POLICE have upped patrols around schools in Coulsdon after a stranger tried to lure an 11-year-old girl into his car.

The Smitham Primary School pupil was approached at home-time by a white man in a black car, who at first offered her a lift home and, when she said no, said he was her "dad's friend".

The girl said no again and went into a local petrol station before her father arrived and the police were contacted.

Local schools have been alerted and Keston Primary School, in Old Coulsdon, sent out a letter warning parents, which went viral on Facebook.

Robin Gibbs, 52, from Coulsdon, who has two children at Smitham, in Portnalls Road, said: "It's sad but this is what is going on today. You don't know who's living around here. You just have to teach your kids to do the right thing in these situations."

Smitham also sent out a warning letter, alerting parents and children to "stranger danger".

The incident, which occurred at 3.15pm last Thursday, involved a man apparently in his 40s and with short brown hair.

A mother, who wished not to be named, said: "It's absolutely disgusting. I've got a 13-year-old boy who walks to school. I don't particularly like him doing it but you can't get in their way at that age.

"You've got to let them grow up. I think it has been dealt with in the correct way by the school."

A similar incident occurred three days later on Sunday near an infants school in Beddington, Sutton, when a 12-year-old girl was grabbed and dragged off by a man. He managed to get her top off before passers-by were alerted and chased him off.

Croydon Police said they were not currently linking the two incidents. A spokesman said: "Officers from Croydon CID are investigating and the local Safer Neighbourhoods teams in Coulsdon have made local schools aware and are carrying out additional patrols around the schools.

"Officers are also reminding parents and children to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or people to police."

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information should call Croydon CID on 101.

MURDERER Stuart Hazell was known at his local pub as an aggressive lightweight who once threatened the landlord with a machete.

Randall Tavern landlord Peter Wilson said the 37-year-old, who moved in with Tia's grandmother in Fieldway in 2007, had been barred from the pub in 2009 after trying to start a fight on his first visit.

He added: "He was a horrible man and was trying to pick fights. He could not handle his drink and would have a pint and then start a fight.

"After six months he walked back in and told me he was a changed man; he had a bunch of flowers in his hand.

"I said, 'Well, I will give anyone a second chance,' so he had a pint of Kronenbourg but he started getting aggressive after the second pint.

"I poured his drink into a plastic glass and I told him to leave the premises. This was at about half past one in the afternoon.

"He then went to the table over there and banged it. An old gentleman was sitting over there and the beer went all over him, so one of my regulars decided that was enough and asked him to leave.

"Hazell went for my regular so I threw him out of the pub, threw his flowers after him and told him not to come back again."

But an hour later Mr Wilson, 65, saw Hazell walking up the road carrying a machete.

He said: "I locked all the doors of the pub and called the police. He came up the road and I had all the pub doors shut.

"He walked up the ramp but could not open the door.

"The police were prompt and arrested him."

Hazell was convicted and served jail time for possessing a machete in a public place.

Mr Wilson added: "I was not scared of him, but I was wary of him."

EIGHT months ago, New Addington was the centre of a week-long search for a missing 12-year-old girl.

Queuing outside the Octagon building were hundreds of residents, ready to hand out fliers about Tia Sharp – including, as it turned out, her murderer.

On Tuesday, hours after Stuart Hazell ended his lies and was jailed for at least 38 years, Tia's father returned to Central Parade and thanked the community for their efforts.

Steven Carter, his partner Melissa Potter, father Steve Carter and other family members quietly visited the estate and the Octagon – headquarters of the Pathfinders' community group, which helped lead the search.

Marion Burchell, chairman of Pathfinders, said: "They were overwhelmed with the response the community gave and said 'thank you all'.

"I cannot believe how dignified they are. Even in their darkest times they give us strength, as we give them strength.

"If they had not been such wonderful people and so strong, I don't know how we would have been on the other end. But we are very proud to say that they are friends now."

Flowers have been laid in tribute to Tia under a tree outside the building, with one card reading simply: "Justice has been done."

The estate had been "on tenterhooks" all morning waiting for Hazell's sentencing, added Pathfinders' Kirsty Pearce, but there was "relief" in regards to its length.

