Funding Cut

It looks as though the government has put the mockers on some of Croydon's regeneration schemes. Chancellor Alistair Darling announced during the Comprehensive Spending Review that the £77M that Croydon was supposed to be receiving in funding through the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) may be unavailable in the future.

It seems that Croydon Labour group leader, Councillor Tony Newman (ex Council Leader), is trying to blame the current Conservative council for this.

Given that it was the Labour administration under Newman that bankrupted Croydon in the first place, I find his comments to be "a bit rich".

Shortlist For Regeneration

Property Week reports that Croydon Council has narrowed its list of development partners for a £450M urban regeneration vehicle down to three.

Land Securities Trillium, Mapeley with Terrace Hill and housebuilder Fairview and builder John Laing Projects and Developments are in the final list to partner Croydon Council in redeveloping five council-owned sites worth around £89M.

The centrepiece of the project will be to provide 200,000 sq ft of office space for the council as well as working to regenerate Croydon Town Centre.

Let us hope that the regeneration of Croydon, much vaunted over the past 15 years, finally becomes a reality.

Croydon's Cultural Quarter

As our beloved council rushes headlong into creating a "cultural quarter". I draw their attention to this quote from The New Statesman:

"History, however, will judge whether these qualities can actually be planned and paid for".

Quite!

East Croydon Station

Congratulations to East Croydon Station for being awarded the accolade as being the worst station in the country.

This is the first thing that visitors to our town see and experience.

It is pretty shameful that things have been allowed to get so bad!

Thames Water Is Shite

I am proud to announce the birth of new website.

Thames Water Is Shite

Anyone with any stories about Thames Water, or who know people with stories about Thames water, please send them in.

Thanks.

Ken

Cheap and Unloved

Seemingly house prices in Croydon are among the lowest in the London.

At an average of £244,680, the borough is the fourth cheapest in London - beaten only by the boroughs of Barking and Dagenham (£204,367), Bexley (£222,028) and Havering (£222,313).

The reason for this shame?

1 The creeping decay and squalor eating away the heart of Croydon

2 The delay, caused by the intransigence of the Croydon council, in developing Dingwall Road

3 Above inflation council tax increases year on year

People simply don't want to live here, and who can blame them?