tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.comments2023-09-05T15:40:23.582+01:00Croydon Against The ArenaKen Frosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13568488818950912374noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-37847275130271927072012-01-30T09:34:56.213+00:002012-01-30T09:34:56.213+00:00The Ruskin Square masterplan also provides for a n...The Ruskin Square masterplan also provides for a new direct route connecting the East Croydon Station with the town centre through the site.Uk Pension Schemehttp://www.charterage.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-68358591072490497342008-09-13T21:42:00.000+01:002008-09-13T21:42:00.000+01:00Fine work to block the ridiculous arena proposal. ...Fine work to block the ridiculous arena proposal. With 12,500 + seats and only 800 or so parking spaces, that would have been the end of residential parking in Fairfield and Addiscombe.<BR/><BR/>Hopefully Stnahope move forward quickly with their plans. Hopefully a footbridge between Dingwall Road and Cherry Orchard Road will be among them. This will improve access to the new shopping centre for the elderly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-62238667887936462192008-08-12T23:14:00.000+01:002008-08-12T23:14:00.000+01:00The Ruskin Square development DOES include an impr...The Ruskin Square development DOES include an improvement to East Croydon station - they have just never been given the chance by the council to explain the plans. Hence so many critics moaning about 'only offices and housing'. Croydon will be regenerated and an arena can go somewhere else - if anyone is stupid enough to fund it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-956876149834799722008-08-12T09:06:00.000+01:002008-08-12T09:06:00.000+01:00The fundamental problem with Croydon Council's (bo...The fundamental problem with Croydon Council's (both previous Labour and current Tory) "planning" for redevelopment is that it is not co-ordinated.<BR/><BR/>Schemes such as Park Place (which is now delayed) and Altitude 25 (the ugly grey chimney) do not "fit" together.<BR/><BR/>Croydon Council loves the headlines of a "large" developments, but does not care to dirty its hands with the nitty gritty details as to whether the developments actually fit in with a "vision" of Croydon or not.<BR/><BR/>In the early 90's there was an exhibition at Fairfield Halls of Croydon of "the future" showing ariel walkways etc etc.<BR/><BR/>None of these "grand" plans ever materialised!<BR/><BR/>We will see the same of Park Place and other plans.<BR/><BR/>The council is not up to the job of regenerating Croydon.Ken Frosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13568488818950912374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-64658342796744883762008-08-12T00:42:00.000+01:002008-08-12T00:42:00.000+01:00I don't particularly like the Ruskin Square develo...I don't particularly like the Ruskin Square development (and the name is a bit unfortunate too). I'd have liked to seen a bit of space given over to making East Croydon station less confined and crowded and the rest given over to open space. I'd have supported a CPO for that.<BR/><BR/>I think it was a disaster to give Schroders/Stanhope planning permission in the first place but that is what the council did and Schroders/Stanhope own the site so that should have been the end of it. To then want to use a CPO so they can hand over the land to another company with an even worse scheme is totally monstrous.<BR/><BR/>I am beginning to suspect the planners at Croydon council just really hate Croydon and want to spoil it. Hence we get monstrosities like Altitude25 (no wonder the artist's impression was a nighttime view) and ridiculously big towers like IYLO and that even bigger one talked about for Wellesley Road.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-40176677209598308762008-08-09T16:08:00.000+01:002008-08-09T16:08:00.000+01:00Are you saying that Arrowcroft are not a big busin...Are you saying that Arrowcroft are not a big business?<BR/><BR/>Do a search on this site and see what Gerald Kaufman said about them a few years ago.Ken Frosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13568488818950912374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-38759847769442792042008-08-09T15:52:00.000+01:002008-08-09T15:52:00.000+01:00Well personally i think its terrible, an arena wou...Well personally i think its terrible, an arena would have been something that croydon could have been proud of. Now we are going to get houses and offices, which is exactly what croydon has too many of already. Croydon is considered by many to be a concrete jungle of no particular value. The arena could have been something that brought people to the area for a reason other than to work and shop. But then again its just another example of how much influence big buisness has on the upper echelons of goverment. Lets just hope that the council protests the decision.