SAINSBURY'S is set to challenge Tesco's dominance in Purley – by opening a new store in the town centre.

The supermarket giant is planning to open one of its Sainsbury's Local outlets in the building now occupied by video rental store Blockbuster.

It has this week submitted plans to Croydon Council for a licence to sell alcohol.

Sainsbury's spokeswoman Emma Garner told the Advertiser: "We are planning to open a small convenience shop (Sainsbury's Local) in Purley High Street, which is subject to us gaining the necessary approvals to operate the store."

Since Tesco opened its superstore at Purley Cross in 1991, there have been accusations the supermarket giant has forced small businesses out of Purley, as they have been unable to cope with the pull of the retail giant.

The addition of Sainsbury's promises to increase that competition, something newsagent Sunny Patel says he has mixed feelings about.

Mr Patel owns Good News, in Brighton Road, one of five independent stores in the area offering similar products to a Sainsbury's Local, such as newspapers, snacks and sandwiches.

He said: "It will not be a problem for me; let them come, they are too expensive to be competition.

"You just have to keep going. What can you do? With these big brands there is nothing you can do anymore.

"I will have to lower prices as much as I can until I am not making any money."

But Lisa Downham, chairman of the Purley Business Association, believes the arrival of Sainsbury's could be positive for the town.

She said: "A larger grocery store at this end of town would give an alternative to Tesco, provide employment and hopefully bring more people into town.

"However, the small grocery stores in between will feel the pinch.

"It is also important to keep local businesses strong."

Purley councillor Badsha Quadir said he would respond to residents' views on the issue.

He said: "On a personal level, I think it could be a positive thing. Having something like this could bring more people into town."

Sainsbury's spokeswoman Ms Garner added: "We open new shops where we have identified a need. These are often in high street locations where our Local shops fit in well and complement other independent traders and businesses.

There are already nine Sainsbury's Local stores in the borough, with another three - including Purley's - planned. The other two are set for West Croydon, replacing The Ship of Fools pub in London Road, and Parchmore Road in Thornton Heath.

Are Tesco and Sainsbury's taking over our high streets? Special report – pages 10 & 11

WITH rising crowds, nationally televised games and most importantly wins the London Lions have brought top level British basketball back to Crystal Palace but only for one year.

The Lions moved from Milton Keynes in the summer and after a tough start to the season have won three of their last four games in the British Basketball League – the country's premier professional league.

Two victories this weekend at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, where the now defunct London Towers last played in the BBL in 2006, mean the Lions have won six of their opening 13 league games leaving them sixth in the BBL.

Coach and owner Vince Macauley has been delighted with their recent form and the response from the fans: "We couldn't have been better received, the people of London have clearly been fired up by sport and the Olympics and have embraced the team wholeheartedly."

The team was established as the Hemel Hempstead Lakers in 1977 and after various different moves became the Milton Keynes Lions in 1998 where they remained until this summer when they were unable to find a new venue to seat enough fans after the lease expired on their previous home.

As part of a partnership with Greenwich Leisure Limited the team will move to the Olympic Park in September 2013 and play games in the Copper Box Arena.

Macauley said: "In the first season we want to establish that London has a pro team and on the floor we want to be competitive and make the end of season play-offs while giving Londoners a place on the team.

"We found it tough at the beginning with so many adjustments to make, the team is young and inconsistent so we lost our first three games.

"However, since then we have done well and our reputation for athletic in your face basketball is serving us well."

Friday's win was a superb comeback victory from a 19-point first half deficit to defeat the Worcester Wolves 94-76 with a fantastic second half defensive display.

Orlan Jackman, a 24-year-old BBL rookie had 22 points in the win which was broadcast on Sky Sports on Tuesday.

Macauley added: "The Sky TV coverage is absolutely critical to the team and to the whole of the British League, people need to see the secret that is basketball in the UK, it is a lot stronger than it is given credit for."

London-born Jackman again starred in Sunday's 86-60 win against the Mersey Tigers with 15 points and 16 rebounds and the team is next in action when they host the Plymouth Raiders on Friday December 7th.

