Croydon is one of the greenest boroughs in London, with 127 parks and greens spaces for residents to enjoy. That is why I am delighted that we have received two more Green Flag awards for our parks in Haling Grove and Coombe Wood – bringing the total to six. They join Happy Valley, Wandle Park, Wettern Tree Garden and Coulsdon Memorial Park who have already received Green Flags. These awards recognise our ongoing investment in parks and open spaces, including improved maintenance, new play areas, outdoor gyms and better paths.
A big thank you to our Friends of Parks groups, volunteers, Council staff, and partners, whose dedication helps keep these valued spaces at their best. If you have not visited one of our parks yet, it is a great time to get out there and enjoy them.
I was delighted to announce as part of my pledge to deliver four new playgrounds and four new outdoor gyms every year throughout my term of office, that four new outdoor gyms will be installed at: Mayfield Road, Thornton Heath, Ashburton Playing Fields, Grange Park, Old Coulsdon, and South Norwood Recreation Ground.
This is part of my commitment to giving families and residents more opportunities to play, exercise and enjoy our green spaces as we restore pride in Croydon.
Another boost for our town centre
We want to see a town centre that is busy, confident and thriving – one where people want to visit and spend time. The masterplan for North End is an important part of this vision. The confirmed sale of the Whitgift Centre’s freehold by John Whitgift Foundation to Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) this week simplifies the ownership of the site and helps to smooth the pathway for the redevelopment.
URW’s masterplan will deliver new shops, cultural attractions, public spaces and homes. The sale will also allow the John Whitgift Foundation to focus on their charitable work. Read the full story here.
Zero-tolerance crackdown on antisocial behaviour
I am committed to cracking down on antisocial behaviour and environmental crime and our recently launched Caught on Camera website is already getting results. You can help us tackle fly-tipping by watching our CCTV footage and letting us know if you recognise anyone in the clips. Any information you can provide may help us identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
We have also named and shamed seven people convicted of Blue Badge fraud, contributing to 45 successful convictions over the past year. Blue Badge misuse deprives people who genuinely need these spaces, making everyday lives much harder.
Today I went on patrol with Parkguard officers in Thornton Heath and Croydon town centre. Parkguard are our accredited community safety officers, working alongside the Council and Police to help keep our borough cleaner and safer. They do an excellent job of keeping our residents and businesses safe and it was great to see their work first-hand.
Magnificent Grayson Perry tapestries on display in Croydon
More good news is the arrival of two beautiful tapestries which were originally part of Grayson Perry’s The Essex House Tapestries: The Life of Julie Cope. They are on loan from Crafts Council and on display in the Museum of Croydon until 19 September. It is free for residents to visit the exhibition (or £5 for non-residents) and a wonderful opportunity to see world-class art. Read more about the exhibition.
Affordable family activities this summer
With the summer holidays just around the corner, we know they can be both fun and challenging as many parents look to keep children entertained whilst balancing work commitments and without breaking the bank. Find out about all the affordable activities we are offering with our partners over the summer months.
Like many of you, I was hugely disappointed to see England knocked out of the FIFA World Cup on Wednesday. They have had a fantastic tournament and created a wonderful atmosphere here in Croydon.
Wishing everyone a great weekend and for those starting their summer holidays, a restful and enjoyable break.
Jason Perry
Executive Mayor of Croydon