Eileen Clements, co-owner of the estate's Alwyn Club, which has planted a small memorial garden and plaque for Tia, added: "I know it is 38 years, but he took a child's life. It is very sad."

Mr Carter and family also returned to The Lindens home that Hazell shared with Tia's maternal grandmother, where Tia's body was found.

The schoolgirl would regularly stay here when not in Merton with her mother Natalie Sharp, and she had texted Hazell asking to stay on the weekend that he killed her.

Underneath the metal plates and security cameras guarding the house – soon to be demolished – fresh flowers were laid for Tia in what is said to be her favourite colour, yellow.

"God rest your soul, New Addington's angel," one card says.

Prolific liar Hazell had tried to blame neighbours here for Tia's death, mentioning in particular "Somalians a few doors down," who, a neighbour said this week, did not even exist.

His lies were knocked down one by one during the four-day trial at the Old Bailey, where the court heard how the overwhelming attention paid to Tia's disappearance effectively stopped Hazell getting rid of evidence.

"I'd like to say that, at the end of the day, the community did help change the outcome," added Ms Pearce.

Ward councillor George Ayres said the estate's community had shown great "compassion, dignity and fortitude".

He added: "I have received, from all over the country, expressions of sympathy and support for Tia's family and the wider community of New Addington.

"The passing of a child is such a tragic loss that there are no words that can provide the balm to heal the appalling emotional wounds suffered by Tia's family and friends.

"My heartfelt sympathy goes to each and every one."

Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell, whose constituency includes New Addington, said: "The community spirit played a huge role in securing justice for Tia.

"If the teams had not been scouring the area daily, Hazell may have attempted to move Tia's body, making the job of finding her and so catching him all the harder."

THE shock discovery of a 15-foot monster python just metres from a primary school and a cluster of family homes left Selsdon residents "dumbstruck".

Bill Draper, of Kingfisher Gardens, stumbled across the slippery customer – a reticulated python more commonly found in the more exotic climes of Asia – in Selsdon Wood on Saturday.

He said: "On Friday night I heard the foxes going mad and thought I should investigate.

"I went out first thing on Saturday morning and came across this monstrous snake in the bomb crater at the edge of the wood.

"It was about 20 foot and I just thought 'God almighty!' - it's the biggest snake I have ever seen."

Mr Draper ran to his neighbour, Ken Wills, who went back to the scene with him to investigate.

"We were absolutely dumbstruck to find it – it's something you expect from far away, not in a wood near Croydon," he said.

"I don't know how long it's been there but it's been quite warm and it hasn't rotted much.

"We called the council and they came out to look at it. They have said they don't want to move it so apparently they will just bury it there.

"We can put a plaque up – Monty the Python."

A snake expert at the London Zoo, Iri Gill, identified the serpent as a reticulated python, the world's longest constrictor, native to South East Asia.

He said; "The largest on record is 34 feet but it looks like this one is anywhere between 15 and 20.

"They are quite common as pets – there are no restrictions on buying them.

"There are a number of answers as to how this snake got here – it could have died in someone's care and they decided to dump it, or someone could have killed it then dumped it.

"If it had been alive and this size, it could get quite interesting if a small child walked by.

"They are constrictors and could easily kill a child or a dog."

The head of next-door Greenvale Primary School, Dan Bowdon, said it was extremely "shocking to hear a creature like this was found near our children.

"Obviously, if we found a snake like this alive near the playground, the first thing we would do is make sure all the children were safe and get them inside.

"I can't believe you don't have to have licences for animals like this, it's so irresponsible."

A Croydon Council spokesman said that "because of the state of decomposition, we will bury the snake on site".

"For certain animals a license is required from the council and this must be renewed annually," he added.

The list of animals needing licences includes relatively harmless creatures including badgers and otters, but not the reticulated python.

WORK on a notorious unfinished tower block is to restart after the owner was given a £900,000 discount – in the middle of a housing crisis – to the amount he has to pay to build affordable homes in Croydon.

Originally the developer of the 20-storey IYLO building was required to contribute £2.9 million towards the construction of reasonably priced homes.

That figure has now been revised so owner Stephen Hung, who purchased the development via an offshore tax haven, only has to pay £2 million.

Labour accused the council of allowing itself to be "held to ransom" at a time when a chronic shortage of housing has left hundreds of families in emergency bed and breakfast accommodation.

