Croydon Central

Parliamentary candidate - Peter Lambell

Peter Lambell, your candidate for Croydon Central

Commuting through East Croydon's transport hub on a daily basis, Peter Lambell is all too aware of the pressures the area is put under - pressure on public services, housing and transportation. Peter believes that Croydon Council's plans to impose 10,000 new homes in the centre of the borough would be disastrous.

Improving the quality of life in Croydon Central

Peter Lambell says that "this part of the borough is already home to nearly 110,000 residents. These plans would make the strain on space and services unbearable for people living here. Imposing the type of skyscraper development necessary to shoehorn so many people into this space would change the character of Croydon beyond recognition.

"Priority should be given to improving services and addressing immediate concerns like the lack of school places for current residents. Then, new development should be on a scale and in a character in keeping with the area."

Conservative-led Croydon Council's scheme originally had included development along the A23 corridor, but plans for fairer distribution of housing have been scrapped to concentrate development in the centre of the borough.

Political experience

Peter is a Surrey County Councillor representing the Reigate Central Division where he triumphed over Conservative and Independent candidates in last year's elections - taking the seat from the Conservatives with a majority of nearly 200 votes in the highest turnout of any Reigate and Banstead Division.

As a campaigner with the Liberal Democrat Focus team for many years, Peter knows what matters to local residents. He has recently campaigned against proposed cuts to bus services in Surrey and has been very vocal in his opposition to these cuts, both in the Council chamber and in the local media.

As Vice Chair of Governors at Brooklands School for children with severe learning difficulties, Peter has a particular interest in education and is a member of Surrey County Council's Schools and Learning Select Committee. He is currently campaigning for Council funding to provide playground equipment for disabled children in the newly renovated Reigate Priory Park.

About your candidate

Peter has lived in Surrey for most of his 42 years. After a period working and travelling overseas he continued his studies at Oxford Brookes University and the College of Law in Guildford before establishing his career in IT Management.

He is married to Judith, a Chartered Civil Engineer who is also an active local campaigner on environmental issues.

Constituency profile

Croydon Central covers an area between central Croydon to the west and the Kent border to the east. The northern part of the constituency is characterised by terraced houses, flats and business and retail areas, whilst the south features more suburban semi-detached houses, golf courses and parkland.

The current MP, Andrew Pelling, elected as a Conservative, won his seat by just 75 votes making Croydon Central the most marginal Tory seat in the country.

Liberal Democrat Focus activity has been on the increase in Croydon Central and support for the party is growing.