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Croydon review of the year - December

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DECEMBER was all about the former van driver from Shirley - and the TV moment that changed his life forever...

BEN Haenow won the X Factor – and bagged himself a million-pound record deal in the process.

The 29-year-old from Shirley beat Fleur East in the final at Wembley Arena, romping home with more than 57 per cent of the public vote.

In the lead-up to the final, Ben played a homecoming gig in North End, in front of around 4,000 fans.

He told the Advertiser: "Playing in Croydon town centre is like a dream, I keep having to pinch myself.

"It's an honour to play back in Croydon. It's a town with a sense of community and we always back people who have done well from the area."

Ben first single, Something I Need, reached the Christmas number one spot the week after the final.

IN ITS first round of budget cuts, the new Labour council announced it was to close Purley swimming pool.

The authority said the facility was in a poor state and closing it would save around £1 million each year.

But residents and opposition politicians lined-up to slam the move, which would leave the south of the borough without a public pool.

Council leader Tony Newman said: "At a time when we are having to make very tough financial decisions we cannot justify the upkeep of Purley pool, a building which has been neglected over the years."

A SUPERMARKET which could lay claim to be the 'most dangerous' in Britain opened in East Croydon.

Tacked onto the side of the '50 pence' building, the Sainsbury's attracted criticism from many who said it looked ugly and was in an unsafe position, next to a busy road and tram interchange.

Addiscombe councillor Sean Fitzsimons, one of the most vocal critics of the plan, said: "It is in the wrong place and it is ugly.

"The NLA tower was a standalone iconic building that over the years has become a landmark. But this is a carbuncle on the building."

A SOUTH Croydon pub was forced to lose the landmarks which inspired its name.

Four eucalyptus trees at The Tree House, in Brighton Road, were pruned because their overhanging branches were "attacking" the building and passing buses.

Manager Megan Hartnett explained how one tree had grown lopsided and was pushing out the brickwork of one of the pub walls.

But, referring to the pub's name, she admitted: "It is a little bit like being called the bridge over the river and not having a river or a bridge.

"We are quite upset they are gone but two of them were causing problems. One was attacking the buses and it made quite a crash as they went past."

THE current Prime Minister and the man who wants to be next into Number 10 both visited Croydon this month.

David Cameron went to Harris City Academy Upper Norwood, to launch a new drive to improve maths and physics education while Ed Miliband – in his third trip to the borough in 2014 – visited East Croydon-based tech business dotmailer(crct).

QUOTES OF THE MONTH:

"I cook ham boiled in Coca-Cola. We had it last year and it was really good. I know it sounds disgusting but once you try it you won't be disappointed." 

We could have picked any number of quotes from X Factor winner Ben Haenow – but ended up choosing his tip for a great festive dinner

"It's kind of crazy to think that's my little brother up there, he's so polished and professional and he's got the swagger to go with it now." 

Alex Haenow on brother Ben

"We're not gonna turn it into the new Harrods." 

Clive Coombes, the new man in charge of Croydon Village Outlet, didn't have quite such grand designs as his predecessor Marco Cash

"There are no names at the moment, it was just a playground flick. It was good for it to come off in the Premier League." 

Crystal Palace winger Yannick Bolasie on his inspired piece of skill during the match against Spurs

Croydon review of the year - December


Alan Pardew takes seat with Palace board at Aston Villa

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ALAN Pardew looks all set to become Crystal Palace's new manager after he emerged at Villa Park to watch the Eagles' clash with Aston Villa.

Spotted earlier in the Directors' Lounge, Palace co-chairmen Steve Parish and Steve Browett came out to take their seats alongside chief executive ahead of kick-off.

And then seconds later Pardew came out to take his seat, with fans looking to grab a photo with the 53-year-old.

An announcement is expected to be made either tonight or tomorrow from Palace.

Alan Pardew takes seat with Palace board at Aston Villa

Aston Villa 0–0 Crystal Palace: Eagles pick up solid point in front of Alan Pardew

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CRYSTAL Palace picked up another point on the road this afternoon at Aston Villa in a goalless draw in front of the watching Alan Pardew.

