Waddon January Update

1) HOUSING JUSTICE CAMPAIGN

We know that many residents around Duppas Hill near the flyover are struggling with damp, overcrowded or unsuitable accommodation. With a team of Labour volunteers, we went out door knocking to listen to residents and help support them with casework in mid-December. This important work was supported by Labour councillors up and down Croydon who also went out in their own wards to do the same. We thank our shadow cabinet member for housing, Chrishni Reshekaron, for helping to organise this, and we are in regular contact with the residents who needed our help to follow up their concerns. If you want to join us on canvassing sessions like this to help our most vulnerable, please get in touch!

2) FIGHTING DAMP AND HOUSING CASEWORK

Casework is very high at the moment, particularly as so many Waddon residents struggle with the cost of living and the difficult weather conditions through December. The high levels of rainfall, snow and cold put real pressure on poor housing stock that saw increased leaks and broken boilers. Ellily and Rowenna have been trying to support residents through this. If you have some casework you need help with, our next surgery is Saturday 4th February at St George’s Church, Barrow Road, Waddon. Show up any time from 10am – 11:30am with no need to book an appointment.

3) LABOUR FOR WARM SPACES

Croydon Labour won a motion in full Council calling on the Mayor to promote and grow the number of Warm Spaces in our borough. Led by the voluntary sector, these important public ‘warm spaces’ provide places for people to go for warmth and companionship when they are struggling to pay for their energy bills. Watch Rowenna’s speech on this here (2hrs, 47mins in)  For a list of warm spaces you or any Croydon resident can access, please click here.

4) TACKLING CRIME WITH THE LOCAL SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAM

We met the new Safer Neighbourhood Team online to discuss a number of residents’ concerns in the ward, including drug dealing around Duppas Hill and illegal parking in other parts of the ward. We also pushed for a new Safer Neighbourhood Team meeting where residents can raise concerns themselves directly with local police. All residents are welcome and encouraged to join the next Safer Neighbourhood Police Team meeting at 7pm on23rd January at the Old Town Youth Club.

5) NEW PLANS FOR OLD SCHOOL PLACE

You may remember from previous newsletters that we have been fighting plans for 140 new properties to be built on the remainder of the former Heath Clark school playing field at the rear of Stafford Road. Unfortunately, the private developer who wants to build here has won their appeal with the national government’s planning inspectorate, which means the work will go ahead. The plans include 140 units ranging from 2 to 5 storeys, a car and cycle park, a community hub and access from the development to Duppas Hill Park.The Council will impose conditions to minimise disturbance, but no doubt this development will have an impact on local residents. We are here to support so please contact us if you have any concerns about the development and we’ll do our best to answer your questions.

6) CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS

Thank you to all of the members and supporters who came to our Waddon Labour Christmas gathering. Your companionship and support means a lot to us! Thank you also to Start It Right for hosting a lovely Christmas Grotto that Ellily was able to attend.

7) NEW LABOUR PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE FOR CROYDON SOUTH!

Congratulations to a local resident, community campaigner and father who won the selection vote to be Labour’s next parliamentary candidate in Croydon South. Ben has a history of helping and campaigning for Waddon and we know he will help hold the current Conservative MP Chris Philp to account for his shocking role in this Tory government, the shambolic budget that was passed last year and the proposed dropping of taxes on the rich at a time when all of us are struggling. We look forward to working with Ben, and we also thank the other fantastic candidates who ran in this selection, particularly Jess Rich who has served Waddon so well as a council candidate at the last election and longstanding local Labour campaigner Paul Waddell.

To find out more about Ben do follow him on Twitter @BenJLTaylor or email him at [email protected]

Best wishes to all of you for a safe and peaceful 2023.

Rowenna & Ellily

Your Labour Councillors