From new community waste collections and tougher enforcement to better roads, improved parks and major regeneration projects, Mayor Jason Perry has spent the first 100 days of his second term getting on with the job of restoring pride in Croydon.
Wednesday 19 August marks 100 days since Mayor Perry returned to his desk for the start of his second term, following his re-election with a renewed mandate from residents.
His immediate focus has been on the issues Croydonians consistently say matter most: cleaner streets, safer neighbourhoods, better roads, improved parks and public spaces, stronger local high streets and the regeneration of the town centre.
At the first of the Mayor’s restored regular Residents’ Association Forums, he announced a major new package to tackle fly-tipping and make it easier for residents to dispose of unwanted items responsibly.
New community collection days will be delivered with residents’ associations, beginning with a pilot in Shirley. More mobile recycling centres are being introduced across the borough, whilst the next programme of enhanced Blitz Cleans will target Thornton Heath, Selhurst, Norbury, Shirley and New Addington.
The Mayor has also directed Council officers to explore longer opening hours at Croydon’s household reuse and recycling centres and allowing trade waste to be accepted. Together, these measures are intended to remove many of the drivers for illegal dumping whilst maintaining zero tolerance for those who deliberately blight Croydon’s streets.
That zero-tolerance approach is already producing results. Croydon’s new Caught on Camera campaign is asking residents to help identify fly-tippers, supported by 19 deployable CCTV cameras at known hotspots. Council enforcement action has closed a rogue garage, secured substantial fines against businesses that put public health at risk, seized more than 66,000 illegal cigarettes and delivered 45 convictions for Blue Badge fraud.
Plans are also being developed for Croydon to lead the way in using GPS tags and exclusion zones against prolific shoplifters. Meanwhile, figures published during the first 100 days showed that the Metropolitan Police’s Live Facial Recognition pilot in Croydon resulted in 173 arrests across 24 operations, including people wanted for rape, kidnap and serious sexual offences. Regular deployments will continue in the town centre.
Visible improvements have been delivered across the borough. The new proactive Pothole Patrol is already out finding and repairing defects more quickly, with more than 3,000 potholes repaired since January and average repair times brought down to seven days.
Four new playgrounds have been announced for Milne Park in New Addington, Courtwood Playground in Forestdale, Rickman Hill in Coulsdon and Mayfield Road in Thornton Heath. Four new outdoor gyms are coming to Mayfield Road, Grange Park in Old Coulsdon, Ashburton Playing Fields in Shirley and South Norwood Recreation Ground. There'll be four each year of this Mayoral term, making 16 new playgrounds and 16 new outdoor gyms in total.
Croydon has also secured two additional Green Flags for Haling Grove and Coombe Wood, bringing the borough’s total to six. The Council is investing unused buildings at Waddon Ponds, Addiscombe Recreation Ground and The Queen’s Gardens into new cafés or kiosks with public toilets.
There has been major progress on regeneration and investment. Planning permission has been granted for the first phase of a £30 million restoration of the historic Selsdon Park Hotel, expected to create more than 150 jobs. College Green has received the green light for transformation into a new public space, whilst substantial improvements to Dingwall Road and George Street have been completed as part of a wider £40 million town centre programme.
Work to complete the long-awaited pedestrian route across East Croydon Station is moving into delivery. Funding agreements have been completed, B&M McHugh has been appointed as Network Rail’s contractor and the company takes possession of the site today (19 August).
The Mayor has continued working with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield to maintain momentum behind the regeneration of North End. URW’s £31.5 million purchase of the Whitgift Centre freehold has simplified the ownership of the site and cleared another obstacle to redevelopment.
Croydon has also been promoted nationally as a place to invest, from UKREiiF and the first Croydon Property and Housing Summit to the launch of the new Invest in Croydon platform. The CRO-llywood Working Group has been established to turn the borough’s success as a filming location into more jobs, skills and opportunities in film, television and post-production.
Mayor Perry has also taken Croydon’s case directly to government. He has begun campaigning for reform of outdated housing funding rules that leave Croydon taxpayers facing an annual gap of approximately £45 million, called for devolution to reach London’s boroughs rather than stopping at City Hall, pressed for business-rates reform following the tragic closure of Coughlans Bakery and made the case for the rail investment needed to unlock the East Croydon bottleneck.
Mayor Jason Perry said:
“When residents re-elected me, they gave me a clear instruction: keep Croydon moving forward and get on with the job.