STAFF at Greggs in Central Parade have been suspended after bosses set up cameras and caught them taking food home without paying.

One worker described how she had been disciplined after being seen on CCTV taking four cakes which were destined for the bin.

Greggs would not confirm or deny claims up to nine staff had been disciplined because it is not company policy to comment on "internal matters".

But the Advertiser understands staff are forbidden from taking food home, as it is viewed as stealing by the baking chain.

Concern first surfaced when a member of New Addington Pathfinders asked on the community group's Facebook page: "What happened to the nice ladies behind the counter in Greggs?"

One, who claims to have worked at the branch for two years, replied: "I was one of the ones who got suspended because I took like four cakes home and they had CCTV fitted in and didn't say anything to the staff.

"If we knew the CCTV was there we would still take some of the stuff but not so much of it."

The post received more than 50 replies, many in support of the staff.

Chris Gunn wrote: "The thing is, would you like the food to get wasted and just chucked away, or people taking it home and actually eating it?

"I think it's so stupid and Greggs won't be the same without the proper staff."

Hollie Warda wrote: "I used to work in Wetherspoons and we were allowed to take the stuff, either left over or on its last day, home as it was better than wasting it. I don't see why they have been suspended."

Emma Fisher wrote: "I don't care what anyone says I liked all of them in there. Greggs have done this to get out of whatever mess they're in and haven't taken the locals views into consideration."

But Wendy Strong said: "A few cakes here and there? You've only got to do the math to work out over a year you're looking at thousands of pounds, particularly if every member of staff did the same."

Staff at the shop were this week tight-lipped about the situation.

AMAZONIAN tribal chanting, Midsomer Murders, the DVLA and James Bond – spot the odd one out.

All have commissioned music by Cameron McBride except the South American rainforest – but the composer and producer hopes to head out there soon.

"I absolutely love my job," said Cameron, who has worked his way up in the music industry after starting as a runner for Snake Ranch Studios in London when he was 18.

"I like technology and I loved music so I did a sound engineering course."

Cameron has worked with big names including Elvis Costello and Van Morrison, but more recently worked on a fly-on-the-wall documentary following Kylie Minogue's Aphrodite World Tour.

The composer does most of his writing in his Croydon home but often works at the Sphere studio in Battersea where Adele, Will.I.Am, Take That and the X Factor are regular clients.

And while a lot of his work is for TV, his movie credits include the 007 film Goldeneye. Since the ITV drama series Midsomer Murders began 1997, Cameron has been producing the sound and music.

He got the job on Kylie's documentary through his work at Blink TV, where a friend recommended him.

The producer's company, Brilliant Music Ltd, specialises in high-quality production music for film and TV where credits include commercials for Adidas, DVLA, Holden, Nintendo and Subaru.

In the past he has travelled to Cuba to write traditional-sounding Cuban music used on EastEnders and Coronation Street.

"Someone on Coronation Street was learning to dance and they needed some Latin music so they used mine," he said.

He has just returned from China, where he wrote music for the festival A La Carte dedicated to mime and puppetry in Shanghai. Working with a Peruvian-British artist and puppeteer Jose Navarro, he was the sound producer and composer.

In Cameron's next project he intends to travel to the Amazon in January, to get some tribal vocal recordings for his music library.

A FALTERING review of healthcare across south-west London is key to Croydon University Hospital's latest attempt to become a foundation trust, the Advertiser can reveal.

All hospitals must achieve the status, which grants more independence and accountability, by March 2014 - or face being merged with other trusts.

To do this, Croydon Health Services (CHS), the trust which runs the hospital, must meet strict criteria related to the quality of its services and its finances. At the moment, it falls short in both of these areas.

Dominic Conlin, director of strategy, told the Advertiser that Better Services, Better Value (BSBV), a review of healthcare in south-west London, is "critical" if the trust is to meet the increasingly stringent requirements.

BSBV promises significant investment in Croydon University Hospital, including additional consultants and redeveloped A&E and maternity units.

But last month the review ground to a halt, following the collapse of a hospital merger in Surrey which raised questions about the clinical and financial evidence it is based on.