The manager is set to be appointed at the Palace helm imminently, taking his seat with the Palace board before kick-off.

It wasn't the greatest of contests in the west Midlands, with both sides lacking a finishing touch and the home fans in particular frustrated.

Christian Benteke forced Julian Speroni into an early save at his near post, before Gabriel Agbonlahor sent a looping header over.

Palace got into their stride after several minutes and nearly went ahead when Wilfried Zaha held the ball up well, found Joe Ledley unmarked before Brad Guzan pulled off a decent save to deny the Welshman.

The Eagles were desperately unlucky moments later when Yannick Bolasie burst through the middle with pace to beat the Villa defence, and with Guzan racing out, the winger lifted the ball over the custodian only to see the ball strike the crossbar and away.

Palace had Speroni to thank when he pulled off a wonderful save after a mistake at the back.

Carlos Sanchez got the better of Adrian Mariappa on the left before his ball in fell to Alan Hutton at the back post, but Speroni raced across to produce a brilliant one-handed stop.

Leandro Bacuna had Speroni worried on 27 minutes when his free-kick was curled over the Palace wall with pace, but thankfully the ball went inches over and on top of the net.

Up the other end and James McArthur felt he should have been given a penalty after a challenge from Villa centre-back Jores Okore, but referee Robert Madley was having none of it.

Zaha was close to connecting with a decent low delivery from the left, before the ball came back out to Bolasie, who went for goal from range but it curled over.

It wasn't the best of first periods, evident by the lack of firepower from both sides.

Jason Puncheon opened up his body well at the start of the second half to get a shot on goal but was well blocked, before Benteke connected with a corner but saw the ball go wide.

The chances were extremely limited, but the game came to life around the hour-mark following Dwight Gayle's introduction for Zaha.

McArthur had a chance in the box but his first touch was too heavy, and following a corner, Joel Ward had a storming effort superbly blocked from the edge of the box.

With a dozen or so minutes to go, both teams continued to struggle going forward. It was another steely performance from Palace, yet they just lacked that edge in the final third.

If only Bolasie's big chance had gone in from the first half.

Speroni had to be at his best again with four minutes remaining when he beat away Bacuna's swerving free-kick, before Barry Bannan came on against his former club in the 90th-minute.

Next up for Palace is an FA Cup tie at in-form Dover Athletic on Sunday.

Palace: Speroni, Mariappa, Kelly, Dann, Delaney (c), McArthur (Bannan 89), Ward, Ledley, Puncheon, Bolasie, Zaha (Gayle 62).

Subs Not Used: Hennessey, Hangeland, Thomas, Doyle, Campbell.

Referee: Robert Madley

Attendance: 29,047

By Mark Ritson, at Villa Park

Aston Villa 0–0 Crystal Palace: Eagles pick up solid point in front of Alan Pardew

Middle East investors want a slice of the Croydon property market

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MIDDLE East investors are becoming increasingly interested in Croydon's property market, according to an expert.

Mark Collins, chair of commercial property group CBRE, said money from the Gulf – once spent on bricks and mortar in central London's affluent districts – is now filtering its way down to the borough, with interest growing in a series of high-end town centre developments.

Mr Collins said Middle East clients had traditionally centred their investment interest on areas such as Belgravia, Knightsbridge, Mayfair and Kensington and Chelsea.

But interest was spreading to what he described as "the lower end of the market" – and he believes that is good news for Croydon.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Mr Collins said: "In the past six or seven weeks, I have spoken to clients in the Middle East who have asked about private rented accommodation and sales opportunities in Croydon, which is undergoing regeneration and is in striking distance of London.

"It used to be that Gulf buyers were only interested in being within walking distance of Harrods – that has completely changed."

He added that as central London became less affordable with price increases of 44 per cent since the pre-crash peak, working people and families are moving further out, resulting in a wider geographic spread of rental opportunities.

The trend of moving from central London has been reflected over the past year at Berkeley Homes' Saffron Square development in Wellesley Road, which has experienced increased sales to people wanting to move into Croydon – while retaining speedy transport links with central London.