“That is what these first 100 days have been about. We have launched new services to help residents dispose of waste responsibly, stepped up enforcement against those who deliberately break the rules, repaired thousands of potholes and announced new investment in playgrounds, outdoor gyms and our parks.
“We are getting major regeneration projects moving, attracting investment and taking Croydon’s case directly to government. We have also restored regular forums with residents’ associations, parks groups, motorists and our faith communities because improving Croydon must be something we do together.
“I know residents will judge us by what they see and experience: whether their streets are cleaner, their roads are better, their parks are improving and their neighbourhoods feel safer. There is still a huge amount to do, but the momentum is building.
“Lots done. Lots more to do. Croydon is on the up.”
Mayor Perry’s first 100 days: the highlights
Cleaner and safer streets
1. New community collection days launched
A new service will be delivered with Residents’ Associations to help people dispose of bulky household items. The first pilot will take place in Shirley, with the intention of expanding it across Croydon.
2. Expanded mobile recycling centres
More pop-up recycling centres are being introduced across the borough, allowing residents to dispose of household goods, small electrical appliances, and batteries closer to home.
3. Enhanced Blitz Cleans Announced
The next phase of the programme will target Thornton Heath, Selhurst, Norbury, Shirley and New Addington, bringing Council services together to deliver concentrated improvements.
4. Longer recycling-centre opening hours being explored
I have directed officers to examine how our household reuse and recycling centres can be made easier to use for residents who cannot attend during the current hours.
5. Plans to accept trade waste being developed
Officers are exploring how legitimate businesses could dispose of waste at our recycling centres, helping to remove another excuse for illegal dumping.
Our new website publishes CCTV footage of suspected fly-tippers and asks residents to help identify them.
7. Deployable CCTV cameras increased to 19
The cameras are being targeted at persistent fly-tipping and antisocial-behaviour hotspots across Croydon.
8. Live Facial Recognition helped Police make 173 arrests
The six-month Croydon pilot resulted in one arrest for every 35 minutes of deployment. Those arrested included people wanted for rape, kidnap and serious sexual offences.
9. GPS-tagging plans for prolific shoplifters being developed
We are working with the Police, local businesses and technology providers on proposals to use electronic tags and exclusion zones against persistent offenders.
10. Rogue garage in Thornton Heath closed
The Council secured a court order closing the Parchmore Road premises following complaints about dangerous vehicles, threatening behaviour and persistent antisocial behaviour.
11. £107,000 penalty against a food wholesaler
A Coulsdon business was prosecuted after serious food-hygiene failings which put customers at risk.
12. South Norwood chicken shop prosecuted
The business was fined £25,000 after inspectors found mouse droppings, dirty food storage and repeated failures to improve.
13. 66,000 illegal cigarettes seized
Trading Standards officers raided six shops and confiscated cigarettes, tobacco and shisha which would have been worth more than £70,000 if sold legally.
14. Blue Badge fraudsters named and shamed
The Council secured 45 convictions, seized 136 badges and towed 42 vehicles over the preceding year.
15. Borough-wide injunction secured against persistent offender
The order bans an individual responsible for repeated antisocial behaviour from entering any part of Croydon. Police can arrest him without a warrant if the injunction is breached.
16. Parkguard patrols expanded
Accredited community safety officers have been deployed in the town centre, district centres, parks and housing estates to provide reassurance and support enforcement.
Better roads, parks and public spaces
17. Proactive Pothole Patrol launched
The new patrol travels around Croydon looking for defects and repairing them immediately wherever possible. More than 3,000 potholes have been repaired since January.
18. Four new playgrounds announced
New facilities are coming to Milne Park, Courtwood Playground, Rickman Hill and Mayfield Road. They are the first of 16 playground improvements promised during this term.
19. Four new outdoor gyms announced
New outdoor gyms will be delivered at Mayfield Road, Grange Park, Ashburton Playing Fields in Shirley and South Norwood Recreation Ground. They are the first of 16 promised by 2030.
20. Two more Green Flags secured
Haling Grove and Coombe Wood received their first Green Flag awards, bringing Croydon’s total to six.
21. Investing in cafés and kiosks in three parks
Unused buildings at Waddon Ponds, Addiscombe Recreation Ground and The Queen’s Gardens are being transformed into cafés or kiosks with public toilets.
22. New playground opened on Tollers Estate
A former ball court has been transformed into a safe, modern playground following consultation with residents.
23. Facilities at Haling Grove restored
Storm-damaged toilets have been fully refurbished and reopened, making the park more welcoming and accessible.
24. 20 mph road restriction review beginning
Work has started on reviewing the effecitveness of 20mph restrictions.