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15469929846164375337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-79344479439005430552008-08-01T16:43:00.000+01:002008-08-01T16:43:00.000+01:00Thank you for your work on this. It has been a vit...Thank you for your work on this. It has been a vital voice and rallying point for many people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-13315500541417386042008-07-12T12:44:00.000+01:002008-07-12T12:44:00.000+01:00Another key backer of the Arena was Former Head of...Another key backer of the Arena was Former Head of Arts, Culture and what-not, Steve Halsey. He has also departed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-45217947584796666862008-05-09T23:51:00.000+01:002008-05-09T23:51:00.000+01:00'Pigs Seen in Fly Past of Taberner House'Croydon C...'Pigs Seen in Fly Past of Taberner House'<BR/><BR/>Croydon Council actually working 'with' a leading developer who has the funding in place to actually build offices to keep jobs in Croydon?<BR/><BR/>They say the wheels of local government turn very slowly, but in Croydon they seem to be encrusted with undemocratic bias - some would say 'corrupted' wheels. <BR/><BR/>Come on Croydon Council - get on board a better scheme that will help transform Croydons image.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-16072283500541686912008-05-05T00:21:00.000+01:002008-05-05T00:21:00.000+01:00Now he is Mayor - let us hope he has a clear and s...Now he is Mayor - let us hope he has a clear and sensible view on this and helps Croydon regenerate as soon as possible.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-48054974289385780502008-04-23T10:05:00.000+01:002008-04-23T10:05:00.000+01:00This has been the problem with the Boris campaign....This has been the problem with the Boris campaign. Boris is not up against someone who does not have an opinion on everything. Ken Livingstone has for 40 years been at the centre of London local government.<BR/><BR/>Love Ken or Loath him, he knows the detail on every aspect of London and London politics.<BR/><BR/>Boris on the other hand is trying to keep everybody happy. <BR/><BR/>Boris has a careful policy team filtering. Ken on the other hand is the policy team.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-55854929325665564002008-04-19T08:39:00.000+01:002008-04-19T08:39:00.000+01:00I noted in the Advertiser that the only real defen...I noted in the Advertiser that the only real defence the Council leader made of the Arena was that they were contractually obliged to Arrowcroft.<BR/><BR/>Not quite the ringing endorsement of an Arena that the Croydon Cabinet member for Regeneration (Mr Pollard)extols. <BR/><BR/>With only 14 weeks to the final date of the result of the public inquiry why cant the council come clean and admit the Arena is a white elephant, the credit crunch means it will never get financed <BR/><BR/>Meanwhile in reality the Warehouse Theatre is in real trouble financially and the Fairfield is going to be in a similar state quite soon.<BR/><BR/>The Council may well find itself without an Arena, Without a Warehouse Theatre and without a Fairfield. <BR/><BR/>What sense would that make?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-55158461838184521872008-04-19T08:13:00.000+01:002008-04-19T08:13:00.000+01:00A very good question.I have asked, and am awaiting...A very good question.<BR/><BR/>I have asked, and am awaiting an answer.<BR/><BR/>If I get one, I will post it.<BR/><BR/>KenKen Frosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13568488818950912374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-28255863320590378522008-04-18T23:39:00.000+01:002008-04-18T23:39:00.000+01:00Thats very helpful. What is the BJ view of an Aren...Thats very helpful. What is the BJ view of an Arena though? Any chance of him getting the local tories to drop the Arena scheme? <BR/><BR/>Or is BJ sitting on the fence??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-53476033579831833732008-03-03T14:59:00.000+00:002008-03-03T14:59:00.000+00:00Croydon Council in so doing is failing in its duty...Croydon Council in so doing is failing in its duty as the planning authority. It is not acting in an independent way. It is behaving in a partial way. Councillor Wright, the Cabinet Member responsible for planning policy and process has clearly endorsed this behaviour. It is ironic that he refuses to treat Stanhope fairly when at the same time he stands up and condemns the planning inspector for making decisions on planning appeals which go against the democratic will of Croydon Council. <BR/><BR/>Hardly democratic when he abuses the planning system to simply frustrate one applicant and major land owner.<BR/><BR/>In any other town or city, the local council would be falling over themselves to welcome a major developer like Stanhope with grand designs by Fosters.<BR/><BR/>This whole process stinks and brings the Croydon Council into disrepute.