And Earlier this year, the Advertiser reported how the Island development, also in Wellesley Road, was attracting worldwide interest, with some flats selling for as much as £1.2 million.

Mr Collins' predictions for a bright future for Croydon's property market received a cautious welcome from Councillor Alison Butler, Croydon Council's cabinet member for homes and regeneration.

She said: "Croydon is the regeneration capital of London. The key, however, is to protect homes for local people."

This is one of the key factors behind the council's policy of negotiating with developers to include 30 per cent affordable homes in their developments, as well as looking to pull out of permitted development rights."

Cllr Butler said: "We don't want to see property being bought up by investors then left empty."

Middle East investors want a slice of the Croydon property market

One million shoppers made it a bumper Christmas for Croydon town centre

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WITH more than a million shoppers visiting the town centre over the Christmas period, retailers are reporting a bumper boost to sales.

Both the Whitgift and Centrale shopping centres said the number of visitors in the town in the run up to and over Christmas was four to five per cent up on last year.

Concerns that Black Friday sales would have an effect on the number of people turning up for traditional Boxing Day bargains also failed to materialise.

David Ordman, centre manager at Centrale, said: "We had about 68,000 shoppers here on Boxing Day, by far the biggest number of the Christmas period.

"People were queuing outside Next from around 5am and they, House of Fraser and Debenhams have all had bigger numbers compared with last year. The centre was inundated from the start and throughout the day."

Andrew Bauer, the Whitgift Centre manager, said on Monday: "We have had over a million visitors over the past ten days and the comments I am getting from retailers is that the average spend is up on last year.

"This year there has been a willingness on the part of customers to really spend, which is the first time for many a year.

"I was concerned that Black Friday would have some effect on Boxing Day sales, but it didn't.

"There was as much interest, if not slightly more, on Boxing Day as there has always been."

It was, he said, a success story he expected would continue over the New Year period.

Mr Bauer said the biggest change in shopping habits was a massive rise in the number of customers using "click and collect" services offered by an increasingly large number of the town's stores.

He said the number of people using it in many stores had doubled, and in some cases tripled, in the last year.

Mr Bauer said: "I think we have had a lot of people who were worried about getting things delivered in time for Christmas if they shopped online.

"We found they had no such concerns about deliveries to stores for them to collect them. They felt very comfortable with click and collect."

He added: "Because of the lower risk I think it is going to be an established part of our retailing mix."

Mr Bauer said the apparent preference for click and collect over online shopping was good for the town centre generally.

He said: "It means people are still coming into the town centre and are likely to use other shops as well."

One million shoppers made it a bumper Christmas for Croydon town centre

Fire in Shirley bedroom prompts warning over poorly placed fire alarms

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A FIREFIGHTER has warned of the dangers of poorly placed fire alarms following a small blaze in a flat in Shirley. 

Fortunately no one was hurt when a fire broke out in the bedroom of the flat in Lilac Gardens at 2.46am this morning (Friday). 

The family who live there had left the property before two engines from Addington fire station arrived. 

The small fire was brought under control and fire fighters left the scene at around 6am. 

A spokesman said: "The people living in the house had a fire alarm but it was not on a ceiling so was not properly installed. 

"Hopefully this serves as a reminder that you must have a fire alarm in an appropriate place." 

The cause of the fire, which is believed to have been accidental, is under investigation. 

Fire in Shirley bedroom prompts warning over poorly placed fire alarms

Crystal Palace squad boosted by return of loan stars

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CRYSTAL Palace's squad has been boosted by the return of seven players from loan spells, including Jonny Williams and Paddy McCarthy. Following on from Glenn Murray's return from a loan spell at Reading, six more players are now back in SE25, having spent time away from the club on loan. Williams, who made five appearances for Ipswich Town before suffering an injury, is back in training with the Eagles, while Adlene Guedioura is back with Palace after scoring twice against Cardiff City in the final game of his one-month loan spell at Watford. Paddy McCarthy is also back with Palace after making 11 appearances for League One side Sheffield United, while Jack Hunt is back following a spell with Championship side Nottingham Forest, where he made 19 appearances. Elsewhere, midfielder Stuart O'Keefe has returned to Palace after a brief loan spell at Blackpool, while goalkeeper Lewis Price's loan at Crawley Town has come to an end.

