The Secret Judo Club Revisited II

In response to my letter to my ward councillors on 28th January, re the disused judo club, I received this email from one of them (Susan Winborn) on the 29th:

"Dear Mr Frost

Thank you for your email regarding the Judo Club site.

Planning permission was granted in September 2006 on this site for the erection of two four/five storey buildings comprising a total of nine one bedroom and 26 two bedroom flats; formation of vehicular access and provision of 18 parking spaces and cycle stores.

regards

Cllr Susan Winborn"

I raised the following question, by return:

"Thank you Susan

When will work commence please?

Kind regards

Ken Frost"

She answered a couple of hours later:

"Ken

I am afraid I cannot say when the developers are likely to be in a position to start work.

May I suggest that you look on the Croydon Council site under planning application number 06/01923/P. This gives you full details of this application which was passed by the Planning Committee including the name and address of the developers.

Regards

Susan"

I was not that impressed with this, and wrote back later that afternoon:

"Susan

Is this not your role to help me, as your potential "voter", and look into this on my (and your other "constituents') behalf??

If not, what exactly is your role in life?

The site as been derelict for over four years, the planning application has been in place (according to you) for 1.5 years (my site says longer).

Clearly the owner has either:

1 Run out of money, or

2 Is holding the site to make a profit for resale, undeveloped

Neither of which is good for the residents of Croydon.

How about helping resolving this issue, on behalf of your "voters"?

If you can't, what exactly did you stand for election for?

regards

Ken

www.croydoniscrap.com"

I copied the message to a number of organisations/individuals. I am pleased to say that Boris Johnson's office wrote back, and said that they would forward it to his housing policy group.

I will keep this site updated with any other responses that I receive.

The Secret Judo Club Revisited

Sent to my local councillors today:

"Dear Councillors

I contacted the Empty Properties Department of Croydon Council a fortnight ago, to ask about the derelict site on Tavistock Road (where I live) that used to be a Judo club.

It has been abandoned for over four years, without any signs of it being renovated or redeveloped.

I have featured it on my website on several occasions, and it has been mentioned in the local press.

Yet nothing is being done with it?

Why?

The Empty Properties Department state that they cannot help, and advised me to write to you.

Please advise me as to when this blight on my road and the community will be addressed.

The fact that there is a severe housing shortage in the South East, and that this property has remained derelict and a blight on the community is nothing short of scandalous.

Thank you for you help.

Kind regards

Ken Frost

www.croydoniscrap.com"

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.

The Secret Judo Club

What mysterious building lies behind these “attractive” boards, erected on Tavistock Road Croydon, shown in the picture below?

· A secret government complex?

· A nudist colony?

No, a disused and decaying judo club. The club has been abandoned for at least the last two years; and, as with all abandoned areas, has started to rot and decay.

Hardly pleasant for the residents of Tavistock Road, who take pride in their homes and local environment; and of course who pay council tax.

Needless to say, in Q4 of 2003 a group of “travellers” appeared; and set up an encampment in the driveway of the judo club.

Only after complaints from myself, and others, did Croydon Council ask the police to move them along.

Then, as an afterthought, these attractive boards were erected; to prevent further invasions.

Here’s a radical thought, why not use this piece of land for homes or something practical for the community? Instead of letting it rot!

If you would like to see a few more pictures of these boards please visit “The Secret Judo Club”.