Visit to Christian Family Concern South Croydon
01/07/2019 09:54:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

I was delighted to visit this small charity in South Park Hill road last week. I was impressed by the range of work done for families particularly vulnerable children and families. The charity runs a day nursery, housing support for young mums and a counselling service. The dedication of staff and volunteers was clear. 

I was fascinated too to hear the history of the charity and the site. Started 120 years ago when pregnancy outside marriage was socially unacceptable and women suffered shame and they and their children often had extremely difficult lives. People still contact the charity to find information on members of their family who were born or gave birth at Birdhurst Lodge It’s good to see good work continues today and I saw staff preparing accommodation for a young women suffering domestic violence.

Birdhurst Lodge owned the land where Rosamund Close was built and a Childtens Home used to occupy the current site of PDSA another charity that does wonderful work.

Its good to see the charity still retains a large garden where the children at the nursery can play.

Makeover for railway bridge Sussex/ Selsdon roads
26/06/2019 08:23:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

This suddenly appeared under this dank and often dirty railway bridge. No idea who has done it whether it is Network Rail or someone else. It has certainly brightened up an area that is not often cleaned under the new arrangements of the Labour Council

Protect your green spaces with no local protection
25/06/2019 09:05:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

i know many of you will remember Croydon Councils Consultation on their Local Plan.

Despite thousands of objections it was adopted by the Labour Administration. One of the consequences for us locally was the removal of Green Belt Designation for Croham Hurst Woods replaced by Metropolitan Open Land.

Very concerning was the omission from the Local Plan of Local Protection for some of our green spaces. The Government Inspector found the Council had provided no evidence for these and Local Green Space Designation was not granted. While some of these spaces are protected by other designations some are more vulnerable to development 

In South Croydon Ward there are three places without that extra layer of protection. These are South Croydon Recreation Ground, Normanton Meadow and St Peters Churchyard 

The Council is now holding Croydon Local Plan Partial Review calling for evidence of community use of these important green spaces. Go to www.croydon.gov.uk and fill in the survey. It is so important we all take part to add extra protection to these green spaces in this era of intensive development. The consultation ends on 22nd July 2019

ASB promise extended to South End
13/06/2019 16:07:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

Recently my ward colleague Jason Perry and I attended the South Croydon Police Ward Panel. Along with residents we are increasingly receiving reports of street drinking and drug selling in the vicinity of South End. It is a shame as this is a vibrant area of shops, cafes and restaurants. We asked for the Anti Social Behaviour Ward Panel Promise that covers our green spaces like Haling Grove and Croham Hurst Woods be extended to cover the area around South End. We were both very pleased that the Ward Panel agreed to the extension. If you witness any ASB please contact

ASBteam@croydon.gov.uk

Click here to download

Shock as planning application 31/33 Croham Valley Rd is REFUSED
03/06/2019 14:40:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

Ward Councillors and residents are often left frustrated and angry when their objections to yet another out of character development are ignored by the Labour dominated Planning Committee. 

There was real shock when a back garden development of two blocks facing on to Ballards Rise was refused unanimously at a meeting of Planning Committee last Thursday.

Ballards Rise up a steep hill in a woodland setting has a very special character with large properties with plenty of off road parking. Yet this large proposed development would only have 4 parking spaces. Planning officers felt that future residents could search for a parking space on a local street then lug their shopping up the hill!  Totally unrealistic and would have led to the narrow Ballards Rise being blocked by parked cars. 

I was there to to speak on behalf of the 50 plus residents who objected and the Croham Valley Residents Association who also spoke at the meeting and was pleased at the refusal 

However I have no doubt another application will come forward here in due course.

Council CPZ plans face opposition from residents
03/06/2019 14:17:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

Since 2002 when I was first elected to the Council two CPZ consultations to enlarge the Controlled Parking Zone in South Croydon have been rejected overwhelmingly by local residents. A couple of weeks ago yet another consultation to extend the CPZ zone to the side roads on the east side of Brighton road and Churchill road was launched by Croydon Council. Once again there is opposition to the Councils plans from some local residents and a SAY No to CPZ has been started.

Over the last five years or so parking stresses for residents have increased due to the planning policies of the Labour Council permitting so many developments with inadequate parking spaces and the growth of Houses in Multiple Occupation. Certainly complaints about parking have increased to us as Ward Councillors and a number of petitions requesting CPZ have been sent to the Council by residents in some of these roads

I am not a great supporter of CPZ due to the cost and lack of space but I hope all residents will have their say on this consultation.

Bridge Works Stop Tree Planting South Croydon Recreation Ground
02/05/2019 09:57:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

Last Autumn I met with Council officers to discuss tree planting at South Croydon Recreation Ground. It is a very important green space locally in a built up area.

This park left unprotected in Labours Local Plan would really benefit from care and attention. I had hoped that some tree planting would help start the process 

Unfortunately Network Rail plans for the works on the railway bridge around Christmas time will prevent the planting going ahead

Tree officers from Croydon Council are liaising with Network Rail to protect the current trees in the park.

i really hope we wont see any further destruction of trees by Network Rail. Trees are so important in our fight against climate change and we should all be seeking not only to protect our current trees but to plant more.

Dog Bins not collected on yet another Bank Holiday
23/04/2019 08:50:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

Another Bank Holiday and once again complaints about overflowing dog bins at Croham Hurst Woods. Many families with or without dogs visit our parks and woods on such a beautiful holiday weekend. It can’t be beyond this Administration to ensure that on these long weekends the bins are emptied. We all want people to enjoy the nature and beauty of these places in Croydon not faced with rubbish and overflowing dog bins.

I have reported to Council and have been assured the bins will be emptied 

Normanton Hotel development = parking restrictions Whitmead Close
03/04/2019 13:53:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

Most residents would agree the old Normanton Hotel needed redevelopment.

However the planning application for a huge development of flats

with access for vehicles through to the small cul de sac Whitmead Close was opposed by residents and ward councillors. It was pushed through at Planning Commitee by the Labour dominated Planning Commitee 

To order to faciliate the huge lorries now coming down the narrow cul de sac safely temporary parking restrictions have been put in for up to 2 years.The yellow lines will impact on those residents with no garage. Under this Labour Administration the  residents objections and concerns are ignored.

Support for local groups in South Croydon’s Ward Budget
03/04/2019 12:52:00.......Posted by Maria Gatland

Once again in 2018/2019 Jason Michael and Maria were delighted to support local groups that make a difference in our ward of South Croydon

The spring display at South Croydon Allotments was funded through our ward budget and we are looking forward to the difference our ward budget will make to the gardeners at St Peters Church

We know how important pets are to so many people and were so pleased to support the PDSA in South Croydon for residents who cannot afford expensive vets bills.

Neighbourhood Watch Good Neighbour Guide has proved very popular with residents funded through our ward budget.

Local churches play such an important role in our local community and we supported Brighton Rd Baptist Church and St Gertrude’s to help them improve their community halls.

The Food Festival gets more support this year as well as Christmas lights for traders around the Red Deer.

There are also more local projects we have been pleased to support and if any group out there would like us to consider supporting them after next May please get in touch.