Crystal Palace squad boosted by return of loan stars

Crystal Palace star scoops award again

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CRYSTAL Palace captain Mile Jedinak has been named Australia's footballer of the year.

The 30-year-old has scooped the award for the second year running ahead of the Asia Cup tournament.

Jedinak's recognition comes a month after the Palace midfielder was named as Asian football's international player of the year.

Crystal Palace star scoops award again


Millen backs Pardew to prosper at Crystal Palace

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KEITH MILLEN believes Alan Pardew will do a good job at Crystal Palace as he prepares to hand over the reins. Millen has guided the Eagles to two goalless draws away from home against Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa since the departure of Neil Warnock. And with Pardew set to be announced as the new Palace boss this weekend, having watched the 0-0 draw at Villa Park from the stands, Millen is confident that he will be pleased with what he saw. The caretaker manager said the commitment of the Palace players was excellent in the draw at Aston Villa, adding that while they did need to be more clinical in front of goal, he felt Pardew would do what was needed to improve the side as they look to climb out of the Premier League's bottom three. To see Millen's reaction after the draw at Villa Park, click on the link above.

Millen backs Pardew to prosper at Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace stopper: A point away from home is always good

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JULIAN Speroni was content with taking another point away from home following another goalless draw.

It was Palace's second goalless draw in a row at Aston Villa after the game at Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.

Despite the blank from both sides, Speroni was delighted with another clean sheet and called it a "professional performance".

"Every point counts, especially away from home," he said.

"It has been a difficult week. We could have won the game, and also at QPR.

"It was a good performance from the whole team, from the lads who started and those who came on in the second half.

"It was a professional performance. As a goalkeeper you are always pleased with clean sheets and we could have won it.

"Away from home, a point is always good."

By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)

Crystal Palace stopper: A point away from home is always good

SURVEY: Advertiser launches questionnaire about life in Croydon in 2015

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THE Advertiser today launches its annual survey about life in Croydon, from politics and crime to education, health and the many other issues affecting people living in London's most populous borough. 

Last year's survey, completed by 555 people, provided new insight into the divide between the north and south of Croydon, attitudes towards the £1 billion redevelopment of the town centre and opinions of the town's hospital. 

This year's questionnaire, posted below, includes many of the same questions - to see how attitudes have (or have not) changed in the last 12 months - as well others on the issues which made the news last year, such as building housing on school playing fields and whether Purley Pool should be closed to help the council meet cuts to government funding. 

It will also act as the first indicator of how the new council has performed since it came into power in May, especially as to whether it has lived up to its promise to make the borough a cleaner place. 

The easy-to-complete survey features 28 questions which will take less than five minutes to fill out. 

Full results and analysis will be published in the Advertiser and on this website later in the month. 

For discussion of 2014's findings click here and here for the full set of results. 

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SURVEY: Advertiser launches questionnaire about life in Croydon in 2015

Eagles stopper: Pardew's experience will help Crystal Palace

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JULIAN Speroni says Crystal Palace's decision to move for Alan Pardew so soon after the sacking of Neil Warnock will help the squad.

The Eagles shot-stopper came away with his second clean sheet in a row at Aston Villa on Thursday following Queens Park Rangers last weekend.

And Speroni met Pardew for the first time in the changing rooms at Villa Park.

The 35-year-old is hoping the new manager can help the players go on a good run in the Premier League to move away from the relegation zone.

"He came into the changing room to introduce himself and said well done to everybody and that he will start work (on Friday)," said Speroni.

"He didn't say much about the game. I don't think it was the time but he just introduced himself and we'll have a better idea of what he wants from us.

"We can't deny all the experience he has. I've never worked with him in the past so I don't know what to expect really.

"His experience will help us a lot so hopefully it could be the start of a good run.

"Obviously the club had to take their time to make the right decision but I think it does help if that decision is made quickly."

