An important milestone in the regeneration of our town centre has been reached this week, with planning permission granted to transform College Green into a high-quality green public space. The underused space between Croydon College and Fairfield Halls will become a welcoming place for residents, students and visitors, with a new area for play and relaxation. It is another major step towards creating a greener, more vibrant Croydon. Read more here.
Just a short walk away in College Square, there has been plenty of creative activity taking place. Students from Croydon College have been working with Art Streets on Croydon Compass, a new pavement artwork inspired by our borough’s architectural heritage. Funded through the Home Office’s Design Out Crime programme, the project has given young people the opportunity to work alongside professional artists, develop new skills and leave their mark on the town centre. The final artwork will be unveiled next week, and from what I have seen so far, it looks fantastic!
Tollers Estate Day of Action
I visited Tollers Estate for our latest Housing Estate Action Day, where housing staff, contractors and volunteers work together to make improvements residents told us they wanted to see. It was also a pleasure to see the new playground officially open, transforming a former ball court into a high-quality safe play space for local children and families. We are now working with residents to explore whether we can provide a ball court elsewhere on the estate. A big thank you to residents, staff and volunteers who gave their time to help. Together, these improvements are helping to restore pride in our estates.
Keeping our trains moving
I had a fascinating visit to Selhurst Depot, where I saw first-hand the work that keeps our railway moving. It was incredible to learn that it is the largest train operating depot in the UK and to meet some of the engineering apprentices helping to maintain our rail network for the future.
I also met with John Whitehurst, Interim CEO of Greater Thameslink Railway, and senior representatives from Network Rail to discuss improving reliability and tackling the bottleneck at East Croydon. With so many trains passing through East Croydon, this rail corridor is not only vital to Croydon’s economy, but also a nationally important route, supporting jobs, businesses and communities well beyond our borough.
The sad closure of Coughlans Bakery
I was very sad to hear that Coughlans Bakery, one of Croydon’s most loved and longest-standing local businesses, has closed its doors after 89 years. This is not just the loss of another shopfront. Coughlans is part of Croydon’s story. Open since 1937, generations of residents have grown up with it. I have written to the Prime Minister today to express my concerns about the challenges facing independent businesses. Croydon Council is doing everything it can to stand up for local traders, support our district centres and drive new investment into the borough.
Meeting the next generation
A highlight of my week was visiting Howard Primary School and spending time with some of the Year 6 pupils. They shared their ideas for Croydon, and I was hugely impressed by their enthusiasm, and passion. They had plenty of thoughtful suggestions about how to make our borough even better. It left me feeling very optimistic about Croydon’s future.
Celebrating our NHS and emergency services
Today the flag is flying outside Croydon Town Hall to mark NHS, Social Care and Frontline Workers’ Day. I would like to thank everyone working across Croydon’s NHS, social care and emergency services. Every day, you provide vital care and support to our communities, often in challenging circumstances. We are incredibly grateful for everything you do.
The circus is coming to town!
This weekend promises to be a spectacular one in the town centre as we welcome ‘For Miss La La’, a free celebration of contemporary circus. Curated by the award-winning circus company Upswing, the event will feature aerial performances, acrobatics, roller skating, juggling and tightwire acts, as well as opportunities for residents to try out circus skills for themselves. It is set to be a fantastic family-friendly weekend and I hope to see many of you there. Read the full schedule here.
As always, I’m looking forward to attending the South Norwood Community Festival this Sunday at South Norwood Recreation Ground. Thousands of people are expected to enjoy a fantastic day of live music, entertainment, activities, food and attractions for all the family. I hope to see many of you there. Find out more here.
I hope everyone has been enjoying the football. This week’s match against DR Congo certainly had us on the edge of our seats. and Monday’s game against Mexico on Monday promises to be another exciting encounter.
Good luck, England, and have a great weekend everyone.
Jason Perry
Executive Mayor of Croydon