Jason Perry, the council's cabinet member for planning, regeneration and transport, said it was this deal or nothing.

He said: "The reality is the market has dropped considerably since the scheme was originally approved.

"The only way it was going to be viable was if that agreement was renegotiated, taking into account the downturn in the economy.

"This is £2 million which would not have been going on affordable housing in Croydon.

"Surely we're now in a much better position than we have been over the last few years?"

Labour leader Cllr Tony Newman said the council should have waited for Westfield and Hammerson to be given planning permission for the £1 billion town centre regeneration project, with a decision on this expected in the summer.

He explained: "If the council waited until the plan had been approved it would have been in a much stronger negotiating position.

"Instead, it has allowed itself to be held ransom and has sold Croydon short at a time when we desperately need all the money we can get to build new homes."

The first Section 106 agreement, signed in March 2007, committed original developer Larnbrook Properties to an affordable housing contribution of £2.9 million.

The development passed to Phoenix Logistics and then to its subsidiary St James' Croydon, which went into administration.

In October 2011 the IYLO, which sits on Newgate Roundabout at the junction of Wellesley Road and St James' Road, was bought for £10 million by a company called Rosefair, based in the tax haven of Jersey.

Last month the Advertiser was able to trace ownership of the project, now called Island, through that front company to Mr Hung, the owner of two country clubs in Hertfordshire, and a hotel in Newbury, Berkshire.

The businessman, who lives in a £1 million house in Wanstead, east London, has been marketing the tower, which contains 182 mainly one- and two-bedroom flats, to investors in Hong Kong, including adverts promoting its tax avoidance potential – such as not paying stamp duty.

He will pay less towards affordable housing at a time when projections show the number of families presenting themselves to the council as homeless each year will rise to 1,030 by 2014/15.

No construction work has been done on the site, which has become a graffiti-covered eyesore, since 2011.

Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell said he could understand if people were frustrated by the new 106 agreement.

"I can completely see why people would question it, but the reality is that it's not a choice between £2.9m and £2m, but £2m and nothing." he said.

The deal commits Regency Homes, Mr Hung's company, to finishing the work by 2015.

"The council has been incredibly supportive of our efforts to get Island off the ground again," said Mr Hung, in a statement issued through the council.

"This is an exciting investment opportunity for our company and I'm delighted to be part of the regeneration of the town centre."

Workers have been clearing the site this week ahead of construction starting in a fortnight.

Carshalton College is delighted to have been recognised as 'The Best College in London AND Surrey' for long courses for the second year running*. The Data Service has identified Carshalton College with the highest success rate for long courses in 2011/12 within both the London & Surrey region.

Janet Sherborne, Head of Carshalton College, is thrilled by the news and says, "This is a fantastic result for the College, to have the best success rates on long courses in both London and Surrey for two years running is a great feat. The whole team at the College is involved in this success and I must thank the staff, students and governors who have all contributed to our continued success.  We now look to concentrate on ensuring this continued success and high achievements for our individual learners."

The College will be celebrating with staff, students and the local community at a celebratory event taking place at Carshalton College on Saturday 22 June from 10am to 2pm. The event will involve activities and entertainment for all the family. For further details please see www.carshalton.ac.uk.

The 2011/12 Education and Training National Success Rates Tables (NSRT) produced by The Data Service are recognised throughout the Further Education (FE) industry and this is an outstanding achievement for Carshalton College.

*Long course success rates 2011/12
Source: The Data Service,
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/Statistics/success_rates/nsrt/

STREATHAM-CROYDON'S scrum-half Charlie Crewe is to play for Harvard in Trinidad this summer on the recommendation of club captain Garvin Toussaint.

Harvard are the Trinidad & Tobago league champions and cup holders, having won both for the first time in their history in 2012.

Crewe has been Streatham's regular first choice at scrum-half for the last five seasons, playing at fly-half, centre and full-back for the Thornton Heath-based club. Son of former player and U11s coach Harvey Crewe, Charlie's impressive performances have earned him a call up to the Surrey representative side.

"This is an amazing opportunity for me to see a part of the world I never thought I would experience," said Crewe.