After crisis talks, the GP-led review is to look again at the proposals, in the light of the decision to halt the merger of Epsom Hospital and Ashford & St Peter's NHS Foundation Trust.

This has delayed the 12-week public consultation over the changes, which envisaged A&E and maternity services closing at St Helier in Sutton, until after Easter next year.

However, in order to meet the Government's foundation trust deadline, CHS has to apply by August.

An added complication is that CHS is reluctant to begin its own public consultation until after the results of the BSBV survey.

Mr Conlin said: "The last consultation was in 2006 so we don't think it's relevant, particularly if we are going to satisfy the legal requirements.

"We don't know (when the new consultation will be). We have a date in our timetable but I would prefer to follow the BSBV consultation. Given the implications the review will have, it doesn't make any sense to go before.

"The critical issue for the trust is to be able to demonstrate that we can provide high quality clinically and financially-viable services.

"We need to demonstrate this to our patients and to health service commissioners.

"That is the challenge, irrespective of an application for foundation trust status, and the Better Services Better Value review is key as its decisions will help shape the type of services that we are able to provide."

Two other attempts to be awarded foundation status, in 2006 and 2008, both failed due to concerns about the trust's finances and standards of care respectively.

Mr Conlin said the trust is determined to do things differently this time around. Last week it held a meeting with members to explain the changes, particularly around accountability.

He added: "The very worst thing that could happen is for someone else to tell us we are missing something important. That is what happened in the past."

The extra money promised by BSBV would not reach CHS until at least 2016-17, but Mr Conlin said the foundation trust application can be based on future investment as long as it is "concrete".

If CHS does not meet the March 2014 deadline, Croydon University Hospital could be merged with another trust, though the report being written by Robert Francis QC into the scandal at Stafford Hospital, where hundreds of patients died due to inadequate care, may change the timetable when it published early next year.

STUDENTS determined to make sure all children had the best Christmas possible this week backed the Advertiser's Toys For Joy campaign.

Coulsdon College health and social care students are promoting our Christmas appeal next week, from December 3 to 7, so that ill children at Croydon University Hospital will get some extra festive cheer.

College bosses have also generously allowed us to use its premises as a drop-off point for residents in the south of the borough.

Denise Wilkinson, who is organising the college's promotion week, said: "We helped the Advertiser's campaign last year, and it was so successful we wanted to do it again.

"We want to let local residents know that if they want to donate, they can just pop their gifts into the college and we will make sure they get to the hospital with all the others.

"Our health and social care students wanted to help, as they are studying a course that involves caring for people.

"They will be going to all the classrooms and asking students to dedicate themselves to bringing in a toy or some money. All the money raised will go towards buying more toys for the children."

Health and social care student Nicola Dixon, 17, is helping with the appeal.

She said: "I think the appeal is important because Christmas is a cheerful time for everyone, but we must remember there are people who won't get as much as we do or who will be spending it in hospital.

"It is important to remember that Christmas is a time for giving presents as well as getting them. I know everyone at college will be really generous and I am sure we will collect lots of toys for the children."

Mrs Wilkinson added: "Students will also be able to donate money to dress up as their favourite childhood toys next Friday, then we will use the money to buy more toys for the appeal.

"If anyone would like to donate and can't get to the usual drop-off centre, please just bring them to the college."

The toys need to be new and suitable for ages from new-born to 17. If you are wrapping them, please make clear an approximate age and gender of the child they would suit.

The college will be open for gifts from 9am to 5.30pm daily. If you are nearer Croydon and would like to donate, please bring your gifts to 12-18 Lennard Road and hand them in to the main reception.

RESIDENTS are demanding the council holds a public meeting to address antisocial behaviour stemming from a house occupied by teenagers.

South Croydon Community Association (SCCA) members this week met with police over issues at a property in Heathfield Road. The association's chairman Charlotte Davies told the Advertiser: "We want the council to hold a public meeting.

"I have stated categorically we want them out; and we want an explanation of how they have been allowed to occupy that house and behave in the manner they have unsupervised.

"When the neighbours complained to the council they got absolutely no support. I do not understand how they have been allowed to continue in the premises."

