Welcome to the Croydon Health Centre

Feeling ill?

Don't bother going to the Croydon Health Centre on London Road; if the outside of the building is anything to go by, you will only feel worse.





How can Croydon Council claim to be looking after Croydon and its inhabitants, when they present the citizens of Croydon with this sad neglected building?

Those of you hoping that the proposed East London line extension will regenerate Croydon, and its environs, may be disappointed.

It looks likely that the £1BN East London line project will be axed.

The proposed scheme was going to build a rail metro service, whish would connect South and South-East London with East London. It would connect Clapham Junction, West Croydon and Crystal Palace with Dalston and Highbury and Islington. There would be connections to Silverlink services on the North London line besides the Tube and other mainline stations.

However, this proposal has been around for years; and has not moved forward one jot. Therefore, other solutions to Croydon's neglect and decay will have to be found.

Croydon's Creative Hub

Creative London, a new programme for the capital's arts industries, was launched on Monday with a target to raise their cash value to £32BN within 10 years.

It is starting with a £50M lump sum.

Creative London plans to open "creative hubs" (small offices for arts entrepreneurs) in, amongst other places, Croydon.

Maybe the prospective influx of Van Gogh's and Goya's could put their minds to the more pressing task of regenerating the decaying, and neglected centre of Croydon.

Croydon Council certainly seem to be good at finding novel ways to spend our money, pity it is not going to improve the appearance of the centre of Croydon though.

News About the Secret Judo Club

After some delving into the bowels of the council website, I have come across an application for outline planning permission; which was made in April 2003.

This is for the "demolition of existing buildings; erection of a four storey building comprising 12 two bedroom flats and a terrace of 4 three storey four bedroom houses; formation of access road and provision of 16 parking spaces" on the site of The Secret Judo Club.

About time too, in my view.

However, I would ask why the hell has it taken a year for nothing yet to have happened?

The full document relating to the outline planning permission can be viewed here.

The Secret Judo Club Revisited

Rumour has it that someone wants to build apartments on the site of The Secret Judo Club. I shall have a nose around and see what is happening.

I received a letter from Geraint Davies (my MP) yesterday. I expected/hoped that it would refer to the issues raised in "Named and Shamed".

However, I was mistaken; it was a circular summmarising the issues he is involved with locally, and in Parliament. These include:

• Anti-social behaviour


• GM Food


• Animal Welfare


• Manslaughter


• Guantanamo Bay


• Childcare


• Insurance Fraud


• Other sundry matters

All of the above are doubtless worthy, "headline grabbing", issues. However, the issues raised in "Named and Shamed" are nowhere to be found in his list.

Surely the issues raised on "Named and Shamed" are just as valid as those national issues that seem to occupy his time?

What Use Are Politicians?

I am saddened, but not particularly surprised, to note that both Croydon Council and Geraint Davies (MP for Croydon Central) have not provided any response as to what measures they will take to address the issues raised on “Named and Shamed”.

Politicians are very adept at shedding “crocodile tears” about the public’s apathy with regard to politics. Politicians are also very adept at:

• raising taxes



• awarding themselves pay rises



• increasing their expense allowances



• and ensuring that their pensions are linked to their earnings (unlike the case for the majority of their voters)

However, when presented with an issue that affects the quality of life of their voters they are strangely silent and reluctant to act.

It is hardly surprising, that come election time, many voters stay at home. What is the point of voting, if the person you vote for does nothing?

Therefore in the absence of any action, or reaction, from our political “elite”; I have decided to bypass the politicians.

I intend to bring the issues raised on “Named and Shamed” to the attention of those who have influence, but who are not members of the “chattering classes”.

I hope that this will get some results.

My message to the politicians, who have buried their heads in the sand over this, is simple; “you should feel ashamed, you are not worthy to hold office”.