"I'm really looking forward to living a more independent life and meeting new people, but this doesn't mean I won't be back at Streatham some time in the next few years."

President Dick Towers praised Crewe's decision to head for the West Indies. He said: "Charlie's been in and around the club ever since he was a child and I think this time spent away from Croydon, playing rugby and living in a different culture will help him develop as a player and as a person.

"Streatham is famed for the historical links we have with clubs around the world and I hope that he will come back a better player."

PALACE skipper Mile Jedinak revealed he and the players felt arch-rivals Brighton & Hove Albion were "over-confident" before leading the Eagles out at the Amex Stadium.

The Australian also hailed his team-mates for putting in a fantastic performance, especially in the second half, and says they took their experience from last Friday's goalless first leg into the game on the south coast.

"In the first half at Selhurst we weren't at our best, but after that I thought we took a lot of momentum from that second half and a lot of things from that," he said.

"We didn't stop and we brought it from the first minute in the second leg. I couldn't be prouder of the way the boys put themselves about. We could sense Brighton were a little bit over-confident but look what happened in the end.

"We took that over and used it as ammunition, but I said a few days just before the first leg that whoever can keep their composure and calmness over the two legs will get the ascendancy."

And Jedinak, who is now set to lead Palace out at Wembley for the play-off final on May 27, says they proved any doubters wrong before a ball had even been kicked heading into the two matches.

"It's a huge rivalry but the fans came down to support the boys. We as a team and as a group, we're always confident of our own ability," he said.

"We showed that for the whole 90 minutes, which was fantastic.

"The manager is chuffed to bits but he didn't say too much in the dressing room, but he's happy with the way things went.

"He just said to enjoy this moment, and a lot of people wrote us off, so we've proved them wrong and we're going to look to continue."

Wilfried Zaha took most of the plaudits for his stunning double in the final 20 minutes and Jedinak is relieved to have the winger on his team.

And he hopes the 20-year-old will be kind to the Eagles should they meet in the Premier League next season.

"Wilfried is fully focused at this club and he always has been – he doesn't really talk about [the move to Manchester United] too much," said Jedinak.

"It would be good to play against him next season – hopefully, he can take it easy against us.

"He did his part, and all I can say to him is to enjoy the moment. But then I don't think I have to say that because you know how he plays and he revels in this sort of environment.

"I'm glad I'm on his team and we've got him for the next game."

PALACE boss Ian Holloway hailed wingers Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha for doing exactly what he had asked them to do before Monday's play-off second leg against Brighton & Hove Albion – get on the end of a cross and score.

The Eagles' manager hailed his Manchester United-bound hero, saying: "I believe Wilf is going to be a match-winner at the very top level. He wanted to keep playing well for us and you could see that," said Holloway.

"I said to them [Bolasie and Zaha] 'can one of you cross it and can the other one get in behind the full-back'?

"I've been saying that to them and I didn't believe Wilf got in there and won a diving header.

"I thought KG had scored, but he just left the full-back and it was going to take something like that.

"It was a brilliant cross, a brilliant move. Wilf said to me in there 'did you see that'?

"I asked him if he got in behind the defender and scored and he said 'yes', and I said 'well done'."

Holloway was clearly a happy man to have beaten the club's arch-rivals and to have silenced the critics of his side heading into the play-off lottery.

"I'm delighted, we have come to the hardest place ever and we have shown all sorts of character," he said. "Did I doubt my lads? No. Did I doubt myself? No. Others did, but that's their choice.

"I think we have learned from what's been going wrong lately and they showed character and bravery.

"Everyone did their jobs. I'm very, very proud of our football club to come here and win with the atmosphere.

"I thought they were terrific, we beat a very, very good team.

"I'm just starting here, I would love to do something for this football club. Let's have a day out [at Wembley], but we are going to try and win it.

"Watford are a great team, they've got great players and the crowd are excellent as well, but so is ours. We are going to have a wonderful day out, if we win."

The Eagles made a bright start with Jonny Williams making a surging run into the box, while Owen Garvan's long-range effort was flicked on by Aaron Wilbraham and wide of the post.

Julian Speroni then had to be extremely brave when Leonardo Ulloa found himself through on goal but the custodian raced out to smother at his feet.

And moments later the goalkeeper made a flying stop to deny Will Buckley on the right side of the box after Zaha lost control of the ball.