Neighbours living near the property, in which charity CAYSH hosts a project to support homeless young people, claim they have been subjected to a reign of terror. And they have said it is due to a lack of supervision from the authorities.

But Alan Hiscutt, the council's head of commissioning for vulnerable adults and supported housing, said: "CAYSH has been recognised nationally as a good quality and innovative provider of services for homeless young people.

"The house is not unsupervised. CAYSH support workers visit regularly. Complaints about the behaviour of two of the residents were made in 2011. CAYSH took appropriate action to manage the situation, including by increasing visits to the property and working with the Council to evict them. The eviction took place in May 2012. "

The SCCA, however, has said the troubles are ongoing and enough is enough. Mrs Davies said: "I am absolutely appalled at his complacent attitude about safety in my community and his complacent attitude to under-age homeless residents in this Borough, who are left for long periods unsupervised.

"This project has cost South Croydon Residents thousands of pounds – it is absolutely unacceptable. If it is such a great project let us move them to Mr Hiscutt's street."

A police spokesman said: "The Fairfield Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) has not received reports of any antisocial behaviour linked to Heathfield Road in the past six months from local residents. However, his team has met recently with the South Croydon Community Association, which has raised concerns about the area and officers are speaking with local residents to establish if there are any problems.

"Anyone experiencing antisocial behaviour can contact their local SNT who can then take appropriate action."

A spokesman for Croydon council said: "We are aware of, and have been looking into, Ms Davies's concerns, however we have not received any reports this year of incidents at this address, and neither have police.

"The property is contracted to a local charity and is supervised with support workers visiting regularly, and is monitored at night and weekends.

"Neighbours also have contact details for who to call in the event of any problems. We would of course investigate any complaints we receive and take appropriate action."

TRADERS in the former Allders Mall have formed their own business association to help promote their outlets. Working with their landlord, Minerva, the first step has seen the mall renamed North End Mall.

In parallel Minerva has launched an advertising campaign highlighting the businesses in the Mall and in nearby St George's Walk where it is the landlord of a number of small businesses bringing life back to the rundown centre.

The Mall, which now provides the only direct pedestrian link between George Street and North End was the only part of the Allders complex to survive the department store's closure in September.

But its businesses and their counterparts in St George's Walk have said they need help to draw in potential extra custom.

David Owens from Minerva said this week the advertising campaign was designed to raise the profile of the two centres.

He said: "We want to show that the Mall is more than just a cut-through. We want to improve it and St George's Walk to make them a bit more pleasant."

One aim for the Mall, he added, would be to try and attract more "pop-up" shops, allowing small traders to set up in the morning and pack up at night, rather than take over permanent premises.

Neelofar Khan, chairman of new association, said progress had also been made on improving the cleanliness of the Mall, its lighting and increasing security.

She said: "We will now be looking for ways of getting some extra funding, so we can continue to work together to keep this area operating well for local businesses.

"A lot of people are coming through the Mall but this hasn't converted into business that much yet."

MIDDLEWEIGHT boxing champion Gareth Gardner had to call on every ounce of his experience to emerge victorious last Saturday after he successfully defended his Queensbury British title with a gruelling points win at the Effingham Park Hotel in West Sussex.

The undefeated 28-year-old from New Addington topped the bill on the Queensbury Boxing League's massive 2012 season finale and had promised his army of fans an early Christmas cracker.

He faced Northampton's Nathan Leeson in the second defence of his British middleweight title and his pre-fight prediction could not have been truer as the pair exchanged heavy leather from the opening seconds of the contest to produce one of the most memorable battles in the history of the UK's premier boxing league.

From the start of the contest Gardner went straight to work, pressing forward with the relentless determination that he has become famed for, but Leeson, who is renowned for his slick defensive repertoire, was able to avoid the majority of the incoming bombs and land his own hurtful-looking counters that definitely got Gardner's attention.

At the end of the opener, it was clear Gardner was in for a tough evening with Leeson edging the contest early on.

The second round started off where the pair had left off in the previous stanza, and Gardner continued to drive forward, working well behind the jab and landing some big overhand rights.