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-69078410260585982542007-12-21T18:03:00.000+00:002007-12-21T18:03:00.000+00:00Actually, Ken, you could say that the £180,000 was...Actually, Ken, you could say that the £180,000 was available because it was stolen from the Warehouse Theatre. <BR/>A rare case of forward thinking by the Council???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-79730346647576672742007-12-18T17:28:00.000+00:002007-12-18T17:28:00.000+00:00Independence? Is Cllr Pollard making a joke? I thi...Independence? Is Cllr Pollard making a joke? <BR/><BR/>I think you will find that the planning permission from the council was pre determined. The Planning Committee was never ever NOT going to give Arrowcroft permission and as seen at the Inquiry gave permission on a scheme that really was not ready for committee as it had so many errors and omissions in it. Basically Councillors would have laughed it out of committee if it had been any other scheme.<BR/><BR/>In which case it must have been that 'secret' development agreement.<BR/><BR/>Given what Arrowcroft have said about the costs being met by themselves I think they should make a 'donation' to the council to cover its costs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-34045065484161071872007-12-06T00:06:00.000+00:002007-12-06T00:06:00.000+00:00Its all in the actual words...They said 'CPO' and ...Its all in the actual words...<BR/><BR/>They said 'CPO' and of course the CPO will be fully funded by Arrowcroft. As per their secret agreements...<BR/><BR/>BUT not the planning application... You must have a QC and legal team for that! and er I think you will find that this is the reason why they can truthfully say 'the council has not spent a penny on the CPO'<BR/><BR/>It all comes down to what question you actually ask!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-52702550090659675122007-12-05T13:28:00.000+00:002007-12-05T13:28:00.000+00:00And that is £180,000 that Croydon taxpayers will h...And that is £180,000 that Croydon taxpayers will have to assume is not in the Council's coffers for the very services that the funds were intended for....who on EARTH allowed these people to start off on this monstrous venture? And who is going to make up the short fall? Isn't it about time the Council was called to account by the people who elected them - and who can easily deselect them at the next election?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-16455788898331241322007-12-03T10:45:00.000+00:002007-12-03T10:45:00.000+00:00Who has ever said that the Arena is going to be us...Who has ever said that the Arena is going to be used for the Olympics? Tessa Jowell categorically stated, at a meeting in Addington in 2006, that NO venue in Croydon is to be included...pie in the sky twaddle from the Council once more!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-36378272899052005142007-11-30T10:28:00.000+00:002007-11-30T10:28:00.000+00:00go to croydongateway.comthen planning applicationt...go to croydongateway.com<BR/>then planning application<BR/>then timetableAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-56304976504755911572007-11-30T09:09:00.000+00:002007-11-30T09:09:00.000+00:00Where on the site does it say that?Where on the site does it say that?Ken Frosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13568488818950912374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-51724384274443671572007-11-29T23:59:00.000+00:002007-11-29T23:59:00.000+00:00You say the decision about the Inquiry won't be kn...You say the decision about the Inquiry won't be known for some months. According to the Arrowcroft website they are starting 'on site' in May next year and the Arena will be ready in 2010 "in time for the Olympic Games". More (pretty fragrant) porkies???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7790444218199055346.post-71740935937498672142007-11-07T21:52:00.000+00:002007-11-07T21:52:00.000+00:00Thats always been the problem for Arrowcroft. They...Thats always been the problem for Arrowcroft. They have never been able to put the money where there mouth is. <BR/><BR/>IF they had, the Arena would now be very close to reality.<BR/><BR/>Large parcels of land have been available on the open market and Arrowcroft could have bought them.<BR/><BR/>IF they had, Stanhope would have been in a difficult position. They would not have owned the whole site being promoted for development (they have owned for a long time the site south of Lansdowne Road). The CPO would then have been easier to win.<BR/><BR/>The problem for Arrowcroft is that no CPO has ever been used to buy land off of one developer and sell it to another.<BR/><BR/>In any case Stanhope would always sell for the right price. They have Schroders backing them with a property Unit Trust. If the right offer came in they would be obliged to sell.<BR/><BR/>The problem for Arrowcroft is the scheme is barely affordable as it is. They have 'loans' of £25Million allocated here and there just to pay for the cladding of the Arena. <BR/><BR/>All very odd. As they say, only in Croydon!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com