdown Collegiate tomorrow (March 27).

INVESTORS from across the world have been urged to follow the lead set by retail giants Westfield and Hammerson, and take advantage of Croydon's "irresistible" offer.

Croydon's investment opportunities were championed at last week's MIPIM international trade exhibition in Cannes when the town featured in a main debate entitled "Croydon Delivering Change."

Mike Kiely, Croydon Council's head of planning and building control, said the borough's growing population, large office stock, outstanding transport links, excellent schools, public realm improvements and streamlined planning process had all contributed to making Croydon a "fertile" place for investment.

Mr Kiely said: "We've had two giants of retail, Westfield and Hammerson, looking to invest in Croydon and they have found it an absolutely irresistible offer.

"They are now working very hard with us to develop first-class retail in Croydon.

"In addition, we have secured a Business Rate Relief Scheme from the Mayor of London to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to invest in Croydon over the next few years."

Peter Cole, chief investment officer for Hammerson, said the time was right for the £1bn joint venture with Westfield which will see the redevelopment of the Whitgift Centre combined with regeneration of the Centrale shopping centre and improvements to North End.

He said: "If it were a city, Croydon would be the sixth largest in the UK and it is currently the 16th largest shopping destination, so there is massive potential to bring people back to the town and to make it what it used to be – a world-class shopping destination."

He added: "There will be massive growth in Croydon over the next decade, both in terms of sales and population, which is why Westfield and ourselves are going into partnership and why we are planning to spend £1bn."

The town's potential was also highlighted by Mark Glatman, chief executive of the Abstract Group, which is building the Renaissance office block in Dingwall Road - the town's first speculative office building for 20 years.

Mr Glatman said: "The best news for all of us was the Hammerson/Westfield alliance and that is the final catalyst Croydon needs. Croydon has got everything going for it and, most importantly, it's got an opportunity to invest that is absolutely second to none."

This is the third year that private-sector developers and other businesses have come together under the Develop Croydon banner, to attempt to secure new investment at MIPIM.

HOT on the heels of news that Morrisons is planning to turn a South Croydon pub into a convenience store, the company has now revealed plans for a mini-supermarket in the town centre.

The company is still making no formal comment on its proposals for the Red Deer pub in Brighton Road.

But talking about its plans to convert the former Jessops camera shop in North End, a spokeswoman said: "We are excited to be bringing a Morrisons M local to North End and are pleased to be creating new permanent jobs for local people."

The local store is expected to employ between 15 and 20 people and will concentrate on selling fresh products, including coffee, baked goods and a salad bar.

The Bradford-based company has already applied to Croydon Council for a licence to sell alcohol between 6am and midnight but has not given any indication as yet when the store will be opened.

The North End store will be located only a few hundred yards from the Ship of Fools pub in London Road, West Croydon which Sainsbury's is planning to turn into one of its convenience stores.

Until now, Morrisons has had no presence in the borough but the proposals for the local stores follow the start of work at the end of last year on a major supermarket on the Fiveways Retail Park, off Purley Way.

That store, due to start trading in the middle of this year, will create about 300 full and part-time jobs.

The North End Jessops store is one of seven bought by Morrisons after the camera company went bust.

The proposals for the Red Deer have stirred up controversy in the area with Linda Arthur, secretary of the South Croydon Business Association, condemning the potential loss of an established pub.

This, she said, was unlike the case of the Swan and Sugar-Loaf where Tesco has taken over derelict premises.

Morrisons has submitted a planning application to the council but this simply seeks to confirm the pub's status as a drinking establishment.

Under planning law there is no need to seek formal planning permission for a change of use from a pub to a shop.

FOR one of Britain's leading composers, music is a fundamental form of expression which should be nurtured in schools rather than glossed over in favour of more factual subjects.

And in tribute to Whitgift School, where he was a music scholar in the early 1990s, Tarik O'Regan has turned his acclaimed opera of Conrad's Heart Of Darkness into an orchestral piece to be performed by the school pupils and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

"The idea here was to turn the opera into a new piece that could be performed by my old school's orchestra," he said.

