Council answer football question with a straight bat!?

Last month local papers splashed on two Croydon councillors caught ball watching Crystal Palace playing Sunderland on their tablet during a full council meeting on a Monday evening. The story went national - The Daily Telegraph and The Sun covered it.

I spoke to an ex-councillor who had, "no sympathy for them because they could have sat on members seats under the public gallery" and thus avoided being caught with their shorts down.

At the time I felt Councillor Wentworth was in a tricky position as he was part of the 2014 intake, and thus should NOT be displaying such irreverent activity towards his constituents when technically a new recruit. Councillor Ryan on the other hand has a strong track record of hard work in Upper Norwood ward and could be forgiven for this indiscretion. I first stood against him in 2006. Back then his strong personal support resulted in his re-election whilst his fellow Labour councillors lost their seats.

I sent in a cheeky question which I think the councillor in charge of sport plays with a particularly straight bat!

CROYDON COUNCIL MEETING: MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME 

WRITTEN QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

From Mr Shasha Khan  

Councillor Timothy Godfrey Cabinet Member for culture, Leisure and Sport  

Question No. PQ037-16  

If the Football Supporters Federation started a ‘Keep league matches on Saturday afternoons’ campaign in support of children who can’t get to watch football games on Monday nights, and of course other groups, would this council back such a campaign?  

Reply  

The Council is supportive of making football and other sports accessible and affordable to all supporters particularly for young people.  

As a result of the commercial issues that professional football has including those from TV to meet their broadcasting requirements the trend has been to have some weekday matches particularly on a Monday.  

Saturday afternoons is the traditional time for football matches as it enables supporters to attend with friends, as family groups and as part of the Football Community.  

Costs of attending matches is also a key issue for supporters and the Council welcomes initiatives by football clubs including its home Club Crystal Palace FC to reduce ticket prices and increase access to groups including young people. 

The Council is also supportive of local clubs such as Croydon FC and Croydon Athletic FC and would support initiatives to increase attendances by local football followers. 

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Reclaim the Streets

Letter from Ross Hemingway in the Croydon Guardian

Coincidently the headline on Ross' letter easily led to one think it was about the riots, especially as the front page had this image!
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Tags croydon, greenparty

Queen Mary Road, Upper Norwood

Inadvertently stopping an SUV with Jenny Jones on Queen Mary Road - Spring 2006

On the eve of the 5th Crystal Palace Overground Festival, I've dug out a photo and the text from an old leaflet which relates to the good folk of Upper Norwood and Crystal Palace.

The residents of Queen Mary Road have fought for 15 years to find a solution to their narrow road dilemma. I remember speaking to Jenny Jones AM about the issue; she came to see the problem for herself back in 2006. She concluded that there were very few alternatives apart from turning the street into a one-way. We suggested alternative solutions as well, because turning a road into 'one way' can sometimes result in increases in average speeds. We submitted a petition to the authorities urging them to help the residents. So, in a way we helped win this battle!

Online version of 'Victory in 15-year battle to make street one-way'

Taken from a Green Party leaflet in FEBRUARY 2006:

The number of road rage incidents on Queen Mary Road are likely to increase, unless steps are taken to address the problem. Presently, due to the narrow width of the road and limited car parking spaces, vehicles driving through the road are finding it increasingly difficult to ‘tuck in’ to the side of the road in order for oncoming cars to proceed.

Residents living on Queen Mary Road have reported the issue to the Croydon Green Party.

The problem is all the more alarming if one considers that the number of cars on the roads has increased by 83 per cent since 1980* and is set to increase by a further 50 per cent over the next 20 years**.

Croydon Greens are keen to find a sustainable solution to the problem on Queen Mary Road and in other parts of Croydon. Firstly, it will help ease congestion, pollution and frustration. Secondly, it will help the UK meet its carbon emission targets. It’s important to bear in mind that traffic delays cost the country £15 billion a year***.

Here are three solutions:

· Install a passing zone on each side of the road.

• Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ’s): These are parking restrictions.

This can make it easier for residents to park near their homes.

• Explore the potential for a car sharing scheme.

Over the coming weekends, Green Party members will be asking Queen Mary Road residents if they have any other solutions, with a view to submitting proposals to the Transport and Streets department at the council.

* Department for Transport - Transport Trends 2004

** DEFRA

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Tags croydon, greenparty

Local member Yogi Rajah passes away

........................ Yogi Rajah in Croydon Town Centre .......................................

Yesterday, the Sutton and Croydon Green Party were very sad to hear the news that local member Yogi Rajah, aged 73, had passed away peacefully in his sleep. His daughter Lyn telephoned us last night to advise us of his passing.

Yogi was a prolific canvasser and leafleter. He would talk to absolutely anyone about the virtues of a greener lifestyle and society. I will best remember him for his efforts in the 2004 GLA election. He single handedly canvassed most if not all of Upper Norwood! He certainly had a major hand in the 10 per cent the Green Party polled in Upper Norwood that year.

He would take a box load of leaflets and posters from my flat and then return with astonishing speed asking for more. What is even more astonishing, as I found out yesterday, was that he was 70 years old at the time!!! He will always be an inspiration to us all and will be greatly missed.

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Tags croydon, greenparty