But again, Leeson's movement was beginning to frustrate the champion as he avoided getting tagged cleanly. And in the third and fourth rounds, it was difficult to split the pair as both boxers had their success, and it looked too close to call as they went back to their respective corners at the end of the round.

As the fight moved into the fifth and final round of the championship contest, the outcome looked to be on a knife edge with many at ringside scoring it two rounds apiece, and as the warriors got straight down to work, the tension among both sets of fans could be felt around the arena. As the drama unfolded and the round played out, the champion managed to dig deep and produced a flurry of hurtful-looking punches, which ended with a massive right hand that detonated on Leeson's forehead just seconds before the final bell.

As both challenger and champion waited to hear the judge's decision, MC Grant Waterman read out the decision, declaring Gardner the winner by way of unanimous decision.

Talking after the fight, Gardner was quick to lay praise on his toughest opponent so far in the league, but felt he had done enough to take the victory.

"Nathan was easily my toughest fight so far in the league, but although it was a hard fight I really enjoyed it in there tonight," said Gardner.

"I felt my jab was working well and I was hitting him to the body to try and soften him up, but it's hard to tell how well I did until I actually see the fight back, as when you are in there all you are doing is concentrating on your opponent.

"It's been an amazing year in the league and after five good fights and five good wins I'm going to take some time off now, but I'm already looking forward to 2013 now and seeing who's next in line for me."

Gardner's epic tussle with Leeson will feature on British Eurosport in early December, and with a host of new suitors ready to take on the champion next year, 2013 could be the biggest year of boxing for the likeable star.

"UNACCEPTABLE" exam results at an Upper Norwood girls' school have led to steps to turn it into an academy.

The plans to seek an academy sponsor for Westwood Girls' College are being led by Croydon Council but also have the backing of the school's governing body.

Councillor Tim Pollard, the council's cabinet member for children, families and learners, said the aim will be to press the Department for Education (DfE) to move rapidly to change the status of the school.

Westwood has had problems since 2010 when the council appointed an interim governing body to run the school after concerns over how it was being run.

Initially, the Spurgeon Road school made progress under new head Karen Benton, but this year results dropped back, with just 36 per cent of pupils achieving five A* to C GCSE grades in subjects including maths and English.

The total was 30 per cent behind the Croydon average and prompted the council's decision to ask the DfE to find an academy sponsor.

Problems were exacerbated by Ms Benton suffering serious medical problems and other sickness among senior teaching staff.

Cllr Pollard said: "The results this year are, frankly, unacceptable and we need to make a more fundamental management change than we previously thought to improve the school.

"If we don't do something about this school, the Government will."

Cllr Pollard said the council supported the academy idea because it believed a sponsor with a chain of other schools would have the flexibility to draft in experience and resources to help turn Westwood's fortunes round.

He said: "The message we are sending to the DfE is that we need real changes right now."

He added that one possibility a new academy sponsor could look at would be to turn Westwood into a mixed school, helping address the shortage of places for boys in the north of the borough.

John Troake, one of Westwood's governors, said the board had tried initially to solve problems by working with an independent trust, involving schools from just across the border in Bromley.

But following operational difficulties which, according to Mr Troake, led to the trust "overstretching itself", the trust had now been dissolved.

Mr Troake said: "At our meeting on November 16 we decided that to move forward as an academy was the best option for the school."

CCTV images of teenager Shelley Pratt have been released to help find the missing 14-year-old.

The CCTV stills show the last confirmed sighting of Shelley in Croydon, who disappeared on November 8 after school.

The stills show 14-year-old Shelley at George Street tram stop in Croydon Town Centre at approximately 9.30pm.

It is not known if Shelley, who was on her own, boarded a tram or where she was heading towards. She is seen wearing her school uniform trousers and a distinctive dark purple hooded jumper with the slogan "I love (heartsymbol) London."

Earlier that day, Shelley was seen at 3.30pm after she got off a route 196 bus on Portland Road outside the Harris Academy. Shelley then started to walk south down Portland Road in the company of one other girl and a boy.

