Community: Who’s been on the Grape and Grain roof? Not us, say Wetherspoons…. Brockwell Park tree felling – updated statement from Lambeth council… Southwark and Croydon celebrate Foster Care Fortnight… Westbury estate shooting – man arrested

Ridge tiles have been removed from the roof od the one-storey building at the Grape and Grain pub at the top of Anerley Hill. Some tiles have been neatly stacked at one end of the roof. But the owners - pub chain Wetherspoons - say it's not them. A Wetherspoon's spokesman told News From Crystal …

Blocked-off roads: Six more school streets planned in new ‘consultation’… London Cycling Campaign and Will Norman support new Portland Place scheme…

Croydon council are asking residents to have their say on a proposal to introduce six new so-called "Healthy" school streets which they say will improve road safety around schools. They also claim it will encourage pupils to walk, cycle and scoot more often. The six propoosals involve the areas of the following schools: Applegarth Academy, …

Community: Families take part in Croydon’s first annual Wellbeing Wednesday event – new guides aim to help children up to 12 talk about their feelings and manage any difficulties… Food market as usual… ‘No Mow May’ in Croydon…

Schoolchildren and families enjoyed learning new ways to boost their mental health and wellbeing during Croydon’s first interactive Wellbeing Wednesday this week. A new animation and a series of new resources, wellbeing guides and activities for schools and early years settings have been created to support children up to 12 years old – to help …

Blocked-off roads: Croydon spent almost £1.6 million installing six LTNs – plus an estimated £100,000 putting in the now-scrapped Crystal Palace scheme, FOI requests reveal

Croydon council spent £1,578,000 installing six Low Traffic Neighbourhoods - plus an estimated £100,000 installing the hugely controversial - and later scrapped - Crystal Palace Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme when it was under Labour party control. The Parsons Mead LTN scheme in Broad Green ward cost £150,000 to install - according to one response - …

Council news: Croydon celebrate St George’s Day… Lambeth HGV ban for Leigham Court Road?

On Tuesday executive Mayor of Croydon Jason Perry joined Civic Mayor Cllr Tony Pearson at the raising of the St George’s flag at the town hall, Croydon. "St George’s Day is a day to be proud of our country and I hope that everyone enjoyed their day" said Mayor Perry. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lambeth HGV ban for …

Council news: Grass cutting season gets under way in Croydon… Record 24 motorists prosecuted for blue badge fraud in Bromley…

This year’s grass cutting season is under way in Croydon which will see 127 parks and open spaces including cemeteries and 673 highway verges attended to by the council’s ground maintenance team. An estimated 3.2 million square metres of grass is maintained each year, which is the equivalent size of more than 450 Selhurst Park-sized …

Council news: Thornton Heath next to benefit from council ‘blitz’ clean-up

Thornton Heath is the next area to benefit from Croydon council's blitz clean-up campaign. The clean-up, starting this week, follows of a similar initiative in Norbury last year which the council say saw an 84 per cent reduction in fly tipping in the weeks following their intervention. The council, who say they have worked with …

Queens hotel plans: Councillors voice concerns over living conditions of asylum seekers

"In some rooms you can stand with your arms out and touch both sides of them" - councillor ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Plans to add extensions to the historic Queens hotel on Church Road, Crystal Palace have been narrowly approved by a Croydon council planning committee after councillors voiced concerns over the living conditions of asylum seekers who …

Unlicensed tattoo studio operator prosecuted by Croydon council… First fortnightly waste collections boost recycling, say Lambeth…

Croydon council’s licensing team have successfully prosecuted the owner of two tattoo studios who  had been operating without a special treatments licence at either premises.  It is a legal requirement to hold a licence to give tattoos in Croydon. This is to ensure that the operator provides proper sterilisation of tattoo equipment between customers, that …

Mayor says there were no plans to sell or lease Green Belt land to golf club (or to hand it over)

"No discussions have taken place since and I have no intention, and never have, of selling, leasing or entering into any other agreement which would give control or use of this Green Belt land to the golf club. "These meetings were also not attended by any representatives from the council’s asset disposal team." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Croydon's …