Then following a Palace corner, a ball was lumped upfield towards Buckley, and after holding up play, he fed Dean Hammond who eventually drove a fierce effort inches wide.

Garvan then tested Kuszczak from range, before Speroni was called upon again to deny Andrea Orlandi's effort on the left side of the box.

Palace were close to taking the lead five minutes before the break when Zaha's low cross was deflected towards the bottom corner but Matthew Upson managed to clear the danger.

But, just minutes into the second half, Palace should have taken the lead.

Zaha broke from his own half and found himself backed up with Wilbraham and Williams, and he decided to play in the latter, who was through on goal but he dragged his shot inches wide of the post.

The boss made changes on the hour mark with Andre Moritz and Yannick Bolasie coming on for Garvan and Williams, but then Brighton went extremely close with two back-to-back chances through substitute Ashley Barnes.

Speroni denied the striker with the first, producing a superb save from close range, tipping the ball onto the crossbar.

Then, from the following corner, Barnes' goal-bound header was brilliantly cleared off the line by the outstanding Dean Moxey.

However, in the 69th-minute, Bolasie cut the ball back onto his right foot on the left flank before curling in a fantastic ball for Zaha to race in and power home an unstoppable header past Kuszczak.

And Wilbraham had two chances to put the game to bed, one from a free header following a corner and then driving a shot inches past the post.

But then came another moment of brilliance from Zaha, who made sure of a play-off final date with Watford on May 27, when he scored his second of the match after turning Gordon Greer inside the box and powering home via the underside of the crossbar.

CROYDON Harriers began their Lily B girls' league campaign with a solid runners-up finish at Sutton Arena last Saturday.

In the six-club fixture, Guildford & Goldalming took the honours on 285 points, with Croydon on 240 well clear of Dorking & Mole Valley (132pts), Reigate (127pts), Hercules Wimbledon (89pts) and Fleet & Crockham (63pts).

Croydon racked up five event maximums throughout the afternoon, and a further six individual A victories

On the field, Anieshka Mido (29.16m) and Emma Fossett (27.25m) ensured an A & B win in the U17 women's hammer, and Fossett went on to win the A javelin with a 31.50m effort.

Ines Zepa-D'Aboui claimed a pair of wins in the U13 discus (12.67m) and shot (7.15m). She was ably supported by Renae Jackson (6.57m) to ensure maximum points.

There were also individual wins for Kayla Bowley (U13 long jump, 3.97m) and Lauryn John-Greenwood (U15 high jump, 1.47m).

Rochelle Roye and Stevie Lawrence both cleared 2.35m in the U17 women's pole vault to take the spoils, before Lawrence took to the track to notch a 1500m win in five minutes and half a second.

In the sprints, Marcia Sey crossed the line first in the U13 girls' 200m (28.4s) and 70m hurdles (12.7s), and Esinam Dake (13.9s) topped the standings in the same age group in the 100m.

Ashleigh Clarke won the U17 women's 100m in 12.5secs, but in the B race Eleanor Smith-Hahn was forced to pull up due to an injury but still valiantly walked through the line to score.

Croydon need to finish in the top six to qualify for the main end of season final, with two more fixtures of the round-robin format still to come.

British junior international long jumper Elliot Safo competed as a guest at the British Athletics League Premiership fixture at Lee Valley and leapt to a wind-assisted 7.43m in his season opening effort.

In road running action, Lisa Harris finished runner-up in the women's race at the Sutton 10K in 39 minutes and 15 seconds.

Ben Savill spearheaded the men's challenge finishing 15th overall in a new lifetime best of 36:20. Mark Maginn (96th, 42:04) and Norman Hemming (13th M60, 48:18) were also in action in the 434-strong field.

In the pick of the ParkRun contests, Peter Chambers finished first at Banstead Woods in 16 minutes and six seconds nearly a minute clear of his nearest challenger. Sam Clayton was third at Lloyd Park and Jordan O'Dongo was first U14.

AMATEUR darts player, Steven Mead, from Croydon has qualified for the finals of the Speedy Services UK Open.

Mead, a member of the Surrey Super Darts League beat off stiff competition in Speedy's FA Cup of darts qualifier at London's Alexandra Palace.

