An early present from Croydon Council will make it easier for residents to prepare for and enjoy the festive season.

Pay and display charges in council-run car parks and on-street bays will be relaxed on specific days around Christmas and New Year.

These spaces will be free of all parking enforcement on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Parking charges in areas not controlled by the council will still apply and yellow-line, bus land and footway restrictions will still be enforced.

Normal parking enforcement will take place from 27 to 30 December and will resume from Wednesday 2 January 2019.

“By making it easier to park in our borough we hope to make the holiday season a little bit better for everyone.

“Our residents, shoppers and anyone visiting the borough can enjoy these extra allowances but drivers will still need to park considerately, showing consideration for other road users and pedestrians.”

Councillor Stuart King, cabinet member for environment, transport and regeneration

From croydon.gov.uk

Original Source 

The capital’s newest emergency department opened its doors on 2 December 2018 at Croydon University Hospital.

The building, which cost more than £21million to construct, offers modern, high-quality facilities and has been designed by our doctors and nurses to create the best environment in which to care for patients.

The department is 30 percent bigger than our previous Emergency Department and offers many benefits including a dementia-friendly design and rooms with doors, rather than curtained cubicles, to increase privacy for patients.

There are two separate paediatric waiting areas – one for children under 12 and the other for adolescents – plus an outdoor space and 14 paediatric patient rooms where they can receive care.

There are also two mental health liaison rooms offering private and appropriate spaces where nurses can assess people who need specialist care, plus.

In addition the Emergency Department building includes a new Urgent Treatment Centre with six consultation rooms and a treatment room where people with more minor ailments can be looked after by qualified staff.

The new Emergency Department is a welcome addition to existing excellent urgent and emergency care services in the borough which also include three GP hubs where people can get same day appointments if they need to see a doctor but do not require emergency care.

The department is opening at a time which is always very busy for acute hospitals as winter pressures lead to increased demand for urgent and emergency care. So we are reminding people that while we are always here for people who need A&E or urgent care, for minor ailments, people can often be seen more quickly and can get all the care they need by going to a pharmacist, their local GP or one of the GP hubs across Croydon.

From croydonhealthservices.nhs.uk

Source

source from yourlocalguardian.co.uk

By Euan O’Byrne Mulligan  @euanobm 

Over 300 people silently marched through the area, streets away from the house where a cardboard model of the block went up in flames just over a week ago.

Supporters held placards and banners displaying messages of ‘solidarity’ with the victims of last year’s disaster in which 72 people died.

Event organiser Jane Nicholl, 67, from the South Norwood Tourist Board (SNTB), said: “The video was so vile.

“Just imagine how survivors, who have already suffered so much, felt when they saw an effigy being burnt.

“Given how nasty it was and the fact it came from people in our own community, we felt we had to do something.”

SNTB were inspired by Grenfell campaigners who, on the 14th of every month, silently walk past the site of the tower in Kensington, reflecting on the tragedy that took place.

Ms Nicholl said: “The atmosphere was quite solemn. We wanted to show we really meant it and were standing with the victim’s rather than the racists.

“But at the same time everyone was joyous that the community had come together on this. There was an uplifting feeling of solidarity.

“It was a bit nerve racking not knowing how many people turn up, but it turned out to be a big success.

“South Norwood will not tolerate racism.”

Omar Baggili, 39, said: “I wanted to participate to show people that South Norwood is not dominated by idiots like those that made the horrific effigy of Grenfell Tower.”

Sandra Ruiz, whose niece died in the fire, spoke at the end of the rally.

Ms Ruiz is part of Grenfell United, a group for survivors and bereaved families which works with campaigners for improvements in housing safety

She said: “What happened last week was devastating to us but you have shown tonight but you have shown us tonight what a wonderful larger community we all belong to.

“London and the UK have shown us such warmth and support and we can’t thank you enough.”

Two local men were arrested for their part in the effigy incident last week, which took place in their South Norwood home on Norhyrst Avenue.

Father and son Clifford Smith, 49, and Bobbi Connell, 19, handed themselves into south London Police stations.

Croydon Guardian revealed that both men are part of the South Norwood Conservative Club, a social club for conservative supporters, from which they have now been suspended.

Source

The Holidays are Coming… The iconic Coca-Cola Christmas truck tour is back for 2018, spreading holiday magic across the UK! And this year it is coming to Croydon,  

• Saturday 15 (12pm – 8pm) and Sunday 16 December (12pm – 8pm): Valley Retail & Leisure Park, Croydon, CR0 4YJ

Now in their eighth year of bringing festive joy to people across the UK, the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour has travelled more than 737,000 miles. In that time, thousands of Christmas fans have basked in its 8,772 twinkling fairy lights and enjoyed the magical ‘Holidays are Coming’  jingle, which marks the official start of Christmas for many people.

‘Tis the season to be jolly!

The 2018 tour will kick off in Glasgow on the 9 November and visit 24 locations nationwide, before making its final stop in London on 16 December.

Visit the truck in a glittering winter wonderland setting and enjoy a free 150ml can of Coca-Cola zero sugar, Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Original Taste. Don’t forget to put your empty can in one of our recycling bins to help us with our global World Without Waste pledge – to collect and recycle a bottle or can for each one sold by the year 2030.

news source From news.croydon.gov.uk

Over-55s are wanted to be part of Croydon’s first team to take part at an annual sporting festival in the Olympic Park’s Copper Box Arena and Aquatics Centre.

Croydon will be taking part in GLL’s annual Better Club Games for the first time, with the opportunity to compete across nine different sports; badminton, darts, dominoes, short mat bowls, short tennis, swimming, table tennis, timed cycle and timed swim.

So far 11 people are representing Croydon on the day, with another nine participants playing walking football today (Friday 5 October).

Twenty-three different teams will be taking part at the event on Wednesday 10 October, including Greenwich, who won last year.

The competition kicks off at 10am, however athletes are asked to arrive at 9.30am. It costs just £3.50 to enter, with a Team Croydon t-shirt and refreshments included. Spectators can also attend, paying £2 to enter the arena, which will be donated to Cancer Research UK.

Transport can also be arranged for athletes. To sign up, email laura.larsson@gll.org

John, a 57-year-old Croydon resident, is taking part in this year’s games, said: “I am new to Croydon and recently signed up to my local leisure centre, when I heard about this opportunity I thought it would be a great way to meet local people and be part of a friendly competition, something I haven’t done in years!

“I’m really looking forward to the day.”

Councillor Oliver Lewis, cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport

“The Better Club Games are a great opportunity for our older residents to be active.

“It’s also a chance to play sport at the Copper Box, somewhere that inspired a nation during the amazing 2012 Olympics.

“While fun is the order of the day, the title is keenly contested and of course it would be nice for Croydon to win. I’m looking forward to visiting the Copper Box next week to cheer team Croydon on.

“Let’s get as many people involved as possible and try and win it.”

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