High Court judge blasts Croydon Council over foster care battle...

July 17, 2015, 3:40 am

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A HIGH court judge has admonished Croydon Council for its "blinkered approach" during a legal battle with a 17-year-old girl over foster care ended up costing taxpayers upwards of £30,000.The girl took legal action in April because it refused to pay her guardian £13,500 of allowances.She was taken in by a friend's father when her relationship with her previous foster parents broke down last year, but the council found him unsuitable for fostering, so payment was...

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PHOTOS: EastEnders star Shane Richie wows pupils at New Addington...

July 17, 2015, 5:04 am

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Dancing nan, 85, proves you're never tutu old for ballet as she...

July 17, 2015, 9:00 am

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A GRACEFUL grandma who took up ballet when her husband died 15 years ago made it to the finals of a national competition for adult learners.Vera Benfield, 85, learnt to dance with the Croydon Adult Learning and Training Centre and recently took up ballroom and Latin, too.The grandmother of four said losing husband Roger in 2000 was a "great blow" as the pair had done everything together."I had no one to fill the gap and I missed him very, very much, but I thought well I need to...

Croydon's restaurant quarter set for expansion as Westfield...

July 18, 2015, 1:00 am

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SOUTH Croydon's restaurant quarter may well be extended towards town and become a greater focal point of Croydon's "evening economy".The run of shops from Coombe Road down to Mint Walk is to receive some of the council's love and attention – to provide alternatives once the extensive redevelopment work starts in earnest in the town centre from early next year.Tony Newman, council leader, said there would be more focus placed on attracting visitors and residents to this section...

Co-op accused of delaying high street renovation by leaving shops...

July 18, 2015, 2:00 am

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THE Co-operative has been accused of holding up the regeneration of Norbury's high street by leaving shops it owns empty.It owns five units in London Road, in front of its existing store in Fairview Road.The properties have lain empty for years and any enquiries to lease them have been knocked back by the Co-op.A Co-operative Estates spokesman told the Advertiser the company was "exploring the options for these units".Paloma Minter, of the Love Norbury campaign, said the Co-op's...

String quartet, who have played with Madonna and Kanye West,...

July 18, 2015, 4:00 am

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A CLASSICAL string quartet who have performed with Madonna and Kanye West entertained picnic-goers in a Thornton Heath park.The annual Grangewood Park Picnic in the Park took place on Sunday with everything from a bouncy castle to a dog show.Young players were also given some tips by a London Tennis Association coach before they rushed home to watch the Wimbledon final.The event was organised by The Friends of Grangewood Park.

Retiring Kenley primary school head teacher surprised with...

July 18, 2015, 6:00 am

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PRIMARY school children surprised their head teacher with a special leaving concert this week as she prepared to retire after 17 years in the post.Georgina Catanach spends her last day at the helm of Kenley Primary School today (Friday), 23 years after she joined the New Barn Lane school, and 17 after she became head teacher.Mrs Catanach said although some of the young pupils had let slip there would be a special send-off, they managed to surprise her with special poems, raps and songs from...

Seven people injured as bus hits bridge in South Norwood

July 19, 2015, 12:44 am

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SEVEN people were injured after a double-decker bus crashed into a low bridge in South Norwood last night. The roof of the 197 service to Peckham was sliced off during the crash in Portland Road at 9.15pm on Saturday.The injured passengers are believed to have been sitting on the top floor of the vehicle when the incident occurred. Two fire engines from Woodside, two ambulances, two fast response vehicles and a duty manager were sent to the scene.A London Fire Brigade spokesman said:...

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Kenley Young Reporters' Club: Play is a serious business

July 19, 2015, 8:00 am

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Will new exercise equipment in the Kenley Primary School playground replace swings and slides? Kenley Young Reporters' Club tried it out first to find out…You may think that school playgrounds are full of slides, swings and climbing frames. And they are – we have those too! But a few weeks ago, part of our playground was transformed into an exercise area with all kinds of fun equipment to keep fit with.This is how many play areas in local parks now look. Next to all the usual...

Croydon's first artist led gallery opens in Old Town

July 20, 2015, 1:00 am

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CROYDON'S first artist led gallery has opened in Old Town to foster home-grown talent.Turf Projects was founded by Alice Cretney in October 2013, when there was almost nowhere in the borough for artists to "congregate and work together".After just three months Alice, a 26-year-old Fine Art graduate from Wimbledon School of Arts, was joined by five other directors. In May this year they opened Turf Projects gallery on Keeley Road."It's pretty cool," Alice said. "I always...