Mead, 28, will now take his place on the oche at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton in the finals on June 6.

The four-day event will be shown live on Sky Sports.

As part of his journey to Bolton, Steven's first obstacle was to throw 15 darts in a bid to score one of the highest 16 cumulative totals.

He scored an impressive 486 and then went on to beat another amateur player in the best of three legs of 501, emerging victorious after going 2-0 up.

This is Mead's first time at the UK Open. He said: "I am shocked but really excited to have made it to the finals in Bolton. I have tried to qualify for the UK Open a few times but have never managed to secure a place before now.

"I participate in local tournaments but this is the first big competition for me so I'm really looking forward to it. I'd love to take on Phil Taylor as he is the best player out there."

Speedy's communications manager Sian English said: "Our visit to Alexandra Palace was the final stop on our four-date tour of the UK, and we were blown away by the quality on display.

"This is Speedy's third year as title sponsors of the UK Open and each year the standard of players at our qualifiers gets better and better. I'm sure that Steven could cause a few upsets in Bolton."

SUPER middleweight Kris Hamilton is prepared for war when he steps through the ropes tomorrow night to face London's Danny Brimstone in the Queensbury Boxing League.

The 27-year-old from Croydon was last in action back in April 2012 when he was edged out during a monumental battle by Sidcup's Tom Dolan.

As Hamilton prepares to take on the tough Brimstone in his comeback outing he is under no illusions that his next assignment will be yet another gruelling encounter.

Brimstone was last in action in the league back in February when he lost on points to Margate's Jason Pile Gray in a titanic struggle. After watching that fightback during the build-up to his return, Hamilton knows it will not be an easy night at the office.

"I watched Danny's fight with Jason who I've also boxed in the league, and I give Danny credit because he showed lots of heart in that fight to come back so well after the knockdowns," he said.

"When I fought Gray it was a really hard fight and at the end of the bout the judges couldn't split us, so I know what Danny has been through and what level he is at so I'm expecting a war.

"Since my loss to Dolan I went away and watched the fight back and looked at all the mistakes I made.

"I've been working on lots of aspects of my game including my defence and going back to basics and the fundamentals, so I'm hoping I can show all of those improvements on the 18th.

"From watching Danny fight I know he's just going to come straight at me and not stop throwing punches for the whole of the fight."

Hamilton's clash with Brimstone will take place in the league's In The Line Of Fire promotion at the Copthorne Effingham Park Hotel.

CROYDON tennis star Lily Ghodrati, along with four other junior tennis players from Surrey were put through their paces after taking part in the Lawn Tennis Association's National Talent ID Day held at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, London.

The players were among 39 youngsters from across the country invited to the London session.

Ghodrati, who trains at the Parklangley Club, was joined by Emily Appleton, 13, Catherine Blayze, 14, Carla Nokes, 14, and Zack Norman, from Carshalton, who trains at Sutton Tennis Academy.

The talented youngsters showed off their skills in front of the LTA Talent ID team, who were aiming to spot future performance players, who even at such an early age were displaying the right attributes that could enable them to make a real impact on the game.

Ghodrati, who goes to Wallington High School for Girls, said: "I felt confident because I had been working quite hard. My forehand and my serve have got much better since the last time."

Norman, who goes to the John Fisher School, added: "I wasn't really nervous because it was my second one and I am a better player now. It is good to see how you compare to others. I did the best I can."

The day was overseen by LTA head of talent management, Andrew Lewandowski, who was impressed by what he saw, and said: "The players have performed really well and shown lots of ability across a number of different tasks designed to test athletic ability, coordination, speed and agility, as well as a real natural talent and love for the sport."

OPPONENTS of plans to build an incinerator on the Croydon/Sutton border will take their case to Boris Johnson after councillors voted to approve the proposal.

To a cacophony of boos from the public gallery, members of Sutton Council's development control committee gave Viridor's energy recovery facility (ERF) plan for Beddington Lane the green light.

The incinerator is intended to burn non-recyclable waste from four boroughs: Croydon, Sutton, Merton and Kingston. The 97-hectare facility would burn 275,000 tonnes of waste a year.

The decision now has to be ratified by the Mayor of London and members of the Stop the Incinerator campaign are urging people to object on the basis that the incinerator will be built on Metropolitan Open Land.