Shelley is described as white and around 5'6" or 5'7" inches tall with long brown hair.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Dunne said: "It has now been three-and-half weeks since Shelley went missing and concerns for her safety are understandably increasing by the day.

"Shelley has had absolutely no contact with friends or family since her disappearance. It is possible that Shelley may be with someone, perhaps in a house or a flat. I am encouraging people, particularly Croydon residents, to be 'nosey neighbours' and be extra vigilant as to the movements of any young people who are new to the area.

"I would also encourage people to look at her picture closely. This picture can be found on the Met police and Missing People websites. I urge anyone who may have seen Shelley since 8 November to contact us."

Anyone with information about Shelley's whereabouts is urged to call the incident room on 020 8721 4906.

We are all prone to weight gain over the festive season, but it is not JUST down to eating and drinking too much.....

According to LA fitness (www.lafitness.co.uk), attendance at the gym declines by a staggering 30 – 35% during the month of December suggesting that the UK is choosing the more indulgent options that are available at that time of year, such as party going or hours spent in front of the television.  LA fitness believes that there is certainly nothing wrong with indulging yourself during the festive season provided you remember to balance this out with healthier habits at other times of the day.

 
"Staying fit and enjoying the festive season can be done together and with a little health and fitness know-how you don't have to avoid all the parties" said Tony Orme from LA fitness.

Amount of exercise needed to work off Christmas treats

4oz Christmas pudding (300 calories)

45 extra minutes in an aerobics class

One mince pie (250 calories)

30 minute swim

90g serving of roast turkey (149 calories)

30 minute stroll round the neighbourhood

5 Cadbury's Roses or Heroes (200 calories)

20 minutes on the running machine

1 measure of Baileys (114 calories)

4 minute kiss under the mistletoe!

70g slice of iced rich Christmas cake (245 calories)

30 minutes on the rowing machine

 A night out at the office Christmas party

Its's gonna be tough but after a bit of a lie in, plenty of water and breakfast hit the gym and get active for 30-60 minutes, you will feel better afterwards – we promise. Continue to drink plenty of water throughout the day and avoid fatty processed foods.

Keeping to your normal workout schedule as much as possible will avoid the onslaught of the 'downslide' so it's advisable to get some exercise into most days.  If you really can't get into the gym then get into 'snack-tivity' snippets of exercise that add up to at least 30 minutes a day, such as turning the music up and speed cleaning the house or hitting the sales for a walk round the shops. 

Get in shape before the season starts by using our FREE 3-day trial 

Simply visit http://www.lafitness.co.uk/gym-vouchers/3daypass/  and come and give us a go.  Plus December Exclusive: Join today and receive free gym membership until 2013!

ALLOTMENT-HOLDERS are calling for deer to be tranquillised and moved to stop them munching their crops.

Angry growers at the council-run allotments in Hartley Down, Coulsdon, say a group of seven or eight deer is destroying their fruit and veg.

They say solutions such as netting or fencing are too expensive and not completely effective, while other ideas such as companion planting have failed.

Working mother-of-three Sienna Jones tries to feed her family of five from the plot.

She said: "My strawberries, onions, beetroots, shallots, garlic – they have just flattened everything. Netting is very expensive, and I may as well just go to the supermarket.

"You cannot cull them because the bullets travel too far [a danger in an urban area]. I would rather they were tranquillised and taken to another site.

"If others came back, they could do the same next year."

The deer are thought to be comfortable in the allotments because of a high number of unused, overgrown plots whose brambles offer the animals a hiding place and access to more food.

Plot-holders said it is a long-term problem that worsened this year, when the number of deer appears to have doubled.

Retired Joan Edmonds said: "They have eaten the trees and chewed through the strawberries; it is a disaster.

"We found someone who could come and cull them, but the council said we could not do that.

"You cannot really chase them into the road because it is dangerous, and the A23 [Brighton Road] is only a hundred yards away.

"The people next to me are going to put some fencing up, but it is going to cost them up to £200."

There are also fears the deer may carry ticks that spread Lyme disease, although there has been no evidence of this in the area.

Ms Edmonds said: "Can you imagine saying to the kids, 'You can play football but you will have to keep long shirts on'?"

