Croydon Council Outsources Library Services

Croydon council has signed an eight-year contract with John Laing Integrated Services (JLIS). The contract will see the service undergo a major modernisation programme including the introduction of new technology such as wi-fi and self-service.

Tim Pollard, Chief of children, families and learning, said, ‘Signing this contract means that Croydon’s libraries are now safe for the foreseeable future. At a time when all council services are coming under financial scrutiny, it’s great to have negotiated an arrangement that not only keeps all our branches open, but will also see modernisation through the investment that is now planned.’

Inside Croydon's Steven Downes in Race Row Over Tweets at Indian-born Cllr

War of the Tweets - Steven Downes, Editor of Inside Croydon and Vidhi Mohan, Conservative Councillor - with images of the tweets

A senior Croydon Conservative Councillor has hit out at a string of offensive tweets posted by the leading Labour-supporting blog Inside Croydon. Indian-born Vidhi Mohan, a respected family man, was said to be horrified at the comments, which included references to his passport status and suggested that his party ´could not find a BME member with a passport.´ [BME stands for black and minority ethnic].

The Inside Croydon site is edited by Steven Downes who hit the headlines after publishing untrue allegations about Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell. The site´s Special Correspondent is Andrew Pelling, recently unveiled as the leading Labour candidate in Waddon, following stints as an Independent and a Tory for over a decade. In a recent interview with the Croydon Guardian, Andrew Pelling said, “We'll run a positive campaign.”

Vidhi Mohan said to Steven Downes, “How did my not having a UK passport in 2005 affect my ability to serve Fairfield residents? Racist and offensive blog!”

Steven Downes denied that the tweets were racist, he tweeted, "How is identifying you as not holding a UK passport when seeking election in Croydon racist?"

Croydon Labour Criticised for ‘Disgraceful’ Campaigning During Wandle Park Opening

Community event becomes a Labour rally with balloons and placards

The Wandle Park community celebration on Saturday was hijacked by Labour activists who were trying to win votes. Whilst local people gathered in the sunshine to watch the orchestra and eat ice cream, a band of Labour activists stormed into the park waving placards, wearing red rosettes and giving out red balloons to residents.

The publicity stunt was condemned by local Conservative Councillors as ‘disgraceful’. Cabinet member Vidhi Mohan tweeted, “Unfortunate that Andrew Pelling using the #WandleParkRevival for political campaigning for @CroydonLabour. This is a community event.”

Cabinet member Michael Neal said, “Disgraceful that the Labour activists in Waddon played party politics at the opening of Wandle Park Revival distributing leaflets.”

Witnesses told The Croydon Gazette that some of the balloons had Andrew Pelling’s face printed on them. But his blog Inside Croydon hit back at the allegations, “If someone said that, then they must have been lying.”

Croydon Motorcyclist in Hospital After Fall

A Croydon motorcyclist was taken to hospital after she fell off her bike in Coulsdon this morning. Police and the London Ambulance Service were called at 8am to the incident, which was on Smitham Bottom

Lane near the junction of Smitham Downes Road. The woman, believed to be in her fifties, was taken to East Surrey Hospital. with injuries not believed to life-threatening according to the Croydon Guardian.

Lower Addiscombe Road Branded King of Takeaways

A Croydon road has been praised for its ‘gut-busting’ 24-takeaway shops. The shops in the road sell everything from curry to pizza. Labour Councillor Sean Fitzsimons said: "I enjoy a takeaway of a Friday night. Obviously not too many, but when you are in a rush and don't have time or don't feel like cooking, then they are useful.”

David Harmes, chairman of Chase Residents' Association, told the Croydon Guardian that he believes it is more important to encourage business in Addiscombe. He said: "Takeaways are not a concern that has been mentioned to me but we do seem to have lots of certain types of shop, including ten hairdressers and four or five charity shops. However, Addiscombe has very few empty shop fronts and remains a vibrant and busy place which is definitely a positive."

Pelling’s Blog Turns Fire on Croydon Labour Deputy Stuart Collins

There were further developments in the so-called ‘Pelling Revolution’ this evening as covert photographs taken at the Wandle Park revival day were published online by Labour supporting blog Inside Croydon. The images depicted respected senior Labour Councillor and Deputy Leader Stuart Collins having drinks with a Conservative Councillor with the caption, “No prizes for naming who are in the VIP area, with the free Pimms, at Wandle Park.”

The blog is authored by Steven Downes and Andrew Pelling, the former Tory who is said to be at the forefront of Croydon Labour’s transformation. He was given maximum publicity and the flagship seat of Waddon just weeks ago.

The revelations that Mr Collins is being targeted by his own side will come as shock to local Labour loyalists, who are already reeling from the sacking and public humiliation of domestic violence campaigner Karen Jewitt and Paul Smith.

Kind Hearted Ted Williams Raising Money Dementia Home

A kind hearted schoolboy is hoping to raise thousands of pounds for the nursing home that cared for his granddad before he died. Teenager, Ted Williams, 16, of Selsdon, has already made around £1,000 for Selhurst dementia care centre  through doing car washes, bake sales and raffles – and he is far from finished yet.

He told the Croydon Guardian, “With the money they raise they take patients down to the beach, or out for dinner. They want to buy a music set to stimulate their mind and keep them active, because if they’re not active it makes them worse."

Three More Croydon Labour Councillors Lose Seats in ‘Pelling Revolution’



Labour loyalists out, former Tories in

Three Croydon loyal Labour Councillors have been denied a seat, despite many years of service and devotion to the party. The news follows the public humiliation and deselection of popular local Councillor and vocal campaigner against domestic violence Karen Jewitt, a decision which shocked grassroots Labour party members across the country.

Labour members are said to be ‘terrified’ about losing their seats and are keeping quiet about recent developments for fear of upsetting Labour leader Tony Newman. Ms Jewitt’s sacking was communicated to Labour members and the public through Inside Croydon, a blog at which former Tory Andrew Pelling is Special Correspondent. It said she ‘fails to win selection’. 

Labour Values Out? Karen Jewitt has been denied a seat

Last night at the full Council meeting at Croydon town hall, Karen Jewitt, a familiar face in the Labour group and a popular figure even with the Conservatives, was not present. Ms. Jewitt gave her apologies, but local Conservatives tweeted that it was ‘sad’ that she felt she couldn’t attend.

The restructuring of the Labour group has been dubbed ‘The Pelling Revolution’ by local residents. Despite a career as a Tory Councillor, Tory MP and Tory GLA member, Andrew Pelling was selected for the crucial seat of Waddon.

It is widely expected that a Pelling victory in a ward that holds the balance of power will trigger an immediate cabinet promotion.

Man Stabbed in Croydon

A man has been taken to hospital after being stabbed in a fight. Police were called to Wandle Road in Croydon at about 6pm to reports of men fighting.

They arrived to find one person suffering from a stab wound. He has been taken to hospital. A police spokesman said it was unclear at this point the age of the victim and whether his injury was considered life-threatening.

They await an update from the hospital where he has been taken. Two people were arrested on suspicion of affray close to the scene.