By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)

Eagles stopper: Pardew's experience will help Crystal Palace

Steve Parish admits Crystal Palace were drifting away under Neil Warnock

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CRYSTAL Palace co-chairman Steve Parish has admitted he felt like the club were "drifting away" from what's brought them success in the last year or so.

The Eagles supremo sacked Neil Warnock last week following a dismal 3-1 defeat at home to Southampton and believes he had to act with the atmosphere around the club.

Parish, talking to Mark Bright for the club's television channel, says he made a mistake of appointing Warnock but felt there were no other candidates for the job that he could see himself working with for "three or four years".

"I probably didn't get the right fit with Neil, I have to take it on the chin with that one," said Parish,

"Neil is very, very nice guy. A really nice guy. I would have loved him to have been a success.

"I felt, with what we had here, we could keep going, and I didn't see anybody out there at the time that I wanted to make a three or four-year commitment to.

"Neil was prepared to come in and do it on a slightly shorter term basis and help out. It felt like the right thing to do.

"I don't think we're massively behind where we should be but I just think we were drifting away again from what we're good at.

"We tried to play a different formation against Southampton and looked a bit lost at sea at times.

"The crowd went flat, and it's difficult then to get yourself out of that."

By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)

Steve Parish admits Crystal Palace were drifting away under Neil Warnock

Joe Ledley praises new midfield partner and hails good point at Aston Villa

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JOE Ledley believes Palace's point away from home at Aston Villa was a good one on New Year's Day.

It was seen a bore draw for many supporters inside Villa Park but midfielder Ledley says it's something for him and his team-mates to work on under new manager Alan Pardew.

Pardew is all set to be announced as the club's new manager after he was seen sitting in the stands at Villa Park before taking his first training session today (Friday).

Ledley was left to rue Yannick Bolasie's miss when through on goal and also praised Joel Ward for stepping into midfield, with Mile Jedinak now with the Australia squad for the Asian Cup tournament.

"It was vital to keep another clean sheet," Ledley told the Advertiser.

"We had a big chance when Yannick went through to get a goal, but apart from that we didn't really create that much.

"It was a good point away from home but results didn't go our way either. We just need to build on it now and with a new manager.

"You have to take your chances. Yannick has been brilliant for us this season and I'm sure if had another go he would slot it in.

"Joel Ward didn't look out place in midfield, it's always a difficult place to play when you normally play in defence.

"To come into the middle is a totally different picture but I thought he did a good job. We will miss out captain being away and now Yannick as well.

"It's two big losses for us but hopefully it gives us an opportunity for people to come in."

By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)

Joe Ledley praises new midfield partner and hails good point at Aston Villa

Crystal Palace star set to keep his massive beard after Twitter vote

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CRYSTAL Palace star Joe Ledley's beard has been put to a Twitter vote, whether the Welshman should keep it or shave it off.

The midfielder asked his followers on Thursday night, saying to retweet to keep it or favourite to get rid.

So far, the majority want him to keep it – meaning Ledley will have it for the rest of the season at least.

There are a little more than 1,300 votes to keep the beard and just under 650 to shave it.

"It was supposed to come off today – but I'm going to put a vote to the public on Twitter," Ledley said post-match at Aston Villa.

"My mum doesn't like it, my missus likes it, so it's 50-50. We'll have to wait and see.

"I've always had stubble but it just went from there and got bigger and bigger and just left it.

"It was only supposed to be until New Year's Day. I think it's been since August.

"If I keep it, it will be until the end of the season."

By Mark Ritson (Twitter @MR_LWMedia)

Crystal Palace star set to keep his massive beard after Twitter vote


Hundreds of children living in care in Croydon received gift this Christmas thanks to generous public response to police campaign

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MORE than 300 children living in care in Croydon received a gift this Christmas thanks to public donations to a police campaign.

Fifty also attended Santa's Grotto in Centrale shopping centre where they were given a present as part of the Met's Give a Gift Christmas Tree scheme.

The other 250 presents were delivered by Croydon Council's children's services team to young people in foster care around the borough.

