Further to my recent letter to Ruth Kelly (Secretary of State for Communties and Local Government), objecting to the CPO being enacted by Croydon Council in respect of the land to be used for the Gateway development, I have received a letter today from her Casework Manager for South East London.
Extract:
"..Further to my earlier letter acknowledging your objections to the above order, the Secretary of State has notified the acquiring authority that she intends to hold an inquiry into that order..."
Good, let us stop the absurd arena plan once and for all!
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Arrowcroft Abandons Highcourt Action
Property Week reports that Arrowcroft have told the High Court that it will not proceed with the action against communities secretary Ruth Kelly, who gave planning consent for the rival Stanhope Schroders' scheme for the Croydon Gateway development last June.
Arrowcroft believes that the subsequent decision by the council to compulsorily purchase the site for the Arrowcroft scheme, means that it does not need to proceed with the court case.
Pride comes before a fall!
Arrowcroft believes that the subsequent decision by the council to compulsorily purchase the site for the Arrowcroft scheme, means that it does not need to proceed with the court case.
Pride comes before a fall!
Friday, February 16, 2007
The Arrowcroft "Newsletter"
I received the following email from Croydon Council today, in respect of my enquiry regarding the Arrowcroft "newsletter".
Dear Mr. Frost,
Thank you for your email dated 8/02/07, sent to Croydon Council, in which you ask questions pertaining to a newsletter you have received recently.
It is very likely that the document you refer to is the spring 2007 newsletter produced by Arrowcroft.
Croydon Council has a devolvement agreement with Arrowcroft to develop the Gateway site adjacent to East Croydon station. In order to keep local people informed of progress with development, Arrowcroft produces a regular newsletter which is distributed to households within the CR0 postcode area. The Council is aware of and approves the content of the newsletter. No residents’ addresses have been supplied by the Council to Arrowcroft. The design, printing and distribution of this newsletter is paid entirely by Arrowcroft and so no Croydon Council taxpayers’ money is used for this purpose.
I hope this answer allays your concerns.
In my view, given that the content of "newsletter" is approved and reviewed by the council (ie they derive political/PR benefit from the "newletter"), yet paid for by Arrowcroft, does this not constitute some form of "election" or "political" contribution that should be declared by both Arrowcroft and the council?
I have raised the matter with my MP, Andrew Pelling.
Dear Mr. Frost,
Thank you for your email dated 8/02/07, sent to Croydon Council, in which you ask questions pertaining to a newsletter you have received recently.
It is very likely that the document you refer to is the spring 2007 newsletter produced by Arrowcroft.
Croydon Council has a devolvement agreement with Arrowcroft to develop the Gateway site adjacent to East Croydon station. In order to keep local people informed of progress with development, Arrowcroft produces a regular newsletter which is distributed to households within the CR0 postcode area. The Council is aware of and approves the content of the newsletter. No residents’ addresses have been supplied by the Council to Arrowcroft. The design, printing and distribution of this newsletter is paid entirely by Arrowcroft and so no Croydon Council taxpayers’ money is used for this purpose.
I hope this answer allays your concerns.
In my view, given that the content of "newsletter" is approved and reviewed by the council (ie they derive political/PR benefit from the "newletter"), yet paid for by Arrowcroft, does this not constitute some form of "election" or "political" contribution that should be declared by both Arrowcroft and the council?
I have raised the matter with my MP, Andrew Pelling.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Gateway Propaganda Sheet
Sent to Croydon Council today:
"Yesterday I, and I assume other residents living in Croydon, received another expensively produced colour 4 page propaganda sheet outlining the benefits of the Arrowcroft/Croydon Council proposal for the Gateway site.
It was remarkably "economical with the actualite", eg it scrupulously refuses to mention that Stanhope own the gateway site and have a rival plan for it.
The propaganda sheet notes that Arrowcroft are in "partnership with Croydon Council", and makes liberal references to Croydon Council.
I assume that the wording and layout has been approved by the council prior to distribution.
I have a number of questions:
1 Did the council pass on my address details, and the address details of other residents, to Arrowcroft?
2 How much does this regular propaganda sheet cost to produce?
3 Who is paying for it, Arrowcroft or Croydon council (ie the taxpayers)?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Ken Frost MA FCA FIPFM"
"Yesterday I, and I assume other residents living in Croydon, received another expensively produced colour 4 page propaganda sheet outlining the benefits of the Arrowcroft/Croydon Council proposal for the Gateway site.
It was remarkably "economical with the actualite", eg it scrupulously refuses to mention that Stanhope own the gateway site and have a rival plan for it.
The propaganda sheet notes that Arrowcroft are in "partnership with Croydon Council", and makes liberal references to Croydon Council.
I assume that the wording and layout has been approved by the council prior to distribution.
I have a number of questions:
1 Did the council pass on my address details, and the address details of other residents, to Arrowcroft?
2 How much does this regular propaganda sheet cost to produce?
3 Who is paying for it, Arrowcroft or Croydon council (ie the taxpayers)?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Ken Frost MA FCA FIPFM"
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Compulsory Purchase of the Gateway Site
I have today submitted a formal objection to Croydon Council's proposed Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) of the Gateway development near East Croydon Station, to The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Planning Division.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Beanos
Congratulations to Beanos for actually doing something positive for Croydon.
Quote from an email just received from them:
"Following on from my email update a couple of weeks ago, I am pleased to say that the "rescue package" is under way and there is hope for a future world that includes BEANOS! As I mentioned previously, this will mean us trading on just the ground floor and letting the top two floors to stall units selling goods complimentary to our trade, in fact, an Indoor Market based around the appeal of BEANOS.
Our construction team is busy with hammers and sharp implements as we try to re-organise the ground floor giving us the room to build these stall units.
We have actually finished (well, almost) 19 on the top floor and you can get an idea if you go to this link:
www.beanosmarketplace.co.uk"
Quote from an email just received from them:
"Following on from my email update a couple of weeks ago, I am pleased to say that the "rescue package" is under way and there is hope for a future world that includes BEANOS! As I mentioned previously, this will mean us trading on just the ground floor and letting the top two floors to stall units selling goods complimentary to our trade, in fact, an Indoor Market based around the appeal of BEANOS.
Our construction team is busy with hammers and sharp implements as we try to re-organise the ground floor giving us the room to build these stall units.
We have actually finished (well, almost) 19 on the top floor and you can get an idea if you go to this link:
www.beanosmarketplace.co.uk"
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