A Croydon Council spokesman said it was looking into clearing "large areas of brambles and small trees which may be providing a hiding place for the deer".

She added: "We aim to carry out these works within the next few months. This is a first step and we've been advising all the plot-holders.

"There is another site in the borough which also has deer and most of the plot-holders have put up fencing around their plots which, apart from keeping out the deer, also keeps out birds."

Ward councillor Chris Wright is working with the council to help solve the problem.

He said: "The council knows there is a problem with the deer, in particular in the allotments.

"We're trying to see what can be done. As we all know our money is sorely limited."

THE site opposite Norwood Junction railway station has gone up for auction, but a mechanic based there has warned potential buyers: "Prepare for a battle."

Land at the rear of 29-33 Station Road and Railway Buildings, in South Norwood, is valued at £680,000 plus. In May, the Advertiser revealed it had been put up for sale at £850,000.

Now it is being auctioned at an event to be held on December 12 in north-west London.

But Richard Hough, who runs car repair garage Autoclutch on the site, insists he will not walk away.

Planning permission was granted to build flats at the site last year, which would see Mr Hough's business demolished.

This follows a planning battle which had raged since November 2002. Describing the moment he found out about the auction, Mr Hough said: "On Friday afternoon a chap pulled up in his car and started to walk in.

"I said 'what are you doing' and he said he'd come to look at the auction site.

"If anyone buys the land it's going straight into a legal battle because I won't just walk away.

"To any potential purchaser, make sure you've read all the details on the lease and planning permission because this isn't as clear cut as you think."

The proposals had continually been turned down by officials and were rejected three times following appeals to the Planning Inspectorate.

But developer Greathall Limited was granted permission at a fourth planning inquiry, which ended on June 10 last year.

The permission includes building two retail units and 11 flats.

Mr Hough says he still retains the community's support in his bid to stay on the site.

He explained: "I've had about 50 text messages on my phone and people talking about doing a rally at the site's auction.

"Every day I must have ten people asking what the state of play is.

"This has been going on for such a long time.

"I haven't fought for ten years to walk away now."

A TRANSPORT boss has promised improvements to two "appallingly unreliable" services are just around the corner.

TFL's director of performance of London Buses, Clare Kavanagh, says the 463 and 455 buses should be running much better now obstructive road works have been finished.

The routes – from Sutton to Kenley and Coulsdon – have been plagued by delays for around a year.

Ms Kavanagh blamed the delays on roadworks in Beddington Lane and Woodcote Road, which have recently been finished.

She said the roadworks being carried out by Southern Gas Networks had started in April 2012 but were paused during the Olympic Games, due to a city-wide roadworks embargo.

She added: "I understand that they should be completed now and so the service is improving.

"We apologise to passengers for the problems they have experienced on these routes.

"We assure them that both routes will deliver a much-improved standard of service once all the roadworks have finished."

She added they had been working with the routes' operators, Abellio London (455) and Quality Line (463), to lessen the effect of the works.

"Extra buses have been introduced on route 463 and extra supervision has been introduced on both routes to manage any delays," she said.

But the borough's Greater London Assembly member, Steve O'Connell, says the long-term problem may demand greater remedies.

Mr O'Connell, who is also a Kenley councillor, said: "I am not an expert but it seems to me the routes are too long and subject to too many alterations, so we may need to halve the routes so they are more dependable."

Mr O'Connell tabled a written question to London mayor Boris Johnson last week, seeking his assurance the service would be improved.

He added: "As a ward councillor, the 455 serves the most vulnerable part of my community up at the top of Old Lodge Lane where people are very much dependent on the service.

"The shortcomings of the services have been flagged up for some time.

"It got better, then it got worse again. It is not good enough.

"Particularly now the weather has changed, we do not want people stuck out in the cold."

He said he had also spoken about the problem with the managing director of Transport for London.

Charles King, chairman of the East Coulsdon Residents' Association, said: "The routes have been appallingly unreliable for about a year.

"The problems are normally around rush hours and particularly around school times.

"Two Fridays ago, one was up to two hours late."