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The so-called Croydon cat killer does not exist, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed.

The force launched an investigation in 2015 into reports of mutilated cats in Croydon and the surrounding area.

Twenty-five post-mortem examinations were carried out but found no evidence of “human involvement”.

Scotland Yard said injuries inflicted on cats were “likely to be the result of predation or scavenging by wildlife on cats killed in vehicle collisions”.

Foxes are believed to be behind some of the mutilations.

During the probe, detectives received more than 400 similar reports of cats being mutilated across London and surrounding counties.

However, all of the cases will now be recorded as “no crime”.

Commander Amanda Pearson said each individual report had to be investigated, which led to an “increased workload” for officers working on the case.

“The decision was made to allocate a large number of similar reports of mutilated cats to the officers who were investigating the initial spate of such allegations,” she said.

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“In particular, they were following up six suspicious cases identified by the post-mortem examinations.

“It is this collating of reports that enabled officers to work with experts and reach the conclusion that no further police investigations are required into any of the allegations relating to mutilated cats.”

The Met’s inquiry found there was CCTV footage showing foxes carrying pet body parts in three cases.

Dr Henny Martineau, head of veterinary forensic pathology at the Royal Veterinary College, carried out post-mortems on the six cats whose deaths were initially treated as “suspicious”.

She found puncture wounds not previously uncovered on some of the animals and concluded some had been potentially scavenged.

Ch Insp Stuart Orton from Hertfordshire Police, which led a linked investigation, said the prospect of “a person or persons travelling the country and mutilating animals” had been “eliminated”.

“Evidence suggests the animals had been predated by foxes – in a rabbit’s case after being removed from a hutch, and in a cat’s case after death, likely caused by a road traffic collision,” he said.

“I hope this conclusion brings comfort to pet owners who have, up until now, been frightened to let their animals out at night.”

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Source From bbc.co.uk

Folio Education Trust are proud to announce they have secured funding for a brand new comprehensive, mixed secondary school for children aged 11 – 18 living in South and Central Croydon. Over £30 million is to be invested in building a purpose built, state-of-the-art school which will include enhanced sports facilities, comprising of a competition venue within the sports hall, a full size 3G artificial floodlit surface and a closed circuit cycle track.  In addition to the sporting facilities, Coombe Wood School aims to be a centre for Music, Art and Dance Education.  The School’s MADE Academy will provide outstanding facilities and learning experiences in this area as part of the school curriculum.  We anticipate that these superb facilities will encourage our students to participate in their chosen activity in the evenings and at weekends, as well as creating a hub for extra-curricular activities for other children and members of the community in the local area.

Sport and the values it projects will be at the heart of this new school demonstrating that Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship are at the cornerstones of educational development.

The School will open in September 2018 for 180 Year 7 children, the second phase of opening will be in September 2020 with the introduction of the Sixth Form.

The proposed location of the new school is the existing site of the Coombe Road Playing Fields, a site designated by London Borough of Croydon in the Croydon Local Plan as being a possible location for a new secondary school.  Local Plan Reference Number – 662 – Coombe Road Playing Fields, CR0 5RB.  It is invisaged that the School will open in temporary accommodation for the first academic year.

FROM cws-croydon.co.uk  @Coombe wood School

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From croydonadvertiser By Deborah Morris

Go on, treat yourself because you deserve a bit of time out

There is little in life as luxurious and decadent as a day spent pampering yourself at a spa.

And in Croydon we are not far from some wonderful places where we can relax and unwind.

Perhaps you might enjoy a luxury therapy and some time in a Jacuzzi at a hotel.

Or maybe you will visit a leisure centre or health club for a wonderful treatment and the use of its spa area.

If you really want to indulge you might travel a little further afield for a country house experience.

And of course, we are not far from the centre of London where there are some luxurious city centre hotels offering a place to escape and unwind.

It doesn’t matter what time of year it is – whether it is National Spa Week, Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, your birthday or just time to unwind – you don’t need an excuse to visit a spa.

In no particular order of preference we list 7 spas and places to enjoy a spa day in and near Croydon and south London.

1. Wellbeing Croydon Therapy Rooms at Croydon Park Hotel, Croydon

Wellbeing Croydon Therapy Rooms is based at Croydon Park Hotel and offers massages, facials and body treatments along with detox and weight loss programmes. You can also choose from three packages as well.

If you really want to pamper and relax, the leisure package includes full use of the Croydon Park Hotel’s pool, jacuzzi, sauna and gym as well as a 30 minute massage or express facial package; or a 60 minute package, including a massage and express facial; or a 60 minute massage package.

Perhaps you might like to book lunch, afternoon tea or dinner at the hotel too.

