As your Lib Dem candidate for the Sutton & Croydon seat I have three main priorities.
1. Protecting our Safer Neighbourhood Teams
We have already lost four Police Sergeants and without strong opposition Boris Johnson will continue to cut our safer neighbourhood teams here in Sutton and Croydon leaving us underresourced.
After many complaints about the state of the central reservation in Coulsdon Town Centre, the Council had assured Coulsdon Lib Dems that repairs would start in the week before Easter. Unfortunately this has not yet happened.
Lib Dem Ken George said, "After spending millions of pounds on improving Coulsdon it was disgraceful that after only a few years it started to look tatty. Only the other day I counted over 37 damaged blocks. The sooner they start the better"
In response to complaints from local residents - including the Coulsdon Lib Dem Focus Team - TFL (Transport for London) have agreed not to remove a much-needed pedestrian crossing south of the Coulsdon Bypass. TFL threatened to remove it after describing it as "under-used."
Local Lib Dem Frances Conn said, "Common sense has prevailed! These crossings were used by children and others at particular times of the day and their removal could have led to accidents."
The Coulsdon Focus Team are pleased to report that the eyesore of the dilapidated building on the Hadleigh Garage site has been cleared.
However, concerns remain over the building of 55 flats in four blocks, which was given permission in 2010 despite local opposition.
Similar applications in 2005 and 2007 were overturned due to the plans being out of character for the area and inevitable traffic problems in Reddown Road.
It looks like Croydon libraries will be run by an an outside organization. It is understood that there are five contenders on the short list to run the libraries, including Wandsworth Council.
A consultant has been hired at £40,000 per year to oversee this outsourcing.
Croydon Liberal Democrat Ken George said, "This seems odd as this exercise was supposed to save money not spend more!"
The problem of commuters taking residents' parking in Nineacres Way was raised with Focus Team member Gill Hickson. She conducted a survey about this with all the residents and 55% responded.
Based on the responses, Gill met up with a Traffic Design Manager from the Council to discuss what could be done. Several ideas were discussed and Gill is waiting for some firm solutions from the official before they can be put to the residents.
Due to overwhelming local opposition - and the intervention of the Liberal Democrat GLA team - Transport for London has backed down from plans to remove the pedestrian crossing on Purley Way.
Croydon & Sutton GLA Candidate Abigail Lock responded to residents' concerns by organising a petition in January.
Liberal Democrats in Government are delivering on promises to Croydon residents as 153,800 local people on low and middle incomes are benefitting from an income tax cut of up to £130 a year. And 8,000 on low incomes have been taken out of paying income tax altogether.
Of all London boroughs, Croydon represents the highest number of income tax payers benefitting this way.
From 1st April Croydon Council has stopped sending notices to residents who could be affected by a planning application. Instead notices will only be displayed near the site, typically on small A4-sized posters.
Croydon Liberal Democrat Gill Hickson said,"This change could easily lead to residents missing out what is happening near to them."
Croydon residents have backed plans for the police and community to work together to rebuild public confidence following last year's riots.
Plans for 'Paddick Patrols' - where community groups work with police to monitor their areas - were overwhelmingly supported by residents who took part in the Liberal Democrat Crime Survey on 18 February.
