Huge Log in place to stop truck driving into Croham Hurst Wood
16/04/2018 18:38:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

Recently a blue truck just drove into Croham Hurst Woods at the mini roundabout at Bankside 

Two men in high visibility jackets one carrying an axe chopped up and stole many of the lying logs covered in moss that play a role in the health of this SSSI ancient woodland. 

Alerted by a fellow dog walker I contacted the Council. Officers from the tree department at the Council acted very quickly and a huge log was put in place. 

Croham Rd Railway Bridge
16/04/2018 18:22:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

It never pleasant to walk under this bridge on the way to South Croydon station or into Croydon, dirty, dark with flytipping on the ledge. I have once again asked Croydon Council to insist Network Rail step up to their responsibility and board up the ledge.

Fly tip removed from Croham Hurst Woods
30/03/2018 17:20:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

Sadly once again I had to contact the Council to remove a large flytip at Croham Hurst Woods this time by the mini roundabout at Bankside. There is also a supermarket trolley dumped there. This has been reported to Trolleywise and should be removed soon. How can some people spoil such a beautiful place?

Croham Ward Budget supports local groups
30/03/2018 17:01:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

Once again Jason,Michael and myself were pleased to support local groups and organisations that make a difference in our ward. This year some of the projects we funded were the installation of green walls by the Birdhurst Garden Community Group, eye gaze technology to help profoundly disabled young people at the Rutherford School, new ovens for the new Emmanuel Centre. We also funded seeds and plants for the wildlife area at South Croydon Allotments and the Mind Gardening Project there as well. We also funded a Books Beyond Words Group for local residents with communication difficulties and once again were delighted to step in and help fund the South Croydon Food Festival

Talk at The Wives Fellowship Sanderstead
30/03/2018 16:58:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

Lovely to meet all the ladies once again and updating them on what’s happening at the Council 

Rubbish piles up by benches on Selsdon Rd
13/03/2018 18:31:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

These two benches on what used to be a convenient place for residents  getting off the bus to rest with their shopping has become increasingly filthy. Certainly no place to sit now. I have reported it to Council and hope it is cleaned up very soon.

Community Payback to clear litter from Croham Hurst Woods
11/03/2018 16:23:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

The Croham Safer Neighbourhood Police Team contacted me to advise Community Payback formerly the Probation Service will be clearing litter from Croham Hurst Woods a day a week for a number of weeks. They will be supervised at all times. Their help is welcome. Residents and dog walkers clear litter every day on their walks. The Friends of Croham Hurst Woods hope to organise a litter pick on our Workday on the last Saturday in April as well. Although Croham Hurst woods does not have a major problem as some of our parks and open spaces there are some who have little respect for such a beautiful place.

Selsdon Road Goods Planning Application Deferred
11/03/2018 14:52:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

Last Thursday evening I attended the Planning Committee to represent residents concerns about an application for a car repair business and paint spray booth. The residents most affected are those in Rockhampton Rd who live above the Goods Yard. This business started up without planning permission and has worked there for months causing noise and fumes for those residents. The Committee were very concerned that there were no real details of the mitigating measures proposed in the report and the effect that the works clearly had on residents until now. After a lot of discussion and legal advice from the Committee Solicitor the proposal from my ward colleague Cllr Jason Perry to defer this application was agreed by all on the Committee. The applicant must now bring forward details of workable mitigating measures to the satisfaction of planning officers or a temporary stop will served on this business by the Council. I hope for the health and well-being of local residents these measures come forward quickly.

Last Meeting of Croham Safer Neighbourhood Police Ward Panel
11/03/2018 14:40:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

Last week I attended the very last meeting of the Croham Ward Police Panel. The ward boundary changes for the May Local Elections means the end of the Croham Ward Panel and the creation of the new South Croydon Panel after May. The good news is the current police team will continue as the South Croydon team but we will lose some panel members who will join the Sanderstead Panel. In all the years I have attended the Croham Ward Panel the local police team have worked really hard to address the community’s concerns and fears. I am sure that will continue on the South Croydon Panel and thanks to everyone who has contributed over the years.

Planning permission granted for temporary school on Coombe Rd Playing Fields
11/02/2018 14:34:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

As soon as the Labour Council removed Greenbelt Status in their Local Plan it opened up the way for a school to be built there. Last Thursday evening Planning permission was granted for a temporary school to open in September 2018. There were many objections to the removal of Greenbelt status during the Inspector Hearings into the Local Plan but the Inspector finally agreed with the Councils position that there were exception circumstances. These were the shortage of Secondary School places in 2019 and the Council has a statutory duty to provide these places. Coombe Wood School will eventually be an 8th form Free School entirely funded by the Conservative Government. I have no doubt at all that it will be a very good school and many local parents will be delighted to have the choice of such a school near them. For many residents who live near the school there still remain concerns that were not resolved at the planning meeting especially around the temporary access to Melville Ave. The Council’s proposal to make Melville Ave one way seems remarkably unfair to local residents when the permanent access is proposed to be further along Coombe Lane. As I said at the Planning Meeting the Travel Plan and options have not been fully developed and there remain concerns about how children will get to and from the school safely. I was pleased to agree to a request from Jonathan Wilden the Head of Coombe Wood School for a meeting to discuss both residents concerns and childrens’ safety. I hope we can all work together to have both an outstanding school for children and parents and one that believes in working alongside the local community