"In no way was it downgraded for the pupils – the suite is at a professional standard.

"Young musicians often want to get better but the harder material is just beyond their grasp. This piece will show them that, if you try hard enough, it is possible and they will really have achieved something. The aim of a composer is to give birth to a creation and watch it grow. They will be part of the creation."

The 35-year-old composer, who grew up in Selsdon while he attended Whitgift, has been nominated for two Grammys and received two British Composer Awards.

He first read Heart of Darkness when he was at school.

"I think there is a danger that music in schools is being given less importance," he said. "However, music is a part of our cultural expression, who we are, and it is also a form of innovation.

"Repressing innovation means it will have a negative impact on other types of innovation like engineering and technical advances which we do think of as important."

Phil Winter, the school's director of orchestral music, was a teacher when Tarik was a young pupil at Whitgift.

"I remember him very well. Even then he stood out. It's a huge compliment that he has written this for us. He's just the same – people really look up to him and want to work with him."

The orchestra's leader, sixth former Sean Dunn, said it was amazing to work with the composer and RPO professionals.

Whitgift will host the première of Fragments From A Heart Of Darkness on Tuesday at 7.30pm.

Carshalton College Electrical Advanced Apprentice, Lewis Barnard, entered the SPARKS National Electrical Apprentice of the Year 2013 and has made it through to the final. The regional heat took place on Thursday 28 February at Acton College with competitors from nine other Colleges.

Celia Matthews, competition organiser said: "After looking at the marks achieved by the students taking part in the heats we found that Lewis's marks were so good that we wanted to give him the chance to have a go at the title. I think the final will be all the more exciting this year!"

Lewis has been given free tools and will have the chance to win £1,000 of Electricfix vouchers at the final, which takes place at Swindon College on the 8th & 9th May. 

Electrical Currciulum Manager at Carshalton College, Nigel Powell, said "This is a fantastic achievement for Lewis and we are all so pleased that his hard work and skill has been recognised and he has made it through to the final. This is a great feat for Lewis and we wish him all the best at the final in May."

I LOVE my job - Leveson, long hours, disappointing pay packet, and frequent abuse aside; I still think it's the best job in the world.
But it has one bigger downside. As a reporter and now editor, I've become used to coping with anything, some pretty dark and depressing situations.
Journalists learn to develop a certain gallows humour, but they can also become desensitised, inhumane even, to the point where nothing shocks us. It becomes another story on the page.
I've noticed this trait develop within me and, frankly, I don't like it. Even at recent funerals of family members, I'm the one who doesn't cry, probably because of this shield I've built up over the years. It doesn't mean I'm not upset, I have just become used to tragedy and loss, via my job.
And yes, I'm aware it is far, far worse for people like soldiers, medics, firefighters, who encounter these situations more frequently and, often, in far closer proximity than from behind a keyboard. But journalism changes you, undoubtedly, and perhaps not always for the better.
This past few days, two stories have broken which, frankly, are about as tragic as you can get - the deaths of two young children in simply horrendous circumstances.
Usually, when a grim piece of news comes our way (and, in Croydon, I'm afraid it happens more frequently than in most places) the barriers tend to come up, the professional head is switched on and it's about making sure the story is presented properly to our readers. It's about being responsible and sensitive to the feelings of those involved but also, the emotion tends to be removed from the equation
This week felt different though. I felt a lump in my throat, a sense of genuine shock and upset at what had happened. I've recently become a father and, well, there but for the grace of God.
The reporting team were the same. The gallows humour and slightly warped 'celebration' of bad news was replaced by a pretty empty feeling, of genuine shock and sadness.
Friday's paper will be a tough read and I realise some of you will take issue with our reporting of the incidents, our use of photographs and other aspects.
All I can assure you, and the families of those involved, is that we'll treat the tragedies with the respect and sensitivity they demand, while being mindful of our duty as a newspaper to report and inform.
Piers Morgan once wrote that "every editor should have kids".
He's right, it makes you think differently. More like a human being.