One of my key priorities as Mayor is the regeneration of our town centre, to fix the ‘broken windows’ and restore pride in our borough. Listening to residents, businesses and community groups is at the heart of this process. At the end of last year we launched a programme of workshops on our town centre regeneration strategy, to invite our residents to share their views and help shape our vision. The next series of events will be held throughout January and February, and I hope many residents take up this opportunity to get involved. See our Urban Room website for more details.
Keeping school children safe
I would like to thank Croydon Police for the proactive work they’ve undertaken this week to reassure parents and young people after pupils were targeted and robbed of personal items while on their way to school. The police have written to headteachers in the borough to keep them informed and issue crime prevention advice to pupils and parents.
Furthermore, the police have been carrying out proactive policing operations across Purley and Shirley – before and after school – with officers from the Mounted Police Unit joining Safer Neighbourhood Teams providing reassurance. The operation has also resulted in a number of arrests including three for robbery offences.
We will continue to work with the police and our community partners to make Croydon a safer place to live. Advice on mobile phone theft prevention can be found on the Met Police website.
Croydon University Hospital
I was pleased to see the BBC coverage of Croydon University Hospital which is working hard to fill a high number of vacant midwife posts in the face of national staff shortages. This is being done, partly by recruiting new starters like Phoebe Isaac who spoke about it being her new dream job.
The BBC also filmed new mum Nicole D’Cruze as she had a caesarean section bringing baby Zenia into the world.
Good luck to both Phoebe and Nicole.
Response to cold weather snap
With the cold weather and snow showers this week, council services are working hard to ensure residents can travel safely through the borough.
The council is doing its part to clear gullies, grit roads and keep our streets safe in response to a Met Office warning of an Arctic blast sweeping the country. Please continue to take care in the cold weather and contact our resilience department via our online reporting site if you have any concerns.
Primary schools deadline
And lastly, Monday 15 January is the deadline for primary school applications in Croydon. Please don’t forget to get applications in as soon as possible and visit our website for more information.
Jason Perry
Executive Mayor of Croydon
