Named and Shamed

Named and Shamed

Text

Squalid roads, buildings and locations in Croydon named and shamed.

Monday, February 26, 2007

Arrowcroft Abandons Highcourt Action

Property Week reports that Arrowcroft have told the High Court that it will not proceed with the action against communities secretary Ruth Kelly, who gave planning consent for the rival Stanhope Schroders' scheme for the Croydon Gateway development last June.

Arrowcroft believes that the subsequent decision by the council to compulsorily purchase the site for the Arrowcroft scheme, means that it does not need to proceed with the court case.

Pride comes before a fall!

Friday, February 16, 2007

The Arrowcroft "Newsletter"

I received the following email from Croydon Council today, in respect of my enquiry regarding the Arrowcroft "newsletter".

Dear Mr. Frost,

Thank you for your email dated 8/02/07, sent to Croydon Council, in which you ask questions pertaining to a newsletter you have received recently.

It is very likely that the document you refer to is the spring 2007 newsletter produced by Arrowcroft.

Croydon Council has a devolvement agreement with Arrowcroft to develop the Gateway site adjacent to East Croydon station. In order to keep local people informed of progress with development, Arrowcroft produces a regular newsletter which is distributed to households within the CR0 postcode area. The Council is aware of and approves the content of the newsletter. No residents’ addresses have been supplied by the Council to Arrowcroft. The design, printing and distribution of this newsletter is paid entirely by Arrowcroft and so no Croydon Council taxpayers’ money is used for this purpose.

I hope this answer allays your concerns
.


In my view, given that the content of "newsletter" is approved and reviewed by the council (ie they derive political/PR benefit from the "newletter"), yet paid for by Arrowcroft, does this not constitute some form of "election" or "political" contribution that should be declared by both Arrowcroft and the council?

I have raised the matter with my MP, Andrew Pelling.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Gateway Propaganda Sheet

Sent to Croydon Council today:

"Yesterday I, and I assume other residents living in Croydon, received another expensively produced colour 4 page propaganda sheet outlining the benefits of the Arrowcroft/Croydon Council proposal for the Gateway site.

It was remarkably "economical with the actualite", eg it scrupulously refuses to mention that Stanhope own the gateway site and have a rival plan for it.

The propaganda sheet notes that Arrowcroft are in "partnership with Croydon Council", and makes liberal references to Croydon Council.

I assume that the wording and layout has been approved by the council prior to distribution.

I have a number of questions:

1 Did the council pass on my address details, and the address details of other residents, to Arrowcroft?

2 How much does this regular propaganda sheet cost to produce?

3 Who is paying for it, Arrowcroft or Croydon council (ie the taxpayers)?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Ken Frost MA FCA FIPFM
"

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Compulsory Purchase of the Gateway Site

I have today submitted a formal objection to Croydon Council's proposed Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) of the Gateway development near East Croydon Station, to The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Planning Division.