Officers and police cadets also visited Croydon University Hospital to give 25 gifts to children in Rupert Bear ward.

The appeal, which began in November, saw almost 7,000 gifts donated to children in care across London.

In total, 600 gifts were donated in Croydon, many of them wrapped by volunteer police cadets.

Presents yet to be handed out will be given to children living in temporary accommodation.

As well as backing from the council, the campaign was also supported by Croydon Business Improvement District (BID).

Inspector Phil Mockett, who led the appeal in Croydon, was delighted to have practically doubled the 300 present target.

"The response from the public for this campaign has fantastic," he said.

"When we launched the campaign, we weren't sure if we'd manage to hit our target of 300 presents, but with the presents that have been donated at Centrale still to be given out, it looks like we'll have reached nearer 600.

"We're speaking with the council to make arrangements to donate the remaining presents to children living in temporary accommodation across the borough, and while we haven't been able to do this before Christmas because of the volume, we're hoping to get the presents delivered in the first week of January.

"I'd like to thank all of our partners, who have really got behind the campaign and made it possible, but also thank the public for their amazing generosity, without which, none of this would have been possible."

Hundreds of children living in care in Croydon received gift this Christmas thanks to generous public response to police campaign

Millen: Pardew set to take training at Palace on Saturday ahead of Dover clash

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KEITH MILLEN says Alan Pardew is set to take training at Crystal Palace on Saturday and pick the team for Sunday's FA Cup clash at Dover Athletic. Despite not yet being officially confirmed as the new Palace boss, Pardew was in the stands at Villa Park yesterday (Thursday) as the Eagles claimed a point in a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa, and caretaker manager Millen said the former Palace player was in the office today (Friday). And speaking at a press conference ahead of the FA Cup third round tie at Conference Premier side Dover Athletic, Millen said the club's staff are planning for Pardew to take charge this weekend. He said: "They [Palace and Pardew] are still talking but there's no problems at all, it's just taking longer than expected. "We're preparing for Alan to take training tomorrow but he'll pick the team." Meanwhile, Millen says Palace will not underestimate their non-league opponents on Sunday, adding that they are on a good run and that the match will be "their cup final." "It will be a battle," he said. "We've done all our homework on Dover and shown them a lot of respect. "Dover play an unusual shape so we've got to be ready for that. "They've got dangerous front men so we know what we're coming up against." However, Millen confirmed that Damien Delaney and James McArthur are doubts for the match, having picked up knocks in the goalless draw at Aston Villa.

Millen: Pardew set to take training at Palace on Saturday ahead of Dover clash

Eight Croydon questions to be answered in 2015

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WHERE'S that £1bn shopping centre? And where's that tram extension to Crystal Palace the foppy blonde man's been promising us for years? Here's eight questions, along those lines, to hopefully be answered in 2015...

Will the council continue to show 'ambition'?

Ever since Croydon Council turned red in May, the new administration have delighted in telling the borough and his wife how 'ambitious' they are. Ambitious for culture, ambitious for business, ambitious for well, pretty much everything. And the returning summer festival to come later this year? Yep, that's called 'Ambition' too.

Expect the council leader to change his name to Tony 'Ambition' Newman by March.

Will Westfield become a 2020 vision?

Let's get it straight – this paper backs the Westfield (sorry Hammerson) development and thinks it's an unequivocally great thing for our town. But when the deal was first done, a completion date of 2017 was mooted. Then 2018, now it's 2019. By December, will we be into another decade for the Westfiled ETA? Hurry up chaps, we want our John Lewis.

Will Labour win Croydon North at the General Election in May?

What is it that bears do in the woods again?

Will the Tories win Croydon South at the General Election?

Are you aware of the Pope's religious beliefs?

Can Crystal Palace go an entire year without changing manager?

In 2014, Palace got through four managers, if you count August Keith Millen and December Keith Millen as two different people. Alan Pardew is here now (well, almost) and seems to have the backing of the fans. A bit of stability would be nice but, then, this is Palace…

Ben Haenow – Olly Murs or Matt Cardle?