They claim that building on such a key open space, which is due to become a regional park, has not been justified.

Campaign leader Paul Pickering said after the meeting: "We feel that the decision was a foregone conclusion; most committee members were just too limp to refuse the plans. Things will not stop here and we want to persuade the mayor to reject the scheme."

About 100 people packed the public gallery for Wednesday's meeting, called after the committee deferred a decision on April 24 due to a split vote.

At that stage, Wallington South councillor and committee vice-chairman Monica Chapman urged the deferral to allow more information to be supplied on the effects of the plant on air quality and residents' fears about more lorries using the streets.

But a report presented to the committee on Wednesday stated there was no evidence that emissions from the ERF posed "any material health risk."

The report also said the number of traffic movements, after the construction phase, would be fewer than those for the existing landfill site.

Officers told the committee there were no planning grounds for refusal on either issue, while it heard that the Environment Agency felt there were no significant pollution risks and was "minded" to grant an environmental permit.

Croydon Labour councillor Paul Smith accused officers of patronising objectors. He said: "The report is almost like a pat on the head for the objectors. A 'we know best'; a 'trust us'; a sort of 'you don't really understand' attitude.

"This is a real opportunity to embrace localism. There is a real chance to put the interests and wishes of residents first."

All five Liberal Democrat members voted in favour of the application and the committee's two Conservative members voted against.

REDUNDANCIES and reduced opening hours at Upper Norwood Library are being blamed on funding cuts imposed by Croydon Council.

Croydon has relinquished control of the library to Lambeth Council after pulling the plug on a longstanding joint operation agreement.

At the same time, Croydon's funding has been reduced from £180,000 to £75,000 a year, a fact campaigners are blaming for five staff, including chief librarian Bradley Millington, taking voluntary redundancy. The library is also now only open three days a week, rather than five.

Robert Gibson, a spokesman for the Upper Norwood Library campaign, urged residents to continue to support the library despite the cuts.

But he said: "I happened to be outside the library on the first day of reduced opening and I saw a mum and her daughter, a grandfather and his grandson and three different aged blokes all walk up to the door and then turn away.

"It made me feel very sad."

Councillor Tim Pollard, the Croydon cabinet member with responsibility for libraries, maintains that: "With a total operating budget of £280,000, Upper Norwood will be one of the best funded community libraries in the country."

THE mum of two from South Croydon who is quickly becoming Tom Jones' new Delilah has progressed to the next stage of The Voice.

Cherelle Basquine, 25, beat Welsh singer Elise Evans in the "battle" round of the BBC talent contest last weekend – despite still not being comfortable with the song choice.

Millions of viewers tuned in to see Cherelle impress the judges with her part in the performance of Pixie Lott's It's All About Tonight.

But it was the second time the West Croydon care worker has had to perform a song she does not like – having sang Cheryl Cole's Call My Name in the blind auditions.

However, with the first live show set to be on theme of ballads, Cherelle feels she will be in far more comfortable territory.

She said: "I am loving every minute of it. I preferred this to the Cheryl Cole song but it's still not something I'm really used to.

"I get to choose my song at the weekend so that is really going to help. I'd like to do something with a bit more soul."

Cherelle said believes being in the company of talented singers is improving her.

She added: "You listen to the other contestants in rehearsals and it is scary, they are absolutely amazing. But I still want to win and who knows?"

Her mentor is Welsh singer Tom Jones and Cherelle said she would not swap him for any of the other judges – Jessie J, Danny O'Donoghue or will.i.am.

She said: "It's been amazing working with Tom Jones.

"Who else could you really hope for as a mentor but Tom Jones? He's a legend in the business."

Cherelle, who is juggling her day job with rehearsals for The Voice, is also getting to grips with her new-found fame in Croydon.

She said: "It's a bit embarrassing really.

"When I walk through the Whitgift Centre or Centrale, people are nudging their friends and saying 'look who it is'.

"But it's all been really positive attention, although maybe soon they'll be throwing rotten tomatoes at me."

The second series of The Voice will see the winner guaranteed a record deal with Universal.

Last year, Cassius Henry, from South Norwood, made it through to the final stages of the first series of the show.