Man and three children escape Thornton Heath flat fire

July 20, 2015, 1:59 am

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A MAN and three children escaped a fire in a flat above a shop in Thornton Heath last night.London Fire Brigade (LFB) were called to the blaze in a seven roomed flat in Beulah Road just after 10.30pm. An LFB spokesman said flames were out when two fire engines from West Norwood fire station arrived and a boy had already left the flat.Firefighters helped a man and two other boys from the property and paramedics treated all four at the scene before taking them to hospital.The incident was over in...

Man, 21, airlifted to hospital after motorbike crash in Kenley

July 20, 2015, 2:20 am

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A 21-YEAR-OLD man was taken to hospital with a head injury after he came off his motorcycle in Kenley on Saturday evening (July 18).Police were called to reports of a crash in Wattendon Road just before 5.45pm. A police spokeswoman said a man had "fallen from his motorcycle".She said no other vehicles were involved and he did not appear to have crashed into anything, but "became separated from his vehicle".The Air Ambulance was called and landed in Hayes Primary School field...

The notorious New Addington boulders are back - only this time,...

July 20, 2015, 2:39 am

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THE NOTORIOUS New Addington boulders are back – only this time, they're everywhere.Twenty of the large rocks will be dotted around Croydon to mark the 50th anniversary of it becoming a borough of London.They have been in storage since October but the council has found a new purpose for them and a boulder will be placed in each of the 20 original wards when they were created in 1965.Each will have a commemorative plaque, with some of the early installations including in Trumble Gardens,...

The Croydon Advertiser moves office - see for new contact details

July 20, 2015, 4:18 am

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THE Croydon Advertiser has moved our main office and we've picked up brand new contact details to boot.As we unpack all our old mugs and get used to a snazzy new phone system, we thought we should tell you the best ways to get hold of us.As before, the quickest way to send all your news and views to us is via email to: newsdesk@croydonadvertiser.co.ukIf you would like to speak to someone over the phone, you can now contact us on:01737 305559 – James Booker, content editor01737 305560 -...

Men who stashed illegal firearms under garden gnomes in South...

July 20, 2015, 6:05 am

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TWO men who stashed illegal firearms under "pretty flowers" and garden gnomes in a South Norwood back yard have been jailed for a total of more than 22 years.Tony Waller, of Warminster Square, and James Gilbert, of Longfield Crescent, buried a "sinister" array of firearms under a paving slab in 21-year-old Waller's garden. On August 7 last year police found a machine gun, two revolvers and a shotgun wrapped in plastic in the earth. The machine gun, a MAC-10, was linked to...

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Former Crystal Palace supporters' pub could be converted into...

July 20, 2015, 6:07 am

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A SOUTH Norwood pub could become flats after a plan to turn it into a mosque was shelved.A planning application to turn The Portmanor, in Portland Road, into five one bedroom and four two bedroom flats has been submitted to the council by Cresswest.The Middlesex-based company, whose director is listed online as Mahendra Vithaldas Ganatra, would convert the former Palace supporters' pub rather than demolish it.The council has already advised any application which would see the 'landmark' building...

PHOTOS: Cancer Research Race for Life at Lloyd Park, Croydon,...

July 20, 2015, 7:09 am

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Crystal Palace strengthen Irish connection with community work in...

July 20, 2015, 7:39 am

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CRYSTAL Palace's Irish connection has been strengthened with the club's charitable foundation's work in County Mayo.The Crystal Palace FC Foundation recently held a series of training camps in Ballina on the west of Ireland.Ireland and Eagles hero Eddie McGoldrick is acting as the foundation's ambassador for the project, which it is hoped may unearth new talent like current Palace player Damien Delaney.The club's under-18 side is also to embark on a pre-season tour, including matches against...

Black Mercedes smashes into three parked cars in South Norwood

July 21, 2015, 12:56 am

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THREE parked cars were smashed up when another car careered into them in South Norwood on Saturday night.A grey Toyota Yaris, a silver Ford Focus and a gold Ford Mondeo came off worse when a black Mercedes C180 drove into the back of them shortly before 11.30pm in Warminster Road.The Toyota was completely written off in the smash and was forced into the other two cars following the collision.The driver of the Mercedes only suffered minor injuries and was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

Ambition Festival to take over Croydon town centre this weekend

July 21, 2015, 1:17 am

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AMBITION is the name of the game for the council's first festival in five years next weekend.The four-day event will sprawl through the town centre with stages, bars, activities and fun for all the family.The headliners Soul II Soul, Tinariwen and reggae legend Lee "Scratch" Perry are set to entertain the musos at Fairfield Halls over the course of the festival from Thursday (July 23) to Sunday (July 26).Locations being used include Croydon Clocktower, the area outside Matthews Yard,...