Croydon has always been an town which the residents who live there whisper to their friends " where do i live oh central Croydon" lets put this into perspective and outline what Croydon doesn't have:
- Croydon does not have an underground link ( with the common excuse that the soil is to unstable) well Paris has manage to build an underground network and even developed innovative solutions to their unstable soil problems.
- Croydon was not even considered for the CrossRail 2 having not been earmarked for a brand new station even though with the new Westfield and other regeneration the amount of people coming into would increase ten fold.
- Croydon residents are not the happiest, even my daily commute on the tram (which is always packed on the Wimbledon link) is as if someone has died everybody just looks miserable, Croydon litter problem reflects this with households leaving used mattresses outside on the pavement, dog owners who do not clean up after their dogs, even the church minster lights are broken and have not been fixed.
- The amount of unemployed in Croydon is worrying like i explained before even with the regeneration residents do no have any inspiration thus reflected in the amount of empty shops and even with low rents no one is seems is brave enough to stop collect benefits and strike out on their own and open a unique boutique store e.g. i must mention "just beautiful cupcakes" which is a unique store which sells bespoke cupcakes and gives an exciting insight to Croydon potential if local residents are able to open their own stores.
- Croydon needs to sort out its use of the Croydon flyover and its subways both of which are dated and need either demolishing or updating drastically.
Now i will outline what i feel would put Croydon back on the map:
- Croydon needs an underground network or to be included in the CrossRail 2 project ( the overground is not enough) to cope the extra influx of customers which will come to Croydon everyday when the new Mega shopping centre is completed.
- The overground network from west Croydon should also go Clapham junction ( their is an overground link from Clapham junction to west Brompton thus to the city but you cannot go straight to ClaphamJunction on the overground train at west Croydon)
- Croydon needs to sort out the drunks and anti social people who leave the centre and walk through the immediate residental streets nearby this must be addressed before the new shopping centre arrives.
- Surrey street market needs to be re - designed ( the shops on the either side need to be bought back in use maybe by introducing family butchers & residental organic food outlets etc.
- Croydon needs to appeal to the right residents ( those who are professionals in their fields and are on the £40,000 per annum pay packet or higher as the average wage in Croydon is roughly £24,000 and this I'm afraid shows homes are not kept to an high standard, and the only Waitrose supermarket is in east Croydon and its tiny also young croydonians needs to be inspired by their older peers not to look at those older than them and think either "I'm not going to work" "or where the nearest lidl"
- Croydon needs to get rid of its lidl on church street it encourages local residents to want to aspire.
- Croydon masterplans needs to also improve the local residental streets e.g. Croydon old town's surrounding residental street pavements are appalling and need to be improved e.g. paving instead of tarmac.
- The new shopping centre should not be a "diamond in the ruff" thus both Hammerson& Westfield should invest in the residental area's which are directly connected to the proposed Mega store.
- Croydon should have the Boris bike scheme.
- Croydon should respect and improve its roads for cyclist and pedestrians.
- Those residents who do not like that Croydon's regeneration may change it drastically for the better e.g. Croydon becoming the new "West end" should sell up and leave as most importantly Croydon cannot move forward even with £100 million whilst these people still live here simply DEAD WOOD!
- The local shops on Waddon road opposite the church minster need to be given a new lease of life (right now their is only a laudrette and a dry cleaners the rest are boarded up it is a waste!
- Croydon should be given city status.
please if you feel i have left anything out or totally disagree with me leave your comments, all i want first and foremost is a Croydon to rival the other major towns in London.
