March 23 News Round Up

Council Tax Rise Defeated:  Croydon Mayor’s proposal to raise council tax from April by 15% was defeated at the Council meeting on 1^st March by 37 votes to 34.  Labour, Green & Lib Dems all voted against.  All the Conservatives voted in favour.  Unfortunately, this is not the final vote and there will  be a further vote at a full Council meeting on Wednesday 8 March.  It is unclear whether or not the Mayor will be able to force this huge rise through.  There will be another demonstration outside the Croydon Town Hall, Katharine Street from 5.30pm to coincide with the Council Meeting on 8 March. More than 25,000 people have already signed.  You can add your name if you wish by using this link –https://www.change.org/p/no-to-15-council-tax-hike-fund-croydon-fairlyYou maybe able to use a computer at the library to sign the petition if you don’t have online access at home

Changes to the way we vote:  Following a change in electoral law, we will need to take photo identification to the polls in order to vote.  Included in the list of acceptable voter ID is a Driver’s Licence, Passport, Blue Badge and a Freedom Pass.  Those who don’t have any acceptable photo ID will need to apply to the Town Hall for a Voter Authority Certificate.  There is no charge for the certificate but you will need to provide a regulation sized photograph.  There’s more information on https://www.croydon.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2023-02/voter-id-what-you-need-to-know-february-2023.pdf

International Women’s Day is a global celebration of women’s rights and achievements. On March 9th, the Cassandra Centre is holding a celebration from noon-3pm with food, talks and music at the Norbury Methodist Church, 2a Pollards Hill North, SW16 4NL. Everyone is welcome – including men.  Knitting Norbury Together are also celebrating this special day.  From 4 March, look out for their displays on trees in an around Norbury. To find out more about International Women’s Day and this year’s theme go to: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/

A Warm Space: There’s still an opportunity to join other people in a warm space at St Oswald’s until 10 March.

Literary Festival 13 May-20 May:  Love Norbury’s plans are coming on apace.  Local authors are booked; Professor Pene Corfield will be speaking about the Georgians, focussing on their activities in Croydon; a local actor will be holding reading sessions for local children and there is much more in the pipeline.  It’s hoped to have a poetry event – if you like poetry or have a favourite poem, it would be great to hear from you.  Also, if you have books to sell or a local author, please contact Sean – [email protected]. Ideas and thoughts very welcome.

Litter Picking in Norbury Park:   40 people turned out on a cold Saturday in February to clear up the litter in Norbury Park.  We all wish it wasn’t necessary, but a huge thanks to all those thoughtful people.

Trees for our streets:  Over the years our streets have lost a number of trees, usually through disease.  It’s often possible to identify where the trees were as the spaces are just tarmacked over.  The Council planting replacement trees in the coming planting season which starts in the Autumn.  If there’s a tree space in your street, please let Ann know and she will pass the information on to the Council.

News of a new Pub:  Many people have been wondering what happened to the promised new pub in Norbury Crescent.  Here, the owners,  Antic Pubs explain:  ‘So, what’s the deal with Norbonne and Stable? We’ve had a lot of ‘are you really opening soon?’, and, understandably so.  We know there’s been a lot of false starts, so here it is. We started this project with our former investors, and when our relationship with them ceased, we couldn’t continue any works as they owned the freehold.  We recently purchased it from them, meaning we’re now able to restart the works with the aim to complete a delightful new Public House for Norbury, a corner of South London we have loved from afar for some time.’  The proposed name of the Pub is unusual.  ‘Stable’ may refer to the racecourse that ran in Norbury during the 19^th century.  But ‘Narbonne’?  Anybody know the refence – it would be great to know – but sadly no prizes!!

LOCAL SERVICES

Councillors’ Surgeries: Our ward councillors, Matt Griffiths & Leila Ben Hassel, hold monthly surgeries on the first Saturday of each month at Norbury Baptist Church (address above), 11am-12.30pm. Their next surgery is Saturday 4 March.

Library: The Library remains open three days a week, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, 10am-6pm. The Mayor, Jason Perry, is currently reviewing the libraries and it is feared that the outcome will be some closures and possibly outsourcing. Sadly, the upper room which was part of the £1million refurbishment is still not available for hire.

Committee Members:   Mike Mogul; Ann Creighton; Jayne Elden; Jeff Slough; Sean Creighton & Ruth Heindl

Do you have a local story, question or something you’d like publicised?  Then please get in touch with Ann, [email protected]  – Be great to have some more local input!