25. Major improvements to Dingwall Road and George Street completed
New paving, crossings, lighting, seating, planting and sustainable drainage have created a safer and more attractive route between East Croydon station and the town centre.
26. Road and parking reviews begun
Review of district-centre parking has commenced and improved School Street access for black cabs has been delivered.
Regeneration, investment and jobs
27. East Croydon pedestrian through-route work started
Funding agreements have been completed, approvals are in place and Network Rail has appointed B&M McHugh to begin work on the long-awaited pedestrian route from today.
28. First phase of the £30 million Selsdon Park Hotel restoration approved
The wider project will restore the historic hotel and parkland, create new leisure facilities and support more than 150 jobs.
29. College Green plans given the green light
The underused space between Croydon College and Fairfield Halls will become a new green public space for play, relaxation and community activity.
30. Whitgift Centre simplified ownership supported
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield completed its £31.5 million purchase of the freehold, removing another obstacle to the regeneration of North End.
31. Invest in Croydon launched
The new platform brings together Croydon’s development sites, commercial opportunities and investment proposition in one place.
32. New Investment Prospectus published
The prospectus showcases Croydon’s growth sectors, major sites and economic opportunities to potential investors.
33. Croydon promoted nationally at UKREiiF
I led Croydon’s presence at the country’s largest property and infrastructure investment forum, promoting our connectivity, workforce and regeneration opportunities.
34. CRO-llywood Working Group launched
The group brings together businesses, educators and industry professionals to turn Croydon’s success as a filming location into jobs, skills and investment.
35. Progress welcomed on Gatwick’s Northern Runway
The project is expected to create 14,000 jobs, alongside opportunities for Croydon residents and businesses through new skills, apprenticeships and supply chains.
36. Supported the first Croydon Property and Housing Summit
I addressed more than 170 representatives from housing, investment, finance and regeneration, making clear that Croydon is open for business.
Better homes and services
37. More Croydon children are thriving
Provisional results show 74.1% of children achieved a Good Level of Development at the end of reception, up from 70.4% and above the latest national average.
38. Enforcement against rogue landlords strengthened
A new private rented sector enforcement policy gives officers a clearer and more consistent framework for tackling landlords who fail to meet their legal responsibilities.
39. Homes for Croydon’s veterans pledged
At least five social homes each year will be provided for veterans through our partnership with the Stoll Foundation, alongside support to help residents live independently.
40. Digital noticeboards being rolled out across our tower blocks
The first electronic noticeboard has been installed at Malcolm Wicks House. All 43 Council tower blocks are due to receive one, giving tenants faster information about repairs, building issues and housing support.
41. Housing repairs phone service improved
The proportion of calls answered increased from 71.6% to 93%, whilst average waiting times fell from more than 700 seconds to 166 seconds.
42. More than 1,200 tenants supported to remain in their homes
Our tenancy sustainment service supported residents to manage their tenancies and secured £2.35 million in benefit entitlements.
43. Damp and mould response times improved
Additional staff and new technology are helping the Council identify and assess problems more quickly as we roll out the requirements of Awaab’s Law.
44. Fairer temporary-accommodation policy approved
A more consistent approach to charges is expected to recover £1.4 million each year, whilst 98% of affected households will experience no financial impact.
Standing up for Croydon and listening to residents
45. Campaign to defend Croydon’s Green Belt launched
The Council will formally oppose Sadiq Khan’s proposal to make our housing target dependent on building 5,600 homes on Green Belt land. I will continue making the case for brownfield development first and local democratic controll of planning.
46. Campaign for fairer temporary-accommodation funding launched
I wrote to the Housing Minister demanding reform of rules still linked to 2011 rental values, which leave Croydon taxpayers facing an annual gap of approximately £45 million.
47. Made the case for devolution done properly
I have told ministers that devolution must reach London’s boroughs rather than simply transferring power from Whitehall to City Hall.
48. Stood up for high-street businesses
Following the closure of Coughlans Bakery after 89 years, I wrote to the then Prime Minister reiterating my call for business-rates reform and relief from rising employment costs.
49. Pressed for the rail investment Croydon needs
I raised the East Croydon bottleneck directly with Network Rail and Govia Thameslink Railway and wrote to the Transport Secretary to make the case for the Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme.
50. Regular forums with Croydon’s communities restored
I have brought back regular Residents’ Association Forums and established new meetings with Friends of Parks groups, motorists alongside established meetings with faith leaders. These forums give residents and community organisations a direct route to raise concerns and help shape our work.