Where it is: Croydon Park Hotel, 7 Altyre Road, Croydon CR9 5AA

Phone number: 07766 388 661

Website: www.wellbeingcroydon.com and www.croydonparkhotel.com

2. Little Treats at Solutions Health and Fitness Club, Croydon

Little Treats offers holistic therapies at the club and if you book a treatment you can also buy a day pass to use the clubs facilities, which include the sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, swimming pool and gym.

Treatments include massages like the dessert hot stone massage, the UK’s hottest lava relax massage and Indian head massage

Where it is: 1 Lansdowne Road, Croydon, CR9 2BN

Phone number: 07931 642785

Website: www.facebook.com/LTHTherapies/ or www.solutionsfitness.com

3. Nuffield Health Bromley Fitness and Wellbeing Gym, Bromley

There is a beauty suite at this Nuffield Health centre and, among other treatments, you could book yourself a Facial and Massage Treat package or a Face and Body Boost package.

There is a swimming pool and sauna and steam room which non-members can use if they register for a day pass – this can be done on the website.

Where it is: Hayes Lane, Bromley, BR2 9EF

Phone number: 020 3432 1955

Website: www.nuffieldhealth.com/gyms/bromley

4. Nutfield Priory Hotel & Spa, Nutfield near Redhill

If you would like to travel a little further afield to Surrey, then this hotel and spa is worth the drive.

Just a short stroll from the luxury four star hotel at Nutfield village near Redhill, the spa will allow you to revive mind and body, whether you are on your own, with a loved one or seeking some indulgence with friends.

It includes nine treatment rooms, a quiet lounge and relaxation room, indoor swimming and Jacuzzi pool, sauna and steam rooms and secluded outside seating and lounge area.

The swimming pool and Jacuzzi area has been recently refurbish and extended so is looking really beautiful. There is also an afternoon tea spa package among others – perfect for anyone that enjoys cake.

Where it is: Nutfield Road, Nutfield near Redhill, RH1 4EL

Phone number: 01737 824400 or 0845 072 7485

Website: www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/nutfieldpriory

5. Amida Spa at David Lloyd, Beckenham

Amida Spa has an indulgent selection of therapies and products as well as a wet spa which includes a 25-metre training pool, hydrospa, plunge pool, relaxation pool, sauna, sanarium, steam room and heated relaxation beds.

You could take a day out of the rat race to wrap up in a robe with slippers and enjoy one of its packages which include unlimited use of all wet spa and gym facilities, a light meal with refreshments and use of relaxation areas.

Perhaps you might treat a special man in your life to a men’s grooming day package.

Where it is: David Lloyd Beckenham, Stanhope Grove, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 3HL

Phone number: 020 8662 6161

Website: www.amidaspa.co.uk/spa-locations/beckenham

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Two London boroughs have launched Ultra Low Emission Streets banning petrol and diesel cars during peak hours

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From croydonadvertiser.com

NHS England has released its latest figures looking into the standards of GP surgeries across England, ranking each surgery based on several criteria.

Earlier this week, we revealed which surgeries in Croydon had been ranked as the 10 worst surgeries in the borough, and now we can reveal which surgeries will have a lot more to smile about.

The latest results make particularly good reading for Mitchley Avenue Surgery, in Sanderstead, which has not only been ranked as the best in the borough with an overall patient satisfaction rate of 98.5 percent, but is also the 58th best in the whole of England.

Dr Simon Woolf has been at the surgery for around 25 years, and it looks as though he has made a real difference to his patients, 98.9 percent of whom said they felt like he listened to their problems.

And it’s not just Dr Woolf that the patients are pleased with, as the receptionists were also given a 98.5 per cent approval rating.

Sanderstead councillor Yvette Hopley said Dr Woolf has become a part of the community, and is far more than just the local doctor.

“He is an incredibly experienced doctor who spends a lot of time making sure he gets to know all of his patients,” she explained.

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FROM CBEA2018  @ croydonawards.co.uk

The finalists in a new award to celebrate Croydon’s most inspirational young people jumped at the chance to meet their competition for the first time.

Any rivalries were quickly shelved as the enterprising 18 to 25 year olds got on like a house on fire! A total of eight entrants have been shortlisted for the new Croydon Business Excellence Awards Inspirational Young Person of the Year category, sponsored by London Borough of Croydon.

Going for gold – left to right – Tyrell Davis Doughlin, Imad Khan, Tom Martin, 
Laurence Grant, Fabio Schifano, Michelle Williams and Kasra Soltani.

Meeting at the Croydon offices of awards organiser White Label Creative, they spoke about their excitement at being shortlisted and their ambitions for the future.