Croydon's X Factor winner is a lovely, lovely man with a brilliant voice. But so was 2010 winner Matt Cardle and he's now working at DFS in Chingford (we might have made this up). The van driving rock god deserves to succeed – let's hope he becomes a proper, bona fide pop star in 2015.

Will our decision-makers get through the year without citing 'Croydon's great transport links' as a strength of our borough?

No

Finally, how many times will Boris Johnson visit the borough and promise to 'look again' at the Crystal Palace tram extension?

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Eight Croydon questions to be answered in 2015

Croydon chip shop feeds the homeless on New Year's Eve

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A FISH and chip shop came to the rescue of Croydon Churches Floating Shelter to feed the homeless on New Year's Eve.

McDermott's Fish and Chips, in Forestdale, fed the shelter's visitors and volunteers after the team unexpectedly found out it would need to open during the festivities.

The 21 churches, which take it in turns to host 14 homeless people each night from the beginning of November to the end of March, normally close the service over Christmas.

But this year Crisis, where the visitors stay during this time, closed yesterday and St Francis Anglican church in Monks Hill, Selsdon, realised it would need to open its doors.

David Carroll, volunteer of twenty-years, said: "We suddenly realised we needed to provide for them, and we were a little bit stuck.

"We have an army of volunteers but New Year's Eve is a difficult time of year. It is one occasion where people get together and that makes it harder to get volunteers so it's great when people can come."

But McDermott's, who have helped the churches in the past, gladly stepped in to deliver 24 portions of fish and chips and a case of fizzy drinks free of charge.

Sean Mc Dermott, who owns the family run chip shop, said he would always help the Floating Shelter in the future as it is a great local cause.

"It was nice to be able to help and provide them with some nice hot food on a cold evening," he said.

"It was very humbling to be there, the volunteers put in a lot of time and effort. They already had a big table laid and it's nice to bring people together around the table on occasions like New Year's Eve.

"Sometimes something that isn't a lot of effort for you can make a big difference to other people."

David said the shelter was very grateful for the help of Sean and his team, and visitors and volunteers organised a sing-a-long karaoke to see in the New Year.

"A big 'thank you' for everyone who has contributed to this very successful local charity, especially Sean on this occasion," said David.

"Everybody was very pleased to have received the fish and chips. The evening went really well," he added.

Croydon chip shop feeds the homeless on New Year's Eve

Strong opposition to church plans for Upper Norwood bingo hall

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RESIDENTS across Upper Norwood and Crystal Palace are being urged to object to renewed plans to turn the former Gala Bingo Hall into a church.

The property's owners, Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), had previous plans for the change of use turned down by Bromley Council in 2009.

KICC has now submitted a new application seeking to turn the building in Church Road, Upper Norwood into a combination of a place of worship, conference facilities and leisure use.

The owners have invested £2 million in refurbishing the building and say only 30 per of its use would be for church services.

For the remainder of the time it would be available for community and private hire use, according to the KICC.

But members of the Picture Palace campaign, which wants the building revert to its historical use as a cinema, are sceptical about these claims.

Campaign chairman Annabel Sidney called on residents to lodge objections with the planning authority responsible for the decision, Bromley Council, before the end of the consultation period on January 12.

Ms Sidney said: "Regardless of what KICC say in their supporting planning statement, there is no obligation on them to deliver or invite any public entertainment activities should they obtain 'change of use' and none that could be successfully enforced.

"This is a source of great concern amongst many other serious planning issues such as traffic and parking, the impact on local trade and loss of opportunity to regenerate Church Road and boost local trade in the Crystal Palace Triangle."

Campaigners will be running a stall outside Sainsbury's in Westow Street, Upper Norwood between 10am and 4pm tomorrow (Saturday) and on January 10 and 17 promoting their opposition.

They are also planning leaflet drops to homes in the area and lobbying commuters at Crystal Palace Station early this month.

Residents wanting to contact Bromley Council can find more information on how to object and grounds for objection by visiting the campaign's website; cinema4crystalpalace.org.uk

Strong opposition to church plans for Upper Norwood bingo hall

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