“I’m very excited to be shortlisted,” said Tom Martin, 19, a trainee site manager with Barratt, who is committed to helping others at work and in his free time. “It’s been great meeting the other finalists as well. Having them tell me about themselves and sharing their life choices was quite amazing.”

The shortlisted group includes Tom; Tyrell Davis Doughlin, 18, project manager of London Roads Cultural Festival; Laurence Grant, 25, director with Shaking Hands; Imad Khan, 23, who works with the Croydon: Choose Your Future campaign; Rebecca Russel, 22, construction industry Tradeswoman of the Year (who couldn’t make the meeting); Fabio Schifano, 25, a young LGBT+ campaigner and trustee of Croydon Pride; Kasra Soltani, 21, a surveying student at Croydon College, and Michelle Williams, 23, a business administration apprentice at Croydon Council.

All of the group live in the borough and were nominated by employers, family, friends or colleagues. They were chosen because they inspire other young people through their enterprise, energy and positive attitude in their work and community.

Many have overcome many obstacles and difficulties, like Kasra Soltani, 21, a student at Croydon College. He only came to the UK from Iran four years ago and learned to speak English by watching TV box sets. He said: “I’m really passionate about trying to effect change in the world to make life better for other people.”

Business Administration Apprentice Michelle Williams, 23, was so delighted with her shortlisting, she screamed with excitement when she got the news at work. “I’ve never been in a position like this before and I’m really looking forward to the opportunities that will come out of it,” said Michelle, who works with the South London Commissioning team at Croydon Council. “In the future I’d like to run my own company showing young girls how to be more confident and successful in the world no matter what their circumstances.”

The youngest of the group, 18 year old, Tyrell Davis Doughlin

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What is thought to be Croydon’s first-ever animal education centre where you can learn how to look after and care for exotic and domestic animals is to open next month.

The ARC Centre will be home to all kinds of different animals, including meerkats, albino skunks, sugar gliders, African pygmy hedgehogs and African pygmy goats.

The business will be based at Greenvale Primary School, on Sandpiper Road, in Selsdon, and plans to open on September 10.

It allows families to learn basic veterinary skills such as administering medicine and trimming claws and hooves, as well as how to look after animals in their natural habitats.

Louise Wilkinson, co-director of The ARC Centre, told the Advertiser she believes it can educate both adults and children while having fun at the same time.

She said: “People can learn about exotic and domestic animals in their closest natural habitats as possible.

“For example, there will be a rain forest experience where there will be parrots and monkeys so children and adults can learn how they live.

“The rain forest experience with be humid and that will help children learn about the animals and their homes.”

The centre offers a desert experience which replicates the heat of the Sahara Desert, as well as a meet the meerkat experience.

Other animals looked after at the centre include African grey parrots, chameleons, scorpions, tarantulas, bearded dragons, leopard tortoises, rabbits, chickens and guinea pigs.

Louise will run the centre with co-director Iain Greenwood, and the pair are planning to hold an official opening later in the year.

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the-arc-centre

From Andy Datson @ croydonadvertiser

There’s good news for parents of children about to start the new school year at primary schools across Croydon.

That’s because most primary schools in Croydon have either been awarded “good” or “outstanding” grades in their most recent Ofsted reports.

The vast majority have been rated as “good”, but nearly a quarter of all primary schools in the borough have achieved the highly coveted “outstanding” grade.

Unfortunately, however, it’s not all good news, as 11 Croydon primary schools have most recently been given a “requires improvement” rating, and one school, The South Norwood Academy, has been given the worst possible grade of “inadequate”.

n a statement sent to the Advertiser shortly after its report was published on March 5, the school said: “The outcome of the recent Ofsted inspection is hugely disappointing and upsetting for the staff, parents and our children.

“The school’s priorities have been to focus on the core curriculum, to create an environment where our children are proud to be part of an energetic, vibrant community, where they feel safe and supported and where our school values underpin everything we do – the Ofsted report does not reflect this.”

One of the most recent success stories is that of Chestnut Park Primary School, which was recently given an outstanding rating just three years after opening.

Upon receiving the rating, Chestnut Park head teacher Esther Brooks said: “To be awarded outstanding in all areas is a great achievement by everyone here at Chestnut Park Primary School.

“All our staff, governors, pupils, parents and the whole team are celebrating the news and looking forward to building on such wonderful success.

“We strive to bring out the very best in all our pupils and the Ofsted report has highlighted numerous areas of which we can all be extremely proud.”

You will notice that some relatively new schools are missing from the list below. That is simply because they have not yet been inspected and given a rating.

These are the current Ofsted ratings for every primary school in Croydon

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